Tuition Waivers and Exemptions

In order to qualify for the firefighter tuition exemption, you must...

• Apply for admission and be accepted.
• Apply for the exemption after the semester's fees have applied to your account.
• Be employed as a paid firefighter by a political subdivision of the State of Texas or active members of volunteer fire departments who hold an accredited advanced certification (or the equivalent), under the State Firemen's and Fire Marshal's Association of Texas volunteer certification program, OR a Phase V (Firefighter II) certification (or the equivalent) under the Texas Commission of Fire Protection's voluntary certification program under Section 419.071, Gov't Code.
• Provide a copy of your employee ID that shows you are a firefighter.
• Provide the university Registrar proof of employment as a currently paid firefighter (required each semester in which the exemption will be used) in the form of a letter on letterhead dated within 30 days of application stating that you are a firefighter, or a copy of a pay stub also dated within 30 days of application.
• You must be enrolled as a student pursuing one of the following degrees:
  • Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences with a minor in Industrial Safety
  • Bachelor of Science or Arts in Political Science
  • Master of Public Administration
  • Emergency Management Certification courses are also eligible for the exemption, if pursuing with an approved degree program.
• Submit completed Registrar's application for the Texas Peace Officer and Firefighters Exemption each semester.
• Be in compliance with the institution's financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirement.
• Graduate students must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher.
• Undergraduate students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher.

In order to qualify for the peace officer tuition exemption, you must...

• Apply for admission and be accepted.
• Apply for the exemption after the semester's fees have applied to your account.
• Be employed as a peace officer by the state of Texas or by a political subdivision of Texas.
• Provide a copy of your employee ID that shows you are a peace officer.
• Provide the university Registrar proof of employment as a currently paid police officer (required each semester in which the exemption will be used) in the form of a letter on letterhead dated within 30 days of application stating that you are a peace officer, or provide a copy of a pay stub dated within 30 days of application.
• Be enrolled in an eligible criminal justice or law enforcement-related degree at the institution:
  • Bachelor of Science or Arts in Criminal Justice
  • Bachelor of Science or Arts in Victim Studies
  • Bachelor of Science or Arts in Homeland Security Studies
  • Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science with a concentration in Criminal Justice
  • Undergraduate Certificate in Management and Leadership in Criminal Justice
• Submit completed Registrar's application for Texas Peace Officer and Firefighter Exemption each semester.
• Be in compliance with the institution's financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirement.
• Maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher.
• The exemption cannot be received for more than 12 terms while the student is enrolled in an undergraduate program or while attending only undergraduate courses.

In order to qualify for the disabled peace officer or firefighter tuition exemption, you must...

• Apply for admission and be accepted.
• Apply for the exemption after the semester's fees have applied to your account.
• Submit a letter from your employer on official letterhead stating that you were permanently disabled in the line of duty and are unable to continue employment as a peace officer or firefighter due to this disability.
• Be a resident of Texas (resided in this state for the 12 months immediately preceding the beginning of the semester).
• Undergraduate students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• Graduate students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Be in compliance with the institution's financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirement.
• Submit completed Disabled Texas Firefighter and Peace Officer Exemption application each semester.

Eligible Courses:

• For the peace officer tuition exemption, only undergraduate courses pertaining to Criminal Justice are eligible for the tuition and laboratory fees exemption.
• No more than 20% of the maximum student enrollment designated by the institution for a given law enforcement or criminal justice class may receive an exemption under this program (the application for Texas peace officer and firefighter exemptions will be used to determine the 20% max student enrollment).
• Pursuant to Texas Education Code, Section 54.545, the exemption does not apply to courses that do not receive Texas Education Code Section 61.059 formula funding.

Excess Hours:

• Additional information is available for persons who have reached the limit of undergraduate hours.

All qualifications must be met in order to receive this waiver:

• You must provide proof of senior citizen status (65 years of age or older).
• You must be in good academic standing at Sam Houston State University.
• Degree seeking students must be in compliance with the institution's financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements.
• Non-degree seeking students must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher.

These qualifications are required by the Texas Education Code, Sec. 54.2001 and 54.365.

Eligibility: Senior Citizen, 65 or Older, Free Tuition for 6 Credit Hours.

Requirements:

1. Gather proof of senior citizen status.
2. Complete application for Senior Citizen Waiver.
3. Email completed application and supporting documentation to regforms@shsu.edu.

To read more about this program, check out: Texas Education Code, Section 54.365(c).

Eligibility: Senior Citizen, 65 or Older, Free Tuition for Auditing Classes.

Covers: Reduces tuition to auditing fee of $50 per course.

Requirements:

1. Read the audit instructions in the drop-down below.
2. Complete our audit request form.
3. Gather proof of senior citizen status.
4. Complete our application for senior citizen waiver.
5. Email completed application(s) and supporting documentation to regforms@shsu.edu.

To read more about this program, check out: Texas Education Code, Section 54.365(c).

Audit Forms are accepted the 2nd-12th class days during Fall/Spring/Full Summer (10WK) terms and the 2nd-4th class days during Summer I & II terms. A request to audit a course will not be accepted if there are no seats available in the course at the time the form is processed in the Registrar's Office.

An individual auditing a course:

• Must pay an audit fee of $50 per course.
• Is encouraged to attend all lectures and obtain the maximum educational benefit from the information presented.
• Must receive prior approval from the appropriate department chair or the instructor involved in order to audit a course.
• Is not permitted to take tests or examinations in the course being audited.
• Is authorized to receive a courtesy library card permitting use of the Newton Gresham Library for the duration of the course audit.
• Is not authorized to be issued a Sam Houston State University Student Identification Card unless also enrolled as a regular student at Sam Houston State University.
• Is not authorized to use Sam Houston State University medical, athletic, or recreational facilities unless also enrolled as a regular student at Sam Houston State University.
• Will not receive record of course audit (i.e. the course will not appear on a transcript), and no record of the audit will be kept in the Registrar's Office.
• May be exempt from paying the audit fee if they are 65 years of age or older with an approved Senior Citizen Waiver.

1. Print or download the Audit Request form.
2. You must be accepted by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as either a SHSU or audit-only student. If you are already a SHSU student, you do not have to be reaccepted.
3. The Audit Request form must be fully complete with the required professor or chair signature. An email confirmation from the respective chair or professor will be accepted if the course is an online course; however, the fully completed form will still be required.
4. Audit Request forms are received between the 2nd-12th class days during Fall/Spring/Full Summer (10WK) semesters and the 2nd-4th class days during Summer I & II semesters. If a seat is available, the Audit Request form will be processed and a $50.00 per course payment must be made to the Cashier's Office. You will be notified via email when the form has been processed.