Gov. Greg Abbott arrives at a news conference in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
Texas public universities would be required to offer students three-year bachelor’s degrees under a proposal announced Wednesday by Gov. Greg Abbott.
The proposed legislation is part of an effort by Abbott to cut the cost of college for Texans. Abbott is pushing for public universities to offer at least 10 degrees that can be completed in three years and 90 credit hours. Bachelor’s degrees are typically four years and 120 credit hours.
“Governor Abbott’s mission is to provide every Texan with access to a quicker and more affordable college degree,” said Eduardo Leal, press secretary for Abbott’s re-election campaign.
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Students who complete college in three years would save between $15,000 to $35,000 in tuition and living expenses, according to a news release.
Reduced-credit bachelor’s degrees are growing more popular across the nation. Supporters say the alternative degree provides students with a faster and cheaper pathway to launching a career. But three-year degrees also are sparking debates over the purpose of a college education, as skeptics have raised concerns about the rigor of education students would receive with the shorter timeframe.
Under Abbott’s proposal, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board would work with universities to ensure that the reduced-credit degrees maintain “high academic standards” and meet Texas workforce needs, according to the release.
Such a proposal would have to pass through the Texas Legislature, which convenes next year, before Abbott could sign it into law.
Public universities would need the coordinating board’s approval and independent accreditation for their three-year programs. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, a regional body that accredits schools in Texas, recently approved a framework for schools to offer reduced-credit bachelor’s degrees.
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On Wednesday, Abbott also directed the coordinating board to develop recommendations for how to implement three-year bachelor’s degrees. Working groups will be tasked with identifying which degree programs and high-demand occupations would be best for accelerated degrees, proposing academic standards, and collecting student and employer workforce feedback.
“Three-year bachelor’s programs could help motivated students enter high-demand fields a year earlier,” said higher education commissioner Wynn Rosser in a news release about the directive Wednesday morning. “This will lower the cost of education and help satisfy workforce demands in the Texas economy.”
The working group will include higher education officials, faculty leaders, employers, accrediting organizations and other stakeholders. Its recommendations are due to Abbott by Dec. 31.
Summer tuition discount proposed
Wednesday’s announcement marks Abbott’s latest education-related proposal this summer as he faces Democrat Gina Hinojosa, an Austin state representative, in the November election.
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Earlier this week, Abbott announced a plan to cut the cost of summer college courses at public universities. Under his plan, students who take one to five credit hours in the summer would receive a $500 tuition discount. Students enrolled in six or more credit hours would receive a $1,000 discount.
At a campaign stop at Sam Houston State University on Tuesday, Abbott said that the proposal would help students graduate sooner and save money on a college education.
He cited two universities, the University of Texas at Dallas and University of Texas at Austin, that already offer a similar discount for summer classes. At UTD, the initiative increased summer enrollment by more than 25%, saved students more than $3 million, and increased revenue by $2 million, Abbott said.
Abbott has taken steps that aim to make higher education more affordable for Texans in recent years.
Under his directive, tuition at public universities has been frozen for the last four years. He has indicated that he wants to work on extending the freeze during the next legislative session
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Texas also saw its first free college application week in 2025. Under a new law, in-state students can apply to public universities for free during the second full week of October each year.
Staff reporter Karen Harper contributed to this report.
The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.
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