(UVALDE) – Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College (SRSU-RGC) and Southwest Texas Junior College (SWTJC) have entered into an agreement to offer bachelor’s degrees in biology, chemistry and mathematics for $10,000. The “10K Scholars Program” was developed in response to Gov. Rick Perry’s call for high-value degrees during the 82nd Legislative Session.
“Sul Ross Rio Grande College and Southwest Texas Junior College have worked together for many years to provide thousands of students with the opportunity to earn high-quality, affordable college degrees,” said Texas State University System Chancellor Brian McCall, Ph.D. “The ‘10K Scholars Program’ continues this tradition and rewards students who complete their degrees in a timely manner.”
According to SWTJC President Dr. Ismael Sosa, Jr., the new partnership offers area residents a clear pathway to a four-year bachelor’s degree in high-demand science and math majors. “Students who take advantage of high school dual credit courses can complete their associate degree with us in a year after graduating from high school and then be ready to take their upper-level courses at Rio Grande College,” said Dr. Sosa.
To qualify for the program, students must graduate from high school with a GPA of 2.5 or higher and complete 30 dual credit hours which apply to the core curriculum.
Under the agreement, students would complete their core curriculum and earn an associate degree after successfully completing 30 hours of required coursework at SWTJC. Students would then complete 60 hours of required upper-level courses at SRSU-RGC to earn a bachelor’s degree.
“The ‘10K Scholars Program’ offers deserving and qualified students another opportunity to earn bachelor’s degrees at an affordable cost,” said Sul Ross State University President Dr. Ricardo Maestas. “It aligns with progress continuously made by Rio Grande College and SWTJC to provide a seamless, cost-effective transition for students, and we are pleased to provide the program.”
The institutions would award deferred scholarships to qualifying students to cap student costs at $10,000. To earn the scholarships, students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher and enroll in 15 hours of coursework during each term. This schedule would allow students to complete their degree programs in three years.
As an incentive for completion, the deferred scholarships, worth $2,122, will be awarded in two phases – first, upon completion of an associate’s degree at SWTJC and completion of the student’s first semester at SRSU-RGC and, second, upon graduation from SRSU-RGC.
Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College, a member of the Texas State University System, offers junior, senior and graduate coursework with programs in business administration, education, humanities and natural/behavioral sciences in Del Rio, Eagle Pass and Uvalde.
Southwest Texas Junior College is a regional, open door institution serving an 11-county area stretching from the Texas Hill Country to the U.S.-Mexican border. Its main campus is located in Uvalde.