Texas A&M Program Expands Higher Education Access for Local Teens

For some high school students, the biggest barrier to college isn’t ability — it’s believing they belong there.

Texas A&M University’s Brazos Valley Promise (BVP) aims to help those students see college as a realistic and attainable goal. Since 2021, the program has provided qualified students with mentorship, college preparation resources and a commitment to cover tuition costs for those who choose to attend Texas A&M.

“The Brazos Valley Promise program is about  showing students from our own communities that they belong here and that Texas A&M is invested in their future long before they step onto campus as freshmen,” said Chris Reed, associate vice president for enrollment management.

A snapshot of life at Texas A&M

Creating a sense of belonging is a central part of the Brazos Valley Promise experience, according to BVP staff. Through campus visits, outreach events and opportunities to engage with the Texas A&M community, students gain firsthand exposure to college life long before they submit an application. 

Throughout the year, BVP students in Bryan, College Station and Navasota connect with Aggie faculty, staff and students while participating in campus activities and field trips designed to help them envision themselves as future college students.

“A big part of the excitement is seeing yourself as someone who attends Texas A&M,” said Abigail Martinez, associate director of BVP. “It’s a whole new world, and it gives them a chance to walk on campus and experience everything Texas A&M has to offer.”

During the 2025–26 academic year, the program hosted 410 high school students at Texas A&M, conducted 135 school visits and provided nearly 500 hours of one-on-one advising.

Engagement opportunities available to students in the program include residence hall tours, academic seminars, community events and career exploration conversations with staff across the university’s colleges and schools.

“We curate a whole program for them and their families to visit different facilities and various events on campus,” said Kenneth Johnson, director of undergraduate strategic partnerships. “Our goal is to give them a snapshot of what the institution has to offer and what campus looks like from the inside.”

School districts partner for program success

Counselors, administrators and school leaders serve as the connection point by identifying students who could benefit from academic support and college access guidance..

School leaders say those connections can reshape how their students view higher education and the opportunities available to them.

“It opens up the conversation and places college in their minds as a reasonable goal,” said Chrissy Hester, director of student services at College Station Independent School District. “Not only that, but it also gets them thinking about their future early.”

In addition to advising, campus experiences and academic support, students who complete the program and enroll at Texas A&M receive tuition and mandatory fees covered for up to four years.

Five years in, the program has grown from an inaugural cohort of 70 students to more than 500. This spring marked a milestone as the first cohort graduated from high school with 34 students heading to college, including 14 who will enroll at Texas A&M this fall.

“A lot of students simply need someone to help them realize that higher education is attainable for them,” Hester said. “By introducing students to the college environment and supporting them along the way, it builds the confidence they need to pursue opportunities they may have once thought were out of reach.”

Aggies investing in future Aggies

Beyond expanding access to higher education, program leaders say BVP also invests in local students and their long-term success.

“Supporting students in our backyard is, in a lot of ways, what makes the Bryan/College Station and larger Texas A&M community stronger,” said Johnson. “Every ounce of time and every dollar we invest in this community returns to the university and the state of Texas.”

Martinez said that long-term impact becomes even clearer as more cohorts graduate, enroll in college and eventually return to mentor younger students.

“To be able to have students become Aggie freshmen, continue their college journey and come back to speak to our students would be incredibly impactful,” said Martinez. “They listen to us, but having BVP students who completed the program share their experience would make it more concrete for our students.”

Learn more about Brazos Valley Promise.