Texas Governor Urges Three-Year Bachelor’s Degree Pathways to Cut Costs

Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to explore the creation of three-year bachelor’s degree options for students across the state. The move aims to reduce the time and cost of obtaining a degree while addressing workforce needs more quickly.

Abbott’s directive instructs the coordinating board to develop pathways allowing students to complete bachelor’s degrees in three years by taking around 90 credit hours instead of the traditional 120. The goal is to lower tuition expenses, shorten time to graduation, and help the state meet labor market demands faster.

“Texas students are our future leaders and the workforce of tomorrow,” Abbott stated in a press release. “They deserve the option to receive a degree in a high-demand, high-wage field in less time as a means to reduce the overall cost of securing a degree.”

The coordinating board must form a working group to assess student demand, employer needs, and institutional requirements before submitting recommendations to Abbott’s office by December 31. The governor, who is running for reelection in November, plans to work with lawmakers in 2025 to implement these pathways.

This announcement aligns with Abbott’s broader efforts to improve higher education affordability in Texas. Since the 2023-24 academic year, he has maintained a tuition freeze for public colleges and universities. He also recently backed legislation requiring four-year institutions to offer discounted summer tuition for undergraduates.

State data shows that fewer than half of Texas undergraduates at four-year universities finish their degrees in four years, with low-income students facing even greater challenges in completion. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the primary accreditor for many Texas public institutions, began approving three-year degree programs last December.

Texas Higher Education Commissioner Wynn Rosser emphasized that shorter degree pathways could help students enter high-demand fields earlier and lower college costs. According to the RAND Corporation, 26 U.S. states now have at least one college offering a three-year bachelor’s degree, though programs are concentrated in a few states.

The coordinating board will gather input from public college administrators, faculty, and other stakeholders before finalizing proposals. Abbott’s office will then review the recommendations before legislative action next year. The initiative reflects ongoing state efforts to make higher education more accessible and affordable for Texas students.

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