Assistantships and Scholarships

Most graduate assistantships offered by New Mexico State University are awarded by the student’s academic department and are not funded by the Graduate School. Please contact your department of study to receive information on graduate assistantships and scholarships. The student must be admitted to the Graduate School before a request for an assistantship or scholarship will be considered by the department or the Graduate School. The University limits the number of years a student may be supported on funds from the State of New Mexico. Departments may place additional limitations on the years of support. A student should check the Guidelines on Employment for Graduate Assistants. 

Various Assistantships and Scholarships funded by the Graduate School are available to newly admitted and current graduate students at New Mexico State University. In selecting individuals for any assistantship or scholarship, and in their administration, New Mexico State University will not discriminate on grounds of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

For Assistantships and Scholarships administered by the Graduate School, nomination from department heads or graduate program directors or deans or faculty associated with the students' program must be received as indicated below. The nomination window each year is in the Spring, with announcements made typically in May. The “Call for Nominations” is sent to Faculty and Staff. Graduate students also are notified via a post in the graduate students’ listserv that the nomination window is open. 

The Following are the Assistantships and Scholarship Awards for 2026-2027 academic year.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, May 15, 2026, 5:00 PM (Mountain Time).

Graduate Assistantship and Tuition Scholarship

Distinguished Doctoral/Terminal Degree Graduate Assistantship.  The Distinguished Doctoral/Terminal Degree Graduate Assistantship (0.5 FTE) is granted through a competitive basis to help increase the quality of graduate students in doctoral or terminal degrees at NMSU. This award is granted for one academic year only (Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters). To be eligible, the selected student must be currently enrolled in a doctoral or terminal degree (MFA) program and be in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50. Alternatively, newly admitted regular-status students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50 at the undergraduate and/or graduate level prior to being nominated for this award. Recipients may not hold a Graduate Assistant–Other appointment. Preference will be given to students who have not previously received the Distinguished Ph.D. Graduate Assistantship Award. Each program may nominate only one student, and self-nominations will not be accepted. The Graduate School will centrally cover the recipient’s tuition for both academic semesters.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Graduate Teaching Assistantship for Research Productive Faculty. This competitive award (0.5 FTE, 20 hours/week) supports faculty in increasing productivity in their sponsored research or creative scholarship. It is available for one academic year only (Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters). The award provides funding for both the salary and tuition of a graduate student who will be hired as a Graduate Teaching Assistant to help faculty with instructional responsibilities. Eligible students must be current graduate students in good academic standing or admitted as regular graduate students prior to hiring. Each college may nominate up to two faculty members. This award would require an internal selection committee for the Academic Colleges. Faculty who are selected may then choose their prospective Graduate Teaching Assistant.                                                                                                                                                                

The Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCV). This award is for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCV) only and features a 0.25 FTE (10 hours per week) graduate assistantship and a $2,590 tuition scholarship per fall and spring semesters for main campus students. The NMSU Graduate School and the Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship help make graduate studies possible for RPCVs. The same action-oriented service opportunities that attracted RPCVs to serve overseas are embedded in the service requirement of a Coverdell Fellowship. Each Coverdell fellow completes a minimum of 300 hours per academic year internship to serve or to benefit a significantly under-resourced segment of their local community; 300 hours is equivalent to a 10-hour graduate assistantship in the fall and spring semesters. The Coverdell Fellowship is specifically for aiding qualified RPCVs who choose a graduate program of study within the College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation (HEST) or the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES). For more information on eligibility requirements for the Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship, visit the Peace Corps website, here. Nominations are shared only with ACES and HEST contacts per current MOU with the Peace Corps.

Scholarships Only

Outstanding Graduate Research Scholarship Award. To recognize outstanding Graduate Assistants who are engaged in the research or creative scholarship mission of New Mexico State University, the Graduate School will award $3,000 ($1,500 per academic semester) annually to one Graduate Research Assistant from each of the five academic colleges. One nomination each from the Dean (or designee) of the Academic Colleges must be sent to the Graduate School. The Outstanding Graduate Research Scholarship Award will not count towards the Union Tuition Scholarship. This award would require an internal selection committee for the Academic Colleges. Award qualifications:

  • Student must be actively engaged in the research or creative scholarship
  • Student must have a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.50 or higher
  • Each of the Academic Colleges can nominate only one (1) student
  • Academic Deans (or designees) must submit the following:
  • Written statement (about 2 paragraphs) from Academic Dean (or designee) stating how the student has contributed to the research or creative scholarship. 
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Scholarship Award. To recognize outstanding Graduate Assistants who are engaged in the teaching mission of New Mexico State University, the Graduate School will award $3,000 ($1,500 per academic semester) annually to one Graduate Teaching Assistant from each of the five academic colleges (excepting Arts and Sciences). One nomination from the Dean (or designee) of the Academic Colleges must be sent to the Graduate School. Two nominations from the College of Arts and Sciences, one in each categories of Arts and Sciences will be accepted. The Outstanding Graduate Teaching Scholarship Award will not count towards the Union Tuition Scholarship. This award would require an internal selection committee for the Academic Colleges. Award qualifications:
  • Student must have been actively engaged in teaching previously
  • Student must have a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.50 or higher
  • Each of the Academic Colleges can nominate only one (1) student
  • Academic Deans (or designees) must submit the following:
  • Written statement (about 2 paragraphs) from Academic Dean (or designee) stating how the student has contributed to the teaching mission of NMSU. 
Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) Graduate Scholarship Award. The Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) Graduate Scholarship Award is designed to promote the development of future faculty at community colleges or 4-year institutions. Participants develop a sustained mentoring relationship with a faculty to be better prepared for all aspects of a career in academia that include teaching, scholarly research, outreach, and service. The Program requires students to participate in workshops offered by the Teaching Academy that are designed for graduate students, as well as in any additional workshops they find beneficial. PFF awardees will receive $2,000 in the spring semester upon completion of at least a total of 30 workshop hours during both fall and spring semesters. Participation in this program is limited to one academic year. The PFF Scholarship Award will not count towards the Union Tuition Scholarship. The PFF program is open to all full-time NMSU main campus students in good academic standing who have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 with aspirations to become faculty at community colleges or 4-year institutions.
  1. The student must be willing to participate in, and complete, approximately 20 hours of Teaching Academy events in the fall and approximately 10 hours in the spring, for a total of 30 hours over both semesters.
  2. The mentee is required to meet with their faculty mentor three times in the fall and three times in the spring. The mentees will be responsible for documenting their reflections from each meeting during the fall semester. In the spring, there are short co-read articles for each month as well as monthly meetings. The mentee will be responsible for documenting their reflections from each meeting and also their reflections on the readings.
  3. The mentee must have a faculty mentor, who:
    • Is strongly encouraged to participate in the Entering Mentoring Workshop in the fall (if offered by the Teaching Academy), and
    • Meet with their mentees at least three times each in the fall and spring semesters, with the spring meetings based upon short co-read articles.
  4. For times and dates of current Teaching Academy offerings, see:
    https://teaching.nmsu.edu/events/upcoming-events.html

Continuation to spring semester: Continuation from fall to spring semester is based on faculty mentor evaluation of their student performance, academic performance, and attendance in workshops offered by the Teaching Academy. 

There is no need to apply for the following two Scholarships. Eligible students will have appropriate amount of Scholarship posted in their Scholar Dollar$ account in about a month after classes start in Fall and Spring semesters.                                                                                                                        

State of New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) Graduate Scholarship. The NMHED Graduate Scholarship supports underrepresented New Mexico residents pursuing graduate studies. To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:

  1. Be a resident of New Mexico
  2. Be admitted to a graduate program and enrolled in at least six credit hours
  3. Have a minimum GPA of 3.00
  4. Demonstrate financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Please include NMSU’s school code: 002657

Duration: Subject to budget availability, the scholarship may be renewed for continuing students who continue to meet all eligibility requirements. The scholarship may be awarded for up to eight semesters or until the student completes their degree, whichever comes first. The NMHED Graduate Scholarship covers 100% of tuition and fees. Priority consideration is given to New Mexico residents from groups with the most severe underrepresentation in graduate education and those with the greatest financial need. For more information refer to NMHED Graduate Scholarship Act.

State of New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) High School Graduates STEM Scholarship. To be eligible for the NMHED High School GraduatesSTEM Scholarships, students must meet the following criteria: 1.) Have graduated from a New Mexico high school, 2.) have NM residency, and 3.) Be enrolled full-time in a master’s or doctoral STEM degree program. Eligible students will receive an award amount no greater than $7,200 per academic year disbursed in two installments in Spring and Fall semesters. 

Looking for information about Graduate Workers Union Scholarship?

Please view the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the MOU here.

Article 8 of the CBA refers to Tuition Scholarships.

More Details About Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships in teaching and research are available primarily through the department in which the student is enrolled. Eligibility for teaching assistantships includes:

  • Acceptance by and subsequent registration in the Graduate School and academic department,
  • Admitted as a “Regular” graduate student,
  • Enrollment in at least nine graded credit hours each academic semester, excepting as indicated in the (CBA) here,
  • Maintaining a 3.0 grade-point average.

Graduate students accepted on a provisional basis cannot serve as Graduate Teaching Assistant or Graduate Assistant-Other. However, they can serve as Graduate Research Assistants. Eligibility for Graduate Research Assistant includes:

  • Acceptance by and subsequent registration in the Graduate School and academic department,
  • Classification as a “Provisional” graduate student,
  • Enrollment in at least nine graded credits hours each academic semester, excepting as indicated in the (CBA) here,
  • Funded on research projects of the faculty of NMSU.
Provisional students can also be hired as graders for one semester. The department must submit a formal letter to the Graduate School requesting that the student be allowed to work as a grader. The Graduate School may approve or deny the request.
A student seeking an appointment as a teaching assistant will be required to demonstrate proficiency in communication skills necessary for satisfactory service in the classroom. All graduate students given a teaching assistantship must attend a mandatory orientation offered by the Graduate School. Departments may also require students to complete workshops/orientations in order to qualify for assistantships.
International graduate students must pass the NMSU International Teaching Assistant (ITA) screening administered by the Department of English. Those that do not pass the ITA screening are required to enroll in and successfully complete English 485M. The ITAs are recommended to complete this requirement prior to their first teaching appointment. Students may be hired as a Research Assistant (RA) or GA-Other the semester, they are enrolled in English 485M.
The duties involved normally require about 20 hours per week (full-time fall and spring) of the student’s time. By accepting an assistantship, the student is obligated to enroll in and maintain enrollment in a minimum of nine graded credits per semester, but not more than 15 per semester. A graduate assistant may not enroll for more than 15 credits for each fall and spring semester. Courses taken for audit or undergraduate deficiencies are counted in the maximum total course load; audited classes and courses under 450 cannot be used for the minimum GA course load requirement.

Note: Conference Travel Awards are funded by the Graduate Student Council and/or ASNMSU. Please contact ASNMSU for more information about travel funds.

Other Funding Opportunities

Funding Opportunities for NMSU Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars

Click on the link above to view all of the Funding Opportunities for NMSU Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars through the Research Administration Services. Restrictions and deadlines are available for each funding opportunity.

Pivot ProQuest

Government Grants