LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) – For the fourth year in a row, Gov. Greg Abbott is freezing undergraduate tuition at all public colleges and universities in Texas.
In a letter to schools across the state, Abbott writes, “Higher education must be attainable for Texas students and families.”
The governor also notes that state financial aid funding increased by $328 million in 2025, expanding access to aid programs for eligible students statewide.
Giselle Figueroa, an undergraduate at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), said she has been managing costs with financial aid and scholarships.
“I’ve been affording it with financial aid, but that is not enough. So I’ve been using my scholarship. And I have been getting a refund because I know a lot of people get refunds with financial aid. But for me, it’s not enough,” Figueroa said.
She said the freeze will help students who are struggling with loans.
“I have a friend right now that she’s struggling and she’s asking for more loans. So I think for her, it’ll be more easy for her. Like in the future, she would have to be asking for even more loans and be more in-depth after she graduates,” Figueroa said.
A TAMIU spokesperson said the university has not raised tuition since 2021 and remains committed to affordability as part of its mission.
Laredo College has also held the line on tuition for even longer.
“For us, it is not going to have an impact. This is going to be the twelfth year that Laredo College does not raise tuition and fees. And we’ve managed to continue to open new programs and sustain programs that have been in existence for some time,” Dr. Minita Ramirez, president of Laredo College, said.
Ramirez said about 82 percent of Laredo College students receive Pell Grants, which have helped them keep up with the cost of their education.
In that same letter, Abbott said he wants to work with schools to find additional ways to make higher education more affordable without sacrificing academic standards.
For more headlines, click here.
Copyright 2026 KGNS. All rights reserved.