Texas is holding Free College Application Week Oct. 12-18, 2026, allowing residents to apply to undergraduate programs at public colleges and universities without paying application fees. Applications must be submitted through ApplyTexas by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 18.
Where
Statewide
When
Oct. 12-18, 2026
Sources
Official record and 10 more
Taxes and money
The sources don't state an effect on taxes. They do state these figures.
Potential savings from three-year bachelor's degree$15,000 to $35,00014Who pays or receives it: Students
Three-year degree cost reduction25%4Who pays or receives it: Students
Who's involved
Governor Greg AbbottGovernor of Texas
Texas Higher Education Coordinating BoardState agency administering the program
Wynn RosserHigher Education Commissioner
Madelyne TolliverVictoria College Director of Admissions, Recruitment and Registrar
The facts
Free College Application Week runs Oct. 12-18, 2026.1234Stated by 4 sources
Texas residents can apply to undergraduate programs at public colleges and universities without paying application fees.1234Stated by 4 sources
Applications must be submitted through ApplyTexas by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 18.134Stated by 3 sources
The waiver applies to public two-year and four-year institutions and community colleges.24Stated by 2 sources
Transfer students are eligible for the fee waiver.23Stated by 2 sources
More than 260,000 applications were submitted during last year's Free College Application Week.14Stated by 2 sources
Public college and university undergraduate tuition rates have been frozen through the 2026-27 academic year.14Stated by 2 sources
Free College Application Week was created through state law requiring public colleges to waive application fees.14Stated by 2 sources
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Governor Greg Abbott A three-year bachelor's degree could save students $15,000 to $35,000.1
Higher Education Commissioner Wynn Rosser Free College Application Week can save students hundreds of dollars as they apply to colleges.1
Victoria College Director Madelyne Tolliver The program gives students an opportunity to apply to multiple schools without worrying about application costs.3
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
Texas college applications will be free for a week: What to know
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
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