Free College Application Week
| Date: | October 2, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Free College Application Week |
| Category: | Notice |
| Next Steps: | Share with high school principals, counselors, and other appropriate staff |
Free College Application Week
Texas Education Code, §61.0731, establishes the second full week of October as Free College Application Week for Texas residents. Created by Senate Bill 2231 during the 89th Texas Legislative Session, 2025, all public colleges and universities in Texas are required to waive admission application fees for Texas residents who apply through ApplyTexas to undergraduate programs. For the first year, Free College Application Week will take place from October 13-19, 2025.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) provides Frequently Asked Questions to support educators, students, and families on its website. The week may include relevant college and career events, promotion, and instruction related to Free College Application Week, ApplyTexas, and My Texas Future, as determined by each school system.
Free College Application Week Awareness and Resources
All Texas residents applying for undergraduate admission to Texas public institutions through ApplyTexas are eligible to participate. This includes first-time college students and transfer students. For details on residency status, see the Texas Residency Guidelines.
Applications submitted between October 13, 2025, at 12:00 a.m. CST and October 19, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. through ApplyTexas will be free.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has established rules stating that public institutions must waive application fees for those submitted through ApplyTexas. It is up to each individual institution to decide if it wants to waive fees using other admissions platforms.
Additional resources that support school systems with the implementation of Free College Application Week include:
- Ways to Share with K-12 Students and Families
- Direct Admissions flyer to promote senior application steps
- Direct Admissions Toolkit for Counselors and Advisors
- Texas OnCourse Academy online learning platform for educators
Contact
Inquiries regarding Free College Application Week should be sent to the THECB Division of College and Career Advising at CollegeandCareerAdvising@highered.texas.gov.