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UT System to Offer Free Tuition for Low-Income Students
The University of Texas (UT) system will soon provide free tuition for students from families earning up to $100,000 annually. The system’s board has approved the plan, which will take effect next fall.
All qualified undergraduate students attending any of UT’s nine institutions will receive free tuition and fees. This initiative includes $35 million in immediate funding for campuses, as well as ongoing investments in financial aid and tuition relief.
The university system plans to fund the program through endowment distributions and other resources. This move is significant, as 56% of students in the state’s universities receive financial aid.
The free tuition announcement follows a decline in UT student debt over the past five years, which is lower than the average across Texas’ four-year public universities. Enrollment has also increased during this period, indicating the success of UT’s affordability initiatives.
UT’s move mirrors a similar announcement by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which will offer tuition-free education to students from families earning below $200,000. This policy will cover 80% of MIT’s incoming classes.