Ludwick on new UST tuition-free initiative for eligible freshmen: 'It’s a huge opportunity at no cost to these students'

A private Catholic university in Houston has launched a new initiative that will cover the tuition and fees of eligible full-time freshmen students enrolled for the upcoming fall semester, according to a report from Houston NBC affiliate KPRC. According to the University of St. Thomas-Houston (UST), its St. Thomas Promise program is open to students of all faiths and seeks to meet the needs of families who are financially struggling. 

"UST’s mission has always been about serving our community and there are a lot of talented students out there who need an opportunity and someone to care by assisting them and their family,” the institution's vice president for enrollment management and student engagement, Arthur Ortiz, said, KPRC reported. “We feel great about offering the St. Thomas Promise because these students have earned this with their hard work!”

To qualify, applicants must be first-time freshmen who post a high school GPA 3.4 or higher who come from households with annual incomes of $40,000 or less, according to UST. Eligible students must complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form with UST's FAFSA Code 003654 included on the application. 

Aid recipients can renew the St. Thomas Promise up to four years as long as their family income stays in the same qualifying range, the school added.

KPRC reported that UST will host a free virtual information session on the program on April 19 at 6 p.m. A password isn't required to participate in the event, which will be held on Zoom.

The university will also hold an in-person session at the Jerabeck Athletic Center at 4000 Mt. Vernon on April 21 at 6 p.m.

Prospective applicants also can call (346) 998-6102 to discuss the offer with a representative.

According to UST President Dr. Richard Ludwick, the St. Thomas Promise allows the university to help deserving students who wouldn't have any other way to pay for college gain access to "the same excellent private education that UST is recognized for."

“It’s a huge opportunity at no cost to these students that will change people’s lives and financial situations, and it is right in line with our Catholic mission,” Ludwick said, according to KPRC.