One-Year Tuition Exemption for Certain TANF Students
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Free tuition and fees for the first year of college for Texas public high school graduates whose families received TANF for 6+ months of senior year.
- How much
- tuition and fees for the first academic year
- Who qualifies
- Texas public high school graduate; dependent child receiving TANF for 6+ months in last HS year; under 22; enroll within 2 years of graduation; Texas resident.
- For high school seniors, students starting college
- Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
- When to apply
- Apply any time Must enroll within two years of high school graduation, before age 22.
- How to apply
- Ask your Texas public college's financial aid office or registrar about the TANF exemption and provide proof of TANF receipt during your senior year
- What you'll need
- See how to apply
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (statutes.capitol.texas.gov) and page 2
The details
Exempts tuition and fees for the first academic year at a Texas public institution of higher education for a student who graduated from a Texas public high school, met attendance requirements, was a dependent child receiving TANF (Human Resources Code Ch. 31) for at least six months during the last year of high school, is under 22 at enrollment, enrolls as an undergraduate within two years of graduating, met the institution's entrance exam requirements, and is classified as a Texas resident.
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.