State Exemptions and Waivers
OVERVIEW
The Texas Education Coordinating Board administers various tuition assistance programs. Further information about these programs may be obtained by visiting the Financial Aid website or visiting the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website and selecting the Financial Aid section or the Texas Veterans Commission website and selecting Hazlewood Act.
For purposes of reapplying for a qualifying mandatory or discretionary exemption or waiver from the payment of all or part of the tuition or other fees for enrollment during a semester, students should be aware of the following: submission of an application and supporting documentation may be required, depending on the specific exemption or waiver. Additionally, students may be required to meet certain requirements, which may include maintaining a minimum GPA in accordance with the institution’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy and, if an undergraduate, not exceeding the allowable number of attempted credit hours. Please refer to the specific requirements of your exemption or waiver to determine what applies to you.
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 Family Code, Chapter 162, Subchapter D, that provided monthly payments and medical assistance benefits and was not limited to providing only for the reimbursement of nonrecurring expenses. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) makes this determination and issues certification to eligible individuals. After eligibility is established, the DFPS will issue the student a certification of eligibility letter that must be provided to the institution’s Financial Aid Office.
For more information, please visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website and selecting the Financial Aid section.
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. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) makes this determination and issues certification to eligible individuals. After eligibility is established, the DFPS will issue the student a certification of eligibility letter that must be provided to the institution’s Financial Aid Office. In order to take advantage of this exemption, the student must enroll as an undergraduate no later than the student's 25th birthday. However, are not required to receive the exemption before the age of 25.
For more information, please visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website and selecting the Financial Aid section.
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. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) determines whether the student’s parent was an eligible firefighter or law enforcement officer who suffered an eligible injury. After eligibility is established, the THECB will issue the student an eligibility letter that must be provided to the institution’s Financial Aid Office.
For more information, please visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website and selecting the Financial Aid section.
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 the Scholarship Office confirming the student was the highest-ranking student of his/her high school.
For more information, please visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website and selecting the Financial Aid section.
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 age 65 or older.
For more information, please visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website and selecting the Financial Aid section.
TEXAS HAZLEWOOD ACT EXEMPTION- VETERAN
The purpose of the Hazlewood Act (Texas Education Code, Section 54.341) 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.
For more information, please visit the Texas Veterans Commission or Financial Aid website and select Hazlewood Act.
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.
Legacy recipients will receive an exemption for the number of degree certified hours reported by the institution for that term. Maximum degree certified hours awarded to the Legacy recipient will be dependent upon the degree or certificate program in which the student is enrolled for that term and shall be consistent with the program length as defined within the school’s catalog.
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 child. However, may not exceed 150 hours total, regardless how the hours are distributed amongst multiple children. Only one person 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. A Veteran’s spouse is not eligible to receive a transfer of unused hours under the Legacy provision.
For more information, please visit the Texas Veterans Commission or Financial Aid website and select Hazlewood Act.
TEXAS HAZLEWOOD EXEMPTION FOR ELIGIBLE DEPENDENTS (SPOUSES AND CHILDREN)
Spouses and dependent children of an eligible veteran who is determined by the VA to be 100%, total and permanent, service-connected veteran or one who became totally disabled for purposes of employability as a result of a service-related injury or illness. The spouse/dependent(s) of an eligible veteran who meets the requirements below are entitled to receive a 150 credit hours exemption.
For more information, please visit the Texas Veterans Commission or Financial Aid website and select Hazlewood Act.
TUITION AND FEE EXEMPTION FOR MEMBERS OF STATE MILITARY FORCES
Texas Education Code, Section 54.345, provides an exemption for individuals certified by the adjutant general of the state military forces as having been awarded assistance for tuition and fees. 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. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website and selecting the Financial Aid section.
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.
For more information, please visit the website. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website and selecting the Financial Aid section.
EXEMPTION FOR THE SURVIVING SPOUSE AND MINOR CHILDREN OF CERTAIN DECEASED PUBLIC SERVANTS
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 on or after September 1, 2000. There is no age or time limit in which to apply however, children must have been younger than 25 years of age on the date of death to qualify. The student must enroll full-time and is exempted from tuition and fees, student housing and food costs. The student must not have received a bachelors degree or attempted more than 200 hours.
For more information, please visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website and selecting the Financial Aid section.
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. Submission deadline is the institution's census date of the applicable term, application and proof of employment letter must be sent starting 30 days prior to that date to the Financial Aid Office.
For more information, please visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website and selecting the Financial Aid section.
EXEMPTION FOR FIREFIGHTERS TAKING FIRE SCIENCE COURSES
This program is available for persons employed as firefighters 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. Submission deadline is the institution's census date of the applicable term, application and proof of employment letter must be sent starting 30 days prior to that date to the Financial Aid Office.
For more information, please visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website and selecting the Financial Aid section.
EXEMPTION FOR BLIND AND DEAF STUDENTS
Texas residents with a vision-related disability are determined eligible by Vocational Rehabilitation Services Offices through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). Students must contact their local TWC office to apply. Texas residents with a hearing disability who meet certain criteria are determined eligible by Texas Health and Human Services (HHS). To apply, students must submit the Application for Certificate of Deafness for Tuition Waiver (Form 3900) to HHS. After eligibility is established, the HHS will issue the student a certification of eligibility letter that must be provided to the institution’s Financial Aid Office.
For more information, please visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website and selecting the Financial Aid section.
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. Submission deadline is the institution’s census date of the applicable term, application and proof of employment letter must be sent starting 30 days prior to that date to the Financial Aid Office.
For more information, please visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website and selecting the Financial Aid section.