November 21, 2024 – Stephen F. Austin State University will be expanding its Purple Promise Guarantee Program, which covers the cost of tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students, to students whose families make up to $100,000 annually beginning fall 2025 following an announcement Wednesday from The University of Texas System.
This is the second major investment by the UT System in SFA’s long-running Purple Promise initiative. In September 2023, the program was bolstered by a $1 million annual investment from the UT System's Regents' Promise Plus endowment, increasing the household income threshold for eligibility from $30,000 to $80,000. This second investment sees that threshold increase even more, enabling more Lumberjacks to attend SFA tuition-free.
“To be in a position to make sure our students can attend a UT institution without accruing more debt is very important to all of us, and as long as we are here, we will continue our work to provide an affordable, accessible education to all who choose to attend a UT institution,” said Kevin P. Eltife, chairman of the system Board of Regents.
The Purple Promise Guarantee Program covers the remaining balance of flat-rate tuition and regular fees not addressed by other financial aid for qualifying first-time, full-time students.
Prior to SFA’s affiliation with the system, approximately 266 students were in the Purple Promise program in 2022. In the 2023-24 academic year, UT’s investment expanded that number by 86.8%, awarding funds to 673 students. Yesterday’s announcement of this most recent expansion is expected to significantly broaden access to higher education for families across Texas.
"By raising the income threshold, we're opening doors for more students to pursue their dreams of earning a college degree without the burden of excessive financial stress,” said SFA president Dr. Neal Weaver. “This program represents a transformative opportunity for students and their families to access higher education in East Texas, and we are incredibly grateful to the Board of Regents for their continued investment to make those opportunities possible.”
According to the UT System release, the average student debt at UT institutions not only has steadily declined over the past five years, but it is also 10% lower, on average, than across Texas public four-year universities. Moreover, the percentage of UT graduates with debt has declined from 53.6% in 2019 to 47.8% in 2023.
According to seekUT — a UT System free online tool for families that provides data on the earnings and educational outcomes of UT graduates — the numbers are even more impressive in critical workforce degree programs like nursing, computer science, accounting and biology, where fewer than 45% of UT graduates take on debt.
"The Purple Promise program offers peace of mind to families knowing that tuition and fees are covered,” said Courtney Burns, interim vice president of enrollment management. “It ensures students can focus on their education while parents can feel confident about managing the costs of higher education."
For more information about eligibility and application requirements, visit sfasu.edu/purplepromise.
About Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 40 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.
