Free tuition and no fees? That could be reality for qualifying UT Arlington undergrads
Some undergrads whose families have an adjusted gross income of less than $85,000 a year won’t have to pay tuition or fees to attend under the University of Texas at Arlington’s new Blaze Forward program, according to a news release.
The program will cover the costs of more than 4,000 students in its first year, according to the release. For new students, the program covers tuition and mandatory fees for up to four years. For students who have already started their degree, the program will cover the number of semesters left for on-time graduation.
The students must be Texas residents and be eligible for the TEXAS Grant program to qualify.
The program will eventually cover the tuition and mandatory fees of more than 4,600 students a year, according to the release.
“We want to make a UTA education even more attainable and give strong financial assurances to families and students in need,” UTA Interim President Teik C. Lim said in the release. “By devoting more of our resources toward the success of our students, we’re investing in the future of our University, and in the promise and potential of thousands of talented current and future Mavericks from North Texas and beyond.”
The program will be funded by the Promise Plus endowment, which is expected to generate about $2.3 million for UTA this year, according to another news from the university. That’ll make it comparable to a $50 million endowment. The program was “generated from a series of prudent investments by UT System financial officers,” according to the release.
According to the release, about 57% of households meet the income requirements for the program.
“Financial challenges should never stand in the way of any Texan who wishes to earn a high-quality UT degree, and I’m grateful to the Board of Regents for this new and important investment in our students,” UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken said in the second release. “UT Arlington graduates offer essential expertise to Texas’ strong and competitive economy, and we hope the Promise Plus program makes their educational path financially easier.”
This story was originally published March 16, 2022 at 6:16 PM.