(Texas Scorecard) – Gov. Greg Abbott has reaffirmed his commitment to stand in the way of efforts to raise the cost of higher education in the state.
In a letter sent to Texas colleges and universities, Abbott noted that Texans are already having to shoulder the costly effects of inflation. Therefore, public universities need to ease the financial burden of education on students and families.
“The State has made historic investments in higher education, including increased funding for universities and financial aid programs,” Abbott wrote. “These efforts reflect our commitment to ensuring that higher education remains accessible and affordable for all Texans.”
The governor explained that when individuals have access to an education that is both high-quality and affordable, they are able to earn higher salaries and achieve a better quality of life.
“I will ensure college affordability remains a top priority for the state as we head into the next legislative session,” he pledged.
Last year, Abbott signed into law a tuition freeze that blocked increases in tuition costs for both the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years. As the length of the freeze is set to expire, Abbott asserted that he will not support tuition increases during the upcoming biennium.
Abbott reported that after speaking with the Board of Regents at every public university system in the state, all are in agreement that no institution should approve tuition increases for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years.