Exemptions and waivers allow special groups of Texas residents or nonresidents to pay less tuition and/or fees. You must meet the specific requirements to receive the exemption, including academic requirements listed below.

Tuition exemptions are not retroactive to a paid enrollment. Based on the exemption, additional documentation may be required.

For more information or to update your student information, contact any campus Admissions and Enrollment Office. 

Exemptions available to ACC students

Exemptions listed below are available to ACC students. Details are available directly from the state’s College for All Texans webpage. Additional exemptions listed on the state website are currently not available to ACC students.

• Students Who are Blind or Deaf
• Children of Disabled Firemen/Peace Officers
• Children in Foster or Other Residential Care
• Children Adopted who were Formerly in Foster or Other Residential Care
• Children of Professional Nursing  Faculty
• Children of POWs and MIAs
• Dependents of Deceased Public Servants
• Ex-Prisoners of War
• Firefighters taking Fire Science Courses
• Hazlewood
• Highest Ranking High School  Graduate
• National Guard Waiver
• Peace Officer Exemption
• Clinical Preceptors and their Children
• Senior Citizens - 65 or Older, free tuition for 6 credit hours per semester, during add/drop, on space available basis 
• Students Enrolled in Courses for Dual High School and College-Level Credit

Waivers available to ACC students

Find waiver program details at the College for All Texans webpage.

• College Teachers, Profs, etc.
• Economic Development
• Foreign Service Officer
• Military Personnel and their Dependents

• NATO Members and Families
• Teaching or Research Assistant
• Texas Tomorrow Fund Contract

Academic eligibility for exemptions/waivers

Effective fall 2014, Senate Bill 1210 (83rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session) requires you to meet the GPA and excessive hour requirement of ACC's satisfactory academic progress in a degree or certificate program determined by our financial aid policy.

This requirement does not apply to exemptions provided to foster care alumni, co-enrolled high school students, or the dependent child or spouse of a Texas veteran who is missing in action, killed in action, or died as a result of service.

Tuition exemption/waiver appeal: An appeal of loss of tuition exemption may be submitted in consultation with an ACC Academic Guidance Specialist and will be considered in cases where students have made substantial progress toward completion of a certificate/degree and present sufficient documentation to support a finding of good cause for continued receipt of a state tuition waiver.

There are several tax tools available to help students and families meet the cost of higher education, including:

• Tax credits - Hope and Lifetime Learning;
• Above-the-line deduction for higher education expenses;
• Deduction of student loan interest;
• Tax-free withdrawals from education savings accounts (ESAs);
• Tax-free withdrawals from state-sponsored and private tuition savings plans; and
• Tax free, employer-provided tuition benefit.

Save your records of all education-related payments and financial aid for tax purposes. Institutions are required to provide Form 1098T, Tuition Statement, to students (with the exception of Continuing Education students and nonresident alien students). Banks, institutions, and other lenders that collect student loan interest payments must issue annual information returns, Form 1098E, Student Loan Interest Payments to individuals, from whom they collect more than $600 in interest during the tax year.

For more information about these tax benefits : IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Higher Education and Publication 520, Scholarships and Fellowships, are available from the IRS website or by calling (800) TAX-FORM.

You may qualify to receive $1,000 from your Texas public university if you earn a bachelor's degree and meet the following criteria:

• Enrolled in a Texas public institution of higher education in fall 1997 or thereafter;
• Resident of Texas and entitled to pay in-state tuition at all times while pursuing the degree;
• Received a bachelor's degree from a Texas public university; and
• Attempted no more than 3 credits in excess of the minimum number of credits required to complete the degree in the catalog under which graduated. Hours attempted includes transfer credits, course credits earned exclusively by examination, courses that are dropped after the official census date, and for-credit developmental/remedial courses.

ACC advisors can help you plan your course of study to maximize your chances of qualifying for this rebate. Learn more about the program at the College for All Texans.

You may qualify for help in meeting you educational expenses through the Workforce Investment Act program. Prior to enrollment at ACC, contact a WIA office to determine eligibility and types of assistance. Learn more at Workforce Solutions Capital Area or Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area.