Tuition Exemption for Blind or Deaf Students
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Apply any timeRenews each year
Free tuition and fees at Texas public colleges for Texas residents certified as blind or deaf -- any degree level.
- How much
- tuition and fees for each eligible course
- Who qualifies
- Only some students qualify. The official page explains who.
- Texas resident; certified blind or deaf; meet entrance requirements; Selective Service registration or exemption.
- For students starting college, undergrads, grad students, trade school students, adults going back to school
- When to apply
- Apply any time Claimed each term after initial certification.
- How to apply
- Get certified: vision-related disability through Texas Workforce Commission Vocational Rehabilitation
- Hearing disability by submitting Form 3900 (Application for Certificate of Deafness for Tuition Waiver) to Texas HHS
- Give the registrar the certification, a statement of purpose, your HS diploma/equivalent, and a recommendation letter
- No need to reapply each year
- What you'll need
- state application + recommendation + essay
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (statutes.capitol.texas.gov), page 2 and page 3
The details
Exempts tuition and all fees authorized by TEC Chapter 54 (incl. lab fees; not lodging, board or clothing) for each course at a Texas public college, for any program of study (undergraduate, graduate or doctoral). No financial need required. Continuation requires meeting the school's financial-aid GPA requirement and not exceeding undergraduate excessive hours.
More money from Texas
- Dell Scholars Program$20,000 flexible scholarship + laptop, book credits, emergency funds, teletherapy
- TEXAS Grant (Toward EXcellence, Access, & Success)up to $5,399 per semester (2026-27 max; up to $16,197/yr with summer); target $2,500 per semester
- Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG)up to $2,134/semester (community colleges), $3,896/semester (technical institutes), $1,840/semester (state colleges) in 2026-27
- Texas First Scholarship$10,798 (graduate 2+ semesters early) or $5,399 (less than 2 semesters early), 2026-27
- Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG)up to $4,270 per year; up to $6,405 per year for undergraduates with exceptional need (2026-27)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.