Texas Exemption for Children of Disabled or Deceased Firefighters and Peace Officers
Offered by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board · Free to apply
This is the richest per-recipient benefit in Texas. Children of firefighters, peace officers, game wardens and correctional employees who were disabled or killed by a line-of-duty injury are exempt from tuition and fees, and uniquely also receive textbooks and room and board if living on campus, for up to 120 credit hours. Almost no other state programme in the country covers living costs. It carries a hard age wall: the application must be made before the twenty-first birthday, or the twenty-second where the student was eligible for a school district's special education programme. A family that discovers it late loses it permanently, which is why it belongs in front of a senior now.
How hard is the Texas Exemption for Children of Disabled or Deceased Firefighters and Peace Officers to win?
This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives.
- Estimated odds
- qualifying students generally receive it
- Paperwork
- ~3 hrs to file
What drives the odds here
Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.
- Fewer rivalsOpen only to Texas residents
- Fewer rivalsRequires a specific life circumstance
How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.
Who can apply for the Texas Exemption for Children of Disabled or Deceased Firefighters and Peace Officers?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Must be a resident of Texas
- Open to high school seniors, current college students, and transfer students
- For parent first responder or parent first responder line of duty death
- Age 22 or younger
- The parent must have been a paid or volunteer firefighter, a paid municipal, county or state peace officer, a volunteer law enforcement officer, a game warden, or a custodial employee of the Texas Department of Corrections.
- The parent must have suffered an injury IN THE LINE OF DUTY resulting in disability or death. Ordinary first-responder employment does not qualify on its own.
- HARD AGE WALL: you must apply before your 21st birthday, or before your 22nd if you were eligible to participate in a school district's special education program. Missing it forfeits the benefit permanently.
- IMPORTANT for undocumented and DACA students: Texas in-state tuition on the residency-affidavit route was blocked by a federal court in 2025 and the case is still being litigated. Campuses are applying this inconsistently, especially for DACA recipients. Do not assume you qualify or that you do not. Get your residency classification in writing from the specific institution before relying on any Texas state aid.
- Uniquely among Texas exemptions this also covers textbooks and on-campus room and board.
What the application takes
No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is August 31, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around August 31 each year. The age wall matters more than any deadline. If a parent was disabled or killed in the line of duty, start this in senior year rather than waiting.
- Applications close
- August 31, 2027
Does your student actually qualify?
See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
Common questions about the Texas Exemption for Children of Disabled or Deceased Firefighters and Peace Officers
How much is the Texas Exemption for Children of Disabled or Deceased Firefighters and Peace Officers worth?
The Texas Exemption for Children of Disabled or Deceased Firefighters and Peace Officers awards exempts tuition, fees, textbooks and on-campus room and board, up to 120 credit hours and is renewable in later years.
When is the Texas Exemption for Children of Disabled or Deceased Firefighters and Peace Officers deadline?
The current deadline is August 31, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around August 31 each year. The age wall matters more than any deadline. If a parent was disabled or killed in the line of duty, start this in senior year rather than waiting.
Who is eligible for the Texas Exemption for Children of Disabled or Deceased Firefighters and Peace Officers?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of Texas; Open to high school seniors, current college students, and transfer students; For parent first responder or parent first responder line of duty death; Age 22 or younger.
Does the Texas Exemption for Children of Disabled or Deceased Firefighters and Peace Officers require an essay?
No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 3 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the Texas Exemption for Children of Disabled or Deceased Firefighters and Peace Officers?
This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives. Solyo classifies this award as formula-based, meaning qualifying students generally receive it. Plan on about 3 hrs of paperwork.
Is the Texas Exemption for Children of Disabled or Deceased Firefighters and Peace Officers free to apply?
Yes. The Texas Exemption for Children of Disabled or Deceased Firefighters and Peace Officers is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More state grants & programs
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- Alaska Education Grant$500-$4,000/yr based on need and enrollment level
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- Arizona Promise ProgramFull tuition & mandatory fees at Arizona public universities (last-dollar)
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.