DeVry University and Banco Popular North America announced on Tuesday the formation of a partnership to provide scholarship funds for high school seniors and adult learners.

Beginning in March, partial-tuition scholarships targeted to lower-to-middle income families will be available at four metropolitan DeVry campuses. The 168 new scholarships will be available for prospective students in Chicago, Houston, Long Island City, N.Y., and North Brunswick, N.J.

The Banco Popular "Dream Big" scholarship will be available to high school seniors from select schools in each of the four urban markets. These scholarships are to provide students the opportunity to study at a DeVry University campus in their metropolitan area.

That same, "Dream Big" scholarship program will make funds available to specific adult undergraduate candidates as well. Ten scholarships will be made available in each of the four specified metro markets. Students will be selected based upon their dedication and perseverance to pursue their education and for their ability to contribute to the community.

The Banco Popular scholarships are another part of a comprehensive scholarship program awarded by DeVry University. The school, now one of the largest in the country, provides roughly $75 million in scholarships to prospective students each year.

Banco Popular officials indicated that the company's continued support of education is part of tradition dating back 112 years. Banco Popular North America is a subsidiary of Popular, Inc., a bank holding company with more than $48 billion in assets. With 137 branches in six States, Banco Popular North America currently ranks among the top 10 Small Business Administration lenders in the country.