West Texas A&M University has a long history of providing access to residents of the State of Texas, regardless of the economic means of their families. The University is committed to ensuring that students can afford to choose WTAMU.
West Texas A&M University has committed 100% of its available resources to cover fall and spring in-state tuition for undergraduate Texas residents who have an annual family income of $80,000—the median income level for our region—or less. This commitment began in fall 2008 and is known as the "Buff Promise."
Buff Promise is designed to reassure academically talented students from low- and middle-income families in Texas who may not feel that a university education is possible. Buff Promise will expand upon an already robust aid program that awards more than $36 million in assistance.
Effective June 1, 2020 to be eligible for Buff Promise, students must:
- Be a Texas resident.
- Be an undergraduate student starting enrollment at WTAMU in fall 2008 or later.
- Submit all required financial aid, scholarship and admission documentation by April 15th each year. (Continuing students must submit the scholarship application by Feb. 1 each year.)
- Meet all WTAMU admission requirements.
- Meet eligibility requirements for a Federal Pell Grant with a Student Aid Index(SAI) of 6656 or less and need eligibility according to the FASFA/TASFA.
- Complete full-time course load (15 credit hours minimum per semester, 30 credit hours minimum per year) and maintain satisfactory academic progress while at the University.
- Have a family income of $80,000 or less. In some cases, family size will increase this amount.
- Students will not be reviewed until after the census date each semester, which is generally the 12th class day.
Tuition will be covered by a combination of federal, state and/or institutional grant sources, and scholarships. As long as the student continues to qualify, aid will cover up to eight semesters (the approximate equivalent of four years of full-time coursework, up to 18 credit hours a semester).
Students who apply for financial aid after April 15th and meet the conditions listed will be awarded grant assistance on the basis of available funds. Students may be eligible for additional funds through loans and the Federal Work Study program to cover additional educational expenses such as textbooks, lab fees, and room and board.
Students who do not meet economic qualifications for the Buff Promise may instead qualify for other grant and scholarship programs at WTAMU that are based on academic performance; the University has scholarship guarantees based on graduating high school class rank and standardized test scores. Please contact the Scholarship Services Office for more details about these funding opportunities.
It's important to know:
- Students must reapply for financial aid and scholarships each year.
- Funds awarded for the Buff Promise will only cover up to the calculated financial need and may be reduced if the student receives private scholarships or other privately funded resources.
- In accordance with NCAA Bylaws, current and prospective student-athletes will be awarded on an individual basis. In some cases, certain forms of financial assistance may not be accepted or awarded.