Frequently Asked QuestionsBrowse through the sections below to find helpful information, or reach out to us at promise@alamo.edu if you need further assistance. |
General FAQs
Working with local government and community partners AlamoPROMISE provides community college tuition along with mandatory fees to eligible students who plan to earn an associate degree, certification, courses for transfer or workforce training.
AlamoPROMISE is more than a new program of the Alamo Colleges District, it is a community-wide initiative.
AlamoPROMISE will provide last-dollar funding to fill the gap between a student’s financial aid award and the cost of tuition and mandatory fees for up to three consecutive years at one of the Alamo Colleges District’s five colleges.
Step 1: Identify Your Program
Explore our extensive list of more than 300 programs to discover your future career path. Once you’ve chosen a program, identify the college where it’s offered—you’ll need the program and the college for your admissions application.
Step 2: Complete your ApplyTexas Application
Complete your ApplyTexas admission application to one of the five Alamo Colleges. Check out our application tips before you get started.
Complete the ApplyTexas Application
Step 3: Apply for Financial Aid
Fill out your financial aid application through FAFSA or TASFA, and complete any requirements needed to issue your financial aid award.
Learn more about Financial Aid
Step 4: Enroll in Classes
Complete your enrollment steps, attend New Student Orientation, and register for classes in the Fall after you graduate high school.
As a reminder, a student must:
- Graduate from a high school in Bexar County and/or live in Bexar County
- Be eligible to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA)
- Enroll in the Fall semester immediately after graduation
Questions?
We're here for you. Email promise@alamo.edu for more information.
The first cohort of AlamoPROMISE scholars were recruited in the fall of 2019 and enrolled as AlamoPROMISE Scholars in fall of 2020.
AlamoPROMISE is both privately and publicly funded.
The generous support of our community makes this program possible. We want to encourage your continued investment in Bexar County area students.
There is consensus in the community that education beyond high school is critical to providing economic and social mobility for residents, and that financial barriers are the greatest factor in preventing residents from enrolling in or completing a college education.
The leadership of the Alamo Colleges District believes that AlamoPROMISE provides a strategy to address that reality and the fact that San Antonio is one of the fastest-growing economic regions in the country, yet has the second-highest percentage of population in poverty among the top 25 largest U.S. metro areas.
Yes. The Dallas County Community College District has a successful Promise program, and there are 242 such programs making a difference across the country.
Incoming Student FAQs
AlamoPROMISE is open to high school seniors graduating from public, private, charter and home school programs in Bexar County. Students must graduate from high schools in Bexar County and/or live in Bexar County and be eligible to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) to become an AlamoPROMISE Scholar.
To meet program requirements, incoming students must:
- Be a graduating high school senior enrolling at one of the Alamo Colleges in the Fall semester immediately following their high school graduation.
- Submit your admission application through Apply Texas
- Submit and complete your FAFSA or TASFA requirements, including completing any documents required to process a financial aid award
- List at least one college of the Alamo Colleges District on the Federal Student Aid or Texas Application for State Financial Aid
Application (admission and financial aid) requirements should be completed by Feb. 28. Applications completed after the Feb. 28 priority date will be considered for the program on a space-available basis, and students are highly encouraged to complete their applications as soon as possible.
AlamoPROMISE is not available to:
- Students who live outside of Bexar County (unless they graduated from a high school within Bexar County)
- Transfer students
- Students who enrolled at another institution of higher education prior to the Fall semester
- Students who did not enroll during the Fall semester immediately following their high school graduation
- Students who are not eligible to complete a FAFSA or TASFA application
The AlamoPROMISE Program Office is available to address any questions about AlamoPROMISE participation at promise@alamo.edu. Students who do not meet AlamoPROMISE participation criteria can receive assistance with transition to college through the Alamo Colleges District’s College Connection Team.
No, income level or graduating Grade Point Average (GPA)/class rank are not part of the eligibility requirements for AlamoPROMISE. Seniors from participating high schools can become AlamoPROMISE Scholars.
AlamoPROMISE ensures that the costs of tuition and required fees are covered for courses that are part of a student’s Program of Study/degree plan after the student’s financial aid awards have been applied. Note that textbook rentals covered by tuition, laptop rentals and VIA bus passes are available to enrolled students.
Students taking courses outside of their official degree plan could receive less federal financial aid and have to pay for courses out of pocket.
AlamoPROMISE does not cover courses outside of a student’s Program of Study/degree plan. It also does not cover other college-going expenses, such as technology equipment, transportation, and housing. Summer courses are not covered by AlamoPROMISE, but students can utilize programs such as Summer Momentum.
Yes! AlamoPROMISE Scholars can earn academic certificates. After earning a certificate, students can continue working toward their associate degree while participating in AlamoPROMISE.
Students can participate in AlamoPROMISE until they complete an associate degree, or up to three consecutive years – whichever comes first.
AlamoPROMISE Scholars must meet key criteria that support a successful journey toward college completion, including:
- Credit Hours Requirements
- Continuous Enrollment
- Annual Financial Aid Application Completion
- Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Take a Course in your Program of Study
Detailed information about these requirements is posted at alamo.edu/promise/students.
AlamoPROMISE Scholars not meeting these requirements may be subject to having their AlamoPROMISE eligibility revoked. Any notices regarding a change in AlamoPROMISE Scholar status will be communicated by the AlamoPROMISE Program Office to the official student alamo.edu email account.
Please note that if there are concerns about meeting any requirements, students should work with their Certified Academic Advisor for exception consideration and a plan for continued success. The AlamoPROMISE Program Office is also available to assist with any questions at promise@alamo.edu.
Yes, AlamoPROMISE students need to complete financial aid requirements – such as verification and/or any other required financial documents – that are requested after a FAFSA or TASFA is submitted. Please note that the FAFSA/TASFA and any requested documents must be completed every year to continue participation in AlamoPROMISE. If you have additional financial aid requirements, that will be communicated to your official student alamo.edu email address and listed in your ACES account in “Financial Aid Requirements.”
For help with any Financial Aid documents, please email promise_finaid@alamo.edu or call 210-212-5266.
If you have additional financial aid requirements, that will be communicated to your official student alamo.edu email address and listed in your ACES student portal account in “Financial Aid Requirements.”
AlamoPROMISE Scholars who have outstanding balances related to tuition and required fees may be dropped from classes if their financial aid application and requirements are not complete. Continuing AlamoPROMISE students should submit their financial aid application no later than May 1 to avoid being dropped from classes.
Additionally, students may incur a balance due to registering for courses outside of their Program of Study (POS). Students should meet with their academic advisor to review their course schedule and make adjustments as needed. Students with outstanding balances related to fees not covered by AlamoPROMISE should make payment or set up a payment plan to avoid being dropped for non-payment on payment deadlines.
Students attending one of the five colleges at the Alamo Colleges District have access to different types of resources to assist you with your success. Some resources include: Laptop and Wi-Fi Hotspot check-out, student emergency aid, student food support from the San Antonio Food Bank, Housing and Rental Assistance programs, mental health counseling and other referrals for public assistance.
Early high school graduates will be eligible for AlamoPROMISE in the fall semester after graduation.
Exceptions can be made for students who join the military after high school graduation. Exceptions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Contact promise@alamo.edu for further information.
Your financial aid is applied directly to your student bill about 10 days before the first day of class each semester, as long as you’ve met all enrollment requirements.
You can also check upcoming disbursement dates on the Dates and Priority Deadline webpage.
To view your Financial Aid Award in ACES:
- Log in to ACES
- Click “Paying for College” in the top menu
- Find the Financial Aid Awards card and select “View Your Financial Aid Awards”
- Click the “Aid Offer” tab
- Use the dropdown in the top right to select the correct aid year
If your financial aid hasn’t been disbursed as expected:
Check the Financial Aid Requirements card for any incomplete items or important messages.
You can also use the available tutorials to help you review incomplete financial aid requirements, messages, and more.
Parents & Families
My child is the first person in the family to attend college and I am not familiar with the college process. What can I do to help my child succeed?
The college enrollment process can be confusing, but the AlamoPROMISE team is here to help guide you through the steps and requirements. Our colleges have dedicated staff in admissions, financial aid, and other student services offices to support our incoming students.
Begin exploring college and career options with your student and reach out to us at promise@alamo.edu anytime you have questions!