Top students in Texas will be able to attend Texas A&M University-San Antonio tuition- and fee-free starting next fall, with a book stipend of $300 a year as part of a program called Jaguar Promise.
The program, announced during a ceremony Tuesday, builds on the success of similar initiatives in the region, including Alamo Promise from the Alamo Colleges District and the Bold Promise program at UTSA.
Jaguar Promise replaces the Achiever Promise program, which provided similar benefits without a book stipend to a smaller group of eligible students. Students receiving funding under that program will not be impacted.
With only 27% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to the most recent census data, promise programs are key to building a “P-20 pipeline,” according to area college leaders.
Several different student groups are eligible to participate in the new program, including those who:
- Graduate within the top 10% of their high school class.
- Graduate from an Early College High School Program with at least 30 credit hours
- Earned an associate’s degree or 60 credit hours and has a family-adjusted gross income of $70,000 or less.
- Graduate within 11% to 35% of their high school class with a family-adjusted gross income of $70,000 or less.
Students must enroll full-time and be Texas residents to qualify for the program.
In prepared remarks, John Sharp, Texas A&M University System chancellor, called the new program a “game changer.”
“Affordability is paramount to the Texas A&M system, and A&M-San Antonio’s new promise program is one of the most comprehensive promise programs in the state,” he said.
The tuition and fee waivers will cover any costs left over after other financial aid is applied, according to college officials.
President Hector Ochoa, who recently became the third leader of the San Antonio University, told reporters that he expects the program to incentivize more students to participate in early college high school programs.
“We don’t know the exact number, but we anticipate with this program that it will increase our numbers of students participating in early college high schools across the city,” he said.
In addition, Ochoa said he hopes the program will help persuade community college students that an associate’s degree is not the end of the road.
Some students, including Tresjure Cross Mills, who is finishing an associate’s degree at Northwest Vista College, wouldn’t even consider continuing their education if not for a program like Jaguar Promise.
“I really don’t know what I would do,” she told the San Antonio Report. “It wouldn’t be possible.”
Now, she plans to study communications at TAMU-SA, with the goal of presenting the morning news.
“It will eliminate the tuition so that I can just focus on my education, learning, growing and making valuable connections,” she said.
Key to the program’s success will be spreading awareness of the program to graduating high schoolers, like Harlandale Independent School District Senior Sebastian Hernandez, who said he is strongly considering his options with the Jaguar Program eliminating costs.
“I currently have a sister who is enrolled at [UTSA], who is in her final year, and she has given me a lot of good advice as to college and the reality of the cost of tuition,” he said during the ceremony. “I’m obviously considering the economic cost of college.”
With a growing class of more than 14,000 students this year, Southwest Independent School District Superintendent Jeanette Ball said she would encourage students to pursue a degree through the program.
“It’s nearby, so they can be here, it is something that is financially available for them, so there’s no reason for them not to take … part in this opportunity,” she said.
With TAMU-SA already growing rapidly, Ochoa said the Jaguar Promise program will fuel the future of the university.
“When you look at our university, we have 700 acres, largely undeveloped,” he said. “The opportunities here to expand and grow and serve South San Antonio is very critical.”
