State Exemptions and Waivers

The Texas Education Coordinating Board administers various tuition assistance programs including programs for teachers and vocational nursing students. Further information about these programs may be obtained by visiting the Financial Aid website at www.utrgv.edu/finaid or visiting the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website at www.collegeforalltexans.com

After initially qualifying for a mandatory or discretionary exemption or waiver from the payment of all or part of the tuition or other fees for enrollment during a semester, a student may continue to receive the exemption or waiver if the student maintains a GPA for making satisfactory academic progress, and if an undergraduate student, does not complete an excessive number of credit hours.

Adopted Students Formerly in Foster or Other Residential Care

This program provides exemption of tuition and required fees for individuals who were adopted and were subject of an adoption assistance agreement under Subchapter D, Chapter 162, Family Code that provided monthly payments and medical assistance benefits and was not limited to providing only for the reimbursement of nonrecurring expenses.

Exemption for Students under Conservatorship of the Dept. of Family and Protective Services

This program provides exemption of tuition and required fees for persons who were in foster care or other residential care under the conservatorship of the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services on or after the day preceding their 18th birthday, the day of the student’s 14th birthday if the student was eligible for adoption on or after that day, or the day the student received a high school diploma or equivalent. In order to take advantage of this exemption the student must enroll as an undergraduate no later than the third anniversary of date of discharge from that care or the 25th birthday.

Senior Citizen Exemption

Senior citizens may be exempt from payment of tuition for up to six credit hours per term on a space available basis. A senior citizen is defined as a student of age 65 or older.

Exemption for Texas Veterans (Hazlewood Act)

The purpose of the Hazlewood Act (Section 54.203) is to encourage U.S. veterans to pursue higher education. To qualify for the Hazlewood Act the applicant must be a veteran who at the time of entry into the U.S armed forces:

• Is a Texas resident.
• Designated Texas as home of record.
• Entered the service in Texas.
• Have served at least 181 days of active military duty, as indicated as “net active service” (the sum of 12(c) and 12(d) on the DD 214).
• Have received an honorable discharge or separation or a general discharge under honorable conditions.
• Have no federal veterans education benefits or have federal veterans education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (such as Chapter 33 or 31; Pell and SEOG are not relevant) for term or semester enrolled that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits.
• Are not in default on a student loan made or guaranteed by the state of Texas.
• Enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e., a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its costs), unless the college’s governing board has ruled to let veterans receive the benefit while taking non-funded courses.

Students are entitled, not to exceed 150 credit hours, to an exemption from payment of all dues, fees, and charges (excluding only student property deposits, student service fees, books, lodging, board or clothing) that would otherwise be paid to attend UTRGV.

Hazlewood-Legacy Program (Transfer of Hazlewood Benefits)

Eligible veterans may assign unused hours of exemption eligibility to a child under certain conditions to be eligible, the child must:

• Be a Texas resident.
• Be the biological child, stepchild, adopted child, or claimed as a dependent in the current or previous tax year.
• Be 25 years or younger on the first day of the semester or term for which the exemption is claimed (unless granted an extension due to a qualifying illness or debilitating condition).
• Make satisfactory academic progress in a degree, certificate or continuing education program** as determined by the institution.

If the child to whom hours have been delegated fails to use all of the assigned hours, a veteran may assign the unused hours that are available to another dependent child.

Veteran’s spouses are not eligible to receive a transfer of un-used hours.

Students are entitled, not to exceed 150 credit hours, to an exemption of payment of tuition, fees (excluding student property deposit fees, student services fees, and any charges for lodging, board, or clothing) and other required charges, that would otherwise be paid to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Hazlewood Exemption for Eligible Dependents (Children and Spouses)

This program is for the children or the spouse of members of the U.S. armed forces who were killed in action, who die or died while in service, who are missing in action, whose death is documented to be directly caused by illness or injury connected with service in the U.S. armed forces, or who become totally disabled for purpose of employability according to the Dept. of Veterans Affairs disability rating as a result of a service-related injury. Children or spouses of a veteran who at the time of entry into the U.S. armed forces.

• Is a Texas resident.
• Designated Texas as home of record.
• Entered the service in Texas.
• Have a parent or is the spouse of a veteran of the U.S. armed forces, Texas National Guard, or Texas Air National Guard who died as a result of service-related injuries or illness, is missing in action, or became totally disabled for purposes of employability as a result of service-related injury or illness.
• Have no federal veterans education benefits or have federal veterans education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (such as Chapter 33 or 31; Pell and SEOG Grants are not relevant) for the term or semester enrolled that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits.
• Are residents of Texas as of the term or semester in which they enrolled.
• Provide proof from Dept. of Defense or from the VA regarding veteran parent’s death or disability related to service.

Children and spouses are entitled, not to exceed 150 credit hours, to an exemption from payment of all dues, fees, and charges (excluding only student property deposits, student service fees, books, lodging, board or clothing) that would otherwise be paid to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Tuition and Fee Exemption for Members of State Military Forces

Texas Education Code, Section 54.2155, provides an exemption for individuals certified by the adjunct general of the state military forces as having been awarded assistance for tuition and fees under Texas Government Code Section 431.090. Eligible students are exempt from tuition, not to exceed 12 credit hours charged at the Texas resident rate, and mandatory fees for any semester in which the tuition exemption is received.

Children of U.S. Military who are Missing in Action or Prisoner of War (MIA/POWs)

To provide an education benefit to the children of persons listed as Missing in Action or Prisoners of War by the U.S. Department of Defense.

• Are Texas residents.
• Are 21 or younger or 25 or younger and receiving most of his/her support from a parent.
• Have documentation from the Department of Defense that a parent, who is classified as a Texas resident, is missing in action or a prisoner of war.
• Enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e., a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its costs).
• Exemption covers tuition, service fees, lab fees, building use fees, and all other fees except room, board or clothing fees, or deposits in the nature of security for the return or proper care of property. No funds may be used to pay tuition for continuing education classes for which the college receives no state tax support.

Exemption for the Surviving Spouse and Minor Children of Certain Deceased Public Servants (Employees)

This program is available for the surviving spouse or children of certain public peace officers, probation officers, parole officers, jailers, police reservists, fire fighters and emergency medical personnel (Texas Code 615.003). Death must have occurred in the line of duty as a result of a risk inherent in the duty. The student must enroll full-time and is exempted from tuition and fees, student housing and food costs not to exceed bachelor’s degree or 200 hours.

Exemption for Peace Officers Enrolled in Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice Courses

This program is available for Peace Officers currently employed by the state of Texas or a political subdivision of Texas. Student must be enrolled in an undergraduate program leading to a law enforcement or criminal justice degree. Courses not directly related to law enforcement or criminal justice are not eligible for reimbursement. Students must submit proof of employment as a paid officer no sooner than 30 days of the 12^th class date of semester seeking exemption.

Exemption for Firefighters Enrolled in Fire Science Courses

Eligible students must be firefighters enrolled in course offered as a part of fire science curriculum. They are exempted from tuition and laboratory fees.

Exemption for Blind and Deaf Students

A blind disabled person or a person whose sense of hearing is nonfunctional and is a Texas resident may be eligible for exemption from payment of tuition and required fees if appropriately certified by a state vocational rehabilitation agency. Contact the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services for more information.

For additional information on any of these programs please go to:

Also visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website at www.collegeforalltexans.com.