Texas residents can apply to any public college or university in the state without paying an application fee through Sunday, October 18. The annual Texas Free College Application Week, which runs October 12–18, requires every public institution in the state to waive admission application fees for residents. That includes community colleges, state universities, and the larger flagship schools, and it covers undergraduate programs: bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and certificate programs.

Applying is straightforward. Head to apply-texas.org, create an account, and submit a single application to the school you’re interested in. The waiver isn’t just for high school seniors either. First-time students, transfer students, and working adults returning to finish a degree or pick up a certificate all qualify. For families in Waxahachie watching every dollar, and for adults who’ve been meaning to go back, it removes a real upfront cost at a moment when every dollar counts.

The deadline is Sunday, October 18 at 11:59 p.m. Once the clock runs out, application fees return to normal, so there’s no stretching this into next week. If you know a senior at Waxahachie High, a neighbor thinking about a nursing certificate, or you’ve been putting off your own application, this is the week to hit submit. Who in your life needs a nudge to finish that application before Sunday night?