High school seniors across East Texas get a week to apply to Texas public colleges without paying application fees.
Free College Application Week runs Oct. 12 through Oct. 18. During that week, Texas residents can apply to undergraduate programs at any public college or university in the state at no cost. Applications have to go through ApplyTexas, and they have to be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 18.
That covers the public schools closest to home — Angelina College in Lufkin and Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches are both public institutions — along with every other public two-year and four-year campus in Texas. The waiver is required by state law, so a student doesn’t have to ask for it or qualify for it. Being a Texas resident and applying through ApplyTexas in that window is enough.
“Free College Application Week is another way Texas makes it easier and affordable for students to plan for and advance their education,” Higher Education Commissioner Wynn Rosser said. “All prospective students should take full advantage of this opportunity, which can save them hundreds of dollars as they apply to their chosen public Texas colleges and universities.”
More than 260,000 applications were filed during the week last year.
Deciding where to apply
Two state tools are worth a look while a student is narrowing the list. My Texas Future lets students compare tuition, location and the value of different credential programs, and look at workforce needs in the fields they’re considering. The Direct Admissions program matches students to schools based on their record instead of making them guess.
Residency is what determines eligibility for the fee waiver. Families who aren’t sure where they stand can check the Texas Residency Guidelines, which the state publishes online.
Undergraduate tuition and fees at Texas public colleges and universities are frozen through the 2026-27 academic year, at both two-year and four-year institutions.
Students with questions about a specific campus are better off calling that school’s admissions office. Questions about the application itself go through ApplyTexas.
