Exemption for Peace Officers and Firefighters Disabled in the Line of Duty
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Apply any timeRenews each year
Free tuition and fees at Texas public colleges for Texas peace officers and firefighters permanently disabled in the line of duty.
- How much
- tuition and fees, up to 12 undergraduate semesters, plus one master's and one doctoral degree
- Who qualifies
- Texas peace officer or employed firefighter permanently disabled in the line of duty
- Texas resident for the 12 months before the term; GPA and excessive-hours rules for continuation.
- For undergrads, grad students, adults going back to school
- When to apply
- Apply any time Claimed each term.
- How to apply
- Contact the registrar, admissions or financial aid office at your Texas public college
- Your former agency's chief administrator must certify the permanent disability
- What you'll need
- See how to apply
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (statutes.capitol.texas.gov), page 2 and page 3
The details
Exempts tuition and fees for courses with space available, for a Texas resident (12 months) who is permanently disabled from an injury suffered as a Texas or local peace officer or employed firefighter and can no longer work in that job. Up to 12 undergraduate semesters/sessions; at the graduate level, usable toward one master's and one doctoral degree. Schools may cap exempt students at 20% of a course's enrollment.
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.