OHLAP
DISCOVER THE PROMISE OF FREE COLLEGE TUITION!
How it works
Oklahomans want to see deserving students succeed - students who study and work hard, but whose families find it difficult to afford college. If your child dreams of going to college and works to achieve it, then we can make it a reality!
To make that happen, the Oklahoma Legislature has set up a unique program for eight, ninth, and tenth grade students (home-school students must be age 13, 14, or 15) that will help pay for their college education if their family's income is $50,000 or less at the time the student applies for the program. This program is Oklahoma's Promise.
But college isn't easy. So to make sure students get ready for college while they're still in high school, the program requires students to take certain high school courses. They will have to pass those courses and keep up their grades. And besides that, they're in control outside the classroom. That means staying away from trouble like gangs, drugs, and alcohol. In short, the student promises to prepare academically for college and stay out of trouble, and in return, the state of Oklahoma promises to help pay the student's college tuition.
If you don't qualify for this program, there are still other ways to pay for college, including scholarships, grants and student loans. For more information on other financial aid, see your counselor for details or check out the scholarship page & helpful links on the Geary Schools website.
Scholarship Benefits
Once a student reaches the program's goals, Oklahoma's Promise will pay his/her tuition at an Oklahoma public two-year college or four-year university. It will also cover at least a portion of tuition at an Oklahoma accredited private college or university or for courses offered at public technology centers that qualify for credit from an Oklahoma public two-year college. The scholarship amount, however, does not cover items such as books, supplies, room and board, or any other special fees. Students are strongly encouraged to apply for other forms of financial aid to cover these costs.
Student Requirements
High School Requirements:
- Graduate from an Oklahoma high school or home-school education program.
- Take the 17 units of college-prep high school courses (see web-site online for complete list of required courses) and achieve at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA in those courses in grades 9-12.
- Attend school regularly.
- Do your homework.
- Stay away from drugs and alcohol.
- Don't commit criminal or delinquent acts.
- Provided information when requested.
- Meet with a school official to go over your schools work and records on a regular basis.
- Apply for other financial aid during you senior year of high school.
- Take part in Oklahoma's Promise activities that will prepare you for college.
College Requirements:
- Your parents' income may not exceed $100,000 at the time you begin college and prior to receiving the scholarship.
- You must be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present in the United States.
- You must meet normal admission standards for first-time entering students at the college or university to which you apply.
- You must start taking college courses within three years after you graduate high school.
- You may not receive funds for more that five consecutive years after enrolling in college.
- You cannot use the award for courses taken after you complete you bachelor's degree.
- You must achieve a college GPA of 2.0 for courses taken through your sophomore year and a 2.5 for courses taken during your junior and senior years.
- Any Oklahoma's Promise college student that is suspended for more than one semester for conduct reasons will lose the scholarship permanently.
Oklahoma Colleges and Universities