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SAN ANTONIO – As more high school seniors and families face increasing costs to earn a college degree, Texas A&M University-San Antonio is continuing to address this national concern with the launch of two new initiatives focused on maximizing scholarships, value and continued access to quality higher education.
This week, the University will introduce the Jaguar Excellence Guarantee and Achiever Promise, both designed to help students who qualify graduate with little to no debt while extending access to the services and experiences that impact a student’s ability to graduate on time with the essential skills employers rely on. The two programs were launched Sept. 22 at East Central High School, one of the Institution’s ASPIRE partner ISDs.
Currently, A&M-San Antonio’s tuition is one of the lowest in the city with 73 percent of A&M-San Antonio students graduating with little to no debt. Overall, 98 percent of the student body receives financial assistance including grants, scholarships, federal work-study, paid internships and loans, compared to a national average of 86 percent.
The Achiever Promise, which is part of the Jaguar Excellence Guarantee offers free tuition to graduating high school seniors in the top 10 percent of their class who enroll at the University. Additionally, graduating high school seniors from an Early College High School in Texas who have at least 30 units of credit are eligible for free tuition. The University’s student enrollment has continued to grow over the past five years, including an increase in enrollment of top 10 percent students in the past two years, according to Brandy McLelland, A&M-San Antonio’s vice president of enrollment management.
“A&M-San Antonio is one of the best educational values in the region,” said McLelland. “We exist for one reason: our students. The Jaguar Excellence Guarantee and Achiever Promise provide the financial support and wrap-around services that extend value to students.”
Extending A&M-San Antonio’s Achiever Promise is made possible by the A&M System Regents Scholarship Fund, which will infuse $100 million into its 11 campuses over the next 10 years.
“Since our inception 11 years ago, A&M-San Antonio has invested millions in scholarships, grants and financial assistance to high-achieving and high-need students. The Jaguar Excellence Guarantee and Achiever Promise speak to A&M-San Antonio’s continued commitment to those we serve. Creating new opportunities to increase access to excellence will positively impact our students, their families and our region,” said Cynthia Teniente-Matson, president of A&M-San Antonio. “We are deeply appreciative of the support of the A&M System, the members of the Board of Regents and donors who share our commitment to extend access to and affordability of higher education in a dynamic university environment.”
A&M-San Antonio has continued to grow over the past 11 years. The University recently opened a new classroom hall to support its growing student enrollment, adding 60,000 square feet of classrooms and support services to its campus footprint of 700 acres, and launched an intercollegiate athletics program in January 2020. More than 480 faculty and 590 staff support more than 6,700 students.
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Texas A&M University-San Antonio
Texas A&M University-San Antonio is a comprehensive, four-year public university that reflects the culturally diverse, heritage-rich community it serves. Situated on nearly 700 acres in south San Antonio, A&M-San Antonio is a Military Embracing™ institution offering over 30 undergraduate and graduate degrees to over 6,700 students. The university is home to the Henry G. Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders and the Cyber Engineering Technology/Cyber Security Research Center. A&M-San Antonio holds the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation. Visit tamusa.edu for more information.
For more information on the Jaguar Excellence Guarantee and Achiever Promise, visit tamusa.edu/jaguar-excellence-guarantee.
For more information on the Regents Scholarship, visit tamusa.edu/news/2020/06/am-system-scholarship-fund.html.
For media: To schedule an interview or for more information on the news conference, contact Erin O’Brien at (210) 784-1120 or eobrien@tamusa.edu.