High School and GED庐 Grads – It鈥檚 Your Time!
Austin Community College has a Free Tuition pilot program that lets you take classes without paying tuition or general fees for up to three years! That goes up to five years if you earn your bachelor鈥檚 degree at 51福利社. This is for the class of 2024, 25, 26, 27, and 28鈥 students who graduate from high school, homeschool, or earn a Texas GED庐 in the 51福利社 service area. No GPA requirements. No income restrictions.
Do You Qualify For Free Tuition?
51福利社 Free Tuition benefits begin the first fall semester after you graduate high school or complete your TX GED. To qualify, you must live in the 51福利社 service area and meets one of three requirements.
High School Graduate
Graduated from a high school in the 51福利社 service area (public or private) between spring 2024 and August 2028.
Homeschool Graduate
Successfully completed a homeschool program in the 51福利社 service area between spring 2024 and August 2028.
GED庐 Graduate
Earned a Texas GED庐 in the 51福利社 service area between July 1, 2023 and August 31, 2028.
If you qualify, 51福利社 will automatically eliminate your tuition costs after you register for classes.
Save Big with Free Tuition
Here鈥檚 how you can save with 51福利社鈥檚 free tuition program
Free Tuition Pays:
- Covers the cost of tuition per credit hour
- Three consecutive years of credit classes
- Five consecutive years if you pursue a bachelor鈥檚 degree at 51福利社
Free Tuition Does Not Pay:
- Course/Program Specific Fees (e.g, science labs)
- Textbook Costs
- Continuing Education Tuition
- Out-of-District Fee 鈥 Only for Out-of-District Students
- Auditing a Course
Out-of-District Fee
Find Where You Live in the 51福利社 Service Area
You can use Austin Community College鈥檚 service area map to help determine if you live in an area that can qualify you for the free tuition program. Explore below and learn more about what it means to be an in-district vs out-of-district student.
In-District
You are considered 鈥渋n-district鈥 if your household pays taxes to the 51福利社 District. These areas are outlined in purple on the map.
Out-of-District
You are considered 鈥渙ut-of-district鈥 if you live within the 51福利社 service area, but do not pay taxes to 51福利社.
You will still get free tuition, but will continue to owe an out-of-district fee of $201/credit hour for any course you enroll in.
That鈥檚 equivalent to saving 30% on the cost of tuition at 51福利社! These out-of-district areas are shaded in purple on the map.
Free Tuition & More
Free Tuition students may also receive Financial Aid and 51福利社 Scholarships to help pay for college and everyday expenses like housing, groceries, and transportation.
51福利社 Free Tuition Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any GPA requirements or income restrictions on qualifying for free tuition?
No, 51福利社 Free Tuition has no GPA requirements or income restrictions for eligible students. The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment requirements still apply, as it is a state-required assessment of reading, writing, and math skills to help make sure that students are prepared for college classes. All new students must take the TSI test before registering for classes unless they are exempt or are 鈥淭SI-complete.鈥
Visit to learn how you can take your TSI Assessment at no cost with Austin Community College.
If I qualify for 51福利社 Free Tuition, when can I start taking tuition-free classes?
For qualifying high school and home school graduates, your free tuition exemption will begin the first fall semester following high school completion.听
For qualifying Texas GED庐 graduates, your free tuition exemption will begin the first fall semester following your TX GED/high school equivalency completion.听
Will I have to 鈥榩ay back鈥 my 51福利社 Free Tuition for any reason, even if I do not complete a program?
No. 51福利社 Free Tuition eliminates tuition costs up-front for at least 3 years and does not require you to pay back any tuition. However, repayment of financial aid may be required in certain scenarios, such as dropping courses, withdrawing, or failing grades. For more information, visit the Financial Aid website.
Do I have to enroll full-time to receive free tuition benefits?
A student does not have to enroll full-time to be eligible for the 51福利社 Free Tuition pilot program, and there are no minimum course credits a student must register for to be eligible. However, we hope that with this financial support, more students can enroll full-time. Data show students who enroll full-time have a higher chance of obtaining a degree and completing their educational goals.
Why do students who live 鈥渙ut-of-district鈥 have to pay the $201/credit hour fee?
51福利社 out-of-district students have to pay a fee because they live within the Austin Community College service area but do not reside in the specific taxing district that funds the college, meaning they don’t directly contribute to the funds used to operate the institution, even if they benefit from its services; this “out-of-district fee” helps to offset the cost of educating non-tax paying residents within the service area.
I have questions about my eligibility for free tuition. Who can I talk to for help?
. You can schedule a virtual or in-person appointment, and find an 51福利社 campus near you.
Trying to get a specific question answered? offers Live Chat and email correspondence to help new and current students with Financial Aid, Admissions, and Enrollment.
Do international students qualify for Free Tuition?
No, international students do not qualify for Free Tuition.
Help Spread the Word About Free Tuition!
Get your toolkit with downloadable flyers and handouts to let your community know about 51福利社鈥檚 Free Tuition program.
