Texas Free College Application Week 2026 runs from October 12 to October 18. Texas residents can apply to any Texas public college or university for free through ApplyTexas.
Your application must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on October 18. Applications that are started but not submitted do not qualify.
Last Updated: October 3, 2026
This guide covers dates, eligibility, Common App rules, transfer students and what to do if your fee is not waived.
Key Dates at a Glance
These are the dates and rules that matter most. Each one comes from THECB, UT Austin or UTSA.
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Week begins | Monday, October 12, 2026, at 12 a.m. CT | UTSA |
| Week ends | Sunday, October 18, 2026 | UT Austin, UTSA |
| Submission deadline | 11:59 p.m. CT on October 18, 2026 | UTSA |
| Law behind it | Senate Bill 2231, 89th Texas Legislature | THECB |
| How often | Second full week of October, every year | THECB |
| Where to apply | ApplyTexas | UT Austin |
Applying from another time zone? The deadline is 10:59 p.m. Mountain Time. It is 12:59 a.m. Eastern Time on October 19, which is too late.
Texas public schools typically charge about $75 per application, according to Yahoo News. Fees vary by school, so check your target school.
THECB’s page still shows 2025 dates in places. Use your school’s admissions page to confirm the 2026 details.
Who Qualifies
THECB says Texas residents applying for undergraduate admission at public institutions through ApplyTexas can take part. You must meet all of these conditions:
- You are a Texas resident.
- You are a first-year (freshman) or transfer applicant.
- You are applying to an undergraduate program.
- You submit through ApplyTexas, or use the Common App option where a school offers one.
Graduate applications are not covered, according to THECB. UTSA also excludes international applications and applications from non-Texas residents.
UT Austin says it uses the information on your application to decide fee waiver eligibility. A residency review comes later for admission and tuition purposes.
UTSA says you may need to provide documents proving Texas residency. Have them ready in case the school asks.
Which Schools Take Part
THECB says all public colleges and universities in Texas must waive undergraduate application fees during the week. State-funded community colleges are included.
The requirement covers public institutions. Private colleges set their own fee rules, so check each one separately.
These schools publish their own 2026 details:
- TCC: first-year and transfer applicants who are Texas residents apply at no cost through ApplyTexas.
- UTSA: applications submitted through ApplyTexas from 12 a.m. CT on October 12 to 11:59 p.m. CT on October 18 are free.
- UT Austin: Texas residents who apply through ApplyTexas have the fee waived automatically.
- Texas A&M: lists the 2026 week as October 12-18 and says Texas residents can apply without a fee.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply Free on ApplyTexas
Follow these steps to make sure your fee is waived.
- Create your account. Go to ApplyTexas or My Texas Future and set up a profile before the week starts.
- Pick your school and term. Choose the correct undergraduate application type, either freshman or transfer.
- Complete every section. Answer the residency questions and finish all required parts of the application.
- Submit before the deadline. Click submit by 11:59 p.m. CT on October 18. UTSA says created but unsubmitted applications are not eligible.
- Save your confirmation. UTSA says ApplyTexas sends a thank-you email after you submit. Keep it as proof.
Do not wait for the last night. A technical problem at 11:30 p.m. can cost you the waiver.
Applying Through Common App
UT Austin offers a Common App route. Texas residents should select the fee waiver option saying they are Texas residents submitting during Free College Application Week.
Applicants who use ApplyTexas get the waiver automatically, according to UT Austin.
Sources conflict on this point. A third-party site, General Academic, says the waiver does not carry over to Common App.
UT Austin is the official source for its own process. Not every school publishes a Common App option.
If your school’s page does not mention one, use ApplyTexas. Always check each school’s admissions page before you submit.
How Schools Decide If You Qualify
UTSA says it uses the ApplyTexas submission timestamp. Your application must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on October 18, 2026.
A late application gets no free-week waiver. Submit early to avoid problems.
THECB says schools follow their regular fee waiver procedures outside the week. Those options still exist after October 18, but they usually require proof of financial need.
UTSA also says it honors the waiver only if you have not already submitted an application for that term.
Which Semesters Are Covered
UTSA says you can apply for any available semester in ApplyTexas. The application only has to be submitted inside the free window.
THECB gave the same answer for the 2025 event. Confirm the term options with your school before you submit.
Transfer Students
Transfer applicants are eligible. THECB, UTSA, UT Austin and TCC all say transfer students can participate.
The same rules apply. You must be a Texas resident applying to an undergraduate program through ApplyTexas.
Note one UTSA detail. Its regular fee waiver excludes transfer students, but the Free College Application Week waiver includes them.
UTSA, UT Austin and TCC list no extra transfer limits for the week. Still check your target school’s page.
What the Waiver Does Not Cover
The waiver has clear limits. UTSA and THECB list these exclusions:
- Graduate program applications
- International applications (UTSA)
- Applications from non-Texas residents (UTSA)
- Applications not submitted through ApplyTexas (UTSA)
- Applications submitted before or after the free window
- A second application for a term you already submitted (UTSA)
Other fees, such as housing deposits or enrollment deposits, are separate. The waiver covers the application fee only.
What If Your Fee Was Not Waived?
Likely causes
- You applied outside ApplyTexas.
- You submitted after 11:59 p.m. CT on October 18.
- You applied to a graduate or other ineligible program.
- The school could not confirm your Texas residency.
- You had already submitted an application for the same term.
What to do next
Check your confirmation email for the submission time. Then contact the school’s admissions office with that proof.
UTSA says application records can take up to two business days to arrive after you submit. Give it time before you assume a problem.
If the window has closed, ask about regular fee waivers. UTSA accepts SAT or ACT fee waiver forms for eligible freshmen, for example.
What to Do After You Apply
Submitting is only the first step. Keep these items in mind:
- Watch your email for a receipt and next steps from the school.
- Expect a residency review. UT Austin runs one after your application is complete.
- Check each school’s document, scholarship and financial aid deadlines.
Some schools review applications as they arrive, so early submission helps. For deadlines by state, see our free college application days guide.
Other Free Application Options
Texas is not the only state with free application events. Kansas runs its own program, covered in our Kansas Apply Free Days 2026 guide.
FAQ
When is Texas Free College Application Week 2026?
It runs Monday, October 12 through Sunday, October 18, 2026. UTSA and UT Austin both list this window.
Your application must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on October 18. Applications outside that window are not free.
Is the ApplyTexas fee really waived automatically?
UT Austin says Texas residents who apply through ApplyTexas have the fee waived automatically. You do not need to request it separately.
Still confirm that your application shows as submitted before the deadline. Keep your confirmation email.
Can transfer students use Free College Application Week?
Yes. THECB, UTSA, UT Austin and TCC all say transfer applicants can participate.
You must be a Texas resident applying to an undergraduate program through ApplyTexas. Submit by 11:59 p.m. CT on October 18.
Does Free College Application Week work on Common App?
It depends on the school. UT Austin offers a Common App fee waiver option for Texas residents applying during the week.
A third-party site says the waiver does not carry over. Check your school’s admissions page before you submit.
Are graduate school applications free?
No. THECB says the waiver covers undergraduate admissions only. Graduate program applications are not covered during the week.
UTSA also says its graduate programs have no regular application fee waivers.
What time is the deadline on October 18?
The deadline is 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, October 18, 2026. That is 10:59 p.m. Mountain Time.
UTSA uses the ApplyTexas submission timestamp, so submit well before the cutoff.
What if I already paid the application fee?
Contact the school’s admissions office first. UTSA says it honors the free-week waiver only if no application was previously submitted for that term.
Refund policies vary by school. Ask before you pay or apply again.
Do community colleges take part?
Yes. THECB says state-funded community colleges are public and must waive application fees during the week.
TCC lists the week on its admissions page. Apply through ApplyTexas before the October 18 deadline.