Texas currently maintains a variety of programs aimed at exempting tuition, fees, and other expenses related to attending public colleges or universities. These exemption programs are targeted to specific populations that the Texas Legislature has identified as warranting special consideration related to paying for higher education costs.
All exemptions are processed through the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Claims for exemption from any charges must be supported by evidence sufficient to enable the Office of Student Financial Assistance to verify the student's exempt status and determine the duration of the exemption and the charges to which it is applicable. Each section below refers to information found in the corresponding Texas Education Code (TEC).
Blind/Deaf (TEC §54.364)
| Tuition |
Yes |
Student Service Fees |
Yes |
| Other Mandatory Fees |
Yes |
Course Specific Lab Fees |
Yes |
| Breakage Deposit |
Yes |
Testing Fee |
Yes |
| Parking |
Yes |
Room Board |
No |
| Books |
No |
Children of POWs and MIAs (TEC § 54.343)
| Tuition |
Yes |
Student Service Fees |
Yes |
| Other Mandatory Fees |
Yes |
Course Specific Lab Fees |
No |
| Breakage Deposit |
Yes |
Testing Fee |
Yes |
| Parking |
Yes |
Room Board |
No |
| Books |
No |
Dependents of Disabled Firefighters and Police (TEC § 54.351)
| Tuition |
Yes |
Student Service Fees |
Yes |
| Other Mandatory Fees |
Yes |
Course Specific Lab Fees |
No |
| Breakage Deposit |
Yes |
Testing Fee |
Yes |
| Parking |
Yes |
Room Board |
No |
| Books |
No |
Hazlewood-Texas Veterans Dependent Children and Spouse of Texas Veterans (TEC § 54.341)
| Tuition |
Yes |
Student Service Fees |
No |
| Other Mandatory Fees |
Yes |
Course Specific Lab Fees |
Yes |
| Breakage Deposit |
No |
Testing Fee |
Yes |
| Parking |
Yes |
Room Board |
No |
| Books |
No |
Foster Care Children (TEC §54.366)
| Tuition |
Yes |
Student Service Fees |
No |
| Other Mandatory Fees |
Yes |
Course Specific Lab Fees |
Yes |
| Breakage Deposit |
No |
Testing Fee |
Yes |
| Parking |
Yes |
Room Board |
No |
| Books |
No |
Adopted Students Formerly in Foster or Other Residential Care (TEC §54.367)
| Tuition |
Yes |
Student Service Fees |
Yes |
| Other Mandatory Fees |
Yes |
Course Specific Lab Fees |
Yes |
| Breakage Deposit |
No |
Testing Fee |
Yes |
| Parking |
Yes |
Room Board |
No |
| Books |
No |
High School Valedictorian (TEC §54.301)
| Tuition |
Yes |
Student Service Fees |
No |
| Other Mandatory Fees |
No |
Course Specific Lab Fees |
No |
| Breakage Deposit |
No |
Testing Fee |
No |
| Parking |
No |
Room Board |
No |
| Books |
No |
Awarded yearly to the highest-ranking graduate of any accredited high school in Texas. Recipients are exempt from tuition payment for the two long semesters of their freshman year, providing that they attend the same school for both semesters. Eligible students should send or bring their certificate to the Office of Student Financial Assistance prior to registration.
Survivor of Public Servant (Killed in the Line of Duty) (TEC §54.354)
| Tuition |
Yes |
Student Service Fees |
Yes |
| Other Mandatory Fees |
Yes |
Course Specific Lab Fees |
Yes |
| Breakage Deposit |
Yes |
Testing Fee |
Yes |
| Parking |
Yes |
Room Board |
Yes |
| Books |
Yes |
Senior Citizen (6 SCH Limit) (TEC §54.365)
| Tuition |
Yes |
Student Service Fees |
No |
| Other Mandatory Fees |
No |
Course Specific Lab Fees |
No |
| Breakage Deposit |
No |
Testing Fee |
No |
| Parking |
No |
Room Board |
No |
| Books |
No |
Nursing Faculty/Staff (TEC §54.355)
| Tuition |
Yes |
Student Service Fees |
No |
| Other Mandatory Fees |
No |
Course Specific Lab Fees |
No |
| Breakage Deposit |
No |
Testing Fee |
No |
| Parking |
No |
Room Board |
No |
| Books |
No |
Peace Officers Enrolled in Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice Courses (TEC §54.3531)
| Tuition |
Yes |
Student Service Fees |
No |
| Other Mandatory Fees |
No |
Course Specific Lab Fees |
Yes |
| Breakage Deposit |
No |
Testing Fee |
No |
| Parking |
No |
Room Board |
No |
| Books |
No |
Peace Officers Disabled in the Line of Duty (TEC §54.352)
| Tuition |
Yes |
Student Service Fees |
Yes |
| Other Mandatory Fees |
Yes |
Course Specific Lab Fees |
Yes |
| Breakage Deposit |
No |
Testing Fee |
Yes |
| Parking |
No |
Room Board |
No |
| Books |
No |
Educational Aide Exemption (TEC §54.363)
| Tuition |
Yes |
Student Service Fees |
Yes |
| Other Mandatory Fees |
Yes |
Course Specific Lab Fees |
No |
| Breakage Deposit |
No |
Testing Fee |
Yes |
| Parking |
No |
Room Board |
No |
| Books |
No |
