Exploring the Local Impact of UT’s Expansion of Free Tuition and Tuition Waiver

WACO, Texas (KXXV) – Undergraduate students in Central Texas and across the state have a new path to higher education: Schools in the University of Texas system are offering free tuition and fee waivers for families who earn less than $100,000 a year. nine academic institutions.

• On Thursday, the Board of Regents decided to expand the Promise Plus program to a base amount of $100,000.
• The initiative launches next fall and will span all nine UT campuses.
• Local colleges such as MCC and Texas A&M Central Texas do not expect a negative impact on their enrollment.
• Students must be Texas residents, full-time students, and have applied for state and financial aid to be eligible.

broadcast transcript:
“I found it more cost-effective,” said 18-year-old Joseph Butcher.

Engineering student Joseph Butcher said he decided to attend McLennan Community College because of the cost and close proximity to family.

“MCC is very helpful,” Butcher said. “They have a ton of resources available to all of their students. I live very close. I only live five minutes away, so it’s a very convenient location for me.”

Like many MCC students, Butcher said he plans to transfer to a four-year college after graduation.

“Accessibility is truly the most important element of what you offer in a community college environment,” said Dr. Chad Eggleston, MCC vice president of learning and student engagement.

Joseph is likely among thousands of students across the state who can now financially consider attending a UT system school thanks to Thursday’s decision to offer free tuition to families who earn $100,000 or less.

“Especially as a government agency, you always want to be accessible, and part of accessibility is availability,” said Alba Cook, executive director of TAMUCT Enrollment Services. “I think the conversations have become more active over the years as we start to see things like inflation happening to a lot of families.”

I asked MCC and TAMU Central Texas if the UT Promise Plus program could have an impact on local enrollment.

“We really don’t expect this to be a problem for us,” Eggleston said. “We really celebrate and are very excited about any program across the state that provides greater access to bright students.”

It’s too early to know for sure how UT’s announcement will impact our local colleges and universities, but like MCC, Texas A&M Central also announced. 25 news he doesn’t expect it to impact enrollment.

“We don’t foresee this happening just because we feel that we are experiencing different populations,” Cook said.

Additionally, both schools tell me that they typically target different groups of students than the students attending UT schools.

Students must be Texas residents enrolled in a full-time undergraduate program at one of the nine UT System campuses and must apply for appropriate government and financial aid to be eligible.

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