Tarrant County College trustees have signed off on a sweeping set of new student fees that will push the price of an associate degree up by roughly 15% next academic year, according to figures presented to the board. The vote came at a Feb. 26 meeting at TCC’s Trinity River campus, where college leaders framed the move as a budget fix driven by shrinking property-tax revenue and tight state funding.
In a statement to The Collegian, Chancellor Elva LeBlanc said the revised fees help support the services students use every day and the career-focused programs that prepare them for in-demand jobs, adding that financial aid and scholarships can be used to help cover the added costs. The student outlet reported that trustees reviewed a committee report recommending the college begin charging for expenses it has historically absorbed, such as lab supplies and program-specific materials. College officials said the strategy is meant to protect core services without raising the property-tax rate.
The fee package appeared on the board agenda under the title “Approve Student Fees for Academic Year 2027” and was taken up during the Feb. 26 session at Trinity River. The item was listed among individual action items in the official TCC Board Notice. Meeting videos and supporting documents are archived on the college’s online board portal for anyone who wants to wade into the fine print…