Austin Community College Chancellor Proposes Free Tuition for Graduating High Schoolers to Boost Enrollment and Access

Austin Community College (ACC) Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart has pitched a plan to make tuition free for this year's high school graduates in an effort to expand access to higher education and address dropping enrollment numbers. According to a report by the Austin American-Statesman, Lowery-Hart presented the bold initiative to the college's board of trustees, with the intent of not only aiding students struggling with affordability but also eventually extending the offer to all prospective students.

ACC, grappling with a decline in student numbers following the COVID-19 pandemic, went from a 14% admittance rate of graduating high school seniors to 10%. "Our competition is not between ACC and UT or Texas State or A&M," Lowery-Hart told ACC trustees, "Our competition is between somewhere and nowhere, and nowhere is kicking our tail," according to the American-Statesman report. Tuition costs at the college currently stand at $1,275 for in-district students enlisted for 15 credit hours, and a steeper $4,290 for those residing outside the district, the crux of the barrier this free tuition proposal seeks to dismantle.

The proposed initiative by Lowery-Hart involves allocating resources towards covering three years of tuition to encourage full-time enrollment and ensure degree completion. As reported by KVUE, the prospect is not just about providing financial relief but about underpinning the very dreams and practical ambitions of students teetering on the edge of poverty and prosperity. Lowery-Hart's focus is resolute — on those “who needs us the most and isn't accessing us,” he stated.

The college, bolstered by an additional $6.8 million awarded through House Bill 8, which revolutionizes the funding model for Texas community colleges, appears financially equipped to undertake such an endeavor. The legislation favors colleges based on the value of credentials awarded, completion, and transfer rates, thus providing ACC with the means to possibly implement this free tuition program that "could pay for itself," said Lowery-Hart. This financial windfall comes at a crucial juncture, ACC's enrollment having dropped from 36,900 in 2020 to 32,000 in 2022, begging for innovative solutions such as Lowery-Hart's proposal.

Should the board approve, the 2024 high school graduates within ACC’s district would be the first beneficiaries of this program — a program that extends its generosity without requiring beneficiaries to demonstrate financial need, and inclusive of undocumented students who meet the residency criteria. The proposal is scheduled for a final pitch in February, with the potential for a decisive vote come March, as Lowery-Hart told the American-Statesman.