How free tuition affected Austin Community College

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In order to lower financial barriers of students and stop low enrollment, Austin Community College, a public two-year institution in central Texas, started its Free Tuition Pilot Program in 2024. For qualified students who enroll after completing their high school education or obtaining a Texas GED and reside in ACC's tax-base district, the program pays for their tuition. For credit-bearing coursework, participants can get free tuition for up to three years; if they pursue a bachelor's degree at the college, they can earn free tuition for up to five years.

The free tuition program has certainly affected Austin Community College. Based on the information from Inside Higher Ed, two years after the program's inception, the number of students eligible to take part in the program increased by 59 percent, from 3,461 in fall 2023 to 5,504 in fall 2025. According to college administrators, the program stopped a ten-year drop in attendance and raised enrollment to its best level since 2011.

The strategy has improved a number of student success metrics at the same time. In comparison to pre-program levels, ACC has reported an 87 percent increase in degrees and awards received by participating students since the start of the free tuition program.