UNM students with the lottery scholarship could have to pay more than $600 under proposed changes to the program.
The Commission on Higher Education recommended the Legislature set a flat award amount for the Lottery Success Scholarship.
The commission regulates higher education and makes funding recommendations to the Legislature.
Under the proposal, students at New Mexico's three research universities would receive $1,250 per semester.
Tuition and fees at UNM are $1,869 per semester for this academic year.
"That's probably the worst thing that could happen to the lottery as far as UNM is concerned," ASUNM President Kevin Stevenson said.
In addition, the commission recommended a 4 percent tuition credit. A tuition credit is a tuition increase built into the university's appropriation from the state.
The proposed rate is also less than the tuition at New Mexico State University and New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, the other two research institutions in the state.
In its recommendations, the commission stated a flat award would keep the state from being "forced" to pay more to a school when it raises tuition.
A flat amount awarded directly to students and not the school would also allow families to quality for federal tuition tax credits, the commission stated.
It also suggested four other changes to the scholarship:
1. Give students a second chance to earn the scholarship if they have below a 2.5 grade point average.
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2. Extend eligibility to students who take up to two years after high school before entering college.
3. Extend eligibility to students who complete an associate's degree, then immediately pursue a bachelor's degree.
4. Extend eligibility to students at tribal colleges.
The proposed changes mirror Gov. Bill Richardson's higher education platform. Last week, Richardson also proposed expanding the Lottery Success Scholarship to New Mexicans attending nonprofit, private colleges in the state.
For now, UNM lobbyist Carlos Romero is seeing what the impact of any changes would have on UNM students.
"Until bills are actually drafted or introduced, there is no way to make a true analysis," Romero said.
He said he expects legislators will introduce numerous bills changing the requirements, the eligibility and the amount of the lottery scholarship.
State Sen. Joseph Carraro has already introduced a bill to expand the scholarship to students who don't immediately enter college after finishing high school or obtaining a GED.
The bill is in the Senate Education Committee.
