East RGV News

EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is now offering free tuition to students from households with an income less than $95,000.

The offer is a response to the economic losses many face in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. Students will still need to qualify academically for the program, which was previously only available to families making less than $75,000 annually, according to reporting by Border Report. The program was first announced last September, and the new threshold will apply to students beginning this coming fall.

The academic requirements for incoming first-year students involve minimum scores on either the ACT or the SAT, or placing in the top 10% of of their graduating class from high school. Continuing students must maintain a 2.5-or-higher grade point average.

The program covers all tuition and fees for four years for Texas residents who are full-time undergraduate students. The application deadline for Fall 2020 has been extended to May 1 as another change to the program.

A statement from the university said the coronavirus pandemic, “has created an environment of unprecedented uncertainty for all of us.”

“Now more than ever, an education will ensure the future of our students. I truly hope this free tuition program — which is the best in the state — can serve as one less burden for our students and their families as we forge ahead,” UTRGV President Guy Bailey said.

The university has multiple campuses along the Mexican border, and South Texas suffers one of the highest poverty rates in the U.S.

“We know it’s already had an enormous impact on our economy here in the Valley and in the country,” Bailey said in a video. “We know this will have an impact on the financial status of our students and student body, and so how can we help? We want to be of assistance.”