High School and GED® Grads – It’s Your Time!
Austin Community College has a Free Tuition pilot program that lets you take classes without paying tuition or general fees for up to three years! That goes up to five years if you earn your bachelor’s degree at ACC. This is for the class of 2024, 25, 26, 27, and 28— students who graduate from high school, homeschool, or earn a Texas GED® in the ACC service area. No GPA requirements. No income restrictions.
Do You Qualify For Free Tuition?
ACC Free Tuition benefits begin the first fall semester after you graduate high school or complete your TX GED. To qualify, you must be a Texas resident who lives in the ACC service area and meets one of three requirements.
High School Graduate
Graduated from a high school in the ACC service area (public or private) between spring 2024 and August 2028.
Homeschool Graduate
Successfully completed a homeschool program between spring 2024 and August 2028.
GED® Graduate
Earned a Texas GED® between July 1, 2023 and August 31, 2028.
If you qualify, ACC will automatically eliminate your tuition costs after you register for classes.
Save Big with Free Tuition
Here’s how you can save with ACC’s free tuition program
Free Tuition Pays:
- $85 per credit hour on credit classes (most classes are 3 credit hours)
- Three consecutive years of credit classes
- Five consecutive years if you pursue a bachelor’s degree at ACC
Free Tuition Does Not Pay:
- Course/Program Specific Fees (e.g, science labs)
- Textbook Costs
- Continuing Education Tuition
- Out-of-District Fee – Only for Out-of-District Students
Out-of-District Fee
Find Where You Live in the ACC Service Area
You can use Austin Community College’s service area map to help determine if you live in an area that can qualify you for the free tuition program. Explore below and learn more about what it means to be an in-district vs out-of-district student.
In-District
You are considered “in-district” if your household pays taxes to the ACC District. These areas are shaded in green on the map.
Out-of-District
You are considered “out-of-district” if you live within the ACC service area, but do not pay taxes to ACC.
You will still get free tuition, but will continue to owe an out-of-district fee of $201/credit hour for any course you enroll in.
That’s equivalent to saving 30% on the cost of tuition at ACC! These out-of-district areas are shaded in purple on the map.
Free Tuition & More
Free Tuition students may also receive Financial Aid and ACC Scholarships to help pay for college and everyday expenses like housing, groceries, and transportation.
ACC Free Tuition Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any GPA requirements or income restrictions on qualifying for free tuition?
No, ACC Free Tuition has no GPA requirements or income restrictions for eligible students. The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment requirements still apply, as it is a state-required assessment of reading, writing, and math skills to help make sure that students are prepared for college classes. All new students must take the TSI test before registering for classes unless they are exempt or are “TSI-complete.”
Visit knowledgemantra.net/tsi to learn how you can take your TSI Assessment at no cost with Austin Community College.
If I qualify for ACC Free Tuition, when can I start taking tuition-free classes?
For qualifying high school and home school graduates, your free tuition exemption will begin the first fall semester following high school completion.
For qualifying Texas GED® graduates, your free tuition exemption will begin the first fall semester following your TX GED/high school equivalency completion.
Will I have to ‘pay back’ my ACC Free Tuition for any reason, even if I do not complete a program?
No. ACC Free Tuition eliminates tuition costs up-front for at least 3 years and does not require you to pay back any tuition. However, repayment of financial aid may be required in certain scenarios, such as dropping courses, withdrawing, or failing grades. For more information, visit the Financial Aid website.
Do I have to enroll full-time to receive free tuition benefits?
A student does not have to enroll full-time to be eligible for the ACC Free Tuition pilot program, and there are no minimum course credits a student must register for to be eligible. However, we hope that with this financial support, more students can enroll full-time. Data show students who enroll full-time have a higher chance of obtaining a degree and completing their educational goals.
Why do students who live “out-of-district” have to pay the $201/credit hour fee?
ACC out-of-district students have to pay a fee because they live within the Austin Community College service area but do not reside in the specific taxing district that funds the college, meaning they don’t directly contribute to the funds used to operate the institution, even if they benefit from its services; this “out-of-district fee” helps to offset the cost of educating non-tax paying residents within the service area.
I have questions about my eligibility for free tuition. Who can I talk to for help?
Request more information about applying to ACC and your potential eligibility for free tuition. You can schedule a virtual or in-person appointment, and find an ACC campus near you.
Trying to get a specific question answered? The Student Affairs Help Desk offers Live Chat and email correspondence to help new and current students with Financial Aid, Admissions, and Enrollment.
