Oklahoma § 70-2403 - See the following versions:

§ 70-2403. See the following versions:

OS 70-2403v1 (HB 1096, Laws 2025, c. 277, § 6)

OS 70-2403v2 (HB 1282, Laws 2025, c. 482, § 3)

§70-2403v1. Eligibility requirements - Enrollment requirements Levels of scholarship awards - Award limits.

A. No person shall be eligible to participate in the Oklahoma

State Regents’ Academic Scholars Program unless the person:

1. Has complied with all of the rules promulgated by the

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education pursuant to the

provisions of the Oklahoma State Regents’ Academic Scholars Act,

Section 2401 et seq. of this title, for the award, regulation, and

administration of scholarships; and

2. Qualifies as one of the following:

a.

an Individual Applicant Qualified Student, which shall

mean a student who is a resident of this state whose

score on a nationally norm-referenced college entrance

exam falls within the 99.5 to 100.0 percentile levels

as administered in this state and whose grade point

average and/or class rank is exceptional, as

determined by the State Regents,

b.

a Presidential Scholar, which shall mean a student

selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars

administered by the United States Department of

Education,

c.

a National Merit Scholar, which shall mean a student

designated as a National Merit Scholar by the National

Merit Scholarship Corporation,

d.

a National Merit Finalist, which shall mean a student

designated as a National Merit Finalist by the

National Merit Scholarship Corporation, or

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

e.

after October 1, 1999, an Institutional Nominee, which

shall mean a student nominated by an institution in

The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education:

(1) whose score on a nationally norm-referenced

college entrance exam falls within the 95.0 to

99.49 percentile levels, or

(2) who shows exceptional academic achievement as

evidenced by factors, including, but not limited

to, grade point average, class rank, national

awards, scholastic achievements, honors, and who

shows exceptional promise based on documentation

that may include, but not be limited to, teacher

recommendations, extracurricular activities, and

evidence of overcoming economic and social

obstacles as determined by the State Regents.

The State Regents shall ensure that standards of

high academic ability are documented.

Scholarship awards to Institutional Nominees

shall become effective when appropriate

documentation is verified by the State Regents.

B. No person shall be eligible to receive a scholarship

pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma State Regents’ Academic

Scholars Program unless the person is enrolled as a full-time

student at a public or private accredited institution of higher

education in Oklahoma.

C. The Oklahoma State Regents’ Academic Scholars Program shall

provide a scholarship in an amount not to exceed the average costs

of all enrollment fees, tuition and other fees, room and board, and

all required textbooks or materials for up to five (5) years of

undergraduate and/or graduate study at an accredited public or

private institution of higher education in Oklahoma as provided in

subsection E of this section. The State Regents may establish

separate scholarship award levels for each qualifying category.

D. If a person identifies himself or herself as a student with

a disability and requests consideration for a scholarship under the

Academic Scholars Program by means other than standard testing

procedures, the State Regents shall determine what means of

assessment are appropriate and upon the basis of such assessment

results, determine what level of award, if any, shall be made.

E. 1. If the student is attending an institution of The

Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, the total funding for the

scholarship provided in this section, exclusive of any internships,

shall not exceed the costs for items specified in subsection C of

this section at the institution attended as determined annually by

the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

2. If the student is attending a private institution of higher

education, the total funding for the scholarship provided in this

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

section, exclusive of any internships, shall not exceed the costs

for items specified in subsection C of this section at an

institution of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education of

comparable type which has the highest general enrollment fees of its

type institution in The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education as

determined annually by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher

Education.

Added by Laws 1989, c. 375, § 6, emerg. eff. June 6, 1989. Amended

by Laws 1991, c. 310, § 1, emerg. eff. June 4, 1991; Laws 1992, c.

324, § 23, eff. July 1, 1992; Laws 1999, c. 241, § 2, eff. June 1,

1999; Laws 2002, c. 99, § 4, eff. July 1, 2002; Laws 2025, c. 277, §

6, eff. July 1, 2025.

§70-2403v2. Eligibility requirements - Enrollment requirements Levels of scholarship awards - Award limits.

A. No person shall be eligible to participate in the Oklahoma

Rising Scholars Award Program unless the person:

1. Has complied with all of the rules promulgated by the

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education pursuant to the

provisions of the Oklahoma Rising Scholars Award Act, Section 2401

et seq. of this title, for the award, regulation, and administration

of scholarships; and

2. Qualifies as one of the following:

a.

an Individual Applicant Qualified Student, which shall

mean a student who is a resident of the State of

Oklahoma whose American College Testing Program score

or whose Scholastic Aptitude Test score falls within

the 99.5 to 100.0 percentile levels as administered in

the State of Oklahoma and whose grade point average

and/or class rank is exceptional, as determined by the

State Regents,

b.

a Presidential Scholar, which shall mean a student

selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars

administered by the United States Department of

Education,

c.

a National Merit Scholar, which shall mean a student

designated as a National Merit Scholar by the National

Merit Scholarship Corporation,

d.

a National Merit Finalist, which shall mean a student

designated as a National Merit Finalist by the

National Merit Scholarship Corporation, or

e.

after October 1, 1999, an Institutional Nominee, which

shall mean a student nominated by an institution in

The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education:

(1) whose American College Testing Program or

Scholastic Aptitude Test score falls within the

95.0 to 99.49 percentile levels, or

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

(2)

who shows exceptional academic achievement as

evidenced by factors, including, but not limited

to, grade point average, class rank, national

awards, scholastic achievements, honors, and who

shows exceptional promise based on documentation

that may include, but not be limited to, teacher

recommendations, extracurricular activities, and

evidence of overcoming economic and social

obstacles as determined by the State Regents.

The State Regents shall ensure that standards of

high academic ability are documented.

Scholarship awards to Institutional Nominees

shall become effective when appropriate

documentation is verified by the State Regents.

B. No person shall be eligible to receive a scholarship

pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Rising Scholars Award

Program unless the person is enrolled as a full-time student at a

public or private accredited institution of higher education in

Oklahoma.

C. For a student who qualifies pursuant to subparagraphs a

through d of paragraph 2 of subsection A of this section and subject

to the availability of funds, the Oklahoma Rising Scholars Award

Program shall provide a scholarship in an amount not to exceed the

costs of all enrollment fees, tuition and other fees, room and

board, and all required textbooks or materials for up to five (5)

years of undergraduate and/or graduate study at an accredited public

or private institution of higher education in Oklahoma. The State

Regents may establish separate scholarship award levels for each

qualifying category.

1. If the student is attending an institution within The

Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, the total funding for the

scholarship provided in this subsection, exclusive of any

internships, shall not exceed the costs for items specified in this

subsection at the institution attended as determined annually by the

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

2. If the student is attending a private institution of higher

education, the total funding for the scholarship provided in this

subsection, exclusive of any internships, shall not exceed the costs

for items specified in this subsection at an institution of The

Oklahoma State System of Higher Education of comparable type which

has the highest general enrollment fees of its type of institution

in The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education as determined

annually by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

D. For a student who qualifies pursuant to subparagraph e of

paragraph 2 of subsection A of this section and subject to the

availability of funds, the Oklahoma Rising Scholars Award Program

shall provide a scholarship in an amount not to exceed the average

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

costs of all enrollment fees and other fees, room and board, and all

required textbooks or materials for up to five (5) years of

undergraduate and/or graduate study at an accredited public or

private institution of higher education in Oklahoma. The State

Regents may establish separate scholarship award levels for each

qualifying category.

1. If the student is attending an institution within The

Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, the institution shall

provide a tuition waiver not to exceed the average cost of tuition.

The total funding for the scholarship and waiver provided for

students attending an institution within The Oklahoma State System

of Higher Education as provided in this subsection, exclusive of any

internships, shall not exceed the costs for items specified in this

subsection at the institution attended as determined annually by the

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

2. If the student is attending a private institution of higher

education in Oklahoma, the scholarship shall include an amount not

to exceed the average cost of tuition. The total funding for

scholarships for students attending a private institution as

provided in this subsection, exclusive of any internships, shall not

exceed the costs for items specified in this subsection at an

institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education of

comparable type which has the highest general enrollment fees of its

type of institution in The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education

as determined annually by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher

Education.

E. If a person identifies himself or herself as a student with

a disability and requests consideration for a scholarship under the

Oklahoma Rising Scholars Award Program by means other than standard

testing procedures, the State Regents shall determine what means of

assessment are appropriate and upon the basis of said assessment

results, determine what level of award, if any, shall be made.

Added by Laws 1989, c. 375, § 6, emerg. eff. June 6, 1989. Amended

by Laws 1991, c. 310, § 1, emerg. eff. June 4, 1991; Laws 1992, c.

324, § 23, eff. July 1, 1992; Laws 1999, c. 241, § 2, eff. June 1,

1999; Laws 2002, c. 99, § 4, eff. July 1, 2002; Laws 2025, c. 482, §

3, eff. July 1, 2025.