This story has been updated.
UTSA has frozen all resident undergraduate academic costs, including tuition, mandatory academic fees, academic-related general fees and college course fees, for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years. The move was mandated as part of a $700 million investment in higher education by the state Legislature during the last regular session.
The move builds on a growing number of programs and initiatives at the university designed to help all students access higher education and complete their degrees.
“UTSA recognizes that higher education is the great equalizer for families in our community,” UTSA President Taylor Eighmy said in a statement. “As the cost of living rises across the nation and here in Texas, we remain steadfast in our commitment to provide a top-quality education at an affordable price.”
The move, announced Monday, will keep all resident undergraduate academic costs steady at UTSA for four consecutive years, at its Fall 2021 rate. It was approved by the UT Board of Regents in August.
Tuition and fees are $4,495 per semester for undergraduate Texas residents taking 12 semester credit hours at UTSA, the third lowest rate among research universities in The University of Texas System, according to a press release.
“Research shows that financial barriers continue to be the number one reason that students bypass college, and this is especially true given these challenging economic times we are in,” Lynn Barnes, Jr., UTSA senior vice provost for strategic enrollment said in a statement. “UTSA is committed to ensuring that every hardworking student who wants to earn a college degree has the opportunity to do so.”
Across the region, adults lag in educational attainment, with only about 27% holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher, according to the most recent census data.
In addition to the tuition freeze, UTSA is providing an estimated $300 million in scholarships and financial aid to students this year.
Undergraduate students who have no family contributions have 90% of fees and tuition covered through grants and scholarships after submitting their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by UTSA’s application deadline and meeting eligibility criteria for institutional and state grant programs, according to the university.
This year, the application will be available starting in December.
Other programs, like UTSA Bold Promise, aim to reduce financial costs even more. The tuition promise program is for high-achieving Texas residents from families with an annual income of $70,000 or less, and covers 100% of a first-time freshman’s tuition and fees for four years if they meet certain criteria.
There are 1,847 students currently in the program.
Other scholarships are available through the general application in the UTSA Scholarship Hub, an online portal that shows available university scholarships and how to apply.
