Texas Governor Greg Abbott has put a hard stop on tuition hikes at public colleges and universities in the Lone Star State, at least for the next two years. In a move to maintain college affordability amid inflation-related concerns, Abbott’s mandate ensures the current tuition freeze will extend until the 2026-2027 academic year.
FOX5 San Diego
reports that Abbott sent letters to public higher education institutions making his position crystal clear: no support for increased tuition fees.
“Texans face significant rising costs due to inflation. When inflation and other economic pressures burden household budgets, our public universities must take every step possible to ease the financial burden on our students and their families,”
Abbott said
, as per the letter shared with the media. The governor signed a law back in 2023 that prevented tuition rates from rising through the 2024-2025 school year, showcasing a commitment to financially protect Texas students and their families. Texas public universities were thus climbing an uphill struggle to balance budgets without passing costs down to students.
The financial backdrop for Abbott’s tuition freeze traces back to the last legislative session where lawmakers channeled an additional $700 million into the budget for Texas’ public universities. This support came after university leaders advocated for the extra funds at the start of the session and agreed to hold tuition steady for undergraduates for the following budget cycle if the state provided the extra monetary injection. According to
KVUE
, the average tuition and fees for in-state students at a public university currently resides at $28,724.
Governor Abbott, not shying away from reinforcing his intent, underscored the state’s role in higher education funding. “The State has made historic investments in higher education, including increased funding for universities and financial aid programs,”
Abbott informed
in his correspondence with public colleges and universities. As reported by
KVUE
, he boldly stated, “I will ensure college affordability remains a top priority for the state as we head into the next legislative session.” Stubbornly, the tuition freeze stands as a fortification against the tidal waves of economic uncertainty, promising to shield Texans from additional financial burden while pursuing higher education.
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