Alamo Colleges Adjusts Tuition Fees and Expands Promise Programs to Enhance Affordability
Alamo Colleges has recently implemented several changes aimed at making higher education more accessible and affordable for students in the San Antonio area and beyond. These initiatives include lowering tuition rates for out-of-county and international students, offering forgiveness for outstanding balances, and expanding the Alamo Promise program to facilitate seamless transfers to four-year universities.
Lowering Tuition Rates to Attract More Students
One of the most significant changes is the reduction of tuition fees for students residing outside Bexar County. Starting this fall, these students will pay $180 per credit hour, a decrease from the previous rate of $225. This adjustment applies to all Texas residents who live outside Bexar County. The cost per credit hour for Bexar County residents will remain at $109.
The Alamo Colleges considers eight counties part of its service area: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Kerr, and Wilson. Associate Vice Chancellor Shayne West noted that the population growth in these surrounding counties presents a significant opportunity for the Alamo Colleges. “When you look at the map, and you look and know where our colleges are, they're knocking on our door,” West said, emphasizing the proximity of institutions like Northeast Lakeview College to rapidly growing areas like Comal County.
The community college system anticipates that the lowered tuition will lead to increased enrollment, ultimately boosting revenue. ACD forecasts project a 5% increase in enrollment next year, which would increase revenue by $3.2 million even with the lower tuition rate.
In addition to lowering tuition for out-of-county students, the Alamo Colleges trustees also voted to reduce the non-Texas and international student rate from $476 per credit hour to $327. This decision aims to attract a more diverse student body and make the Alamo Colleges a more appealing option for international learners.
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Chancellor Mike Flores explained that the Alamo Colleges had previously tested the impact of lowering tuition by offering online courses for students outside Bexar County at $180 per credit hour four years ago. Students living in Bexar County pay $109 per credit hour for both online and in-person classes. “Our intent was to beta test and develop proof of concept,” Flores said, adding that e-rate enrollment almost doubled over the last three years after its tuition rate was lowered.
Special Program Tuition Rates
As part of the approved tuition package, special program tuition rates were added for eight additional programs. These rates are designed to cover the high cost of equipment and faculty stipends for high-wage, high-demand courses. The programs include cybersecurity, cloud computing, dental hygiene, EMT/Paramedic, cardiac sonography, engineering, and power generation and alternative energy. The additional cost per credit hour ranges from $15 for power generation and alternative energy to $170 for dental hygiene.
Fresh Start Program: Forgiving Outstanding Balances
To further support students, Alamo Colleges trustees voted to offer forgiveness for outstanding balances, allowing students who are blocked from enrolling in classes due to these balances to re-enroll. The forgiveness program covers up to $600.
During a committee meeting, Associate Vice Chancellor Lisa Mazure stated that approximately 7,000 current or former students could benefit from the program, which is called Fresh Start. “This initiative is designed so that currently enrolled students can continue enrollment with Alamo, and that stop outs don't become dropouts,” Mazure said.
Expansion of Alamo Promise Program
The Alamo Colleges continue to expand the Alamo Promise program, which allows eligible high school graduates to attend any of the five Alamo Colleges tuition-free. Since 2019, more than 30,000 San Antonio students have participated in the Alamo Promise program, attending institutions such as San Antonio College and St. Philip’s College.
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This latest agreement comes as an expansion of the Alamo Colleges Promise to Promise program, which is meant to create a pipeline for students to continue their education tuition free at area universities. To qualify students must be Texas residents, in good academic standing and have earned an associate degree. Danielle Chavarria, a graduate of Clark High School and a Promise student at St. Philip’s College, earned her associate degree in science as a prerequisite for a nursing program. She later received a call from St. Philip’s College offering her the Promise to Promise agreement. “I was in shock… It was a huge relief because I felt like my [prayers] were being answered,” she added.
Through the Promise to Promise agreement with UT San Antonio, 288 students have transferred from Alamo Colleges and saved about $3 million in tuition and fees, according to Chancellor Mike Flores.
Promise to Promise Agreement with Schreiner University
Schreiner University President Charlie McCormick and Alamo Colleges Chancellor Mike Flores signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday to solidify a Promise to Promise agreement for student transfers. “[It involves] ensuring that there are career degrees and career pathways for students,” Flores said. Schreiner University is located about an hour away from San Antonio.
Under the agreement, Alamo Colleges staff will help identify potential transfer students for Schreiner University, like Chavarria. Frohardt, said he was exposed to the promise program during his time working as the dean of arts and sciences at Northwest Vista College in 2016. “I saw the benefits of the promise [program],” Frohardt said. “I know finances are a big part of the decisions that people make. I have a freshman in college.
Cost of Attendance
Cost of Attendance (COA) is the total estimated cost a student may pay while attending the Alamo Colleges for one academic year. The Student Financial Aid Office is responsible for calculating the COA annually to determine the maximum amount of financial aid a student may receive for the year. It will also depend on a student's Dependency status - whether they are classified as Dependent or Independent on their financial aid application. Students with special circumstances may submit a Cost of Attendance Adjustment Form, in order for our office to make a determination on if changes are possible.
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