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STATE OF OKLAHOMA FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

For more detailed information on state financial aid programs contact:

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

655 Research Parkway, Suite 200
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Phone: 405.225.9100
Fax: 405.225.9230

www.okhighered.org

The following are financial aid programs available to students who are residents of the state of Oklahoma. 

Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant Program

The Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant Program (OTAG) is a need-based grant program for Oklahoma residents who attend eligible colleges, universities and career technology centers in Oklahoma. Awards are approved for full-time or part-time undergraduate students.

Application

Application is made through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available through high school counselors, the financial aid office at the college you are planning to attend, or at www.fafsa.ed.gov. For best consideration, you should complete and submit the FAFSA to the federal student aid application system as soon as possible after January 1. IT IS IMPORTANT TO APPLY EARLY. Typically, OTAG receives more eligible applications than can be awarded with available funds, and how early a student applies can be the deciding factor in whether that student is offered an OTAG award.

Undocumented immigrants can be considered for OTAG awards. Qualified applicants will have graduated from a public or private high school in Oklahoma or successfully completed the GED in Oklahoma and will have resided in Oklahoma with a parent or guardian for at least two years prior to graduation from high school or successful completion of the GED in Oklahoma. Interested students should complete the Application for Undocumented Immigrants (PDF, 196k), following the directions included on this form regarding completion, and mail directly to the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant Program.

Eligibility

Financial need is measured by the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is determined based on the information the student provides on their FAFSA. Currently, OTAG awards are limited to students with an EFC of 1500 or lower. The EFC appears on the Student Aid Report sent to students by the U.S. Department of Education once their FAFSA has been processed. An award will not be denied for academic reasons as long as the school's minimum requirements for admission are fulfilled and satisfactory academic progress is made according to the school's policy for student financial aid recipients.

Award Amount

Currently, the maximum annual award is the lesser of 75 percent of enrollment costs or $1,000 for students attending public colleges, universities or career technology centers, and $1,300 for students attending eligible private colleges or universities. One-half of the award is disbursed in the fall semester, and one-half is disbursed in the spring semester. Funds are released to eligible students by campus officials after eligibility has been confirmed.

For Further Information

Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant Program
P. O. Box 108850
Oklahoma City, OK 73101-8850
877.662.6231 (225.9456 in Oklahoma City)
[email protected]

 

Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant Program (OTEG)

The Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant (OTEG) program is a need-based grant program for Oklahoma residents enrolled as full-time undergraduates at Oklahoma not-for-profit, private or independent institutions of higher education.

Student Award Eligibility

To be eligible for OTEG award consideration, a student must:

1. File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and report Oklahoma as their state of legal residence.
2. Be enrolled full time in the fall and/or spring semesters.
3. Have a family income of $50,000 or less.
4. Be an Oklahoma resident according to the State Regents’ Policy on Residence Status of Enrolled Students in the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.
5. Meet the institution’s satisfactory academic progress requirements.
6. Not have already earned a bachelor's degree.
7. Not have begun their first semester of postsecondary enrollment more than five years prior to the enrollment period for which the grant is awarded.

Awards

Students to be awarded OTEG will be selected by the institutions.

1. OTEG grant amounts are $2,000 per academic year or $1,000 per academic semester.
2. Institutions will notify students of their awards.

For Further Information

Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant Program
877.662.6231
225.9456 (Oklahoma City area)

Academic Scholars Program

The Academic Scholars Program, established by the state Legislature and governor in 1988 and operated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, provides scholarships to academically outstanding students who attend an Oklahoma college or university.

Academic Scholars receive a scholarship to help cover the cost of room, board, tuition, books and incidental fees for up to eight semesters. The actual value of the scholarship varies based on the institution the scholar chooses to attend.

 

Oklahoma Promise Scholarship

To enroll in the Oklahoma's Promise program, you must be:
 

• an Oklahoma resident;
• enrolled in the eighth, ninth or 10th grade in an Oklahoma high school (homeschool students must be age 13, 14 or 15); and
• the child of parents whose income is not more than $50,000 per year.

Applications must be:

• completed during the school year in the student's eighth-, ninth- or 10th-grade year (for homeschool students, the application must be completed while the student is age 13, 14 or 15) and
• witnessed by the student's parent(s), custodian(s) or legal guardian(s) who also agree to help the student comply with Oklahoma's Promise requirements.

For more information, call the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education's student information hotline at 800.858.1840, e-mail [email protected] or write to Oklahoma's Promise, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, PO Box 108850, Oklahoma City, OK 73101-8850.

 

Regional University Baccalaureate Scholarship

This scholarship enables 11 participating public universities to provide up to four years of scholarship support to academically-promising Oklahoma students enrolled in a baccalaureate program. Each participating institution may nominate up to 15 awardees per year.

Regional Universities

Cameron University, East Central University, Langston University, Northeastern State University, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Rogers State University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, University of Central Oklahoma, and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.

Eligibility

1. Applicants must be Oklahoma residents.
2. Applicants must meet one of the following criteria defined below:
   A. Have an ACT composite score of at least 30 (Only ACT test scores from tests administered on national test dates will be considered for admission to the program.) OR
   B. Be a National Merit Semifinalist or Commended Student.

Award Amount

The annual award amount is $3,000 and a resident tuition waiver from the institution. The scholarship is available for up to eight semesters of study in a baccalaureate program at a regional university or until the student is granted a baccalaureate degree, whichever occurs first. The scholarship award may be used only at the university making the award; it is not portable.

Application

Application is made directly through the university the student plans to attend. The application deadline will vary for each institution.

For Further Information

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
800.858.1840 (225.9239 in Oklahoma City)

 

Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program

The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program is federally funded to promote student excellence and achievement and to recognize exceptionally able high school seniors who show promise of continued academic excellence and achievement. Students are selected to receive scholarships based on eligibility criteria and completion and evaluation of an application. An equal number of "Byrd Scholars" are selected annually to represent each of Oklahoma's five congressional districts.

Amount of Scholarship

"Byrd Scholars" receive $1,500 for the first year of study at an eligible postsecondary institution. Scholarships are renewable for up to three additional years of study provided students continue to meet eligibility standards as defined by the institutions they are attending.

Application

The Oklahoma State Department of Education mails application materials to all public, private and parochial schools. All applicants will be notified by mail as to their status after the scholarship winners have been determined. Each application is rated according to predetermined selection criteria.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to compete for the Byrd Scholarship:

1. Be a United States citizen or national or be a permanent resident of the United States.
2. Be a legal resident of Oklahoma.
3. Be a senior enrolled in full-time course work leading to high school graduation.
4. Have applied to or been accepted for admission as a full-time student by an institution of higher education.
5. Be able to meet academic criteria as stated in the scholarship application (this includes GPA, ACT/SAT and/or GED scores).

For Further Information

Oklahoma State Department of Education
Professional Services Division
Oliver Hodge Building
2500 N. Lincoln Boulevard
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105-4599
405.521.2808

 

Chiropractic Education Assistance Scholarship

Administered by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Oklahoma State Board of Chiropractic Examiners.

The purpose of the Chiropractic Education Scholarship Program is to assist residents of the state of Oklahoma who are pursuing the study of chiropractic at accredited out-of-state schools.

Eligibility

1. The student must be a resident of Oklahoma for at least five years prior to the date of application.
2. The student must be enrolled in or have been accepted to an accredited chiropractic school.
3. Scholarship awardees under this program shall maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. The cumulative grade point average will be determined after the summer trimester for fall scholarship eligibility, and after the fall trimester for spring scholarship eligibility.
4. A student may participate in the program for no more than four years.

Application

The application deadline normally falls at the end of May each year. Late applications will not be considered. First-year applicants must include a statement from the institution that states he/she has been admitted to the college. Continuing students must submit a current transcript. State Regents staff will forward the applications to the Oklahoma State Board of Chiropractic Examiners for approval of scholarship candidates. The State Regents office will notify both recipients and chiropractic schools of nominations and awards.

Amount of Award

The available funds for the program are subject to annual legislative appropriation. Annual award amounts may vary, but cannot exceed $6,000 per student. Upon certification of eligibility, the scholarship shall be awarded in two disbursements at the beginning of the fall trimester and at the beginning of the spring trimester. The award will be sent to an official of the chiropractic school for distribution to the student.

For Further Information

For Further Information
Chiropractic Education Assistance Scholarship
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
800.858.1840 (225.9239 in Oklahoma City

 

Future Teachers Scholarship

The Future Teachers Scholarship Program was established by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education as an incentive to encourage the preparation of teachers in critical shortage areas in the public schools of Oklahoma.

Eligibility

1. The student must be a resident of Oklahoma.
2. The student must be nominated by the college in which they are enrolled on the basis of one of the following criteria:
   A. cumulative high school grade point average ranking in the top 15 percent of his or her high school graduating class; OR
   B. ACT or SAT score ranking in the top 15 percent for high school graduates of the same year; OR
   C. admission to a professional education program at an accredited Oklahoma institution of higher education; OR
   D. an undergraduate record of outstanding success, as defined by the institution.
3. Full-time and part-time students are eligible for the scholarship; however, highest priority will be given to full-time students.
4. Scholarship recipients must maintain no less than a 2.5 cumulative grade point average.
5. Each recipient must agree to teach in a shortage area in Oklahoma public schools for a minimum of three consecutive years upon graduation and licensure as a teacher.
6. Recipients may receive the scholarship for not more than four years, or the equivalent of four years, of full-time study.

Application Process

1. A new application must be submitted each academic year.
2. Application deadlines are established by individual institutions. Completed applications are to be submitted to the nominating institution. The following documentation is required:
   A. First-time freshman must submit a copy of their high school transcript and ACT or SAT score, whichever is applicable.
   B. Students who have attended a postsecondary institution must submit official transcripts from all institutions attended.
   C. All students must submit the essay portion of the application on a separate sheet.
3. Institutions will submit scholarship candidates and alternates in priority order to the State Regents office.
4. The State Regents office will notify institutions of awards.

 Amount of Scholarship

An award amount for each nominated student will be determined by the college the student attends.

 

George and Donna Nigh Public Service Scholarship

The George and Donna Nigh Public Service Scholarship was established by the 1999 Oklahoma Legislature to provide scholarship opportunities to outstanding students who are preparing for careers in public service. A component of the scholarship program is participation in seminars on public service offered by the Nigh Institute. Each college and university may nominate one scholarship recipient per year.

Eligibility

1. Scholarship recipients must be residents of the State of Oklahoma as determined by the State Regents.
2. Scholarship recipients must be enrolled full time in an undergraduate program at a public or private college or university in the state of Oklahoma.
3. Scholarship recipients must be enrolled in a degree program leading to a career in public service as determined by the institution.
4. Students receiving the scholarship must demonstrate exceptional academic achievement as evidenced by a number of factors which may include grade point average, class rank, national awards, scholastic achievement, honors, teachers' recommendations and the applicant's involvement in extracurricular activities.

Application

Presidents of Oklahoma colleges and universities will be invited to submit a nominee for consideration of award prior to the beginning of the spring semester. An advisory committee appointed by the George and Donna Nigh Institute will review and approve the nominations and make announcement of awards.

Amount of Scholarship

1. The annual award amount is $1,000.
2. Scholarships will be awarded on a yearly basis and are not renewable.
3. Each participating college or university may nominate one scholarship recipient each year.

For Further Information

Nigh Institute
Attn: Carl F. Reherman
Kilpatrick Bank
3001 E Memorial Road
Edmond, OK 73013
405.818.0414

 

Heartland Scholarship Fund

The Heartland Scholarship Fund is available for dependent children of victims of the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. These awards are applicable to the cost of tuition, fees, special fees, books, and room and board.

Amount of Award

The annual award for students attending a comprehensive university is $5,500, for a regional university, $4,000 and for a two-year college, $3,500.

Eligibility

Individuals eligible for the scholarship must be a dependent child of an individual killed as a result of the April 19 bombing or a surviving dependent child who was injured in the Federal Building day care center. Students must maintain full-time enrollment and make satisfactory progress toward a degree at an accredited higher education institution in order to receive continued awards.

Application

Application can be made by contacting the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

For Further Information

Heartland Scholarship Fund
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
800.858.1840 (225.9239 in Oklahoma City)
[email protected]

 

Independent Living Act (Foster Care Tuition Waiver)

The Independent Living Act was established by the 2000 Oklahoma Legislature to ensure that eligible individuals who have been or are in the foster care program of the Department of Human Services receive services that include housing, medical coverage and education. The first recipients of the tuition waivers were 1999-2000 high school graduates.

Eligibility

• Student must be a resident of Oklahoma.
• Student must have graduated within the previous three years from a State Board of Education-accredited high school, the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics or a high school bordering Oklahoma as approved by the State Board of Education OR the student must have completed the General Educational Development (GED) requirements.
• Tuition waivers are available to students up to 21 years of age who have been in DHS custody for at least nine months between the ages of 16 and 18.
• Student must be enrolled in a public college or university or certain programs at technology centers.
• Tuition waivers will be made available to eligible students up to 26 years of age or upon completion of a baccalaureate degree or program certificate, whichever comes first.

Amount of Award

A resident tuition waiver covers the cost of resident tuition for all courses for which resident tuition is charged. The student is responsible for all other fees: special course fees, student activity and facility fees, assessment fees and others.

For Further Information

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
800.858.1840 (225.9239 in Oklahoma City area)

 

National Guard Tuition Waiver

The Oklahoma National Guard Tuition Waiver is established as an incentive for qualified young men and women to join the Oklahoma National Guard and as a means to retain skilled, productive citizens within the state.

Eligibility

A student who is a member of the Oklahoma National Guard shall be eligible for a full resident tuition waiver, provided the student:

1. Is a bona fide member of the Oklahoma National Guard at the beginning of the semester for which he/she is applying for a scholarship or by the scholarship application deadline determined by the institution.
2. Has been certified as a member in good standing by the Adjunct General.
3. Is an Oklahoma resident.
4. Does not currently hold a baccalaureate or graduate degree.
5. Meets all admission and retention requirements of the institution.

Application

The student is required to submit a Statement of Understanding and Certificate of Basic Eligibility each semester for which he/she is applying for the waiver. The certification form is to be signed by a commander or representative of the Oklahoma National Guard. This signature certifies that the student is in good standing with the National Guard and that the National Guard member agrees to abide by all program rules and procedures. The form is to be forwarded by the student to the institution he/she wishes to attend by the deadline determined by the institution.

Enrollment Requirements

A student meeting all of the program eligibility requirements will be awarded a full resident tuition waiver, provided the student:

1. Is enrolled in a program of study leading to an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree.
2. Is enrolled in a minimum of six hours in the fall or spring semester or a minimum of three hours in the summer term. The student may meet this minimum enrollment requirement either at a single institution or more than one institution in the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. It is the student's responsibility to provide institutions with a copy of the Statement of Understanding and Certificate of Eligibility to insure the waiving of fees at both institutions.
3. Has submitted a plan for the completion of his/her degree with the Oklahoma National Guard.
4. Is not a concurrently enrolled high school student.

Waivers will not be awarded for courses leading to a certificate, continuing education courses or career technology courses which are not counted towards a degree program at another institution. Concurrently enrolled high school students are not eligible for this tuition waiver. The tuition waiver is not applicable to professional programs that do not require an earned degree.

Amount of Award

A resident tuition waiver covers the cost of resident tuition for all courses for which resident tuition is charged. The student is responsible for all other fees: special course fees, student activity and facility fees, assessment fees and others. A student may receive a waiver for a maximum of 18 semester credit hours each semester, for up to six years from the date of first application.

For Further Information

Oklahoma National Guard
800.GO.GUARD

 

Scholars in Excellence in Child Care Program

To qualify for the Scholars for Excellence in Child Care program, child care providers must:

• Work in a one-star plus or above DHS- or tribal-licensed child care facility with a minimum of 10 percent subsidy children at time of application.
• Work at least 30 hours per week earning $15.50 or less per hour as follows:
  Teachers: with children
  Family child care providers: paid to care for children other than their own
  Directors: performing administrative duties and/or working with children
• Be employed at a child care facility at least three months before beginning coursework or have taken ELCCT.

Note: Due to the availability of education and training funds, employees from federally funded child care programs are not eligible to participate in the scholarship. Additionally, employees from school-age programs are not eligible to participate in the scholarship at this time.

 

Teacher Shortage Employment Incentive Program

The Teacher Shortage Employment Incentive Program (TSEIP) is a legislative program administered by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. The program reimburses eligible student loan expenses or pays an equivalent cash benefit to individuals who graduate from an Oklahoma accredited teacher education program, receive teaching certification in math or science, and agree to teach in an Oklahoma public secondary school for at least five years.

Participants must:

• Complete the TSEIP Participation Agreement no later than the date of their graduation. The agreement form can be obtained from the TSEIP coordinator at each postsecondary institution.
• Be responsible for the completeness of the application.
• Declare an intention to teach in Oklahoma and graduate from an Oklahoma accredited teacher education program.
• Maintain satisfactory progress in an academic program leading to an undergraduate or graduate degree in math or science education.
• Complete an approved program of professional teacher education that includes a student teaching requirement that leads to a certificate to teach math or science at the secondary level. (Alternative or emergency certificates do not qualify.)
• Be employed to teach either science or math at least 75 percent of the time within 16 months of graduating from an accredited university.
• Complete the first full year of eligible full-time teaching service within 25 months of graduation date from a four-year college or university.

For more information about the program, contact the education department at your college or university or contact the State Regents Teacher Recruitment Program, 405.225.9192 (Oklahoma City area) or 800.858.1840 (toll-free).

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