Guaranteed Tuition
UTRGV has established guaranteed tuition plans (GTP) for all resident students with exceptions for non-resident students and medical students. The cost of tuition and mandatory fees set by UTRGV at each credit hour load will not increase during the guarantee period (refer to the Q&A section for exclusions). Participation is mandatory, and there is no requirement to sign a contract or opt-in.
These plans, which provide a predictable cost and encourage timely graduation, also include a 12-hour cap on tuition and mandatory fees.
For undergraduate students, tuition and mandatory fee rates will be guaranteed for four years starting upon initial enrollment at an institution of higher education.
For graduate students, tuition and mandatory fees are guaranteed for four years for traditional programs and two years for accelerated online programs.
Medical student school tuition and fee rates will vary by program year and are subject to annual change. Medical school rates are not included in the guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
The guarantee covers the tuition and mandatory fees required for general enrollment. Tuition charges include resident statutory tuition, designated tuition, differential tuition (for certain disciplines), and board-authorized tuition (for graduate-level coursework). The mandatory fees cover university services, medical services, recreation, student services, intercollegiate athletics, and the student union.
The guarantee does not cover incidental and other fees including but not limited to housing, meal plans, parking, traffic citations, labs, continuing education, special programs, supplemental instruction, testing, and various incidental fees.
Tuition surcharges applicable to resident undergraduates for repeated and excessive credit hours are not covered by the guarantee. In addition, the guarantee does not cover the nonresident statutory tuition charges set by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and is subject to annual change.
Effective Fall 2024, for undergraduate students newly enrolling at UTRGV, the guarantee period initiates with the first semester at UTRGV, regardless of any previous enrollment at other institutions. For students enrolled before Fall 2024, the guarantee period begins with the initial college enrollment. As for graduate students, the guarantee periods begin upon enrollment in a graduate program.
Earning college credits before high school graduation or its equivalent does not constitute initial enrollment in college for purposes of the guarantee period. This includes credits earned through participation in dual credit enrollment, early college high school, and Math & Science Academy programs.
No, the guarantee period is not extended when a student does not enroll for one or more semesters. In the case of a four-year guarantee, the “clock” starts with the initial UTRGV semester and will expire after 12 consecutive semesters (counting the summer period as one semester).
Students who do not graduate within the guarantee period and initially enrolled at UTRGV in Fall 2024, will transition to the current rates for students who are initially enrolled at UTRGV (i.e., the new student rate). Each year thereafter, the rates will change to the most recent new student rates. This may result in an increase in tuition and fee charges.
For instance, students who initially enroll at UTRGV in Fall 2024 will have guaranteed rates through Summer 2028. Starting Fall 2028, these students will be charged the new student rates each year outside of the guaranteed period.
For a limited time, current students who initially enrolled at UTRGV before Fall 2024 will be charged rates applicable to the subsequent entering class upon the expiration of the guarantee period. Starting Fall 2028, these students will transition to the new student rates.