State Exemptions and Waivers

OVERVIEW

The Texas Education Coordinating Board administers various tuition assistance programs including programs for teachers and vocational nursing students. Further information about these programs may be obtained by visiting the Financial Aid website or visiting the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website.

After initially qualifying for a mandatory or discretionary exemption or waiver from the payment of all or part of the tuition or other fees for enrollment during a semester, a student may continue to receive the exemption or waiver if the student maintains a GPA for making satisfactory academic progress, and if an undergraduate student, does not complete an excessive number of credit hours.

ADOPTED STUDENTS FORMERLY IN FOSTER OR OTHER RESIDENTIAL CARE

This program provides exemption of tuition and required fees for individuals who were adopted and were subject of an adoption assistance agreement under Subchapter D, Chapter 162, Family Code that provided monthly payments and medical assistance benefits and was not limited to providing only for the reimbursement of nonrecurring expenses.

For more information, please visit the website.

TUITION EXEMPTION FOR CURRENT OR FORMER FOSTER CARE STUDENTS UNDER THE CONSERVATORSHIP OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES (TDFPS)

This program provides exemption of tuition and required fees for persons who were in foster care or other residential care under the conservatorship of the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services on or after the day preceding their 18th birthday, the day of the student’s 14th birthday if the student was eligible for adoption on or after that day, or the day the student received a high school diploma or equivalent. In order to take advantage of this exemption the student must enroll as an undergraduate no later than the third anniversary of date of discharge from that care or the 25th birthday.

For more information, please visit the website.

EXEMPTION FOR CHILDREN OF DISABLED OR DECEASED FIREMEN, PEACE OFFICERS, GAME WARDENS, AND EMPLOYEES OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Exemption is for children under 21 years of age (or 22 if the student was eligible to participate in special education under Texas Education Code, Section 29.003) of disabled full-paid or volunteer firefighters, full-paid municipal, county, state peace officers, custodians of the Department of Criminal Justice, or game wardens. Disability/death must have occurred in the line of duty. Students are exempted from tuition and required fees, not to exceed 120 undergraduate credit hours or any semester begun after age 26, whichever comes first.

For more information, please visit the website.

EXEMPTION FOR HIGHEST RANKING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE (VALEDICTORIAN TUITION EXEMPTION)

Valedictorians of each accredited Texas high school are exempted from tuition during the first two regular semesters immediately following their high school graduation. In order to qualify for this exemption, the student must submit a copy of his/her certificate to Financial Aid Office confirming the student was the highest-ranking student of his/her high school.

For more information, please visit the website.

SENIOR CITIZEN EXEMPTION

Senior citizens may be exempt from payment of tuition for up to six credit hours per term on a space available basis. A senior citizen is defined as a student of age 65 or older. 

For more information, please visit the website.

TEXAS HAZLEWOOD ACT EXEMPTION

The purpose of the Hazlewood Act (Section 54.341, Texas Education Code) is to encourage U.S. veterans to pursue higher education.

The Hazlewood Act is a State of Texas benefit that provides qualified Veterans, spouses, and dependent children with an education benefit of up to 150 hours of tuition exemption, including most fee charges, at public institutions of higher education in Texas. This does NOT include living expenses, books, or supply fees.

To qualify for the Hazlewood, Act the Veteran must:

At the time of entry into active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces
- Designated Texas as Home of Record.
- Or entered the service in Texas.
- Or was a Texas resident.

Have received an honorable discharge or separation or a general discharge under honorable conditions as indicated on the Veteran’s Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214).
Have served at least 181 days of active military duty  
Service (excluding active-duty training);
Currently reside in Texas;
Have no federal Veterans education benefits or have no federal Veterans education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (such as Chapter 33 or 31; Pell and SEOG are not relevant) for term or semester enrolled that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits.
Not be in default on a student loan made or guaranteed by the State of Texas.
Enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e., a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its costs), unless the college’s governing board has ruled to let veterans receive the benefit while taking non-funded courses; and
Meet the GPA requirement of the institution’s satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree or certificate program as determined by the institution’s financial aid policy and, as an undergraduate student, not be considered to have attempted an excessive amount of credit hours.

HAZLEWOOD-LEGACY PROGRAM (TRANSFER OF HAZLEWOOD BENEFITS)

Eligible veterans may assign unused hours of exemption eligibility to a child under certain conditions to be eligible, the child (Legacy recipient) must:

Be classified by the institution as a Texas resident.
Be the biological child, stepchild, adopted child, or claimed as a dependent in the current or previous tax year.
Be 25 years or younger on the first day of the semester or term for which the exemption is claimed (unless granted an extension due to a qualifying illness or debilitating condition); and
Meet the GPA requirement of the institution’s satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree or certificate program as determined by the institution’s financial aid poly and, as an undergraduate student, not be considered to have attempted an excessive amount of credit hours.

If the child to whom hours have been delegated fails to use all of the assigned hours, a veteran may assign the unused hours that are available to another dependent child. However, you may not exceed 150 hours total, regardless how you distribute the hours among multiple children. Only one child at a time may use the transferred benefits. If it is determined that simultaneous enrollment of Legacy children has occurred, all Hazlewood Act Exemption Applications may be rendered void, and the college/universities may charge for the semester hours taken during the time period multiple Legacy children have used the benefits. Veteran’s spouses are not eligible to receive a transfer of unused hours.

TEXAS HAZLEWOOD EXEMPTION FOR ELIGIBLE DEPENDENTS (SPOUSES AND CHILDREN)

Spouses and dependent children of eligible Active Duty, Reserve, and Texas National Guard Veterans who died in the line of duty as a result of injury or illness directly related to military service, are missing in action, or who became totally disabled for purposes of employability as a result of a service-related injury or illness are entitled to each receive a 150 credit hours exemption.

A spouse or child must:

Be a spouse or child of a Veteran who, at the time of entry into the U.S. Armed Forces,
- Designated Texas as Home of Record.
- Or entered the service in Texas.
- Or was a Texas resident.

Be a spouse or child of a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or the Texas National Guard who died as a result of service-related injuries or illness, is missing in action, or became totally disabled (100%) as a result of service-related injury or illness or is entitled to receive compensation at the 100% rate based on individual unemployability (IU) due to a permanent service-connected injury or illness.
Have no federal Veterans education benefits or have no federal Veterans education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (such as Chapter 33 or 31; Pell and SEOG Grants are not relevant) for the term or semester enrolled that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits.
Be classified by the institution as a Texas resident; and
Meet the GPA requirement of the institution’s satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree or certificate program as determined by the institution’s financial aid poly and, as an undergraduate student, not be considered to have attempted an excessive amount of credit hours. This requirement does not apply to the spouse or child of a MIA, KIA, or service-connected deceased Veteran.

TUITION AND FEE EXEMPTION FOR MEMBERS OF STATE MILITARY FORCES

Texas Education Code, Section 54.2155, provides an exemption for individuals certified by the adjunct general of the state military forces as having been awarded assistance for tuition and fees under Texas Government Code Section 431.090. Eligible students are exempt from tuition, not to exceed 12 credit hours charged at the Texas resident rate, and mandatory fees for any semester in which the tuition exemption is received.

For more information, please visit the website.

CHILDREN OF U.S. MILITARY WHO ARE MISSING IN ACTION OR PRISONER OF WAR (MIA/POWS)

To provide an education benefit to the children of persons listed as Missing in Action or Prisoners of War by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Are Texas residents.

Are 21 or younger or 25 or younger and receiving most of his/her support from a parent.
Have documentation from the Department of Defense that a parent, who is classified as a Texas resident, is missing in action or a prisoner of war.
Enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e., a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its costs).
Exemption covers tuition, service fees, lab fees, building use fees, and all other fees except room, board or clothing fees, or deposits in the nature of security for the return or proper care of property. No funds may be used to pay tuition for continuing education classes for which the college receives no state tax support.

For more information, please visit the website.

EXEMPTION FOR THE SURVIVING SPOUSE AND MINOR CHILDREN OF CERTAIN DECEASED PUBLIC SERVANTS (EMPLOYEES)

This program is available for the surviving spouse or children of certain public peace officers, probation officers, parole officers, jailers, police reservists, fire fighters and emergency medical personnel (Texas Code 615.003). Death must have occurred in the line of duty as a result of a risk inherent in the duty. The student must enroll full-time and is exempted from tuition and fees, student housing and food costs not to exceed bachelor’s degree or 200 hours.

For more information, please visit the website.

EXEMPTION FOR PEACE OFFICERS ENROLLED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OR CRIMINAL JUSTICE COURSES

This program is available for Peace Officers currently employed by the state of Texas or a political subdivision of Texas. Student must be enrolled in an undergraduate program leading to a law enforcement or criminal justice degree. Courses not directly related to law enforcement or criminal justice are not eligible for reimbursement. Students must submit proof of employment as a paid officer no sooner than 30 days of the 12th class date of semester seeking exemption.

For more information, please visit the website.

EXEMPTION FOR FIREFIGHTERS TAKING FIRE SCIENCE COURSES

This program is available for persons employed as fire fighters or active members of volunteer fire departments to take college courses as part of a Fire Science Curriculum to help them in their work. Tuition and laboratory fees for courses are offered as part of curriculum but will not cover excess or repeated hours. To receive continuing awards, firefighter must meet institutional financial aid academic progress.

For more information, please visit the website.

EXEMPTION FOR BLIND AND DEAF STUDENTS

A blind disabled person or a person whose sense of hearing is nonfunctional and is a Texas resident may be eligible for exemption from payment of tuition and required fees if appropriately certified by a state vocational rehabilitation agency. Contact the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services for more information.

For additional information on any of these programs please go to U Central. Also visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website.

EXEMPTION PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN OF PROFESSIONAL NURSING PROGRAM FACULTY AND STAFF

To provide an exemption of tuition to eligible students to encourage their parents to continue employment as professional nurse faculty or staff members in the state of Texas. Student must:

Be 25 years or younger.
Be a Texas resident.
Have not previously received a baccalaureate degree.
Be enrolled at an institution that offers an undergraduate or graduate program of professional nursing.
Be the child of an individual who:
- At the beginning of the semester or other academic term for which an exemption is sought: (1) holds a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing, and is employed full-time by an undergraduate or graduate professional nursing program offered by the institution that the child is attending and is employed as a member of the faculty or staff with duties that include teaching, performing research, serving as an administrator, or performing other professional services other than serving as a teaching assistant, or (2) holds a baccalaureate degree in nursing and is employed by a professional nursing program offered by the institution as a full-time teaching assistant, or
- During all or part of the semester or other academic term for which an exemption is sought: (1) holds a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing, and has contracted with an undergraduate or graduate professional nursing program in this state to serve as a full-time member of its faculty or staff with duties that include teaching, performing research, serving as an administrator, or performing other professional services other than serving as a teaching assistant, or (2) holds a baccalaureate degree in nursing and has contracted with a professional nursing program offered by the institution to serve as a full-time teaching assistant.
Register for the Selective Service or be exempt from this requirement.
Have not previously received an exemption under this section for 10 semesters or summer sessions.
Students are exempted from tuition, which may be prorated if parent is not full-time.
Consideration for fee waivers will be determined prior to the 12th class day during a fall or spring semester or prior to the fourth class day during a summer term.

For more information, please visit the website.