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- Texas Governor Greg Abbott has frozen undergraduate tuition at all public colleges and universities for the third consecutive year.
- The governor stated the freeze is to ensure higher education remains affordable and meets the state’s workforce needs.
- Texas ranks 11th in the nation for low tuition and fees, according to U.S. News.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has frozen undergraduate tuition prices across all public colleges and universities for the third year in a row.
In a letter issued on May 27, Abbott said affordable higher education is essential to meeting the state’s workforce needs and ordered the freeze through the 2026-27 academic year.
“Texas must continue leading the nation in creating affordable pathways to higher education while maintaining the high academic standards that make our institutions strong.” Abbott wrote.
This marks the third year — since 2023 — that the governor has ordered the freeze, which impacts all tuition and fees at every public two-year and four-year institution, including both general academic and health-related institutions.
According to U.S. News, Texas ranks No. 11 for low tuition and fees among states. Florida is No. 1.
Abbott’s letter aslo pointed to recent investments from the state into higher education. In 2023, Texas had invested more than $680 million to reform community college funding and expand degree pathways for students.
In the 2025 budget cycle, the state also increased student financial aid funding by $328 million to increaseaccess to state financial aid programs for eligible students at institutions across Texas.
“I look forward to working with the legislature next session to extend this freeze to future academic school years and to partner with institutions to identify additional opportunities to make higher education options more affordable, maintain high academic standards, and best position Texas students for future success,” concluded Abbott’s letter.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at [email protected].
