New Mexico-Colorado Tuition RECIPROCITY Agreement

About the Program

The States of Colorado and New Mexico have maintained a Tuition Reciprocity Agreement since 1985.  The purpose of the agreement is to allow eligible students from New Mexico to enroll at designated Colorado institutions of higher education at in-state tuition rates and an equal number of eligible students from Colorado to do the same at New Mexico institutions. 

Number of Participants at UNM

UNM is allotted 95 slots by the New Mexico Higher Education Department for participating students.  The number of slots available to new applicants each semester is determined by the number of continuing students in the Program.  

Application Process

First-time freshmen and undergraduate transfer students to UNM may apply.  Students are encouraged to apply for the Reciprocal Program at the time they apply for admission to UNM.  Available slots are offered to students on a first-come, first-served basis according to date of admission.  Hence, the earlier a student is admitted to UNM, the better the chance of acquiring a slot in the Reciprocal Program.

Available slots for Fall semesters are typically offered to new students beginning in April.   

Program Eligibility Requirements

Students accepted to participate in the Reciprocal Program must complete 30 semester hours each academic year.  This requirement is strictly enforced.   Students who are discontinued from the Program for failure to satisfy this requirement will be charged out-of-state tuition thereafter until New Mexico residency for in-state tuition purposes can be established.  (See Residency Status for Participating Students.)   There is no minimum grade point average requirement. 

Students may remain in the Program for a maximum of eight (8) semesters.  Those who may need more than eight semesters to graduate must plan ahead for out-of-state tuition charges after their eight-semester eligibility expires.  (See Residency Status for Participating Students.)

Academic records of Reciprocal Program participants are audited by the Office of the Registrar at the end of each academic year to determine continued eligibility.  It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that eligibility requirements are met.

Residency Status for Participating Students

Students in the Reciprocal Program remain out-of-state residents for the duration of their Program participation.  They may not establish New Mexico residency for tuition purposes during that time.  Students who wish to become New Mexico residents must satisfy all residency requirements, including the twelve-month duration requirement, after discontinuing the program.  In other words, time spent in New Mexico while in the Reciprocal Program may not be applied toward the twelve-month physical presence requirement to become a resident for tuition purposes.

Confidentiality of Student Records

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, most information contained in a student’s records may be disclosed only to the student.  Specific information about Program application status, and/or about Program eligibility status may only be shared with the student.

Contact Us

If you have questions about the Colorado-New Mexico Reciprocal Program, contact the UNM Office of the Registrar at 505-277-8466.

New Mexico-Colorado Reciprocal Program Application