The application deadline for students to enroll in Oklahoma’s Promise, a state scholarship program, is set for July 1. This is the final opportunity for students who were 11th graders in the 2023-24 school year to apply for the scholarship.

Oklahoma’s Promise is a program that provides high school students with the opportunity to secure a tuition scholarship applicable at an Oklahoma college, university or public career technology center. Eligibility is based on family income: $60,000 for families with one or two dependent children, $70,000 for three or four children and $80,000 for five or more children. Special provisions are available for adopted children from certain court-ordered custody and those under court-appointed legal guardians.

Edith Cathey, Director of Enrollment Management at Seminole State College, emphasized the program’s importance for local students. “Oklahoma’s Promise offers an invaluable opportunity for our students to achieve their higher education goals without the burden of overwhelming debt,” Cathey said. “We strongly urge eligible students to take advantage of this program.”

The scholarship covers tuition at public colleges and universities in Oklahoma for up to five years or a maximum of 129 semester credit hours, whichever comes first. It also partially covers tuition at accredited private colleges and public career technology centers for specific programs eligible for federal financial aid. However, it does not cover fees, books, supplies or room and board.

“We encourage eligible students who just completed eighth through 11th grade to apply for Oklahoma’s Promise today,” Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Chancellor Allison D. Garrett said. “Since the program’s inception in 1992, over 110,000 Oklahomans have earned the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship, opening the door for them to achieve the dream of a college degree and join our state’s educated workforce.”

To qualify, students must regularly attend classes, complete a 17-unit college preparatory curriculum with at least a 2.50 GPA in those courses, and maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.50. Additionally, they must commit to staying out of serious trouble and avoiding drugs and alcohol.

While in college or attending a public career technology center, students must continue to meet income, academic, and conduct standards to retain the scholarship.

Created by the Oklahoma Legislature in 1992, Oklahoma’s Promise aims to motivate middle and high school students to strive for academic success and prepare for college. A dedicated funding source established in 2007 ensures that scholarships are fully funded each year.

For more information or to apply online, visit okpromise.org.