Tuition Exemptions and Waivers

Statute TEC 54.341
Veterans and other military personnel and dependents living in Texas receive 100% exemption from payment of tuition, based upon specific criteria. 
Veterans
Child/spouse of deceased veteran                   
Child/spouse of disabled veteran
Legacy recipients

Learn more about the Hazlewood Act.

Statute TEC 54.351
Children who meet age requirements and are dependents of firefighters and law enforcement officers who were injured or killed in the line of duty receive 100% exemption of tuition. Students must submit an appeal if they do not meet the satisfactory academic progress below:
Maintain a GPA requirement of a 2.0
You are expected to complete your educational objective within the first 90 hours attempted. May not continue to receive the exemption while enrolled in undergraduate hours considered to be excessive.

Guidelines: Children of Disabled or Deceased Firefighters and Law Enforcement Officers

Statute TEC 54.353
Students currently employed as firefighters receive 100% exemption of tuition when enrolled in a fire science curriculum. 
Meets the institution’s satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirement for financial aid.

Guidelines: Firefighters Enrolled in Fire Science Courses

Statute TEC 54.3531
Students currently employed as peace officers receive 100% exemption of tuition when enrolled in a law enforcement or criminal justice course. Students must submit an appeal if they do not meet the satisfactory academic progress below:
Maintain a GPA requirement of a 2.0
You are expected to complete your educational objective within the first 90 hours attempted. You may not continue to receive the exemption while enrolled in undergraduate hours considered to be excessive.

Guidelines: Peace Officers Enrolled in Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice Courses 

Statute TEC 54.355
Children under the age of 25 whose parent is a nurse educator in Texas higher education receive 100% exemption of tuition. The student must submit an appeal if they do not meet the satisfactory academic progress below:
Maintain a GPA requirement of a 2.0
You are expected to complete your educational objective within the first 90 hours attempted. May not continue to receive the exemption while enrolled in undergraduate hours considered to be excessive.

Fact Sheet

Statute TEC 54.364
Students presenting proper certification attesting to the fact that they are deaf or blind receive 100% exemption of tuition. Students must submit an appeal if they do not meet the satisfactory academic progress below:
Maintain a GPA requirement of a 2.0
You are expected to complete your educational objective within the first 90 hours attempted. May not continue to receive the exemption while enrolled in undergraduate hours considered to be excessive.

Fact Sheet

Statute TEC 54.366
Students who were under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services on their 18th birthday receive a 100% exemption of tuition.

Statute TEC 54.367
Students who were adopted and formerly in foster or other residential care receive 100% exemption of tuition.

Statute TEC 54.621(c)
Students who are beneficiaries of a prepaid tuition contract receive an exemption from payment of any additional tuition amounts for the credits covered under the contract.

Statute TEC 54.206
A foreign service officer employed by the U.S. Department of State receives in-state tuition when assigned to a foreign nation that borders the state.

Statute TEC 54.211
A professor of higher education in Texas and their dependents receive in-state tuition, regardless of the length of time they’ve lived in Texas.

Statute TEC 54.232
A non-immigrant alien and their dependents residing in Texas in accordance with certain NATO agreements receive in-state tuition regardless of the length of time they have lived in Texas.

Statute TEC 54.241
An active officer, enlisted person, selectee, or draftee of the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents living in Texas on assignment receive in-state tuition, regardless of the length of time they’ve lived in Texas.

Statute TEC 54.342
Children of ex-prisoners of war—on or after January 1, 1999—receive full exemption of tuition and also receive free housing and other assistance upon enrollment for 12 semester credit hours.

Statute TEC 54.343
Children of members of the armed forces currently declared as prisoners of war or missing in action receive full exemption of tuition.

Statute TEC 54.344
Students who sound TAPS in military funerals shall receive a $25 tuition exemption.

Statute TEC 54.345
Students who are identified annually by the adjutant general of the state military forces receive an exemption of tuition for up to 12 semester credit hours.

Statute TEC 54.354
Children and surviving spouses of certain deceased firefighters, peace officers and other public servants receive an exemption of tuition, free textbooks, and housing assistance.

Statute TEC 54.222
​​Children of persons who are employed by a business that relocated within the past five years to Texas under certain agreements with the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office receive in-state tuition, regardless of the length of residency in Texas.

Statute TEC 54.361
​​Students who graduated from high school in Texas and during the last year of high school who were dependent children receiving financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code is exempt from one year of tuition.

Statute TEC 54.301
Students must submit an appeal if they do not meet the satisfactory academic progress below:
Maintain a GPA requirement of 2.0
You are expected to complete your educational objective within the first 90 hours attempted. May not continue to receive the exemption while enrolled in undergraduate hours considered to be excessive.

Fact Sheet

Statute TEC 54.356

Children under the age of 25 whose parent is a nurse overseeing clinicals in Texas higher education can receive a $500 exemption of tuition.

Students must complete an application and submit an appeal if they do not meet the satisfactory academic progress below:
Maintain a GPA requirement of a 2.0
You are expected to complete your educational objective within the first 90 hours attempted. May not continue to receive the exemption while enrolled in undergraduate hours considered to be excessive.

Fact Sheet

Statute TEC 130.0032
Out-of-district students from households who own property and pay property tax to San Jacinto College receive in-district rates.

Statute TEC 130.0851
Employees who live out of the district receive in-district rates.

Statute TEC 54.213
Students coming from out of state who have a competitive scholarship of more than $1,000 receive Texas Resident Rate - Out-of-District Tuition Rate.

Statute TEC 130.008, 54.216
Dual credit students receive 75% exemptions from enrollment charges.

Statute TEC 54.263
This applies to Continuing Professional Development

Statute TEC 54.301
Students who graduated top of their class receive a full tuition waiver for two semesters.

Statute TEC 54.331
A tuition waiver for up to 235 students who were native-born in other countries in the American hemisphere. Students must submit an appeal if they do not meet the satisfactory academic progress below:
Maintain a GPA requirement of 2.0

Guidelines: Good Neighbor Program (GNP)

Statute TEC 54.365©
Students over the age of 65 receive a tuition waiver for up to 6 SCH if space is available. The student must submit an appeal if they do not meet the satisfactory academic progress below:
Maintain a GPA requirement of 2.0
You are expected to complete your educational objective within the first 90 hours attempted. You may not continue to receive the exemption while enrolled in undergraduate hours considered to be excessive.

Fact Sheet

Statute TEC 54.352
The student can have tuition waived if they are permanently disabled as a result of an injury suffered during the performance of duty as a peace officer of this state or a political subdivision of this state. The student must submit an appeal if they do not meet the satisfactory academic progress below:
Maintain a GPA requirement of 2.0
You are expected to complete your educational objective within the first 90 hours attempted. May not continue to receive the exemption while enrolled in undergraduate hours considered to be excessive.

Guidelines: Peace Officers and Firefighters Disabled in the Line of Duty 

Statute TEC 54.2031
A student who is a dependent of a parent deployed during active combat may have tuition waived.

The purpose of this program is to encourage certain Educational Aides to complete full teacher certification by providing need-based exemptions from the payment of tuition and certain mandatory fees at Texas public institutions of higher education.

Learn more here