This week, the Alamo Colleges Board of Trustees voted to expand eligibility for its AlamoPROMISE free tuition program to more area high schools.
The program, rolled out by Alamo Colleges in 2019, initially offered free tuition to eligible students from 25 local high schools and two pilot programs. The Board voted to add 22 more high schools, bringing the total of 47, which makes about 4,000 more students eligible to apply for the tuition aid.
The original pre-pandemic goal of the program was to increase college-going rates in Bexar County from 45% to 70%, according to Stephanie Vasquez, chief program officer for AlamoPROMISE for the Alamo Colleges District. However, in light of lower college attendance rates due to Covid-19, that goal may temporarily shift.
"The intent for AlamoPROMISE is to expand further to additional comprehensive high schools and partner school districts over the next five years," Vasquez said.
The schools selected to participate are those with high rates of low-income students as well as low rates of college attendance.
Vasquez said the program serves to provide students with last-dollar scholarships to cover any gaps between financial aid awards and the cost of tuition and other required fees. Sources of funding include the City of San Antonio and Bexar County and private donations, as well as institutional district funding. Alamo Colleges has raised $12 million in private funds as well as $3.9 million from the city and the county. The program is estimated to cost $122 million in its first five years, though $88 million of that will be offset by federal aid.
Student eligibility is determined by need based on their financial aid awards from federal or state funding, Vasquez said, but there is no specific income bar to become an AlamoPROMISE scholar.
