New Grad, Who Dis?
So, like, before my dude Xavier Daniels kicked off his journey at Austin Community College last year, he was all about getting that associate degree and diving into the music scene. Like, a bachelor’s degree wasn’t totally out of the question, but it wasn’t his main vibe, you feel me? But now? Oh, now things have changed.
“I mean, like, now that I’ve been grinding in college and thinking about stuff way harder,” he spilled, “I’m all about that four-year life now.”
Daniels is just one of many local high school grads who got in on the free tuition action at ACC. The deal? Eligible peeps can hit up college for free for three years — or five if they’re gunning for one of those four bachelor’s degrees ACC offers. This Leander High School alum called the chance to get that education for free a total “blessing.”
“A bunch of my classes are all about the creativity, you know? So, like, I need that space to let my creative juices flow, where I can just vibe out without worrying about other stuff,” he explained. “Not having to stress about tuition is just one less thing in my way.”
Pamela Ortiz was all about the program too because it gave her the freedom to figure out what she really wanted to study.
“I tried out this minor thing, and it wasn’t really my jam. But hey, I still got those credits, and I’m thankful for the experience,” Ortiz, another Leander High School grad, shared. “It led me to what I’m really passionate about, which is communications.”
Ortiz, who always had her eye on transferring to a four-year uni, was stoked she only had to worry about paying for two years of school.
“I’m chill with only having to cover half of what I would’ve had to pay,” she grinned.
More Students, More Fun(?)
The big shots at ACC were hoping this free tuition pilot program would make college life more accessible and wallet-friendly. Jenna Cullinane Hege, the school’s vice chancellor of institutional research and analytics, had all the deets.
“We noticed students dreaming bigger because of this program,” she said.
For the past couple of years, ACC usually saw around 3,300 to 3,400 fresh high school grads enrolling. But last year? Oh, it spiked up to about 5,000, which is like a 40%+ increase in the number of direct-to-college students! That’s like double what ACC was expecting, she said.
“I think part of the reason is that ACC set this program up as a ‘first-dollar program,’ which means you get to keep your financial aid,” Cullinane Hege explained.
Instead of dropping that cash on tuition, students can use it for other stuff like books, housing, rides, or taking care of kiddos. She mentioned this helps remove obstacles that could get in the way of students really focusing on their studies. And guess what? It seems to be working — 80% of students stuck around from fall to spring semester, which is a bit higher than the usual rate for direct-to-college students.
“To see more kids sticking around while also opening doors for more access is like a pretty sweet combo,” she added.
ACC also saw more students from all different backgrounds getting in on the action.
“We noticed a major bump in Hispanic students joining in,” Cullinane Hege pointed out. “Like, 53% of the newbies who hopped on the free tuition train were Hispanic.”
Can ACC Keep the Free Tuition Party Going?
ACC thought about 3,600 students would jump on board, which would’ve been around $7.5 million in scholarships. But with over 5,000 students signing up, that number jumped to $10 million.
The money peeps at ACC weren’t sweating the $2.5 million difference, though, especially since overall enrollment went up.
“We had, like, almost a 15% growth this year overall. The free tuition was only like 4 or 5% of that increase,” Neil Vickers, the executive vice chancellor of finance and administration, shared.
To make room for more students, they had to spend more on faculty.
“We had to dish out an extra $5 million for our teachers,” he said, “but most of that wasn’t because of the free tuition boost.”
Vickers mentioned the pilot program, set to run for five years, didn’t mess up the budget too much. They’re sitting on a $20 million surplus, so they’re planning to keep the program going strong.
“We’re pretty confident about keeping this party rolling,” he said.
If things go well, they’re thinking about how they can expand the program. Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart is all about making tuition free for everyone.
ACC could score more cash from the state through House Bill 8, Vickers explained. This law, passed in 2023, changed how Texas funds community colleges based on student outcomes like transferring to a four-year school or wrapping up a certificate.
While they figure all that out, Daniels is telling anyone who’s down for the program to jump in.
“If you don’t already have a full ride or if cash is tight, or if you’re just not sure about continuing your education — ACC is, like, the move for a lot of folks,” he said.
