By Rita Cook
Correspondent
Texas Metro News
AUSTIN – Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent a letter to college and university presidents last month stating that in November 2024 he had directed all public institutions of higher education in Texas to freeze undergraduate tuition and fees for the 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 academic school years.
He pointed out “This letter is intended to make clear that this directive remains fully in effect: No undergraduate tuition or fees should be increased in the forthcoming academic school year.
Higher education must be attainable for Texas students and families. Access to affordable, high-quality higher education is essential to ensure Texans learn the skills needed to secure family-sustaining jobs and meet the demands of a growing workforce.”
He gave a nod to the legislature for codifying his earlier directive regarding the freezing of undergraduate tuition and fees for general academic four-year institutions.
He added “I want to reemphasize that my directive applies to all public institutions of higher education. Tuition and fees will remain frozen through the 2026–2027 academic school year for all two-year and four-year institutions, including both general academic and health-related institutions.”
Tuition and fees in Texas have been frozen since 2023, and Abbott has pointed out during that time the Texas has continued to make historic investments in higher education, “including hundreds of millions of dollars in state financial aid programs and increased institutional funding to support affordability,” he said.
Abbott reminded that in 2023, Texas invested more than $680 million to reform community college funding and expand degree pathways for students.
In the 2025 budget cycle, Texas also increased student financial aid funding by $328 million to increase access to state financial aid programs for eligible students across Texas institutions. “These investments ensure that higher education remains accessible and affordable for all Texans,” Abbott added.
While one big pro to the freeze is that it offers immediate financial relief to families, the other side of the freeze is that it risks straining university operations.
In fact, universities have responded with public commitments to affordability, though some have quietly attempted to raise non-academic fees to offset flat revenue.
Another impact is that it could limit university funding for student support programs (e.g., transit, childcare).
While it is true education should always be affordable and accessible, however, with a freeze such as this it will continue to put a strain on campus infrastructure upgrades and expansions.
Overall, some colleges and universities have responded according to the Texas Tribune by including “non-academic fees” that include medical services, advising, athletics, and student wellness. As an example, UT Rio Grande Valley approved raising its university services fee from $38.10 to $70 per credit hour.
According to the Fort Worth Report there had also been confusion at community colleges and smaller institutions since initially it was believed the freeze only applied to major four-year university systems. Now in alignment with the freeze after clarification these smaller institutions have had to curb operational flexibility.
In the end, the freeze might not be the win Abbott was hoping for since while it does protect household budgets, eventually when the freeze expires it could lead to larger fee hikes and the deferred campus improvements that will have to be addressed with necessary costs in the future.
Rita Cook is a world traveler and writer/editor who specializes in writing on travel, auto, crime and politics. A correspondent for Texas Metro News, she has published 11 books and has also produced low-budget films.
