Program Purpose
The purpose of this program is to provide a financial incentive for you to complete a bachelor's degree with as few courses outside the degree plan as possible. The program's goal is minimizing the number of courses you take saving save money for you, your parents and the State of Texas.
Eligibility Requirements
- First college course must be taken in Fall 1997 or later;
- Student must have been a Texas resident at all times while pursuing the degree;
- Student must have been entitled to pay in-state tuition at all times while pursuing the degree; and
- Student must not have graduated yet.
Key eligibility requirements:
Students qualify for the $1,000 rebate if they have attempted no more than three semester credit hours in excess of the minimum number of hours required for their degree. For example, a student who completes a bachelor's degree that requires 120 credit hours with no more than 123 credit attempted may qualify for this rebate. Students who were admitted for the first time in fall 2005 or later must also graduate in a timely manner to earn the tuition rebate. According to the most recent revision of the rebate program, a student who wants to receive the rebate must graduate with in four calendar years for a four-year degree program or within five calendar years "if the degree is in architecture, engineering or any other program determined by the Board to require more than four years to complete." Currently the Board has not identified any other five-year degree programs.
What could disqualify an Individual?
Attempted hours include every course for which the student has registered, as of the official Census Date, in every semester, including: developmental courses taken for credit, repeated courses and courses from which the student withdraws (dropped courses as well as withdrawal from the college or university). If a student has dropped more than one course after the official Census Date, he or she will probably not qualify for the rebate. All credit earned by examination used to be counted, but a recent change in the law allows the first nine hours of credit earned by examination—for example, credit earned through AP courses, CLEP exams or high SAT or ACT scores—to be exempted; Those first nine credit hours do not count as hours attempted. Dual credit courses—courses taken in high school for both high school and college credit—continue to count as hours attempted. Students enrolled in higher education in fall 2005 or later must graduate in a timely manner to be eligible to receive the tuition rebate. This means that a student must graduate within four calendar years from their initial enrollment for a four-year degree, and within five calendar years for a five-year degree, currently defined as architecture and engineering programs. Although there are certain exceptions for hardship situations, most part-time students will no longer be eligible to receive the tuition rebate.
Eligible Institutions
Applies only to public universities in the state of Texas
Award Amount
$1,000
Application Process
Each school administers the tuition rebate program on its own campus. Students must apply for the tuition rebate prior to receiving their bachelor's degree, using forms provided by their college or university. Most universities provide application forms to students as part of the final degree check.
To find out which office on your campus handles the rebate, view the current contacts list.
Additional Information