DCCCD supports increased financial aid for its price-sensitive students.

Low community college tuition is the single largest and most effective financial aid program in the state. DCCCD is doing its part, offering tuition at $41 per semester credit hour. However, as the state’s commitment to sufficient base funding has eroded, the ability of community colleges to maintain their commitment to low tuition has decreased. A commitment by the state to sufficient base funding will enable community colleges to keep tuition affordable.

The state also must step up and answer the unmet financial needs of Texas community college students, which is 10 times that of students at public universities.

The state also provides less than 10 percent of all needed-based aid for community college students, and its financial aid policy is not aligned with the goals of Closing the Gaps.

While the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant Program (TEOG) provides assistance directly to students who attend two-year institutions, only 6,000 of the 160,000 eligible students receive those grants.

Funding for TEOG should be increased from the current $14 million allocated biennially to a minimum of $50 million per biennium to enhance community college affordability for students.