UT System Expands Free Tuition Program for Low-Income Students.pdf

The University of Texas (UT) system is set to implement a significant financial aid program starting next fall, ensuring free tuition program and fee waivers for eligible students. read for more information

1. UTSystemExpandsFreeTuition
ProgramforLow-Income
Students
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​Source:kltv.com
MajorTuitionReliefInitiativeUnveiled
TheUniversityofTexas(UT)systemissettoimplementasignificantfinancialaidprogramstarting
nextfall,ensuringfreetuitionprogramandfeewaiversforeligiblestudents.AnnouncedbytheUT

2. BoardofRegentsonWednesday,thisinitiativetargetsundergraduatesfromfamiliesearningless
than$100,000annually.Theplan,whichreceivedpreliminaryapproval,aimstomakehigher
educationmoreaccessibleandreducethefinancialburdenonstudents.Afinalvotebytheboardis
expectedtosolidifytheinitiative.
Tolaunchtheprogram,$35millionwillbeimmediatelyallocatedtocampusesacrosstheUTsystem,
providingthenecessaryfundstosupporttuitionandfeewaivers.Additionally,theplanincludes
bolsteringfinancialaidendowmentstosustainlong-termtuitionrelief.Thismovedemonstratesthe
UTsystem’scommitmenttoaffordableeducationforTexasfamilies.
BuildingonPastEfforts
ThelatestinitiativebuildsontheUniversityofTexasBoardofRegents’previouseffortstoexpand
financialaid.In2019,theboardestablisheda$167millionendowmentatUTAustintofullycover
tuitionandmandatoryfeesforin-statestudentsfromfamiliesearningupto$65,000annually.This
groundbreakingprogrammarkedasignificantsteptowardreducingstudentdebtforlow-income
households.
In2022,theboardapprovedanothermajorfinancialaidprogram,“PromisePlus,”a$300million
endowmentdesignedtoextendsimilarbenefitsacrossallnineuniversitieswithintheUTsystem.
Thesestrategicinvestmentshavelaidthegroundworkforthenewinitiative,ensuringbroaderaccess
tohighereducationforTexasresidents.
CommitmenttoAffordableEducation
KevinP.Eltife,ChairmanoftheUniversityofTexas(UT)BoardofRegents,emphasizedtheboard’s
dedicationtosupportingstudentsandfamilies.“Tobeinapositiontomakesureourstudentscan
attendaUTinstitutionwithoutaccruingmoredebtisveryimportanttoallofus,”hesaid.Eltife
highlightedtheboard’sdualapproachofimmediatefundingandlong-terminvestments,which
ensuresongoingfinancialaidforfuturegenerations.
TheUTsystem,comprisingnineuniversities,includingitsflagshipUTAustincampus,has
consistentlyprioritizedaffordabilityandaccessibilityinitsmission.Byintroducingthisnewtuition
reliefprogram,theboardreaffirmsitscommitmenttohelpinghard-workingTexasfamiliesachieve
theirhighereducationgoalswithoutfinancialstrain.