Locked & Variable Rate Plans

Important Announcement:

Howdy! This spring semester, the quickest and easiest way to connect with a Student Business Services representative will be via text message. All you need to do is scroll all the way down from any page of this website until you see the "Text SBS" button. This option is ONLY available when visiting our site from a mobile device and during regular business hours.

Learn More

Tuition Rate Opt-in Choices

Incoming Freshman

All incoming freshmen will have a choice of opting for one of the following two tuition rate codes:

The Four-Year Locked Rate* which is a compounded four-year average, allowing for a per semester fixed rate of required tuition and fees for twelve consecutive full semesters, or four consecutive years, from the time of first enrollment in an institution of higher education after high school.
The Variable Rate, which is set annually using factors such as inflationary cost increases, new strategic initiatives, and the overall needs of the university.

Transfers & Re-Admit Students

All transfers and re-admit students will have a choice of opting into:

The Current Academic Year's Locked Rate* which much like the locked rate plan offered to incoming freshman, is a compounded four-year average allowing for a per semester fixed rate of required tuition and fees for twelve consecutive full semesters or four consecutive years, from the time of first enrollment in an institution of higher education after high school.
The First Term of Enrollment Locked Rate which corresponds with the calculated remaining years since their first enrolled term after high school (possibly less per hour, but shorter duration before expiration). The students, in this case, would have to make sure that the year they are expected to graduate doesn't go past the fourth and final year this locked rate is scheduled to expire.
The Variable Rate which is set annually using factors such as inflationary cost increases, new strategic initiatives, and the overall needs of the university.

*Locked rates are guaranteed for a period of time-based on college and/or major:

All majors in the College of Engineering: 4.5 years from the time freshmen first enter college after high school; Landscape Architecture: 5 years from the time freshmen first enter college after high school; All Other Majors: 4 years from the time freshmen first enter college after high school

Once you have completed the length of time in your locked rate cohort you will automatically be moved to the current year Variable Rate Cohort

Non-Resident Students: Because the State of Texas does not fund "non-resident" tuition, mandates issued by the state for the fixed-rate tuition plan do not apply to non-resident students. Therefore, non-resident students will default to the variable-rate plan.

Locked Rate and Variable Rate FAQs

Rate Code Info

Example Cost by Rate Code

Example costs per semester of 2018-2019 tuition and fees for a student in the College of Liberal Arts paying in-state tuition and registered for 12 or more hours:

First Entered College	Locked or Variable	Tuition Rate Code In Howdy	Tuition Calculator >Rate Selection	Potentially Expires	Liberal Arts In-state Tuition 12 or more hours
2014-2015	Locked	TLR_1415	Locked 2014-2015	Summer 2018	$4,677.66
2015-2016	Locked	TLR_1516	Locked 2015-2016	Summer 2019	$4,803.40
2016-2017	Locked	TLR_1617	Locked 2016-2017	Summer 2020	$5,109.75
2017-2018	Locked	TLR_1718	Locked 2017-2018	Summer 2021	$5,201.70
2018-2019	Locked	TLR_1819	Locked 2018-2019	Summer 2022	$5,484.20
2018-2019	Variable	TLR_VARI	Variable	2018-2019 only	$5,223.20

Example Tuition Rate Codes

Tuition Rate Code Explanations

The first three characters indicate whether the tuition rate code is locked or variable.
TLR stands for Tuition Locked Rate.
TVR stands for Tuition Variable Rate.
The last four characters of the Locked Rate tuition codes indicate the year the student first entered an institution of higher education after high school.

Example Tuition Rate Codes

First Entered College	Tuition Rate Code	Locked or Variable	Potentially Expires
2014-2015	TLR_1415	Tuition Locked Rate	Summer 2018
2015-2016	TLR_1516	Tuition Locked Rate	Summer 2019
2016-2017	TLR_1617	Tuition Locked Rate	Summer 2020
2017-2018	TLR_1718	Tuition Locked Rate	Summer 2021
2018-2019	TLR_1819	Tuition Locked Rate	Summer 2022
2018-2019	TVR_VARI	Tuition Variable Rate	Rate is for the 2018-2019 academic year only

Changes to Your Rate Code

Incoming Undergraduate Students

Incoming freshmen and transfer/re-admit students may request a one-time reset to make a different tuition rate code selection prior to the 12th class day of their first term of enrollment. Requests to change tuition rate codes should be made via the Applicant Information System 'Contact Us' feature.

Continuing Undergraduate Students

Changes to tuition rate codes cannot be made after the 12th class day of a student's first term of enrollment.

Howdy Portal

All incoming undergraduate resident students will have to select a tuition rate code in the Howdy Portal before being allowed to register for classes for the first time.

Select Your Rate Code