Austin Community College Board of Trustees approves free tuition pilot program

AUSTIN — Following months of review and discussion, the Austin Community College District Board of Trustees approved 8-1 a proposal to offer free tuition for high school graduates and GED completers, starting with the class of 2024, at its Monday, April 1 meeting.

ACC started looking at this type of program because data indicated a significant shift in college-going rates in Central Texas. Nearly 60% of high school graduates in 2023 did not enroll in postsecondary education after graduating, according to The College Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). And potential ACC students — those who started an application, but chose not to enroll — said that tuition costs were the overwhelming reason why they were postponing college.

“People are experiencing a life that’s not affordable and they can’t find a way to climb out and up. It’s not about getting students in the door. It’s about eliminating barriers so that they not only come, they persist, they graduate and they enter our local workforce with the skills and talents our community needs,” said ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. “Every student’s success is something we can all celebrate. Central Texas is in unprecedented economic and population growth. Our region faces talent gaps and an educated workforce is crucial to the future success.”

Since the board provided approval to the proposal, ACC will pilot the new program for a period of five years, starting in the fall, providing free tuition to the class of 2024 and it will continue for all future classes in subsequent years for the next five years, according to the college. The pilot program would offer free tuition and general fees for high school seniors, including public, private, charter, homeschoolers and GED completers in the ACC service area.

“We have a responsibility to our students and the Central Texas taxpayers. I want to thank the board for their time, attention, and care to this decision. As a board, we believe deeply in making college a reality for everyone in Central Texas. It’s why we’ve voted every year — for the past 11 years — to keep ACC’s tuition rates steady,” said ACC Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Barbara P. Mink.

“While we all want free tuition for our students, this is a complicated matter. I’m cautiously hopeful. Ongoing due diligence will help ensure this program remains sustainable and keep us focused on the full picture,” the board chair continued. “We are adamant about not only supporting access to higher education through programs like ACC Free Tuition and also doing what we can to help meet the basic needs of students while they’re here.”

Details of the pilot program

In its process of drafting the proposal, ACC looked at 25 similar programs nationwide and developed a program that would be simple, easy to navigate and did not have income or GPA requirements, according to the college.

Highlights of the pilot program are listed below:

• All high school students or GED completers who graduate after July 1, 2023, and live in the ACC service area are eligible.

• Those who enroll will sign an acknowledgment letter and may enroll in any college academic or workforce credit program.

•  Eligible students will have three years starting from the first fall semester after they graduate high school to complete their associate degree and obtain any desired academic or workforce credentials and/or certification. For example, an eligible student graduating from high school in May 2024 will receive free tuition from fall 2024 through summer 2027.

• Students who complete the initial ACC Free Tuition program — also known as the College Affordability Plan — are eligible for an additional two years to obtain a bachelor’s degree from the college, for a total of 5 years of free tuition at ACC.

• Students are eligible and encouraged to apply for additional financial aid and scholarships.

• As a first-dollar program, students can still apply for financial aid and scholarships to support other college and life expenses, including child care, living expenses, food and housing.

• Students within the service area, but not in the taxing district will still be responsible for the out-of-district fee.

Tuition and fees remain unchanged

Also at its April 1 meeting, the board unanimously approved maintaining the tuition rates for the 2024-25 academic year, marking the 11th consecutive year that tuition and fees will remain unchanged at ACC.

In-district students will continue to pay $67 per credit hour for tuition and with general fees, it comes out to $85 per credit hour. And the out-of-district fee will remain the same at $201 per credit hour.

“I don’t know how many colleges can say they have kept tuition and fees the same for over a decade. I am proud of this board’s commitment to support all of our students and a big part of that is making college affordable,” said Dr. Mink. “It’s our mission as trustees to represent our community and to bring their needs to the forefront of the work we do here. Our vote today to maintain tuition at ACC for the 11th year in a row is something I’m incredibly proud of.”

The vote ensures that ACC’s tuition rate remains an estimated 31% lower than if it increased at the same rate of inflation. Considering an inflation rate of 2.5%, tuition would have gone from $67 per credit hour to $88 per credit hour over the past 11 years, according to ACC.

ACC students who live in-district pay among the lowest rates in the state compared to other area institutions, according to THECB. The in-district cost for one year of college at 30 credit hours, including tuition and fees, at institutions in the area is listed below.

• Austin Community College: $2,550

• Alamo Community College: $3,412

• Texas State Technical College: $7,212

• The University of Texas: $10,858

• Texas A&M University: $11,550

• Texas State University: $12,220

Registration for fall classes begins on Monday, May 13 and opens for everyone on Friday, May 17. The semester begins on Monday, August 26. For more information, visit www.austincc.edu/fall.

To learn more about ACC’s College Affordability Plan, visit sites.austincc.edu/free-tuition.