Free & Low-Cost College
If you want to cut college costs, take action -- and classes -- while you're in high school.
Free and Low-Cost College Options —
Grab Them in High School
It's still possible to get college credit, and even degrees, on the cheap, but some of the best and easiest-to-claim opportunities are only available when you’re in high school.
One of the most valuable programs, Oklahoma’s Promise, is open only to students who apply during the 8th, 9th, or 10th grade and complete specified courses before graduation. Two other valuable programs, Advanced Placement and Concurrent Enrollment, are available only to high school juniors and seniors (who should enroll while they’re sophomores and juniors). And students in Tulsa County need to apply for the free Tulsa Achieves program by April of their senior year if they’re even remotely considering Tulsa Community College.
Free and low-cost college opportunities get more limited after high school, but they’re out there for students who can pass a tough college-level exam (CLEP), meet military service requirements or find an employer willing to make the investment.
Thousands of scholarships, grants and other financial aid programs are also available and worth pursuing (See Financial Aid at Oklahoma Career Information System and Types of Aid at OKCollegeStart.org). This page highlights options that are available to a wide range of students and require little or no financial outlay.
No-Cost/Low-Cost Programs at a Glance
(Additional requirements and details apply.)
|
Program |
School(s) |
Major entry qualifications |
Major continuing requirements |
Application deadline |
Student cost |
|
Oklahoma’s Promise (OHLAP) |
Any public 2- or 4-year OK college
Partial coverage for private schools |
2.5 HS GPA
Take 17 hours of specified high school courses
Family income under $50,000 |
2.0 college GPA during sophomore year
2.5 GPA during junior and senior years
|
Apply by June 30 following HS grades 8, 9 or 10 (Homeschool students apply from age 13-15) |
Fees, books, room, board |
|
Any |
Varying course prerequisites |
None |
Determined by high school |
Up to $84 per exam |
|
|
Any public 2- or 4-year OK college |
Varies
For seniors, 3.0 GPA or 19-24 ACT
For juniors, 3.5 GPA or 21-25 ACT |
2.0 GPA in college courses |
Varies |
College fees and books
Possible tuition for juniors |
|
|
OK regional universities and community colleges |
CareerTech enrollment
ACT 19, |
2.0 GPA in college courses |
Enroll during high school |
$8/hour academic service fee |
|
|
Tulsa Community College |
Live in Tulsa County
2.0 HS GPA |
40 hours community service
2.0 college GPA |
April 30 each year |
Books |
|
| Oklahoma City Community College |
Graduate from an Oklahoma City or Western Heights public high school |
6 hours/semester
8 hours of community service |
July 1 each year |
Fees, books |
|
|
Any |
None |
None |
Advance registration required |
About $85 per test |
|
|
Any |
Serve in Military |
Remain on active or reserve duty or receive honorable discharge |
Varies |
May be zero, depending on circumstances |
|
|
Any public 2- or 4-year OK college |
Membership in OK National Guard |
Remain in National Guard |
Varies by college |
Books, fees, room, board |
|
|
Varies |
Varies |
Varies |
Varies |
Varies |