Sul Ross State University experienced unprecedented growth in student applications during Texas’ first-ever Free College Application Week last October, setting new institutional records and signaling strong momentum for future enrollment.

The statewide initiative, announced by Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, waived application fees for all Texas public colleges and universities from Oct. 13–19, 2025, removing a key financial barrier for prospective students.

During that single week, SRSU Alpine received more than 1,000 applications for the first time in university history, a dramatic 695 percent increase compared to the same week the previous year.

SRSU International also saw significant gains during the initiative. The campus received over 60 first-year applications, marking a major milestone as Fall 2026 will welcome the first-ever “Freshmen Founders” class at the international campus.

Free College Application Week was created by the Texas Legislature to expand access to higher education by eliminating application fees, which can often discourage students from applying to college. The initiative allows Texas residents to apply to any public institution through ApplyTexas at no cost, encouraging more students, particularly first-generation and underserved populations, to pursue higher education opportunities.

Across the state, the program aims to increase college participation and strengthen the future workforce by making higher education more accessible.

For more information, visit https://www.mytexasfuture.org/middle-high-school/apply-to-college/.