Your Tuition at Work
The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College is dedicated to providing accessibility to higher education for all students, regardless of financial need or circumstances. Since 1991, UTB/TSC has kept costs to students among the lowest in the UT System.
In 2009, more than 88 percent of UTB/TSC students received some form of financial aid.
Flat Rate Tuition
As of 2006, students taking 15 or more semester credit hours pay a flat tuition rate. In other words, all hours taken over 15 SCH per semester are free. During each of the two semesters that flat rate tuition has been available, the number of students enrolled for 16 or more hours has increased an additional 31 percent. The flat-rate tuition in Fall 2006 saved students $173,831.
Tuition Discounting for Non-peak Hours
Beginning in fall of 2006, students received a 25 percent discount for taking classes at 7 a.m. and on weekends. They also received a 10 percent discount for classes scheduled during historically non-peak hours, from 1 - 4 p.m. There were 4,388 enrollments in the classes discounted at 10 percent, saving students $87,422 and better utilizing crowded classrooms and labs. Classes that begin at 7 a.m. and on weekends attracted 379 enrollments, saving students an additional $12,468.
Improving Student Services
It is widely known that first generation college students need additional student support services to advise and guide them through their college education. Four years ago, only 10 academic advisors were available for our students. Today, that number has increased to 27 academic advisors.
Scholarships
Last fall, tuition revenue was set aside to fund scholarship programs, including the University Scorpion Scholars scholarship program, and matching dollars for the STARS scholarship program. In 2006-07, we funded scholarships for 101 Scorpion Scholars for a total of $245,401.84 and the STARS scholarship program funded 197 students for a total award of $378,000.
Faculty Growth
Hiring new faculty continues to be a priority for our young, rapidly growing university. In the last three years, we have added almost 100 new faculty funded in part through new tuition dollars. These faculty come to us from all over the world, including our more recent hires from MIT and Cal Tech.
Program Growth
UTB/TSC continues to add new academic programs to meet the needs of our region. Each of these additional academic programs requires additional expenditures for faculty, library holdings and equipment.This fall alone, UTB/TSC now offers a new Master of Music in Music Education, Master of Arts in History and our very first Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in bilingual studies.
Since 2003, new master's degrees have been added in physics, biology, mathematics and public policy. This brings the number of master's degrees offered to 20. During the same time, two bachelor's degrees were added - communication and environmental sciences - which brings us to 36. We had our first Environmental Sciences graduate this May.
In addition, we have received two of the necessary approvals toward offering our first doctoral degree in education, including approvals from the UT System Board of Regents and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The proposal now goes to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for final approval this summer.
Dual Enrollment
In order to encourage students to look beyond high school and toward college careers, dual enrollment classes are offered for qualified high school junior and senior students.
During the past fall semester, more than 4,000 high school students took advantage of the Dual Enrollment program, paid only $5 per course and earned both high school and college credit for a class concurrently. This program saves students and their parents hundreds of dollars in future college tuition. Estimated savings in the fall of 2006 was approximately $3.1 million.
Campus Job Program
We understand that students have to work in order to make ends meet. But we also know that if they work on-campus they are likely to take more hours per semester and graduate at an accelerated pace.
Tuition revenue was also used to fund the Student Employment Initiative (SEI), which offers students the opportunity to work on campus if they take 15 Semester Credit Hours per semester and maintain a 2.75 GPA. Through this program, initiated in Fall 2005, students have earned more than in many off-campus part-time jobs while developing relationships with professors and with other students on campus. For example, many SEI students serve as tutors, mentors, instructional assistants, and lab coordinators.
Guaranteeing Tuition and Fees
We have also implemented the Imagine College! program which guarantees tuition and fees for first time, full time freshmen with the highest financial need (family income of $25,000 or less and Pell eligible). As long as students meet the criteria, including maintaining academic progress, this guarantee will be in effect for up to four years. This will provide students and parents the relief they seek in knowing that they will have guaranteed access to higher education at our University. All gift aid the student receives will be applied first; any tuition and fees balance due after gift aid is applied will be covered by the Imagine College! program.
UTB/TSC Tuition and Fees for Fall 2009 (based on 15 credit hrs.)
*this does not include incedental/course fees