Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) have announced that Free College Application Week will take place from October 13 to 19, 2025. The initiative allows Texas residents to apply to public colleges and universities without paying application fees.
“Texas prioritizes opportunities for students to pursue the best education they need to succeed in high demand, good-paying jobs after graduation,” said Governor Abbott. “During free college application week, Texans can apply to their preferred colleges or universities without application fees. By supporting our students today, we are investing in a stronger Texas tomorrow.”
Free College Application Week is part of a statewide effort to help more Texans access higher education by removing financial barriers associated with applying. Established through Senate Bill 2231 during the 89th Texas Legislative Session, this program requires all public colleges and universities in Texas to waive admission application fees for state residents who use ApplyTexas for undergraduate applications.
Alongside My Texas Future, ApplyTexas, and the Direct Admissions program, Free College Application Week aims to make it easier for students to find and afford college options.
“In addition to the cost savings, combined with other tools available to Texans for planning and achieving educational and career goals, free application week removes a barrier so more students can take their first step toward higher education,” said THECB Commissioner Wynn Rosser.
The first Free College Application Week will be held October 13-19, 2025. In future years, it will occur during the second full week of October each year.
All Texas residents applying as undergraduates at public institutions via ApplyTexas are eligible for this opportunity. This includes both new college applicants and transfer students. Details about residency requirements can be found in the Texas Residency Guidelines.
My Texas Future is an online platform that offers resources on postsecondary opportunities in Texas. It features interactive tools that help users explore careers based on interests and skills, compare programs by tuition costs and potential earnings after graduation, plan their educational paths, and connect with advisors. The platform also links users directly to ApplyTexas and the Direct Admissions program.
Through My Texas Future’s career quiz feature, prospective students can learn about different job options suited to their interests. They are able to compare hundreds of careers across Texas by factors such as local demand, salary ranges, required education levels, and related skills. Additionally, they can review credential programs based on tuition costs, locations within the state, and expected salaries after finishing school.
The Direct Admissions program enables students who share academic details like class rank or standardized test scores through My Texas Future profiles to receive a list of participating institutions where they qualify for acceptance before starting formal applications. Students may access this information as early as the end of their junior year in high school.
