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What is the Jaguar Promise?

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I know if I am eligible for the Jaguar Promise program?

  
  To be eligible for the Jaguar Promise you must meet one of the following criteria. 1) Be a high school student in the top 10% of your class or have earned at least 30 credits from an Early College High School, 2) Be a high school student in the top 35% of your class with an adjusted gross income of $70,000 or less, 3) Be a transfer student who has earned an associate degree or at least 60 college credits with an adjusted gross income of $70,000 or less. If you attend a charter school then you are still eligible to participate in the program, however, at this time homeschool students are not eligible. If you attend a non-ranking school then the University will accept a ranking letter from your high school to use towards your eligibility.

• What does the Jaguar Promise cover?

  
  The Jaguar Promise is a last-dollar promise program, which means that every eligible student will receive an institutional scholarship, if necessary. The scholarship will go into effect to cover the gap for the total cost of tuition, fees and books* after all financial aid and scholarships have been awarded (not including loans). *A book stipend of $300 per semester will be provided as part of the Jaguar Promise.

• Does the Jaguar Promise replace the Achiever Promise?

  
  Yes, the Achiever Promise will no longer be offered for new students starting in Fall 2024. All incoming new students starting in Fall 2024 or later who would have been eligible for the Achiever Promise will now be included in the Jaguar Promise. Plus, the Jaguar Promise expands aid to include tuition, fees and books*. Students who are still enrolled and had previously received the Achiever Promise will still get the Achiever Promise if they remain eligible under those rules/regulations.

• Do I have to be enrolled full-time at A&M-SA for Jaguar Promise?

  
  Yes, full-time enrollment is required for all students in the Jaguar Promise program, which means that a student must be enrolled for at least 12-credit hours per semester. The Jaguar Promise will cover up to a total of 15-credit hours per semester. For transfer students who are dual-enrolled between both A&M-SA and the Alamo Colleges, the credits taken at the Alamo Colleges do not count towards the credit hours required for this program. If a student is not enrolled in at least 12-credit hours at any point during their time at A&M-SA then they are no longer eligible for the Jaguar Promise.

• When does the Jaguar Promise begin and what semesters are included?

  
  The Jaguar Promise program is effective starting in fall 2024 for the 2024-2025 academic year. Once the program becomes effective, Jaguar Promise will be offered to students who are admitted for either the fall or spring semesters. This means that a student can be admitted for fall 2024 or spring 2025 and qualify.

• What is the deadline to be considered for Jaguar Promise?

  
  The early bird catches the worm! Students are encouraged to take early action to become eligible for Jaguar Promise. There are 3 main steps: 1) Apply for admission, 2) Submit transcripts and 3) Apply for financial aid. Students must submit their application for admission by the stated deadlines. For high school students, the priority application deadline has been extended until April 15, 2024. For transfer students, the priority application deadline is April 15, 2024. In addition, students must submit their transcripts to receive an admissions decision and confirm their enrollment by May 15 to be eligible for Jaguar Promise. The sooner the better! The final step in the process is applying for financial aid. The priority deadline to complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA or TASFA is April 15, 2024.

• Am I eligible for additional scholarships on top of the Jaguar Promise?

  
  Yes! Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships via ScholarshipUniverse, accessible on the Financial Aid & Scholarships website. All institutional and external scholarships will be applied to the total cost of tuition, fees and books* first. If there is still a gap then the Jaguar Promise will be awarded. Any additional scholarships can be applied to housing, food, transportation and living expenses. The priority deadline to apply for additional scholarships is March 15, 2024.

• How do I maintain my eligibility?

  
  In order to remain eligible for the Jaguar Promise, your income must consistently stay at $70,000 or less, you must be enrolled in at least 12-credit hours each semester and you must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) each semester.

• Why do I need to be a Texas resident for this program?

  
  The Jaguar Promise is partially funded with Federal Pell and Texas State grants. In order to be eligible for this program, you must meet all Texas state residency requirements.

• Does the Jaguar Promise program cover graduate or master’s degrees?

  
  Already earned your bachelor’s degree? Congratulations! At this time, the Jaguar Promise program only covers students who have not completed a bachelor’s degree at the time of admission. This program is strictly for Undergraduate students (first-year and transfer) and does not cover graduate or master’s degrees.

• As a transfer student, do I have to attend an Alamo Community College to be eligible?

  
  No, the Jaguar Promise program is open to all transfer students who have attended any community college and are current Texas residents.

• Do I have to re-apply for the Jaguar Promise every year?

  
  No! Once you are a recipient of the Jaguar Promise you will automatically be enrolled in the program every year, as long as you maintain the program requirements.