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Texas Hazlewood Act 2026: Free College Tuition for Veterans & Dependents
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GradeToGrad Editorial Team
February 26, 2026
The Hazlewood Act provides free tuition at any Texas public college for veterans, spouses, and children. Up to 150 hours of benefits.
What Is the Hazlewood Act?
The Hazlewood Act is a Texas state benefit that provides free tuition and fees at any Texas public college or university for eligible veterans and their dependents. It's one of the most generous veteran education benefits in any state.
Eligibility
Veterans
- Texas resident at time of entry into military service, OR resided in Texas for 12+ months before enrollment
- Received honorable discharge
- Exhausted federal VA education benefits first (GI Bill)
- Up to 150 credit hours of free tuition
Dependents (Hazlewood Legacy Act)
- Children and spouses of eligible veterans
- Veteran must have unused Hazlewood hours to transfer
- Up to 150 credit hours transferred
What It Covers
- Tuition and fees at any Texas public institution — universities, community colleges, technical colleges
- Does NOT cover room, board, books, or living expenses
- Can be combined with federal financial aid (Pell, loans)
Impact at Texas Schools
| School | Tuition Covered | Savings (4yr) |
|---|---|---|
| UT Austin | $11,678/yr | $46,712 |
| Texas A&M | ~$11,000/yr | $44,000 |
| UH | $9,711/yr | $38,844 |
| San Jacinto College | $1,992/yr | $3,984 |
| Dallas College | $2,370/yr | $4,740 |
How to Apply
- Obtain your DD-214 (discharge papers)
- Apply through the school's financial aid or veteran services office
- Must exhaust federal VA benefits (GI Bill) before using Hazlewood
- Legacy transfer requires the veteran to complete an authorization form
Why This Matters for San Antonio
San Antonio has 5 military bases — Joint Base San Antonio (Lackland, Randolph, Fort Sam Houston), Camp Bullis, and Camp Stanley. The Hazlewood Act makes the Alamo Colleges system ($3,412/year) and UTSA essentially free for thousands of military families in the area.