The TCC board approved a tuition increase of $5 per credit hour starting in spring 2025.
Chief Financial Officer Pamela Anglin presented the proposal to the board at the Aug. 8 meeting. The vote also included continuing the FAST program, which waives tuition for dual credit students.
In 2023, Chancellor Elva LeBlanc presented a fiscal year plan for 2023-24 that included a multi-year tuition increase. In the spring of 2024, this increased district tuition from $64 to $69, and now, in the spring of 2025, it will be $74.
“A year ago, it was determined because we were quite a bit lower than the other schools that over the next three years, there will be a $5 increase each year to increase our tuition,” Anglin said. “And that’s kind of in line with the no-new-revenue rate for taxes.”
Tuition may be lower at TCC, but Dallas College has a program called The IncludED, which provides access to educational materials such as textbooks, eBooks and other course-specific learning materials with the price of tuition.
While TCC doesn’t have a program like this yet, the school is actively looking for ways to improve students’ learning experiences.
“We are doing a lot, and we did a lot this year and continue to help students be successful in trying to help students meet their basic needs and student support services,” Anglin said.
Because the board agreed to increase tuition for three years, the third increase is expected in the spring of 2026.
Students said they don’t anticipate that the increase will impact them immediately.
“It would probably be a concern,” said NE student Melody Rymer, “like when at the time when it’s needed for something.”
Due to the passing of House Bill 8 in 2023, TCC students enrolled in dual-credit classes pay no tuition. The bill provides funding for community colleges in Texas based primarily on student outcomes and is consistent with state higher education goals and state and regional workforce needs.
In an Aug. 15 meeting with stakeholders, LeBlanc highlighted the importance of HB-8 to the school.
“The House Bill 8 legislation has tightened our focus to provide advanced, true career learning,” LeBlanc said. “And workforce development that prepares our students to stay in the region and supercharge the economy.”
During the Aug. 8 board meeting, TCC’s continued participation in the FAST program (Financial Aid for Swift Transfer) was also voted on with the tuition increase. The FAST program allows any high school student who has been on free and reduced lunch for any of the last four years to be eligible to take dual credit free of cost, meaning no tuition, fees or cost of learning materials. The state gives TCC $56.82 per credit hour for these students.
TCC is also expanding its Student Empowerment Center to provide more vouchers for food and gas, and more guidance on outside community resources and services, such as housing, mental health and legal services.
At the upcoming board meeting on Aug. 22, more budget considerations and approvals, such as ratifying the tuition schedule, construction, facility and technology updates, and a proposed tax rate, will be on the agenda.
