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 in the state without paying admission application fees if they use ApplyTexas for undergraduate programs.
“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.”
The program is a result of Senate Bill 2231, passed during the 89th Texas Legislative Session. The law requires all public higher education institutions in Texas to waive admission fees for eligible applicants who apply through ApplyTexas.
Free College Application Week is intended to help make higher education more accessible and affordable. It complements other resources such as My Texas Future and Direct Admissions. These tools aim to streamline the college search process and provide guidance on planning educational and career paths.
“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.
Starting this year, Free College Application Week will be held annually during the second full week of October.
All Texas residents applying for undergraduate admission at public institutions via ApplyTexas are eligible, including both first-time college students and transfer students. More information about eligibility can be found by reviewing the Texas Residency Guidelines.
My Texas Future offers digital resources where prospective students can explore careers, compare academic programs by tuition or salary outcomes, save preferences, connect with advisors, and access ApplyTexas and Direct Admissions services. Users may also take quizzes to identify professional interests and compare hundreds of careers based on local demand or required skills.
The Direct Admissions program gives students an early list of participating institutions where they qualify for acceptance based on academic data submitted through My Texas Future profiles; this information can be provided as early as the end of a student’s junior year.
