New Mexico's Governor Announces Free Public College Tuition Plan

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship, aiming to make tuition at public colleges and universities free for in-state students. This program, a last dollar initiative, covers tuition costs not paid by federal grants or the New Mexico Lottery Scholarship. It is expected to close a tuition gap of 25-40% and is seen as a significant economic booster for New Mexico. The scholarship could benefit 55,000 students across 29 institutions by fall 2020. The initiative aligns with broader political discussions on public tuition, with figures like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren proposing similar plans.

Which state was the first to offer free tuition at public colleges for in-state students before New Mexico?

• New York

• California

• Florida

• Texas

What type of program is the Opportunity Scholarship described as?

• Full-coverage program

• Partial-coverage program

• Last-dollar program

• First-dollar program

What percentage of tuition costs do existing programs typically leave unpaid, according to the governor?

• 25 to 40%

• 15 to 30%

• 10 to 20%

• 35 to 50%

Which two Democratic senators have announced plans to eliminate undergraduate tuition at public colleges?

• Joe Biden and Beto O'Rourke

• Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg

• Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren

• Kamala Harris and Cory Booker

How many New Mexico students could potentially be affected by the Opportunity Scholarship by fall 2020?

• 60,000

• 55,000

• 50,000

• 45,000