San Antonio College contracts with different school districts to offer scholarships to the program.  Many students go on to finish an associate of arts degree and transfer to four-year colleges.

To qualify for the Gateway to College program, applicants must:

• Be between 16 to 20 years old;

• Have left high school before graduation or be at risk of dropping out (Students cannot be enrolled in another high school program once they enter the program.);

• Be behind in high school credits for age and grade, with fewer than 17 credits total;

• Have a minimum eighth-grade reading level; meet other writing and math standards at entry level;

• Live in a participating school district:  Alamo Heights ISD, Comal ISD, San Antonio ISD, Northside ISD and North East ISD; and

• Must meet with and gain approval from the school district to qualify.

With the program, students have a resource specialist dedicated to the individual’s success. The specialist can guide students through the college experience as an academic advisor; and teach about careers, organization and time management; and provide referrals to community resources.

To succeed in the program, students need to be in class about 20 hours a week and do three to four hours of homework per day. Since students are expected to attend every class, the faculty said it’s best if students work less than 25 hours a week.

Most students achieve their high school diploma in two to three years, but they often earn more than 70 college credits too. For more information, visit www.accd.edu/sac/gateway. Reserve a spot at the next information session by calling the information line at 785-6327.