Homeschool benefits and savings in Lea County
At New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, the state Lottery Scholarship can cover up to 100% of tuition, which is $600 a semester at 15 credit hours for Lea County residents, and the Opportunity Scholarship can cover tuition and fees. A graduate who completed home school requirements registered with the state qualifies for the Lottery Scholarship on the same terms as public school graduates.
Who qualifies
Completed a registered home school
The Lottery Scholarship accepts graduates who completed home school requirements registered with the state, along with public, accredited private, and high school equivalency graduates living in New Mexico.
Lives in New Mexico
Both scholarships require New Mexico residency. The Opportunity Scholarship does not require U.S. citizenship.
Enrolls full time within 16 months
For the Lottery Scholarship, your student enrolls full time at a New Mexico public college within 16 months of graduating and earns at least 12 credit hours with a 2.5 GPA.
Keeps a 2.5 GPA and pace
At a community college, your student completes 24 credit hours each regular academic year and keeps a 2.5 GPA. Up to 9 hours can be made up in summer.
What it is worth
NMJC's 2025-26 rates are $40 a credit hour for Lea County residents, capped at $600 for 15 or more hours, and $60 for other New Mexico residents, capped at $900, plus a $20-per-hour general usage fee.
- 12 hours, Lea County
- $480
- 15 hours, Lea County
- $600
- 15 hours, other NM counties
- $900
- General usage fee at 15 hours
- $300
- Three Lottery semesters at 15 hours, Lea County
- $1,800
The Lottery Scholarship is described as covering tuition, so ask the financial aid office whether the Opportunity Scholarship or other aid will cover the general usage fee and books.
From applying to keeping it
- Before enrolling
File the FAFSA
No scholarship application is required, but the state encourages students to file the FAFSA at studentaid.gov.
- Within 16 months of graduating
Enroll full time
Start full time at NMJC. During a qualifying first semester, a Bridge or Opportunity Scholarship may pay tuition and fees.
- Each semester
Aid is applied automatically
The financial aid office applies the scholarship to your student's account if they are eligible and reviews eligibility at the end of each semester.
- Every fall and spring
Stay enrolled
Enroll consecutively each fall and spring. Community college students receive three semesters of Lottery awards.
What it pays for
Covered
- Up to 100% of tuition through the Lottery Scholarship
- Tuition and fees through the Opportunity Scholarship
- Degree and credit-bearing certificate programs
Not covered
- Students without New Mexico residency
- Students who already hold a bachelor's degree, for the Opportunity Scholarship
- Aid beyond total tuition and fees
Who pays first
- Other state aid and tuition-specific private aid
- Opportunity Scholarship, up to total tuition and fees
The Opportunity Scholarship cannot replace other state aid or private aid meant for tuition and fees; combined, they cannot exceed tuition and fees.
Good to know
State-registered home school completion qualifies
NMJC lists completing home school requirements registered with the state as one of the qualifying routes for the Lottery Scholarship, along with public and accredited private high school graduation.
You do not apply separately
The financial aid office applies the Lottery or Opportunity Scholarship to your student's account if they are eligible. Filing the FAFSA is still encouraged.
A later start may still qualify for the Opportunity Scholarship
The Lottery Scholarship needs full-time enrollment within 16 months of high school graduation. A student who misses that window may still use the Opportunity Scholarship, which requires being at least 18 and enrolling in 6 or more credit hours.
Who to contact
The Office of Financial Aid verifies scholarship eligibility and applies awards to student accounts, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
financialaid@nmjc.edu 575-392-5172 Lottery and Opportunity Scholarships
Homeschool rules and statewide help in New Mexico
You must notify the New Mexico Public Education Department within 30 days after establishing the home school, then renew on or before August 1 each subsequent year.
New Mexico sets these rules:
- Subjects: Instruction in New Mexico must include reading, language arts, math, social studies, and science.
- Testing: New Mexico does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
- Records: New Mexico requires you to keep disease-immunization records or a waiver. NMPED recommends keeping notices, instructional-hour records, materials, and work portfolios, but does not require those academic records.
- Teachers: The person providing instruction must have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Read the New Mexico homeschooling guide See statewide programs in New Mexico
Questions parents ask
- Can my student go part time?
- Only with the Opportunity Scholarship. The Lottery Scholarship requires full-time enrollment, while the Opportunity Scholarship allows as few as 6 credit hours a semester, or 3 in summer.
- What does tuition cost if we live outside Lea County?
- $60 a credit hour, up to $900 a semester, for other New Mexico residents under NMJC's 2025-26 rates.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
College classes can cover part of high school. We teach the subjects your child needs alongside them, starting at the right level in each subject.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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