The Haynes Ring Plaza, featuring a Aggie ring replica, is seen on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Texas A&M University will offer free tuition to more in-state students, raising its income cap from $60,000 to $100,000 and making college more affordable for thousands more Texans.
A&M is one of many institutions to expand their so-called “promise programs” in recent months, pledging that low- and middle-income students can attend school without taking out heavy student loan debt. Sam Houston State University also announced that it raised its qualifying family income to $100,000, up from $40,000.
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Many “promise programs” have existed since the 2000s, but they’ve grown to cover more undergraduates as the sticker price on tuition also rises.
Students usually need to fill out state and federal financial aid forms to show that state and federal grants are not enough to cover their college costs. Most public schools with promise programs use a “last dollar” model, meaning the institution will cover the difference remaining in tuition after a student receives grants and sometimes scholarships.
Some Texas universities have various deadlines to submit financial aid applications, and they have different rules to obtain the award or renew it each semester, including credit hour and GPA requirements. For the most part, state schools also limit the benefit to Texas residents.
Here’s what’s required — including family income — to qualify for free tuition at public and private universities in Texas. Make sure to check with the institutions for exact eligibility.
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University of Texas System institutions
The University of Texas at Austin tower on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Austin
Alyssa Gisselle Olvera/Staff photographer
As of fall 2025, all UT System schools promise free tuition and waive mandatory fees to students whose families earn under $100,000.
Most UT System schools have a $100,000 threshold: UT-Austin, UT-Arlington, UT-Dallas, UT-El Paso, UT-San Antonio, UT-Tyler and Stephen F. Austin State University.
HIGHER ED: UT System expands free tuition program
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UT-Rio Grande Valley is the only system school with a higher threshold, at $125,000. UT-Austin’s program — called the Texas Advance Commitment — gives partial tuition support for students whose family incomes are between $100,000 and $125,000.
To qualify, students have to be pursuing a bachelor’s degree as a first-time student or a transfer. The UT-System lists all of the requirements for the “Promise-Plus” programs here.
Texas A&M University System institutions
Merchandise for the Texas A&M University Victoria, formerly University of Houston – Victoria, is seen in Victoria, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
The A&M flagship in College Station and Galveston offers free tuition for up to four consecutive years to Texas undergraduates whose families earn less than $100,000. Last year, more than 8,400 students qualified for free tuition under a lower threshold of $60,000 under the “Aggie Assurance” program, according to Texas A&M.
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Most of the 11 other A&M System universities have promise programs at different income thresholds and specific requirements to continue receiving the benefits beyond the first semester. Eligibility is also subject to deadlines, and for some programs, students must apply before a priority date in order to receive the maximum amount needed.
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has a $125,000 threshold for students who meet eligibility standards as incoming freshmen. Transfers are not eligible. Texas A&M International University in Laredo has a $100,000 income threshold for Texas freshmen and transfers meeting certain academic requirements.
East Texas A&M University has a $85,000 income cap for freshmen and transfers. Tarleton State University also has an $85,000 threshold for first-time freshmen, also covering meal plans and a book allowance.
West Texas A&M University’s “Buff Promise” has an $80,000 income cap for first-time or transfer students. Texas A&M University-San Antonio’s program covers tuition, fees and books for students who are in the top 10% of their high school class or who earned at least 30 credits from a Texas Early College High School and to new students in the top 11-35% of their class as well as transfers, whose family incomes are $70,000 or less.
Texas A&M University-Victoria and Texas A&M University-Kingsville cover tuition and fees for students under a $65,000 income threshold.
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Texas A&M-University Texarkana extends free tuition and waived fees to Texas students and students from Miller County, Arkansas. The income cap is $50,000 for undergraduates.
Prairie View A&M University has a “Panther Promise” grant of up to $2,000 for students with family incomes of $30,000 or less.
University of Houston institutions
The Ezekiel W. Cullen Building on the campus of University of Houston on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022 in Houston.
Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer
UH’s “Cougar Promise” is for students whose family incomes are at or below $65,000. Only new freshmen qualify for free tuition and waived mandatory fees, and it is renewable for four years in the fall and spring.
Students whose families earn between $65,000 and $125,000 can get tuition support grants of between $500 and $2,000. Students have to submit their college and financial aid applications by Jan. 15 to qualify. They also have to maintain a 2.5 GPA and complete 24 hours of coursework a year to continue receiving the benefit, according to the university.
Starting fall 2026, University of Houston-Clear Lake also offers guaranteed tuition for new freshmen whose family incomes are below $65,000. They need to submit their federal financial aid form and be admitted by April 1.
Texas State University System institutions
The bell tower on Sam Houston State University’s campus in Huntsville, Texas on Saturday, July 18, 2020.
Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer
Sam Houston State University’s “Bearkat Promise” offers tuition and covers mandatory fees for students and transfers with family incomes of up to $100,000. They have to take between 12 and 15 credit hours a semester, and they can renew for three consecutive years.
Under a previous $40,000 threshold, some 3,175 freshmen and transfer students qualified in fall 2025. Next year, more than 5,500 students were expected to qualify, according to the university.
Texas State University’s program covers tuition and fees for students with family incomes below $50,000, according to the institution. Lamar University has a $40,000 threshold for undergraduates. Sul Ross State University’s threshold is $80,000.
Texas Tech University System institutions
Texas Tech’s “Red Raider Guarantee” is for new and transfer students with family incomes of $80,000 or less. Like most other programs, students can be eligible for eight semesters.
Angelo State University promises tuition and covers fees for students whose family incomes are below $85,000.
Midwestern State University has programs for students in the North Texas region. The income cap is $65,000.
University of North Texas System institutions
Bachelor’s students at UNT are eligible for free tuition and covered fees if their families earn less than $100,000 and if they either rank in the top 25% of their high school class or are eligible for a federal Pell grant. UNT-Dallas’ program is for bachelor’s students whose families earn under $65,000.
Texas Woman’s University
Bachelor’s students at TWU qualify for free tuition if they are Pell eligible and from Dallas County, Tarrant County, Grayson County, Cooke County or Montague County.
Texas Southern University
Texas Southern University President James Crawford greets students during on-campus move-in on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024 in Houston.
Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer
TSU’s Tiger Promise offers up to 8 semesters, or four years, of tuition and fees for first-time bachelor’s students or transfers whose families earn $125,000 or less. Students need to apply for university admission by March 1 and submit their state and federal financial aid forms by April 1.
Rice University
Rice University students recede from the Academic Quadrangle at the conclusion of the investiture ceremony of the university’s eighth president, Reginald DesRoches, on Saturday, October 22, 2022 in Houston, Texas.
Leanora Benkato/Contributor
“The Rice Investment” has a higher income threshold than promise programs at public universities. Rice covers full tuition for bachelor’s students with family incomes under $140,000, and they also cover fees and living expenses for people with incomes below $75,000.
The university charges half tuition to people with family incomes between $140,000 and $200,000, and almost three-quarters of students whose family incomes are between $200,000 and $300,000 receive some university aid, according to Rice.
University of St. Thomas
University of St. Thomas students from Texas qualify for free tuition under certain requirements, including having a family income of $50,000 or less. First-year students must have a 3.4 GPA or higher, and transfer students must have a transfer GPA of 3.5 or higher. The promise does not cover course or parking fees, books, housing, meal plans or summer courses, according to UST.