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Tuition Reductions
Below is a list of exemptions and contracts you may be eligible for to reduce the cost of your tuition and fees. Money received from sources outside the University such as booster club scholarships, and PTO scholarships are considered outside scholarships, see Payments for more information.
This list is not all inclusive. Visit My Texas Future for more information on exemption and waiver programs.
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Active Military, Veterans, & Their Family
There are many waivers available to our active military, veterans, and their family. Visit our Veteran's Benefits Processing Office to verify your benefits.
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Blind Students
Reduce tuition costs for blind students.
Eligibility:
Texas residents with a vision-related disability (e.g., blindness, significant visual impairment) are determined eligible by Vocational Rehabilitation Services Offices through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
Requirements:
- Obtain current eye exam report that shows legal blindness
- Visit local Vocational Rehabilitation Services Office
- Apply for Certificate of Blindness for Tuition Waiver
- Email certificate to cshforms@shsu.edu
Resource(s):
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Children of Disabled or Deceased Firefighters and Law Enforcement Officers
The purpose of this program is to provide tuition assistance in the form of exemption of all dues, fees, and charges for any child of an eligible disabled or deceased firefighter or law enforcement officer injured in the line of duty.
Eligibility:
Resource(s):
Children of Disabled Firefighters and Law Enforcement Officers (texas.gov)
Children of Disabled Firefighters and Law Enforcement Officers Supporting Documents(texas.gov)
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Children of Professional Nursing Program Faculty and Staff
The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance in the form of an exemption of tuition to eligible children of professional nurse faculty or staff of a public institution in the State of Texas.
Eligibility:
Requirements:
- Gather Employment Verification for Parent
- Complete Children of Professional Nursing Faculty and Staff Exemption Application
- Email Documents to cshforms@shsu.edu
Resource(s):
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Clinical Preceptors and Their Children
The purpose of this program is to encourage nurses to serve as Clinical Nurse Preceptors by providing a partial exemption from tuition to them and/or their children.
Eligibility:
Requirements:
- Complete Application
- Gather supporting documentation
- Email completed application and supporting documentation to cshforms@shsu.edu
- Email cshforms@shsu.edu for re-application of exemption
Resource(s):
Education Code Chapter 54. Tuition and Fees (texas.gov)
Preceptor Application -
Deaf Students
Reduce tuition costs for deaf students.
Eligibility:
Texas residents with a hearing disability who meet certain criteria are determined eligible by Texas Health and Human Services (HHS).
Requirements:
- Obtain audiology documentation
- Complete Form 3900, Application for Certificate of Deafness for Tuition Waiver
- Email certificate to cshforms@shsu.edu
Resource(s):
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Education Benefits for Certain Survivors of Individuals in Specific Public Servant Positions
The purpose of this program is to provide higher education benefits to the spouse and children of individuals in specific public servant positions. who were killed in the line of duty.
Eligibility:
Requirements:
- Obtain death certificate
- Email cshforms@shsu.edu to request exemption and provide death certificate
Resource(s):
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Educational Aide Exemption
The purpose of this program is to encourage certain Educational Aides to complete full teacher certification by providing need-based exemptions from the payment of tuition and certain mandatory fees at Texas public institutions of higher education.
Eligibility:
Requirements:
Apply with Financial Aid
Resource(s):
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Employee Dependent Scholarship
The Sam Houston State Employee Dependent Scholarship Program provides undergraduate tuition scholarship assistance to the eligible dependent children and spouse of full-time, benefit eligible employees.
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Faculty/Staff Educational Assistance Waiver
The Sam Houston State Employee Education Assistance Program releases an eligible employee to take one course during regular work hours.
Eligibility:
- This program is for full-time (1.0 FTE) benefits-eligible staff and faculty employees, through the rank of Professor, who desire to enroll in university credit courses at SHSU. Applicants must have a minimum of six (6) months full-time continuous employment at SHSU by the first day of class.
- Coursework must relate directly to the employee's current or prospective job duties within their department. Participants must meet all admission and registration requirements and maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA) for undergraduate courses. Graduate students must maintain a 3.0 GPA.
- Each semester, staff employees seeking release time must submit an Employee Development Participation & Teaching Request Form to their department head for consideration. Department heads will complete the approval section and retain the form in department files. Submission deadlines are as follows:
- Fall Semester ‐ August 1st
- Spring Semester ‐ December 1st
- Summer Semester ‐ May 1st
Resource(s):
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Firefighters Enrolled in Fire Science Courses
The purpose of this program is to provide tuition assistance to eligible employed and volunteer firefighters in the state of Texas enrolled in college-level fire science courses.
Eligibility:
Requirements:
- Complete Application for Texas Peace Officer or Texas Firefighter Exemption
- Gathering supporting documentation
- Email completed application and documentation to registrar@shsu.edu
Resource(s):
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Foreign Insurance Waiver
Waiver for foreign student insurance requirement if the student has purchased insurance from a company within the United States.
Contact Global Engagement Center for more information
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Highest Ranking High School Graduate
The Highest Ranking Graduate program provides a tuition waiver for the student graduating at the top of their high school class for their freshman year of college.
Eligibility:
Available through the Texas Education Agency
Requirements:
- Receive a hard copy of a document titled "Tuition Waiver to Public Colleges and Universities" from your high school
- Email your document to cshforms@shsu.edu
Resource(s):
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Individuals Currently or Formerly in Foster Care in Texas
Encourage foster youth currently or formerly under the conservatorship of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and those adopted from DFPS to pursue a higher education in Texas by providing eligible students free tuition at state-supported colleges or universities.
Eligibility:
Requirements:
- Request Form 1810 from Department of Family & Protective Services
- Email Form 1810 to cshforms@shsu.edu
- Each semester after request reduction by emailing cshforms@shsu.edu
Resource(s):
DFPS - State College Tuition Waiver (texas.gov)
DFPS - Adoption Support Programs (texas.gov)
VR Office Lookup (state.tx.us)
Education Code Chapter 54. Tuition and Fees (texas.gov) -
Peace Officers Enrolled in Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice Courses
Provide tuition assistance to eligible employed peace officers in the state of Texas enrolled in undergraduate criminal justice or law enforcement courses.
Eligibility:
Requirements:
- Complete Application for Texas Peace Officer or Texas Firefighter Exemption
- Gather supporting documentation
- Email completed application and documentation to registrar@shsu.edu
Resource(s):
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Senior Citizen (65 or older): Degree Seeking
Reduced tuition rates for degree-seeking students 65 and over in good standing with the university.
Eligibility:
Requirements:
- Gather proof of Senior Citizen Status
- Complete Application for Senior Citizen Waiver
- Email completed application and supporting documentation to registrar@shsu.edu
Resource(s):
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Senior Citizen (65 or Older): Non-Degree Seeking
Reduced tuition rate for students 65 or older that are not pursing a degree. Participation in an post-secondary courses without pursuing a degree is referred to as auditing a class.
Eligibility:
Covers:
Reduces tuition to auditing fee of $50 per course.
Requirements:
- Read Audit Instructions
- Complete Audit Request
- Gather proof of Senior Citizen Status
- Complete Application for Senior Citizen Waiver
- Email completed forms and supporting documentation to registrar@shsu.edu
Resource(s):
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Texas Promise Fund
The Texas Tuition Promise Fund is a pre-paid tuition plan that acts as a contract to pay for tuition at the rates of the date of purchase. It only pays for undergraduate tuition and has a holding period before redeeming.
Payment:
The purchaser of plan must go to the Texas Tuition Promise Fund website and authorize SHSU to retrieve the student's information. Students will be responsible for:
- Lab Fees
- Private Music Fees
- Distance Learning Fees
- University Center Fees
- Specialty Program Fees
Resource(s):
Contact the Texas Tuition Promise Fund at 512.463.4863 or visit texastuitionpromisefund.com
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Texas Tomorrow Fund
This plan is currently closed to new enrollment. Plan participants may view fund information and resources and log onto their accounts 24X7 on the Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan website.
Requirements:
- Obtain In-State Enrollment Verification Letter from the Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan website each semester.
- Sign and date letter.
- Email letter to cshforms@shsu.edu.
Resource(s):
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TWC Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
Texas Workforce Commission helps students with a qualifying disability attend an institution of higher education. Once selected for benefits by Texas Work Force Commission, a counselor will provide a Service Authorization form.
Requirements:
- Obtain Service Authorization form from the Texas Workforce Commission.
- Email Service Authorization to cshforms@shsu.edu.
Resource(s):
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