Expanding the "Aggie Assurance" program up to $100k, this doesn't include room and board.
I'm not a fan of this use of resources and think A&M should focus on lowering costs for all students as we area public school, this is what private schools (esp Ivies) do. Everything is means based. A&M has very little merit aid and tuition may have been "frozen" but it is still higher than other comparable public schools. We are higher than In State costs in places like Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina at their top public schools. Virtually any kid who can get into A&M can go OOS to OU, Arkansas, LSU, either Mississippi school and many others for less than A&M. We have far more money than any of them.
I'm happy for students who can benefit from free tuition but means should not be the test at a public school so heavily. This is a significant reason why A&M is losing so many top students in Texas. I just would like to see A&M emphasize making the costs lower for all students and especially for keeping our best students in Texas to come to our school. If you look in the comparable states of Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia they keep a much higher percentage of their top students than we do in part because they prioritize lowering costs either through less expensive tuition or extensive scholarships or both.
The other unfortunate reality is that when you combine this policy of the Top 8/10% rule with free tuition for anyone below $100k it will increase the number of lower income students that attend through this dual system. Many of those students are also the most likely to flunk out because they are the most likely to be first gen from poor performing high schools and have little to no support system. Thus they are more likely to get in over their heads academically and to have significant cultural shock adjusting to college. Yet it's very hard to turn down free tuition. No doubt many kids who are first gen from poor performing high schools with little to no support system can and do succeed but also many would be better served going to school closer to home at least to start instead of going straight into the gauntlet of A&M Freshman weed out classes.
I'm not a fan of this use of resources and think A&M should focus on lowering costs for all students as we area public school, this is what private schools (esp Ivies) do. Everything is means based. A&M has very little merit aid and tuition may have been "frozen" but it is still higher than other comparable public schools. We are higher than In State costs in places like Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina at their top public schools. Virtually any kid who can get into A&M can go OOS to OU, Arkansas, LSU, either Mississippi school and many others for less than A&M. We have far more money than any of them.
I'm happy for students who can benefit from free tuition but means should not be the test at a public school so heavily. This is a significant reason why A&M is losing so many top students in Texas. I just would like to see A&M emphasize making the costs lower for all students and especially for keeping our best students in Texas to come to our school. If you look in the comparable states of Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia they keep a much higher percentage of their top students than we do in part because they prioritize lowering costs either through less expensive tuition or extensive scholarships or both.
The other unfortunate reality is that when you combine this policy of the Top 8/10% rule with free tuition for anyone below $100k it will increase the number of lower income students that attend through this dual system. Many of those students are also the most likely to flunk out because they are the most likely to be first gen from poor performing high schools and have little to no support system. Thus they are more likely to get in over their heads academically and to have significant cultural shock adjusting to college. Yet it's very hard to turn down free tuition. No doubt many kids who are first gen from poor performing high schools with little to no support system can and do succeed but also many would be better served going to school closer to home at least to start instead of going straight into the gauntlet of A&M Freshman weed out classes.
Texas A&M University is expanding its Aggie Assurance program to offer free tuition for Texas resident families earning less than $100,000 annually, starting fall 2026.
— 🚨 Rusty Surette (@KBTXRusty) February 25, 2026
More details 🔽 pic.twitter.com/DPeMDnG4es
"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan