The University of Texas System's free-tuition programs are run campus by campus. Since 2022, the UT System's Promise Plus endowment has funded tuition programs at every UT academic institution, and in 2024 the Board of Regents raised the eligibility threshold to families earning up to $100,000. Each campus names, funds, and runs its own version -- and the details that decide whether you qualify differ.
UT System campus programs compared
| Campus | Program | Income limit | Covers | Key rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UT Austin | Texas Advance Commitment | AGI $100,000 (support to $125,000) | Tuition | Need; 2.0 GPA and 67% completion to renew |
| UT Arlington | Blaze Forward | Student + parent AGI $100,000 | Tuition and course fees, fall/spring | 12 hours; deadline March 1; 24 credits/year to renew |
| UT Dallas | Comet Promise | $100,000 | Tuition and mandatory fees, fall/spring | FAFSA/TASFA by Jan. 15 (fall); 24 credits/year and 2.5 GPA |
| UTEP | Paydirt Promise | $100,000 | Tuition and fees | At least 9 credits each fall and spring; first bachelor's |
| UT Rio Grande Valley | Tuition Advantage | $125,000 | Tuition and mandatory fees | Unmet need; 2.5 GPA; FAFSA/TASFA by April 1 (2026-27) |
| UT San Antonio | Bold Promise | $100,000 | Tuition and mandatory fees | FAFSA by Jan. 15 (freshmen); 12 hours; HS grad within 16 months |
| UT Tyler | Patriot Promise | $100,000 | Tuition and mandatory fees | New freshmen and transfers |
| Stephen F. Austin | Purple Promise | AGI $100,000 | Tuition and mandatory fees | Fall entrants; FAFSA by priority deadline |
All figures are from each campus's own program page, checked in October 2026. Stephen F. Austin State University joined the UT System and is listed on its Promise Plus page.
What they have in common
- Texas residents, full-time undergraduates, who file the FAFSA or TASFA. The UT System lists these as the baseline requirements for every campus program.
- No separate application -- admitted students who qualify are considered automatically.
- Last-dollar coverage. Pell, the TEXAS Grant, scholarships, and exemptions are applied first; the program covers the remaining tuition. You won't necessarily see a line item with the program's name.
- No housing or books. Every program covers tuition (and usually mandatory fees) only.
Where they differ
- Deadlines: January 15 at UT Dallas and UTSA, March 1 at UT Arlington, April 1 at UTRGV for 2026-27. Missing it can mean missing the program.
- Enrollment minimums: UTEP requires just 9 credits a semester; most others require full-time (12+).
- Renewal: UT Dallas requires a 2.5 GPA and 24 credits a year; UT Austin requires a 2.0 and 67% completion.
- Summer: UT Dallas and UT Arlington cover fall and spring only.
What this means for you
- Note each campus's deadline in your application calendar; they aren't the same.
- UTRGV is the most generous on income, at $125,000.
- Compare with non-UT schools -- Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech, and the University of Houston -- in free tuition at Texas public universities.
Sources
- Promise Plus — The University of Texas System
- Texas Advance Commitment — UT Austin
- Blaze Forward Program — UT Arlington
- Comet Promise — UT Dallas
- Paydirt Promise — UTEP
- Tuition Advantage — UTRGV
- Bold Promise — UT San Antonio
- Patriot Promise — UT Tyler
- Purple Promise — Stephen F. Austin State University