Abbott orders Texas public colleges to keep tuition flat
PUBLISHED May 27, 2026, 11:58 AM ET
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Austin, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday directed all Texas public universities, colleges and health-related institutions to freeze undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees through the 2026-27 academic year. The written directive, sent to university presidents, continues a statewide policy that began with actions and legislation first implemented in 2023. The freeze covers two-year and four-year institutions and affects tuition, academic fees and course fees for Texas resident undergraduates; the state also increased student financial aid by $328 million in the most recent legislative session. Institutions must comply with the governor's letter this academic cycle, and coverage noted Texas remains an outlier compared with systems that have enacted tuition increases.
By Noormahi M. | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- 2023 — Governor Abbott signs law requiring tuition freezes for 2023-24 and 2024-25.
- 2023–2025 — Abbott continues to push for tuition and fee freezes statewide.
- Recent legislative session — State increases student financial aid funding by $328 million.
- Two years prior — Additional directives or orders referenced extending freeze coverage to later academic years.
- This week (Wednesday) — Abbott sends letters directing institutions to keep undergraduate tuition and fees flat through 2026-27.
News Intelligence
- If you're a Texas resident with kids in college, or you're planning to attend a public university yourself, this freeze means your tuition costs won't rise until at least
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- Check with your institution to confirm they're following the governor's directive.
- Articles Published:
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- Right Leaning:
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- Left Leaning:
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- Neutral:
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- Distribution:
- Left 0%, Center 75%, Right 25%
Texas resident undergraduate students and families benefit from frozen tuition and expanded state financial aid, preserving current costs through the 2026-27 academic year.
Public colleges and universities face constrained revenue growth and potential budgeting pressure because the multi-year tuition freeze limits tuition-based income.
Coverage of Story:
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From Center
Abbott orders Texas public colleges to keep tuition flat
https://www.kcbd.com KXXV Austin American-Statesman
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