Public colleges in Texas waive application fees next week for residents who apply through ApplyTexas

High school seniors and other Texans weighing college can skip the application fee at the state's public colleges and universities next week.

Free College Application Week runs Monday, Oct. 12, through Sunday, Oct. 18, Gov. Greg Abbott's office said in a release Thursday. During those seven days, every public college and university must waive admission application fees for Texas residents who apply to an undergraduate program through ApplyTexas.

How it works

• Applications must go through ApplyTexas to qualify.
• The deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 18.
• The waiver is for Texas residents. The governor's office pointed applicants to the state's residency guidelines for details on who counts.

The release also directs prospective students to the My Texas Future website and to the state's Direct Admissions program.

Last year, more than 260,000 applications were filed during the week, according to the release. Higher Education Commissioner Wynn Rosser said in the release that it can save students hundreds of dollars as they apply.

Other cost steps the governor cited

The governor's office tied the fee week to other moves it described as aimed at college costs. Undergraduate tuition at public two-year and four-year schools has been frozen since 2023 at Abbott's direction, and the freeze runs through the 2026-27 academic year, the release says.

In August, Abbott also directed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to build a statewide framework for three-year bachelor's degree pathways in high-demand, high-wage fields. The governor's office estimates a three-year degree could cut the cost of a bachelor's degree by up to 25%, or $15,000 to $35,000 per student.

The fee week is set in state law, which Abbott signed, the release notes.

Sources

State of Texas