Section 54.068 of the Texas Education Code, which was passed by the 75th Texas Legislature in 1997, authorized institutions of higher education to charge a resident student a tuition rate that is higher than the regular resident tuition, but does not exceed the nonresident tuition rate if the student has previously attempted 170 or more semester credit hours without earning a baccalaureate degree. Section 61.0595 of the Texas Education Code, also enacted in 1997, directed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to withhold formula funding for students who have previously attempted 170 or more semester credit hours for courses taken at any institution of higher education while classified as a resident of Texas for tuition purposes. The reduced formula funding became effective with the Fall Semester 1999.

Tuition Rates for Undergraduate Students with Excessive Semester Credit Hours

The Board delegated to the presidents of The University of Texas System component institutions authority to charge a tuition rate that is higher than the regular tuition rate but that does not exceed the statutory nonresident tuition rate to resident undergraduate students who accumulate excessive hours.

NOTE: The 76th Texas Legislature redefined excessive hours to be 45 hours beyond the degree requirement--applicable only to students entering Fall 1999 or later.

Last reviewed September 2000