Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program

What does the program do?
The Exemption program provides a $1000 exemption from the payment of tuition for eligible college students. It cannot be used to pay for fees or to pay for remedial education courses at colleges.

Who can qualify?
Students may be able to qualify if they completed the requirements of high school graduation (grades 9-12) in no more than 36 continuous months. The students must have attended a public high school in Texas only, and must be Texas residents.

Is there a time limit for when it can be used?
No. Once a student qualifies, the eligibility is established and continues until the full $1000 credit has been used.

Where may it be used?
Qualified students may use the exemption at any accredited public college or university in Texas or any nonprofit independent institution in Texas, which agrees to provide the student a $1000 tuition scholarship to match the state funds

How to apply
To qualify for the benefit, the student's high school should send to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board a certification letter (copy enclosed), providing the information needed to confirm the student's eligibility. The Coordinating Board then informs the institution of the student's potential eligibility. The institution grants the exemption once it has confirmed the student is a Texas resident for tuition purposes.

Prior to registering at a college or university, the eligible recipient should check with the institution's financial aid office to make sure it has received verification from the Coordinating Board of the student's eligibility. Once the verification has been received, the student's bill from the institution should show no tuition charges for non-remedial courses or show tuition for all but remedial work marked as "paid". This will continue until the student has received the full $1000 benefit.

If the student transfers from one institution to another, he/she should notify the Coordinating Board, at least three weeks prior to enrollment, so that we can inform the new institution.