For Entering and New Students
- Diversity Graduate Assistantships
- NMHED Graduate Scholarship
- Outstanding Graduate Scholarship Award
- The Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship at NMSU for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
Diversity Graduate Assistantships
The diversity awards are awarded through the nominations process and allocated to departments on a competitive basis to help increase the diversity and quality of the Ph.D. student body. Departments must commit matching funds to support these awards for the Ph.D. student. Please note that the award is for only one academic year. The selected student must be admitted to the department prior to being nominated for the diversity award.
New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) Graduate Scholarship
New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) offers Graduate Scholarship for underrepresented groups who are citizens or permanent U.S. residents. NMHED fellowships carry a scholarship of up to $7,200 per annum. Students must serve in an unpaid internship or assistantship at the eligible institution, a government agency or private industry approved by the major department for ten hours per week during the academic year. NMHED Graduate Scholarships are available for two years for master’s students and for four years for doctoral students. Priority will be given to New Mexico students from those groups with the most severe under-representation and students with the greatest financial need. To establish financial need, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form at https://studentaid.gov/. Please include NMSU School code 002657. The results will be sent to the student and the NMSU Financial Aid Office. Students must have a complete file and must be approved for financial aid to be considered for this fellowship.
Outstanding Graduate Scholarship Award
To recognize outstanding graduate assistants who are engaged in the teaching and research mission of New Mexico State University, the Graduate School will award $3,000 annually to one student from each of the five academic colleges. Current graduate assistants must be nominated by their faculty to be considered for this awards. These awards are subject to availability of funds.
The Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship at NMSU for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) often find that after their time in the Peace Corps, they have an even deeper desire to help others. One way for RPCVs to continue their passion to serve others is to begin a Graduate School program of study. It’s a logical next step for many, but it can be difficult to find funding for their graduate studies. The NMSU Graduate School and the Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship help make graduate studies possible for RPCVs. The Coverdell Fellowship is specifically for aiding qualified RPCVs in pursuing a master’s degree, doctoral degree, or professional certificate.NMSU is a proud Fellowship partner with the Peace Corps’ Coverdell Fellowship, administering both tuition support and a 10-hour per week Graduate Assistantship for qualified RPCV applicants who choose a graduate program of study with the College of Health, Education, & Social Transformation (HEST) or the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES).
The same action-oriented service opportunities that attracted Peace Corps Volunteers to serve overseas are embedded in the service requirement of a Coverdell Fellowship. Each Coverdell fellow completes a minimum 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.
For more information on the HEST and ACES Coverdell Fellowship opportunities and programs of study, please visit these webpages: HEST Coverdell Fellowship and ACES Coverdell Fellowship. For more information on eligibility requirements for the Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship, visit the Peace Corps website, here.
