Davis New Mexico Scholarship Partners with the Common Application to Boost College Access for New Mexico Students

The Davis New Mexico Scholarship (DNMS) is excited to announce a transformative partnership with the Common Application, aligning with the Common App’s broader initiative to enhance college access for under-resourced students nationwide. Beginning this fall, the DNMS application will be available on the Common Application platform. This collaboration is designed to increase the usage of the Common App among first-generation college students throughout New Mexico, offering them better admissions and funding opportunities and a wider range of college options throughout New Mexico and the country.

The Common Application, a widely used application platform by over 1100 colleges and universities, is committed to simplifying the college application process and increasing accessibility for all students. Each year, over one million students worldwide use the Common Application– including an increasing number of first-generation college applicants. The organization’s partnership with the Davis New Mexico Scholarship underscores the Common Application’s dedication to expanding educational opportunities in states and regions where Common Application completion lags.

The Common App is a significant gateway to college. But last year, in half of New Mexico’s counties, not a single student submitted a Common App. Statewide, Common App completion for 12th graders jumps to only 10%, highlighting the need for a significant boost in exposure and access to this essential college application platform.

Jenny Rickard, the President & CEO of Common App, said, “We are excited to partner with Davis New Mexico to help more students in the state access postsecondary opportunities. We know that affordability continues to be one of the biggest barriers to a college education. As we focus on closing our equity gap in low- and middle-income students accessing postsecondary opportunities, partnerships like with Davis New Mexico will be critical to better serving these students.”

The Common App is a significant gateway to college. But last year, in half of New Mexico’s counties, not a single student submitted a Common App. Statewide, Common App completion for 12th graders jumps to only 10%, highlighting the need for a significant boost in exposure and access to this essential college application platform.

Christine Bowman, the Assistant Vice President of Admissions at Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative. “Integrating the Davis New Mexico Scholarship with the Common Application is a significant step toward increasing college access for students in New Mexico. When students use the Common Application to apply for such an impactful scholarship, they are more likely to apply to schools like mine that would love to welcome New Mexican students into our campus community”

Sam Ritter, Director of the Davis New Mexico Scholarship, highlighted the broader impact of this partnership. “Transitioning our application to the Common App will dramatically increase college access for students across New Mexico. It will streamline the process for students and make life easier for school counselors. We aim to ensure every first-generation college student in New Mexico has the resources and support they need to pursue higher education, and this is an important milestone in making that happen.”

The Davis New Mexico Scholarship has awarded nearly $45 million in scholarships to first-generation college going students over the past decade. Boasting a graduation rate over 90%, the scholarship has significantly expanded its footprint in New Mexico over the past three years. This partnership with the Common Application is an important way the scholarship looks to leverage the transformational philanthropy of the scholarship’s founder, Andrew Davis, into college access initiatives for all New Mexican students.

For more information about the Davis New Mexico Scholarship and how to apply through the Common Application, please visit www.davisnm.org or www.commonapp.org.