Read the Wrangler Promise FAQ Booklet Here:
Wrangler Promise: FAQ Booklet
Lea el Libreto de las Preguntas Frecuentes de Wrangler Promise Aquí:
Wrangler Promise: Preguntas Frecuentes
For more information about the Wrangler Promise program, please contact promise@odessa.edu
Pledge Form
Wrangler Promise
On Monday, February 28th, 2024, the Odessa College Board of Trustees voted in support of funding the Wrangler Promise – a new program designed to ensure that college is a reality, and funding is not a barrier, for students who choose Odessa College. The high school graduating class of 2024 throughout the service area will be the inaugural class of Wrangler Promise. Congratulations, Class of 2024!
Over the past three months, the Odessa College Board of Trustees has reviewed the college’s plan to launch a promise program. The concept was introduced in December; the data and dollars were shared in January; and on February 28th, the funding and fundraising plans were realized. The Wrangler Promise will be a last-dollar-in scholarship opportunity that will cover the cost of tuition and fees. The first year, $1 million dollar investment, will be the cornerstone of a program designed to increase the college-going and college-completing culture in our region. We can no longer be satisfied with roughly half of the graduating class going to college immediately after their senior year, and we should not tolerate having one of the lowest degree attainment rates in the state. We have a booming economy with great promise for our children’s future. Join us in making this promise to families in the Permian Basin.
In the coming weeks, the college will host a media event, where we will introduce Wrangler Promise and outline funding opportunities. The event will be Odessa College’s call to action for our community: Today’s jobs require a skilled, trained and educated workforce. We must come together to ensure the families in the Permian Basin have access to a free education and a family-sustaining wage. Together we will solve this educational crisis and fulfill the economic need.
The Wrangler Promise is a last-dollar-in scholarship opportunity that covers the cost of tuition and fees for eligible class of 2026 high school graduates.
Wrangler Promise Goals
- Increase college-going & college completing rates
- Reduce and eliminate achievement gaps for underrepresented students
- Increase persistence
- Decrease time to degree
- Decrease excess credit hours
Wrangler Promise Privileges
- Preferred/priority on campus employment
- Priority registration
- Dedicated Academic Success Coach
- Dedicated College Life Coach
- Custom, cohort engagement, transfer and placement programming
Wrangler Promise Eligibility
- High school seniors who live in the
Odessa College Service Area and are graduating in the Class of 2026 - GED and home school students must be between the ages of 17-19 after 2026
- Complete the FAFSA
- No income or high school GPA requirement
- Eligible students must enroll full-time in an associate degree or workforce certificate pathway
To maintain eligibility once the scholarship is awarded, student must be enrolled full-time and maintain at least 12 credit hours with satisfactory academic progress(2.0 GPA), as well as meet minimum co-curricular engagement requirements.
To begin the process, please complete the following steps:
- Apply to Odessa College: https://www.applytexas.org/
- Fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid: https://studentaid.gov/
- Complete the Wrangler Promise Pledge Form: https://odessacollege.tfaforms.net/f/pledge
Pledge Form
Wrangler Promise Deadlines
- Pledge Deadline – May 15th
- Apply Texas Deadline – July 1st
- FAFSA Deadline – July 1st
- Registration Deadline – July 1st
- Deadline to accept Wrangler Promise scholarship – July 15th *subject to change
To begin the process, please complete the following steps:
- Apply to Odessa College: https://www.applytexas.org/
- Fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid: https://studentaid.gov/
- Complete Wrangler Promise Pledge Form: Opens September 15th, 2025
FAQ
Wrangler Promise Eligibility & Funding
Yes, you may qualify: Homeschool graduates age 17-19 who have completed their program in the 2025-26 academic year qualify for Wrangler Promise.
Yes, you may qualify: GED students age 17-19 who have completed the GED program in the 2025-26 academic year qualify for Wrangler Promise.
Yes, to qualify for Wrangler Promise, you must complete the FAFSA or applicable state aid.
Yes! Non-citizens are eligible for Wrangler Promise. Because students must complete the FAFSA, you must be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen. Please note: Parents are not required to be US citizens or eligible non-citizens for their student to complete the FAFSA.
Yes, Wrangler Promise is a last-dollar scholarship designed to cover the remaining costs of education that are not already covered by other financial aid, scholarships, or a third party. The Wrangler Promise scholarship will be awarded to students who have exhausted other sources of funding and have met the eligibility requirements. For example:
Student is eligible for Wrangler Promise and does NOT receive PELL or scholarships = Wrangler Promise pays 100% tuition and fees.
Student is eligible for Wrangler Promise and receives PARTIAL PELL and no scholarships = Wrangler Promise pays the balance of tuition and fees after PELL is applied to the balance.
Student is eligible for Wrangler Promise and received FULL PELL = Wrangler Promise does NOT pay tuition and fees, but student is still considered part of the Wrangler Promise program.
Wrangler Promise has no cash value and students will not be refunded un- used Wrangler Promise funds.
Students must complete the FAFSA in order to qualify for Wrangler Promise.
Wrangler Promise Deadlines
I have Wrangler Promise. Now What?
To maintain eligibility, you:
- Must be enrolled full-time
- Maintain at least 12 credit hours with satisfactory academic progress (2.0 GPA)
You will also be required to meet minimum co-curricular engagement requirements including tutoring, meeting with Academic Success Coach, meeting with Student Life Coach, etc.
Yes. After your first, fall semester, you may enroll in Midwinter, Maymester and summer courses. Full-time status in Maymester and Midwinter is one course. Full-time status in summer is 2 courses.
Wrangler Promise will scholarship 33 hours per academic year (fall through summer) until the Promise student has earned 60 hours or an Associate’s degree.
No.
If you go over 60 semester credit hours, you will be responsible for tuition and fees.
Wrangler Promise will pay tuition and fees for eligible students to reach 60 semester credit hours or an Associate’s degree.
Yes, you are expected to maintain a 2.0 GPA to continue receiving Wrangler Promise. Students who fall below a 2.0 cumulative GPA no longer qualify for Wrangler Promise, but may qualify for the college’s Restart Scholarship.
Yes, you must be enrolled full-time – at least 12 semester credit hours per semester.
That is okay. Life happens. If you drop below 12 semester credit hours, you will be expected to register as a full-time student (12 semester credit hours) the next semester to continue to receive Wrangler Promise.
Wrangler Promise students who fall below full-time status twice, will no longer be eligible for Wrangler Promise. Wrangler Promise has no cash value and students will not receive a refund.
Dual Credit and Wrangler Promise
Yes, if you have not earned an Associate’s degree you qualify for Wrangler Promise. Wrangler Promise will pay tuition and fees for you to reach 60 semester credit hours or an Associate’s degree. This means if you transfer in 30 semester credit hours of dual credit, Wrangler Promise will pay for the next 30 semester credit hours or until you earn an Associate’s degree.
No, if you have earned an Associate’s degree during or after high school, you are not eligible for Wrangler Promise.
Yes, if you have not earned an Associate’s degree or earned 60 semester credit hours you may qualify for Wrangler Promise. Wrangler Promise will pay tuition and fees for eligible students to reach 60 semester credit hours or an Associate’s degree. This means if you transfer in 30 semester credit hours of dual credit, Wrangler Promise will pay for the next 30 semester credit hours or until you earn an Associate’s degree.
Direct Entry Offers
| Direct Entry Offers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partner University | Tuition Covered | Deadline to Apply | Family Income Requirement | GPA Requirement | Additional Scholarships Available |
| Odessa College | Yes |
1-July |
None | None | Yes |
| Texas Tech University | Yes | 15-Mar | AGI does not exceed $80,000 | None | Yes |
| Angelo State University | Yes | 1-May | AGI does not exceed $70,000 | None | Yes |
| University of Texas Permian Basin | Yes | 15-Jul | AGI does not exceed $100,000 | None | Yes |
| Sul Ross State University | Yes | 1-Mar | AGI of $80,000 or less | None | Yes |