AUSTIN, Texas — Austin Community College will keep tuition at $85 per credit hour for in-district students for the 2026–27 academic year, extending a 13-year tuition freeze following a board of trustees vote.
College officials said the move aims to maintain affordability and encourage student enrollment and retention. Monique Johnson-Jones, associate vice chancellor of advising and student planning, said keeping tuition low helps reduce financial barriers for current and prospective students.
For in-district students taking 30 credit hours annually, tuition and fees total about $2,550. That figure is lower than national and state averages. Data from the Education Data Initiative shows the average annual cost for in-district community college students nationwide is $3,598, while the Texas average is about $3,160.
Johnson-Jones said maintaining the tuition freeze requires careful financial management to sustain operations while offering low-cost education.
Fall registration for the 2026–27 academic year begins May 11 for current and returning students and May 15 for new students.