Exemptions and waivers are types of financial assistance that allows some Texas residents to attend a public college or university in Texas without paying tuition or, in some cases, tuition and fees.
Financial Aid processes the Exemptions and Waivers for Prairie View A&M University. Click on the links below to see Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) descriptions for each exemption and waiver, eligibility requirements, and how to apply for them.
Exemptions
Adopted Students Formerly in Foster or Other Residential Care
To provide college financial assistance to students who once were in foster or other residential care and have been adopted. Student must provide the college written proof, from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS), of eligibility. To obtain a letter of eligibility from TDFPS, contact a representative in one of the district offices.
Blind/Deaf Student Exemption Program
To help enable blind and deaf students to attend public colleges or universities in the state of Texas. University must receive a certification letter from Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services from the qualified student.
Provide a benefit to the children of persons who have been disabled or killed in the line of duty while serving the community. University must receive a certification letter from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Exemption for Highest Ranking High School Graduate
To provide an award to students graduating top in their classes in high school. To receive exemption, you must provide a copy of the certificate you received from your high school indicating you are the highest ranking high school graduate for your high school.
Exemption for Students under Conservatorship of the Dept. of Family and Protective Services
To provide college financial assistance to students who were in foster care when they turned 18 years of age. Provide the college written proof, from the Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS), of eligibility
Exemption Program for Children of Professional Nursing Program Faculty and Staff
To provide an exemption of tuition to eligible students to encourage their parents to continue employment as professional nurse faculty or staff members in the State of Texas. The exemption covers the student’s tuition only–fees are not covered.
Children of U.S. Military who are Missing in Action or Prisoners of War (MIA/POWs)
To provide an education benefit to the children of persons listed as Missing in Action or Prisoners of War by the U.S. Department of Defense.
Exemptions for Texas Veterans (Hazelwood Exemption)
The purpose of the Hazlewood Exemption (Hazlewood Act) is to provide an education benefit to honorably discharged or separated Texas veterans and to eligible dependent children and spouses of Texas veterans. To use Hazlewood benefits or to transfer unused benefits to an eligible child, applicants must complete an application/release form.
Military: Orphans of Texas Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard
To provide college financial assistance to students whose parent died as a result of illness or injury related to service in the U.S. Military or the National Guard.
Senior Citizen, 65 or Older, Free Tuition for 6 Credit Hours
To encourage senior citizens to continue their education and keep involved with local colleges and universities.
Preceptors for Professional Nursing Education Programs
To encourage nurses to serve as clinical Nurse Preceptors by providing a partial exemption from tuition to them and/or their children.
Panther Employee Scholarship/Exemption
To assist employees, spouses and or dependents with tuition & fees. See qualifications and more information at https://www.pvamu.edu/fmsv/treasury-services/esep/
Children of Deceased Veterans/Education Benefits for Certain Survivors
An exemption for surviving spouse or dependents to provide free tuition and fees, free textbooks, and possibly free room and board to certain students whose parent or spouse was killed in the line of duty while employed in certain public service positions
Waivers
To allow participants in the Academic Common Market to pay resident tuition rates if the program of study is not offered in their home state. To apply, contact the Texas ACM Coordinator, Allen Michie at 512/427-6518 or via email allen.michie@thecb.state.tx.us.
To provide assistance for tuition to students from other nations of the Western Hemisphere (other than Cuba). Contact the Student Financial Aid Office at your institution for an application.
Research Assistants and Teaching Assistants Waiver
To permit an individual employed at least half time by a public institution of higher education as a research or teaching assistant to enroll in public institutions in Texas while paying the resident tuition rate.
Competitive Scholarship Waiver
To allow a public institution to grant a waiver of nonresident tuition charges to individuals who receive scholarships totaling at least $1,000 awarded by their institution in competition open both to residents and to nonresidents, graduate and undergraduate.
Waiver for College Faculty and their Dependents
To provide a waiver of nonresident tuition to teachers and professors employed at least half-time on a regular monthly salary basis by any Texas public college or university. Such waiver is also applicable to the spouse and dependent children of the teacher or professor.
Mexican Citizens with Financial Need-Border Nations Waiver
To permit a small number of individuals with financial need, who are citizens of Mexico, to enroll in any public university in Texas while paying the resident tuition rate.
Military Personnel/Assigned to Duty in Texas
To provide a waiver of non-resident tuition to the member, spouse and dependent children of non-Texas members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service while they are stationed in Texas.