A Resident Tuition Entitlement (RTE) waiver allows for the out-of-state/non-resident portion of a student's tuition not to be paid. The student is responsible for payment of the in-state/resident tuition not covered by the RTE waiver.
RTE waivers are issued only for periods in which a student is currently enrolled; therefore, students must apply for the RTE waiver in every semester they are eligible to receive it.
Students can apply for an RTE waiver at the secure link listed here.
Resident Tuition Entitlement Eligibility
Basis of Student Employment
Only students appointed to positions requiring student status will be eligible to be certified as satisfying the requirements for resident tuition entitlement. Students who work for a publicly supported Texas institution of higher education are eligible for the waiver under certain conditions:
- The student must be employed at least one-half time (20 hours per week); and
- The beginning and ending employment dates must be as follows; and
- The beginning employment date must be on or before the 12th class day of a long semester or the fourth class day of a summer term.
- The ending employment date must be no earlier than the last official class day, or through the dissertation date (the date you submit your final graduation materials to the Graduate School).
- The job must be related to the student’s degree program; and
Basis of Spouse or Parent Employment
Students with a spouse or parent who works for a publicly supported Texas institution of higher education in a specified teaching or professorial position are eligible for the waiver under certain conditions:
- The spouse or parent must be employed at least one-half time on a regular monthly basis (not hourly); and
- The start date must be on or before the 12th class day of a long semester or the fourth class day of a summer term;
- The ending employment date no earlier than the last official class day; and
- Spouse or Parent must have an eligible payroll job title.
Entitlement by Reason of Employment
A graduate student who seeks a resident tuition entitlement by reason of employment in a qualifying job title or by reason of the employment of a spouse or parent who holds a specified teaching or professorial position must submit the request online.
The information provided on the request form will be audited. If the audit reveals that the employment does not qualify a student for the resident tuition entitlement, the additional non-resident tuition must be paid within 10 days of the billing date. Nonpayment will result in cancellation of registration.
Residency Resources
To qualify for resident tuition, students must be a Texas resident. Students who are not residents of Texas when they begin graduate study are subject to nonresident tuition rates, but under certain circumstances, some may qualify for resident tuition. In those cases, although the student remains classified as a nonresident, the difference between the nonresident and the resident tuition rate is waived.
For complete details on residency, see the section on residency regulations in the General Information Catalog.