The Oklahoma Promise: How a Higher ACT Score Can Help Pay for College
If you are a parent of a high schooler in Broken Arrow, you are likely already stressing about the rising cost of college. Between tuition, fees, textbooks, and housing, sending a student to an in-state university can feel financially overwhelming.
Fortunately, our state has one of the best financial aid programs in the country: Oklahoma's Promise.
While this scholarship is an incredible resource, many parents don't realize that simply qualifying for it isn't always enough to cover the full cost of college. Here is a breakdown of how Oklahoma's Promise actually works, why your student's ACT score is still the key to graduating debt-free, and a crucial hidden rule that homeschool families need to know.
What is Oklahoma's Promise?
Oklahoma's Promise is a state-funded program that pays for your child's college tuition at an Oklahoma public two-year college or four-year university (or a portion of tuition at private colleges and career tech centers).
To qualify, students must apply during middle school or high school (up to December 31 of their senior year). Families must meet specific income limits at the time of application—currently $60,000 to $80,000 depending on the number of dependent children—and the student must maintain a 2.5 GPA in a specific 15-unit college prep curriculum.
Why Your ACT Score Still Matters
If Oklahoma's Promise pays for tuition, why should your student spend time and energy prepping for the ACT?
The "Gap" in Funding Oklahoma's Promise pays for tuition only. It does not cover mandatory university fees, textbooks, supplies, or room and board. At major state schools like OU or OSU, room, board, and fees often cost significantly more than the tuition itself!
Merit Scholarships Fill the Gap This is where the ACT becomes your most valuable financial tool. Universities use ACT scores to award merit-based scholarships. For example, a higher ACT score can unlock university-specific awards (like OU's Crimson Commitment) or other state grants. When you combine Oklahoma's Promise (which pays the tuition) with an ACT-based merit scholarship (which pays for housing and fees), your student can effectively go to college for free.
The Hidden ACT Rule for Homeschoolers
If your student is homeschooled or attends a high school not accredited by the Oklahoma State Board of Education, there is a massive requirement you cannot overlook.
To receive Oklahoma's Promise, homeschool students must achieve a composite score of 22 or higher on the official ACT test. A 22 is slightly above the national average. If your student is using an Epic Charter curriculum or is independently homeschooled in Broken Arrow, relying solely on grades won't secure the scholarship. They must prove their college readiness through that 22 ACT score.
How the Broken Arrow Study Hub Can Help
Boosting an ACT score by just 2 or 3 points can be the difference between paying thousands of dollars out of pocket and getting a full-ride experience.
At the Broken Arrow Study Hub, we specialize in high-impact ACT preparation. We don't just hand students a practice test; our expert tutors break down the exact strategies needed to master the Math, English, Reading, and Science sections.
Targeted Weakness Repair: We identify exactly which question types are dragging your student's score down.
Pacing Strategies: The ACT is a timed test. We teach students how to manage the clock so they stop leaving points on the table.
Epic Charter Approved: We are an approved Epic Charter Schools vendor, meaning you can often use your learning fund for our test prep services!
Invest in Your Student's Future
Don't wait until the spring of senior year to start worrying about the ACT. The earlier your student starts preparing, the more scholarship doors will open.
Call the Broken Arrow Study Hub today to ask about our upcoming ACT prep sessions or to schedule one-on-one private test prep.
