Governor Greg Abbott issued a directive on May 27, 2026 extending the freeze on undergraduate tuition and fees at all Texas public colleges and universities through the 2026-27 academic year. It is the fourth consecutive year of the freeze, in place since 2023, and covers every public two-year and four-year institution in the state. Texas also increased student financial aid funding by $328 million this legislative session.

If you are heading to a Texas public university this fall, your tuition bill is the same as last year — and the year before, and the year before that.

Governor Greg Abbott sent a letter to public college and university presidents on May 27, 2026, confirming that his directive against tuition increases "remains fully in effect" for 2026-27.1 Every Texas public college — from UT Austin to Texas A&M to community colleges across the state — must hold undergraduate tuition and fees flat for the coming year.

This is the fourth consecutive year Abbott has issued the directive. The freeze began in 2023.

What the Freeze Covers

The directive applies to undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees at all Texas public institutions of higher education, including:

  • Four-year general academic universities (UT Austin, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, University of Houston, and others)
  • Health-related institutions
  • Two-year community colleges

Texas A&M has published confirmation of the freeze covering both 2025-26 and 2026-27 on its Student Business Services site.2

The freeze covers tuition and mandatory fees only — not room, board, or optional fees. Those costs can still increase. Build your full cost of attendance estimate using your school's actual numbers, not just the tuition line.

Why This Matters Beyond Texas

To understand what the freeze actually means, compare it to what's happening at public universities in other states. Colorado universities raised tuition for fall 2026. Iowa Board of Regents approved increases at its flagship schools. And nationally, public university tuition continues to climb.

When state universities raise tuition 3–5% a year, the gap between Texas and other states compounds quickly across a four-year degree. A student who enrolled at a Texas public university in 2023 and graduates in 2027 will have paid the same tuition rate each year.

Abbott's Case for the Freeze

"Higher education must be attainable for Texas students and families," Abbott said in his directive. "Access to affordable, high-quality education is essential to ensure Texans learn the skills needed to secure family-sustaining jobs and meet the demands of a growing workforce."1

Abbott also said he intends to work with state lawmakers in the next legislative session to extend the freeze beyond the 2026-27 school year — signaling that this may not be the last renewal.

— Added by the Texas Legislature this session to improve access to state aid programs for eligible students statewide

More Aid Money on Top of Frozen Tuition

The tuition freeze is one piece. The $328 million increase in student financial aid funding this session is the other.1 Texas state grant programs — including the TEXAS Grant for four-year students and the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG) for community college students — are funded through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. When aid funding rises, more students may qualify or receive larger awards.

The FAFSA deadline for 2026-27 varies by school, and many Texas institutions have their own priority deadlines. If you have not submitted your FAFSA yet, do it now — Texas state aid requires it.

Undocumented Texas students who are not eligible for the federal FAFSA can apply through the TASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid). Our undocumented students college guide explains how that process works.

Texas students should stack the tuition freeze with state aid, institutional merit scholarships, and work-study. Use your school's net price calculator to model the actual out-of-pocket cost — not just the sticker tuition. With tuition frozen and aid funding up, your net cost could be lower than it looks.

What to Do If You're Comparing Texas Schools

If you're weighing a Texas public school against out-of-state options, the freeze changes the math. A few steps worth taking:

  1. Get the real total. Use your school's net price calculator. Tuition is frozen; room, board, and fees may not be. Pull the full figure for a fair comparison.
  2. Apply for Texas state aid. Submit your FAFSA or TASFA. The $328 million funding increase means more money is available — but only to students who apply.
  3. Compare net costs across states. The tuition by state comparison puts Texas pricing in context against national averages.
  4. Read the full Texas aid picture. The Texas financial aid guide covers state-specific grants, scholarships, and loan programs beyond what the federal government offers.
  5. Check if your program is affected. The freeze is for undergraduates. If you're applying to a graduate or professional program at a Texas public university, contact the school directly — costs may differ.

The bottom line: if you are a Texas resident considering a public university, the freeze is a genuine financial advantage. The rest of the country is not holding the line the same way.

Footnotes

  1. Office of the Texas Governor. (2026, May 27). Governor Abbott halts college tuition increases in Texas. Office of the Texas Governor. https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-halts-college-tuition-increases-in-texas ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  2. Texas A&M University. (2026). Tuition freeze for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years. Texas A&M University Student Business Services. https://sbs.tamu.edu/tuition-fees/locked-variable-rate-plans/25-26-26-27-tuition-freeze-info.html ↩