Texas Free College Application Week runs October 12–18, 2026. Texas residents applying to public universities through ApplyTexas can submit undergraduate applications without paying fees — but only if the application is fully submitted before 11:59 p.m. CT on October 18. Transfer students qualify. Private schools like Baylor, TCU, and Rice are not part of the program.

If you're a Texas high school senior — or a transfer student — this is one of the most useful eight days of fall semester. Starting October 12, you can apply to Texas public universities through ApplyTexas without paying the application fee.

Last year, more than 260,000 applications were submitted during Free College Application Week.1 The week has become well known. What's less well known is how many students almost miss the deadline — or apply to the wrong schools expecting a waiver they never receive.

Here's what you actually need to know before October 12.

What Is Texas Free College Application Week?

The week was created by Senate Bill 2231 during the 89th Texas Legislative Session and is administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). After the inaugural year, it falls on the second full week of October every year — which is why 2026's window is October 12–18.2

Governor Greg Abbott promoted this year's week in early October, framing it as removing a financial barrier between Texas students and higher education.

The program covers undergraduate admissions only at Texas public universities — institutions in the UT System, the Texas A&M System, the Texas Tech System, and other public schools that accept applications through ApplyTexas.

Three Things Most Articles Get Wrong

1. Starting an application doesn't count — submitting does.

This is the mistake that costs students money. If you open an application on October 15 and finish it on October 20, you owe the full fee. The waiver applies only to applications fully submitted before 11:59 p.m. CT on October 18.

Many students treat Free Application Week as a "start now, finish later" window. It isn't. Have your essays, activities, and transcript information ready before October 12 so you're not scrambling at the end of the week.

The fee waiver applies only to applications that are fully submitted — not just started — by 11:59 p.m. CT on October 18, 2026. An application you begin during the week and finish after the deadline will be charged the regular application fee.

2. Transfer students are included.

Most coverage focuses on high school seniors, but transfer students applying to Texas public universities through ApplyTexas are also eligible during Free Application Week. If you're at a community college and planning to transfer to UT Austin, Texas A&M, or another public school for fall 2027, this week applies to you.

3. Private Texas schools are not covered.

Baylor, TCU, Rice, and SMU are not part of the state program. Private colleges in Texas set their own fee policies and are not required to participate. If you're building a list that includes both public and private Texas schools, budget for private school fees separately.

Some private schools offer their own year-round waivers through Common App or Coalition App — see our college application fee waivers guide for how to request them.

Check college application deadlines for 2027 before you sit down to apply. Some Texas public schools have EA deadlines in November that fall before many students realize competitive review has already started.

Which Schools Are Covered?

Any Texas public institution that accepts applications through ApplyTexas is included. That covers the major systems:

  • UT System: UT Austin, UT Dallas, UT San Antonio, UT Arlington, UT El Paso, and others
  • Texas A&M System: Texas A&M College Station, Texas A&M–Commerce, Prairie View A&M, and others
  • Texas Tech System: Texas Tech, Angelo State, Tarleton State, and others
  • Other public institutions: University of North Texas, Texas State, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, and dozens more

If a school appears on the ApplyTexas school list and is a public institution, your application submitted during the week is free.

For a closer look at Texas's flagship schools, see our admissions guides for UT Austin and Texas A&M.

What to Do Before October 12

The week starts Saturday. Here's what to prepare right now:

Today and tomorrow:

  • Go to ApplyTexas.org and create your account if you don't have one
  • Build your school list — confirm each school is a Texas public institution
  • Gather your Social Security number, high school information, class rank (if your school reports it), and extracurricular activities

Before you submit:

  • Write your essay responses — most Texas public schools use the ApplyTexas prompts (Topics A, B, C), not the Common App prompts
  • Know your recommenders — not every school requires letters at the application stage, but verify for each school on your list
  • Plan to hit submit by October 16 or 17, not October 18 — last-minute server issues during high-volume windows are real

What Comes Next

Submitting applications is the start, not the finish line. After you apply, the two most time-sensitive tasks are FAFSA and financial aid planning.

The 2027-28 FAFSA opened September 23 — earlier than any prior cycle. For Texas students, priority FAFSA deadlines at most public schools fall between January and March, but institutional grants at many schools are allocated on a rolling basis before those deadlines. Filing in October or November puts you ahead of the majority of applicants.

Texas has strong state grant programs — the TEXAS Grant, the B-On-Time Loan, and institutional aid at UT, A&M, and Texas Tech. For an overview of what's available, see financial aid for college in Texas. For the broader picture of how Texas is handling college affordability, the Texas tuition freeze that locked in-state rates has been in place since fall 2023 and continues through 2026-27.

For a month-by-month picture of what senior year looks like from now through May, see our senior year fall application guide.

Free application week is real money — application fees at Texas public schools typically run $75 to $90 each. Applying to six schools during the week saves $450 to $540. The only thing that makes it not free is missing the October 18 deadline. Use the next eight days.

Footnotes

  1. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. (2026). Free College Application Week. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. https://www.highered.texas.gov/free-college-application-week ↩ ↩2

  2. Office of the Governor of Texas. (2026, October). Governor Abbott Promotes Free College Application Week. https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-promotes-free-college-application-week ↩