Friday, December 8, 2023

UTSA launches tuition-free Bold Promise program for high-achieving Texas students from limited family incomes

UTSA launches tuition-free Bold Promise program for high-achieving Texas students from limited family incomes

An estimated 4,100 newly admitted students could qualify for UTSA Bold Promise in fall 2020.

Dec. 12, 2019 — To increase the access to a college education for students from low and middle-income families, The University of Texas at San Antonio today launched its UTSA Bold Promise initiative, a groundbreaking program that covers 100% of an undergraduate’s tuition and fees for four years.

The Bold Promise program will create opportunities for students from across Texas whose families may not otherwise have been able to afford a college education. An estimated 4,100 newly admitted students could qualify for UTSA Bold Promise in fall 2020.

The Bold Promise program is open to first-time freshmen who are state residents who come from families with an income up to $50,500, the median income in San Antonio, and qualify for admission by ranking in the top 25% of their high school class. Students must have graduated from high school within 16 months of their initial enrollment as first-time freshmen.


“UTSA was founded 50 years ago on the belief that San Antonians deserve access to high-quality education and opportunities.”

TAYLOR EIGHMY, UTSA President



With this program UTSA plans to devote an estimated $41 million in aid, and when coupled with support from existing federal and state programs, UTSA’s total aid and scholarship disbursement for fall 2020 will top more than $292 million to enable college going for those in financial need.

“Every day, in everything we do, UTSA students, staff and faculty embrace the ideal that education is the great equalizer of our society,” said UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. “UTSA was founded 50 years ago on the belief that San Antonians deserve access to high-quality education and opportunities. Today, with the launch of UTSA Bold Promise, we are reaffirming that commitment and creating a pathway for students from all across the state to pursue higher education and build prosperity for themselves and their families.”

The UTSA Bold Promise program could save as much as $80,000 for the De Leon/Uribe family. After their twins, Jennifer and Adrian Uribe, graduate from Lanier High School this year, they expect to enroll at UTSA to study architecture and civil engineering, respectively.

“We are so excited to be among the first students to benefit from the UTSA Bold Promise program,” said Jennifer Uribe. “Having our tuition and fees taken care of means we will be able to focus all of our time on studying for our classes and preparing for our careers.”

BoldPromise_social.png

UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken added, “Higher education is the engine of social and economic mobility, and higher attainment levels have far-reaching benefits not only for those who earn a college degree but also the communities in which they live and work. The Board of Regents and I applaud UTSA’s commitment to an accessible and affordable college degree.”

To be considered for the program, eligible students must be admitted to UTSA and submit a FAFSA/TASFA application by the priority deadline of Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020. Tuition will be automatically awarded to students who meet qualifications; no separate or additional application is needed. Students in the program will receive aid to support undergraduate tuition and mandatory fee costs for eight consecutive semesters as long as eligibility is maintained.

Once enrolled, Bold Promise students must enroll full-time each semester (12 credit hours or more) and maintain a 2.5 grade point average to continue their eligibility.


To apply to UTSA for fall 2020, visit future.utsa.edu/apply.
To learn more about the UTSA Bold Promise program, visit www.utsa.edu/promise.


“UTSA was founded on the hopes and dreams of generations of San Antonio’s culturally rich and predominantly Hispanic population,” said Kimberly Andrews Espy, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “Through Bold Promise, we will continue to deliver on this important mission by investing university resources to support families and provide students a life-changing opportunity to pursue degree programs that prepare them for success in the jobs of the future.”

As part of a larger effort to create pathways for educational excellence for San Antonians, UTSA has assigned designated recruiters to engage with high school students in San Antonio’s Westside neighborhood to increase enrollment from the community.

The Hispanic thriving university also established a Westside Scholarship Fund, announced earlier this fall as part of its Presidential Initiative on Westside Community Partnerships, to improve access to higher education for students from the area.


Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.



UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.


Events


Spotlight

Spotlight

dtc-utsa-sign_680.png
University of Texas at San Antonio receives ‘transformational’ $40M gift

UTSA’s Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA’s Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.