Eligible Students May Apply for Admission Without Paying the Undergraduate Application Fee to Texas Public Universities and Colleges Through 11:59 p.m. CDT Sunday, October 18, 2026
Applications for admission to public universities and colleges in Texas will be free for one week for eligible students submitting an undergraduate application via ApplyTexas.
The Free College Application Week began on Monday, October 12 and will continue through 11:59 p.m. CDT on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
The exemption can represent an immediate saving for students in the Houston area. University of Houston normally charges a $75 application fee; University of Houston-Downtown, $50; Texas Southern University, $42; University of Houston-Clear Lake, $45; and Prairie View A&M University, $40.
The Application Must Be Submitted Through ApplyTexas by Sunday
The state exemption applies to undergraduate applications submitted via ApplyTexas during the official period.
An application started before October 12 may also qualify if it is submitted during the free week. However, starting an application is not enough: it must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CDT on October 18.
ApplyTexas warns that some applicants may still see a fee or payment instructions while completing the process. Those who meet the Texas residency requirements used for university admission do not have to pay that fee during the week.
The exemption is guaranteed through ApplyTexas for eligible applications. Each institution determines whether it also accepts free applications through other platforms.
In the University of Houston, for example, applications submitted through Common App do not qualify for the state exemption. The university indicates that ApplyTexas must be used.
University of Houston Temporarily Waives Its $75 Fee
University of Houston normally charges a nonrefundable $75 undergraduate application fee.
During Free College Application Week, eligible students who submit the corresponding application via ApplyTexas are exempt from that payment.
The university currently has open applications for 2027. For first‑time-in-college students seeking to begin in Fall 2027, UH sets two priority dates related to scholarship consideration:
- November 2, 2026: priority deadline to submit the admissions application.
- November 9, 2026: deadline to submit the required supplemental materials.
These dates are separate from the Free College Application Week deadline, which ends on October 18.
UHD, Texas Southern, and UH-Clear Lake Are Also Included
The exemption also applies to other public universities in the Houston area.
- University of Houston-Downtown: the regular undergraduate application fee is $50.
- Texas Southern University: the undergraduate application fee is normally $42.
- University of Houston-Clear Lake: normally charges $45 for an undergraduate admission application.
- Prairie View A&M University: the regular undergraduate application fee is $40.
In these cases, the exemption requires the applicant to meet the Texas residency requirements established for the college admission process and submit an undergraduate application via ApplyTexas within the applicable period.
Houston City College and Other Community Colleges Already Offer Free Applications
Free College Application Week also includes the public community colleges of Texas. However, some institutions in the Houston area already allow admission applications without a fee year-round.
Houston City College does not charge an admission application fee for first‑time‑in‑college students. San Jacinto College and Lone Star College also regularly offer free undergraduate admission applications.
Therefore, the state week does not represent an additional saving for those who use those free admission processes. Conditions may differ for certain applicant categories, especially international students.
The Exemption Also Covers Transfer Students
Free College Application Week is not limited to students who will finish high school.
Transfer students who meet the program requirements can also submit undergraduate applications without paying during the week.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board notes that undergraduate applications from returning students or students who wish to attend temporarily (visiting) can receive the exemption when applicable under the program rules.
The measure does not cover applications for graduate programs.
The Exemption Does Not Depend on Family Income
Free College Application Week does not set an income limit. Eligibility depends on meeting the Texas residency requirements used for college admission.
Residency classification is determined by each higher education institution in accordance with state rules. It is not enough to simply indicate a address in Texas: the university may request additional information to verify that the requirements are met.
The state exemption is guaranteed for eligible undergraduate applications submitted via ApplyTexas. Each institution decides whether it also accepts free applications through other platforms. University of Houston, for example, specifies that its Common App submissions do not qualify for this promotion.
The exemption applies exclusively to the application fee (application fee). It does not remove tuition, university fees, deposits, housing costs, or other expenses associated with studying at the institution.
After submitting an application, each university may require additional documents such as academic transcripts, high school information, test scores when applicable, or other admission materials.
The Free Week Ends at 11:59 p.m. on October 18
The Texas Free College Application Week ends on Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CDT.
The exemption was created through Senate Bill 2231 and applies to eligible students who submit undergraduate applications via ApplyTexas during the designated week.
In 2025, more than 260,000 applications were submitted during Free College Application Week, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
To take advantage of the 2026 exemption, eligible applications must be submitted in ApplyTexas before the deadline date and time of Sunday, October 18.
