UTSA freezes undergraduate resident tuition for next two years, keeping tuition at Fall 2021 rates

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023 — As a result of actions taken by the Texas Legislature to address affordability in higher education, the University of Texas System Board of Regents voted at their August 24, 2023 board meeting to maintain certain tuition and fees at current levels for the next two years. Therefore, UTSA has frozen all resident undergraduate academic costs, including tuition, mandatory academic fees, all academic-related general fees and college course fees, for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years. The move will keep all resident undergraduate academic costs steady at UTSA for four consecutive years, at its Fall 2021 rate.

UTSA’s tuition and fees are $4,495 per semester for undergraduate Texas residents taking 12 semester credit hours, the third lowest rate among research universities in The University of Texas System. In addition to this lower baseline cost, UTSA offers generous financial aid to undergraduate students. This year, the university’s total aid and scholarship disbursement is estimated to top $300 million.

This financial support is especially important for students from Bexar County, where UTSA draws most of its enrollment. The median household income in San Antonio hovers just above $55,000 per year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

“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.”

“UTSA recognizes that higher education is the great equalizer for families in our community,” said UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. “I appreciate the Board’s action. 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. Doing so benefits our city and our state, and it sets our graduates on a path to prosperity, in turn benefitting their families and future generations.”

UTSA is a Hispanic Serving Institution that serves a diverse student population from low- and middle-income families. Seventy-one percent are eligible for need-based financial aid, and more than 43% of UTSA’s students receive federal Pell grants, which are reserved for students from families with exceptional financial need.

Students at UTSA with the greatest need—undergraduates who have a family contribution of zero—have 90% or more of their tuition and fees covered through grants and scholarships, provided they submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by UTSA’s application deadline and meet eligibility criteria for institutional and state grant programs. This year, the form will open in December.

Building on federal financial aid, UTSA has a portfolio of programs that are making higher education more accessible, affordable and equitable. The UTSA Bold Promise Program, a groundbreaking tuition promise program for high-achieving Texas residents from families with an annual income of $70,000 or less, covers 100% of a first-time freshman’s tuition and fees for four years if they meet certain criteria. Currently, 1,847 students are in the Bold Promise program.

Another opportunity, the Toward EXcellence Access and Success (TEXAS) grant, is offered to undergraduate students who are Texas residents, demonstrate financial need and meet academic eligibility requirements.

In addition to these programs, UTSA encourages students complete the general application in the UTSA Scholarship Hub, an online portal that shows available university scholarships and how to apply. The general application pools together several scholarships into a single application so students need only apply once. Scholarships are continually added to the hub as they become available.

“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,” said Lynn Barnes, UTSA senior vice provost for strategic enrollment. “UTSA is committed to ensuring that every hardworking student who wants to earn a college degree has the opportunity to do so.”

This year, the Texas legislature approved nearly $700 million for the state’s public higher education institutions in exchange for funding to mitigate the costs of employee insurance, veterans benefits and other programs.

— Christi Fish