New Mexico Vietnam Veterans and Wartime Veterans Scholarships

Tuition, required fees and a book allowance at a state college, for undergraduate or graduate study, for a resident veteran who entered service from New Mexico or has lived here ten years and holds a Vietnam campaign medal or a campaign or service medal for any armed conflict since August 1990. Money goes first come, first served.

Also called: NMSA 21-21E-1, NMSA 21-21E-3, Vietnam Veterans Scholarship, Wartime Veterans Scholarship, military war veteran, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Higher Education Department, DVS Form 7, DVS Form 14.

For: Veteran or service member.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

New MexicoState

Two state funds pay a veteran's tuition, required fees and books at a state institution, for undergraduate and master's study and, for the wartime fund, doctoral study too. The Department of Veterans' Services certifies eligibility and the Higher Education Department pays the school. The wartime scholarship. Section 21-21E-3 creates the military war veteran scholarship fund. A "military war veteran" is honourably discharged, was a New Mexico resident when entering the armed forces or has lived in New Mexico ten years or more, and holds a Southwest Asia Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq or Afghanistan Campaign Medal, or any other medal for service in support of a military campaign or armed conflict as defined by Congress or executive order, or any other campaign medal for service after August 1, 1990 during a period of armed conflict. The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal was awarded to nearly everyone who served after September 11, 2001, so this reaches most post-2001 veterans with ten years in the state. The Higher Education Department's scholarship page asks for a DD-214 showing "a combat campaign or service medal". The word combat is not in the statute, which names service medals such as the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal that are not combat awards; a veteran whose only qualifying medal is a service medal meets section 21-21E-3. The Vietnam scholarship. Sections 21-21E-1 and 21-21E-2 create the Vietnam veterans' scholarship fund. The Department of Veterans' Services describes eligibility the same way, with the Vietnam Campaign Medal for service in Vietnam from August 5, 1964, and adds that a non-state college in New Mexico is paid no more than the highest state tuition. How it works. Money is "allocated in the order that applications are received and approved", so apply early for each year. The student must keep satisfactory academic progress, and a financial aid officer may adjust for special circumstances. Apply to the Department of Veterans' Services with DVS Form 14 (wartime) or Form 7 (Vietnam), a certified DD-214 showing the medal and the discharge, and proof of residency.

Thresholds

Thresholds for New Mexico Vietnam Veterans and Wartime Veterans Scholarships
Gate	Rule
A qualifying campaign or service medal and an honourable discharge	NMSA 1978, § 21-21E-3(E).
Entered service from New Mexico or ten years here	NMSA 1978, § 21-21E-3(E).

Documents the source lists

What the official source lists for an application, and where to get each document. It is a reference read from the source, not a full list of what the office may ask for; check with the office or an accredited representative before you apply. Needed means the source asks for it; Helps means the source calls it optional or says it speeds things up.

Needed Certified copy of the DD214 showing a combat campaign or service medal and an honorable discharge
Where to get it Download it from milConnect if your branch has it there, or request it from the National Archives. A VA application can ask VA to request it for you.
Listed by Higher Education Department, Wartime and Vietnam Veterans Scholarship read 2026-10-10
Needed Proof of residence
Where to get it A document showing where you live, such as a utility bill, lease, voter registration card or state ID. The agency says which ones it accepts.
Listed by NMDVS, state benefits (scholarships) read 2026-10-10

Sources

Updated

Last updated 2026-09-30.

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Disclaimer

VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.