Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has frozen undergraduate tuition prices across all public colleges and universities for the third year in a row.
In a letter issued on May 27, Abbott said affordable higher education is essential to meeting the state’s workforce needs and ordered the freeze through the 2026-27 academic year.
“Texas must continue leading the nation in creating affordable pathways to higher education while maintaining the high academic standards that make our institutions strong,” Abbott wrote.
This marks the third year — since 2023 — that the governor has ordered the freeze, which impacts all tuition and fees at every public two-year and four-year institution, including both general academic and health-related institutions.
According to U.S. News, Texas ranks No. 11 for low tuition and fees among states. Florida is No. 1.
Abbott’s letter also pointed to recent investments from the state into higher education. In 2023, Texas invested more than $680 million to reform community college funding and expand degree pathways for students.
In the 2025 budget cycle, the state also increased student financial aid funding by $328 million to increase access to state financial aid programs for eligible students at institutions across Texas.
“I look forward to working with the legislature next session to extend this freeze to future academic school years and to partner with institutions to identify additional opportunities to make higher education options more affordable, maintain high academic standards, and best position Texas students for future success,” concluded Abbott’s letter.
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