According to the Texas Education Code, Section 54.068, institutions of higher education may charge a higher tuition rate, not to exceed the rate charged to nonresident undergraduate students whose hours exceed the following limitations:
- 45 or more semester credit hours beyond the minimum number of hours required for completion of the degree program in which the student is enrolled;
- students are treated for funding purposes as having whatever major they had on the official census day of the term in question. If a student changes majors during a term, that act does not retroactively change their eligibility under the limit;
- the following types of credit hours are exempt and do not count toward the limit:
- hours earned by the student before receiving a baccalaureate degree that has been previously awarded to the student;
- hours earned through examination or similar method without registering for a course;
- hours from remedial and developmental courses, technical courses, workforce education courses, or other courses that would not generate academic credit that could be applied to a degree at the institution;
- hours earned by the student at a private institution or an out-of-state institution; and
- any hours not eligible for formula funding.
Questions regarding this law should be directed toward the Office of Enrollment Services.