Exemptions and Waivers
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All exemptions or waivers have been authorized by statute in the Texas Education Code or through action of the Board of Regents of the Texas Tech University System. Texas Tech reserves the right, without notice in this or any other publication, to change, amend, add to or otherwise alter any or all exemptions and waivers subject to and in accordance with actions of the Texas State Legislature and/or the Board of Regents.

Waivers must be submitted no later than the 12th class day of a fall or spring semester or the 4th class day of a summer term. It is the student’s responsibility to check the student account prior to the 20th class day to ensure the application of a waiver. Under no circumstances will waivers be accepted after the 20th class day.

Texas Tech University reserves the right to apply exemptions and waivers after the census day (12th class day of a fall or spring semester or the 4th class day of a summer term). Also, Texas Tech University reserves the right to audit any exemption or waiver prior to application to a student’s tuition and fee account.

• Academic Common Market: Exempts nonresident tuition over and above Texas resident tuition rate. Certification by Academic Common Market Coordinator is required.
• Blind Students: Exempts a student from payment of all tuition and fees excluding charges for room and board. Certification by the Texas Rehabilitation Commission or the Texas Commission for the Blind is required.
• Biomedical Research Program—Scholarship Student: Exempts nonresident tuition. Documentation is required through the Office of International Affairs.
• Children of Disabled Firemen: Exempts a student from payment of tuition and required fees. Certification by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is required.
• Children of Disabled Peace Officers: Exempts a student from payment of tuition and required fees. Certification by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is required.
• Children of Prisoners of War or Persons Missing in Action: Exempts a student from payment of Texas resident tuition and required fees. Certification by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is required.
• Competitive Scholarship: Exempts a student from payment of nonresident tuition over and above resident tuition. Student must be awarded a competitive scholarship of at least $1,000 for the academic year or summer of his enrollment and be either a nonresident or citizen of a country other than the United States. Student must compete with other students including Texas residents and the award must be made through a duly recognized scholarship committee. Certification is sent to Student Business Services from the Financial Aid Office.
• Deaf Students: Exempts a student from payment of all tuition and fees excluding charges for room and board. Certification by Texas Rehabilitation Commission or the Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
• Early High School Graduate: A student graduating prior to September 1, 2003, may be awarded $1,000 for tuition only. A student graduating after September 1, 2003, may be awarded:
  1. $2,000 if the student graduated in less than 36 months (an additional $1,000 will be awarded if the student also graduated with at least 15 hours college credit).
  2. $500 if the student graduated in more than 36 but less than 41 months (an additional $1,000 will be awarded if the student also graduated with at least 30 hours of college credit ).
  3. $1,000 if the student graduated in more than 41 months but less than 45 months and also has at least 30 hours of college credit.
• Economic Development and Diversification Employees, Spouses, and Dependents: Exempts a student from payment of nonresident tuition. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board provides a listing of eligible companies. Students must provide employment certification accordingly.
• Educational Aide Exemption: Exempts a student from payment of all tuition and fees except charges for class and laboratory fees. Student must apply for this exemption through the Financial Aid Office with certification provided by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
• Faculty Exemption (Teacher or Professor): Exempts a student from payment of nonresident tuition. Certification by employing department is required.
• Faculty Dependent (Nonresident Dependent of Teacher or Professor): Exempts a student from payment of nonresident tuition. Certification by employing department is required.
• Foster Care: Exempts a student from payment of tuition and fees. Must be a Texas resident. Certification from Department of Protective and Regulatory Services is required.
• Good Neighbor (Students from other Nations of the Western Hemisphere): Exempts a limited number of students from payment of 100% of tuition. Certification through the Office of International Affairs is required.
• Mexico and Canada Exchange Program: Exempts a student from payment of nonresident tuition. Certification by the Office of International Affairs is required.
• Military Personnel and Dependents: Exempts a student from payment of nonresident tuition. Application must be made through Admissions and Records. Certification by Unit Commander or Unit Personnel Officer is required. A separate certification is required, in original form with original signature, for each semester or term of enrollment.
• Prisoner of War: Exempts a student from payment of tuition and required fees. The U.S. Department of Defense must have classified student as a prisoner of war on or after January 1, 1999.
• Senior Citizens (55 Years of Age and Older): Exempts a student from payment of up to 6 semester or term credit hours of resident or nonresident tuition. Student must be 55 years of age or older by the first class day. Notification should be given to Student Business Services at time of enrollment.
• Senior Citizens (65 Years of Age and Older): Exempts a student from payment of up to 6 semester or term credit hours of resident tuition. Student must be 65 years of age or older by the first class day. Notification should be given to Student Business Services at time of enrollment.
• TANF Students: Exempts a student from payment of tuition and fees for the first academic year of enrollment. Certification is required from the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.
• Valedictorian (Highest Ranking High School Graduate): Exempts a Texas resident student from payment of 100% of tuition during both semesters of the first regular session immediately following his or her graduation from high school. Documentation must be provided to Student Business Services.
• Veterans and Dependents (Hazlewood): Exempts a student from payment of tuition and fees except the Student Services Fee and Medical Services Fee and charges for class materials paid directly to the department as a reimbursement for materials used in a laboratory setting. Requires Registrar’s certification.
• Veterans and Dependents (Partial Hazlewood): Certification by the Registrar’s Office is required. The amount exempted will be that amount calculated after the application of federal aid, which the student must utilize first.
• Nursing Preceptor Program: Exempts a student from payment of $500 of the total amount of resident tuition. Student must be a registered nurse and serving under a written preceptor agreement with an undergraduate professional nursing program as a clinical preceptor or is a child of someone meeting these qualifications.
• Graduate Student Tuition/Fee Assistance Program: Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, Graduate Assistant, Graduate Part-Time Instructor. Exempts, by Board of Regents action, the student from payment of certain fees. By Board of Regents mandate, appointment must be on or before the 12th class day of the fall or spring semester (4th class day of a summer term) as a benefits-eligible employee with employment of at least one-half time as a TA, RA, GA, or GPTI. For more information see www.gradschool.ttu.edu.
• Graduate Student Tuition/Fee Assistance Program: Nonresident State Tuition Exemption—Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, Graduate Assistant, Graduate Part-Time Instructor. Exempts a student from payment of certain fees and nonresident tuition over and above the state resident rate. By Texas Education Code and Texas Tech Board of Regents mandate, appointment must be on or before the 12th class day of the fall or spring semester (4th class day of a summer term) in a position that meets the definition of the Texas Tech Pay Plan in work related to the student’s degree program. For more information see www.gradschool.ttu.edu.
• Benefits-Eligible Medical Services Waiver: Waives the student from payment of the Medical Services Fee. By Board of Regents mandate, appointment must be on or before the 12th class day of the fall or spring semester (4th class day of a summer term) in a position eligible for state benefits as defined in the Texas Civil Statutes and the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
• Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, Graduate Assistant, Graduate Part-Time Instructor Dependents: Exempts a student from payment of nonresident tuition over and above state resident rate. Certification from the employing department is required.
• Employee Tuition Assistance Program: Full-time benefits-eligible employee with one continuous year of Texas Tech employment. Exempts, by Board of Regents action, the student from payment of tuition and fees for three semester credit hours each fall and spring term. By Board of Regents mandate, the student must maintain a 2.25 minimum cumulative GPA, must be in compliance with Texas Tech operating policies regarding employee enrollment and must be admitted to a degree or certification program.

Estimated expenses for undergraduate students can be found at www.sbs.ttu.edu. For questions or further information, contact Student Business Services at 806.742.3272
(toll free 866.774.9477) or email sbs@ttu.edu.

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