SAN ANTONIO – University of Texas at San Antonio officials announced a new program Thursday that will provide a free college education for thousands of qualified Texans each year.

Starting in the fall 2020 semester, incoming freshmen from middle and low-income families in Texas can qualify to have their tuition and fees covered at 100% for eight fall/spring semesters in four years.

To qualify for the UTSA Bold Promise program, a student must:

Be a Texas resident

Be ranked in the top 25% of high school class

Be admitted as a freshman for Fall 2020 by Jan. 15

Have a family Adjusted Gross Income up to $50,500

Enroll as a first-time freshman within 16 months of high school graduation

Be enrolled in 12 credit hours or more each semester

Maintain a 2.5 grade point average at UTSA

Incoming freshmen must submit a FAFSA/TASFA by Jan. 15, but no separate application is needed to be considered for the program.

More than 4,000 incoming freshmen are expected to qualify for free tuition next year.

The cost will be covered by scholarships, grants or tuition exemptions from the federal, state and institutional levels.

“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 in a press release. “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.”

In July, The University of Texas at Austin announced a similar program for eligible students from families with an Adjusted Gross Income of $65,000 or less.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley also announced a free tuition program this fall.

The Alamo College District announced that starting in 2020, students from 25 local high schools can have their tuition covered at any of the five Alamo Colleges campuses. An additional 20 high schools will be added to the eligibility pool for the second year.

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