Thanks to an unprecedented financial commitment from the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) Foundation, all seniors – regardless of GPA or family income – at 23 Dallas ISD high schools have the opportunity to earn a full-tuition scholarship, a Success Coach mentor, and access to additional transfer scholarships to attend partner four-year universities including SMU and UNT-Dallas.
Interested seniors must sign a “Promise Pledge” no later than Jan. 31 to qualify. Go here to learn more and sign the pledge.
Here and answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the Dallas County Promise.
What does the Dallas County Promise scholarship cover?
Dallas County Promise scholarship covers the cost of tuition at any Dallas County Community College for up to three years or the completion of an associate degree (whichever comes first). Promise Scholars will also be matched with a Success Coach who will serve as a mentor to help students beginning at the end of their senior year through college completion.
Promise Scholars who also meet income requirements and have a high school GPA of 2.5 or higher (75 or better on a 100-point scale) will also receive the Rising Star Scholarship to cover the cost of textbooks. Promise + Rising Star scholars will also be matched with an in-person Rising Star advisor.
Please note, seniors in a Promise high school must complete all three Promise deadlines including completing the Promise Pledge by Jan. 31 to be eligible for both Promise and Rising Star.
What Dallas ISD schools are eligible?
- W.H. Adamson High School
- Bryan Adams High School
- David W. Carter High School
- Emmett J. Conrad High School
- Hillcrest High School
- Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy
- Justin F. Kimball High School
- Dr. Wright L. Lassiter Early College High School
- Lincoln High School and Communications/Humanities Magent
- James Madison High School
- Moises Molina High School
- North Dallas High School
- L.G. Pinkston High School
- Franklin D. Roosevelt High School
- W.W. Samuell High School
- Seagoville High School
- South Oak Cliff High School
- H. Grady Spruce
- Sunset High School
- Thomas Jefferson High School
- Trindad “Trini” Garza Early College High School at Mountain View
- Wilmer-Hutchins High School
- W.T. White High School
Which colleges are Dallas County Promise transfer partners?
UNT-Dallas is providing ALL Dallas County Promise students an opportunity to continue their Promise scholarship of free tuition through the completion of a bachelor’s degree at UNT Dallas. Students should list UNT-Dallas on their FAFSA/TASFA and also complete a UNT-Dallas admissions application as a senior.
SMU is providing select Dallas County Promise students a merit and need based scholarship opportunity to continue their Promise scholarship of free tuition through the completion of a bachelor’s degree at SMU.
Can I use my Dallas County Promise scholarship at another school?
Dallas County Promise and Rising Star scholarships can only be used at one of the seven Dallas County Community Colleges; however, completing the Promise Pledge does not commit you to attending a DCCCD college.
Transfer scholarships are available to UNT-Dallas and SMU, with more universities coming on board soon. Students that complete an associate degree in high school may be eligible to use their Dallas County Promise tuition scholarships at UNT-Dallas and SMU directly following high school.
How will SMU award scholarships?
SMU will select up to five (5) high school seniors to receive a two-year Mustang Promise Scholarship. This is a last-dollar scholarship (combined with other grants and scholarships) to provide full tuition and fees. It is available exclusively to students who fulfilled the requirements for the Dallas County Promise program and plan to earn an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from DCCCD prior to attending SMU. For more information visit the SMU website.
My high school is not on the participating school list. Is there another scholarship for me?
You may still be eligible to access a tuition and textbook scholarship to DCCCD through Rising Star. Visit www.DCCCD.edu/RisingStar for more information. Rising Star applications open October 2 and are due March 15 for non-participating Promise high schools.
How were the 2017-18 Promise High Schools selected?
The Dallas County Promise High Schools were invited because of their existing relationships with DCCCD. Invited campuses are either a (1) TEA-approved 2017-18 Early College High School that is co-sponsored by a DCCCD College or (2) be a co-sponsor with a DCCCD College of a collegiate academy that has produced graduates with a degree from a DCCCD college by Spring 2017.
For example, South Oak Cliff High School is part of cohort one because it shares a campus with the SOC Collegiate Academy that is now a TEA-approved ECHS.
