Tuition Rebate (C-50)
Original Implementation: January 30, 2001
Last Revision: April 22, 2008
Section 54.0065 of the Texas Education Code authorizes a tuition rebate of up to $1,000 for certain undergraduates. The purpose of this program is to provide a financial incentive for students to complete their baccalaureate studies with as few courses outside the degree plan as possible. Minimizing the number of courses taken by students results in financial savings to students, parents, and the state.
To be eligible for a rebate under this program, a student must:
- have enrolled for the first time in an institution of higher education in the fall 1997 semester or later;
- request a rebate for coursework related to a first baccalaureate degree received from a general academic teaching institution;
- have been a resident of Texas as set forth under rules established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and have been entitled to pay resident tuition at all times while pursuing the degree;
- if enrolled for the first time in fall 2005 or later, graduate within four calendar years for a four-year degree or within five calendar years for a five-year degree if the degree is in architecture, engineering, or any other program determined by the Board to require more than four years to complete; and
- have attempted no more than three hours in excess of the minimum number of semester credit hours required to complete the degree under the catalog under which the student graduated. Hours attempted include transfer credits, course credit earned exclusively by examination (except that, for the purposes of this program, only the number of semester credit hours earned exclusively by examination in excess of nine semester credit hours is treated as hours attempted), courses dropped after the official census date, for-credit developmental courses, optional internship and cooperative education courses, and repeated courses. Courses dropped for reasons that are determined by the institution to be totally beyond the control of the student shall not be counted. For students concurrently earning a baccalaureate degree and a Texas teaching certificate, required teacher education courses shall not be counted to the extent that they are over and above the free electives allowed in the baccalaureate degree program.
The amount of the tuition rebate is the lesser of $1,000 or the actual amount of undergraduate tuition paid by the student to Texas public institutions of higher education. Tuition rebates shall be reduced by the amount of any outstanding student loans.
Students wishing to apply for tuition rebates must do so at the time they apply for baccalaureate degrees by checking the appropriate lines on the Application for Final Graduation Plan and completing the form on the back. Applications are available in the Registrar's Office.
The Registrar's Office will evaluate all applications and make a determination of rebate eligibility, based on number of hours attempted as posted on the student's academic record. The Registrar's Office will provide the Vice President for Finance and Administration -- with the names, addresses and social security numbers of all applicants eligible for tuition rebates. Within 60 days after graduation, the Vice President for - Finance and Administration will mail rebate checks to eligible students and the Registrar's Office will mail denial notices to ineligible students. Each notice will include the reason for denial. A student may appeal a denial decision to the Fiscal Appeals Committee. Information on the appeal process is available in the Registrar's Office. All appeals must be filed within 30 days of the university's written notification of denial.
Cross Reference: Texas Education Code, Section 54.0065; Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Rules and Regulations, Chapter 13, Subchapter E
Responsible for Implementation: Vice President for Finance and Administration
Contact For Revision: Controller, Registrar
Forms: Application for Final Graduation Plan (available in Registrar's Office)