The University of Texas at Arlington and the Arlington Independent School District recently signed an agreement that provides a seamless transition to a four-year university degree for traditionally underserved high school students currently enrolled at Arlington Collegiate High School, located on Tarrant County College’s Southeast Campus. ACHS students can already earn an associate’s degree from TCC Southeast which requires, in general, 60 hours of course work taken through dual credit offerings while they are in high school.
Through the newly-instituted ACHS Lion Scholars program, students who are within six hours of completing their associate’s degree can also begin taking classes toward a bachelor’s degree at UTA. The AISD will pay for the students’ UTA tuition at dual credit rates, along with textbooks and other required fees, until they obtain their high school diplomas. Once students graduate from high school, the university will review their status to determine their eligibility for scholarships that could offer up to $10,000 in tuition assistance.
“This partnership will ease the transition to a four-year university for Arlington Collegiate High School students,” said Arlington ISD Superintendent Marcelo Cavazos. “A degree from The University of Texas at Arlington is incredibly valuable and can change an entire family’s social and economic trajectory. Helping our students acquire a bachelor’s degree can impact generations of Texans to come.”