Higher education wants more funding for scholarships

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Higher education officials in the state want lawmakers to provide more money for a state scholarship program for low income students.<br/><br/>Higher Education Chancellor Paul Risser

Friday, December 2nd 2005, 9:55 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Higher education officials in the state want lawmakers to provide more money for a state scholarship program for low income students.

Higher Education Chancellor Paul Risser says the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program -- or OHLAP -- will cost the state about $27-million this year. Risser says the cost is expected to increase to $59-million by 2009 because of tuition increases and rising enrollments.

The scholarships are currently paid for with money from the lottery and tribal casinos, gross production taxes and general funds.

Risser says 20 percent of high school sophomores are enrolled in the program. OHLAP pays for up to five years college tuition for students from families earning $50,000 a year or less. Students must take a core high school curriculum, make good grades and stay out of trouble.