Texas is freezing college tuition for certain students again. Here’s what families should know
For many families, one of the biggest questions when planning for college is whether tuition will keep rising and, if so, by how much.
Texas parents now have at least part of that answer after Gov. Greg Abbott directed public colleges and universities in Texas to keep undergraduate tuition and fees frozen for the 2026-27 academic year. Abbott previously directed the colleges to freese tuition for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years in November 2024. Undergraduate tuition and fees at Texas public institutions have remained frozen since 2023.
The freeze applies to students attending community colleges, public universities and health-related institutions across Texas.
Here’s what families should know.
Why is Texas freezing college tuition?
In his latest letter to college and university presidents, Abbott said the tuition freeze is about more than what families pay today.
“Access to affordable, high-quality education is essential to ensure Texans learn the skills needed to secure family-sustaining jobs and meet the demands of a growing workforce.,” he wrote.
Abbott also tied the policy to the financial pressures many families have faced in recent years.
“When inflation and other economic pressures burden household budgets, our public universities must take every step possible to ease the financial burden on our students and their families,” Abbott wrote.
Abbott also pointed to recent state investments in higher education, including more than $680 million for community college funding reforms and degree pathway programs and a $328 million increase in student financial aid funding.
Looking ahead, Abbott said he hopes to extend the tuition freeze beyond the upcoming academic year.
“I look forward to working with the Legislature next session to extend this freeze to future academic school years and to partner with institutions to identify additional opportunities to make higher education options more affordable,” he wrote.
