Promise Plus program clears financial barriers for UT students aspiring to attain a college degree
As nearly 200,000 undergraduate students prepare to begin classes at their respective University of Texas System institutions next month, an unprecedented number will do so with confidence, knowing that financial barriers will not stand in the way of their academic and personal aspirations. This assurance comes at a crucial time when American confidence in higher education has plummeted, largely due to a growing belief that the return on investment of a college education is not worth the expense.
The transformative Promise Plus program — an endowment established by the UT System Board of Regents in 2022 that has grown to almost $300 million — enables eligible in-state students at all nine UT academic institutions to embark on their educational journeys free from the burden of tuition and fees. This historic, needs-based financial aid initiative represents a beacon of possibility and opportunity, empowering students from every corner of Texas to focus solely on achieving their dreams without the looming shadow of student debt.
Each UT academic institution administers its own Promise-related program. Eligibility is determined by the gross family household income of the student, which must fall at or below a specific threshold set by the university. In the short period of the program’s existence, several institutions have increased their family household income thresholds, which range from $65,000 at UT Austin to $100,000 at UT Permian Basin and $125,000 at UT Rio Grande Valley.
Tuition remains frozen for 2024-25
All students at UT institutions will continue to benefit this academic year from actions taken by the 88th Texas Legislature to address affordability in higher education. All resident undergraduate academic costs, including tuition, mandatory academic fees, all academic-related general fees and college course fees remain frozen for a second consecutive year.
By stabilizing tuition costs for all students and setting a new standard for educational accessibility through the Promise Plus program, the UT System ensures that Texans today and in the future have a clear path of earning a bachelor’s degree, equipping them to meet the state’s rapidly evolving workforce demands.
