Schreiner College, a small Presbyterian college positioned in Kerrville, is the primary non-public establishment to align with Alamo Schools District’s Promise to Promise program agreeing to waive tuition and charges for qualifying switch college students.
Since 2019, greater than 30,000 San Antonio college students have participated within the Alamo Promise program, which allowed highschool graduates to attend any of the 5 Alamo Schools — San Antonio Faculty, St. Philip’s Faculty, Palo Alto Faculty, Northwest Vista Faculty and Northeast Lakeview Faculty — tuition free for as much as three consecutive years.
This system makes use of what they name a “final greenback” method, that means they cowl the remaining price of tuition and charges that goes uncovered by the scholar’s monetary support, grants or scholarships.
This newest settlement comes as an growth of the Alamo Schools Promise to Promise program, which is supposed to create a pipeline for college kids to proceed their training tuition free at space universities. The district partnered with public establishments the College of Texas at San Antonio in 2022 and Texas A&M College- San Antonio in 2024.
“With Schreiner College now alongside UT San Antonio and Texas A&M San Antonio, we’re increasing regional momentum round our moonshot and demonstrating what’s doable when establishments align throughout entry and throughout alternative,” mentioned Alamo Schools Chancellor Mike Flores.
To qualify college students have to be Texas residents, in good educational standing and have earned an affiliate diploma. Their household family earnings should even be at or beneath $70,000 per 12 months and have to be eligible for state or federal monetary support.
By way of this partnership college students might earn 4 consecutive fall and spring semesters of free tuition in the event that they keep full-time enrollment throughout spring and fall semesters, proceed to use for monetary support and keep a minimal of a 3.0 grade level common at Schreiner.
Danielle Chavarria, 20, graduated from Clark Excessive College and enrolled at St. Philip’s Faculty as a Promise pupil. There she earned her affiliate diploma in science a prerequisite to enter a nursing program. She took an interest within the bachelor of science diploma in nursing at Schreiner College, however mentioned the price of about $40,000 was not lifelike for her and her household.
“After graduating, I acquired presents however the price of non-public college simply fell out of attain,” Chavarria mentioned.
She later obtained a name from St. Philip’s workers letting her know that she would grow to be the primary to qualify within the Promise to Promise program between Alamo Schools and Shreiner.
“I used to be in shock… It was an enormous reduction as a result of I felt like my [prayers] have been being answered,” she added. “It adjustments what’s doable for my household and for different college students similar to me.”
By way of the Promise to Promise settlement with UT San Antonio, 288 college students have transferred from Alamo Schools and saved about $3 million in tuition and charges, Flores mentioned. Whereas that is the primary partnership with a personal establishment, the chancellor added he hopes it serves as a case research for others to affix.
Ideally, a partnering establishment is keen to speculate sources to make sure college students pay little to no tuition after monetary support awards or scholarships, however additionally they need to be sure that their applications align with the credit earned by the scholars throughout the Alamo Schools.
“[It involves] guaranteeing that there are profession levels and profession pathways for college kids,” Flores mentioned. “That no matter we provide on the Alamo Schools goes to have the ability to seamlessly switch to the non-public college.”
Schreiner College is a unique establishment altogether, positioned about an hour away from San Antonio. The college hit its all-time-high enrollment in 2025 of 1,470 college students, mentioned Russell Frohardt, provost and vp for educational affairs.
About 60% of all college students are varsity athletes, Frohardt added, and so they entice largely these searching for smaller class sizes and a extra conventional faculty expertise. The typical annual tuition price of the college is $20,400, in response to federal knowledge.
Beneath the settlement, Alamo Schools workers will assist establish potential switch college students for Schreiner College, like Chavarria. Utility charges shall be waived for college kids who voice an intent to switch via this system, and should enroll the primary spring or fall semester after their commencement from Alamo Schools.
Frohardt, mentioned he was uncovered to the promise program throughout his time working because the dean of arts and sciences at Northwest Vista Faculty in 2016. Final 12 months, he transitioned to Schreiner College as Provost and commenced trying into making this new partnership a actuality.
“I noticed the advantages of the promise [program],” Frohardt mentioned. “I do know funds are a giant a part of the choices that individuals make. I’ve a freshman in faculty. So, we simply wished to take away these limitations.”
The San Antonio Report companions with Open Campus on increased training protection.
