Clear Lake-area families earning up to $100,000 a year will qualify for free tuition at the University of Houston-Clear Lake starting with the Fall 2027 application cycle under an expanded version of the school's Hawk Promise program.

UHCL announced Monday, Aug. 10, that it is raising the program's family income ceiling from $65,000 to $100,000 in adjusted gross income. The change means more CCISD and Friendswood ISD graduates heading to UHCL could have tuition and mandatory fees fully covered.

President Richard Walker said the higher threshold reflects the university's goal of removing financial barriers for middle-income families who previously earned too much for traditional aid but still struggled with college costs.

What Hawk Promise covers

The program pays tuition and mandatory fees for eligible first-time freshmen and transfer students. It does not cover room, board or other living expenses.

No separate application is required.

Students are automatically considered through the regular admissions and financial aid process, provided they complete the FAFSA.

Transfer students included

Transfer students make up roughly 70% of UHCL's undergraduate population, and the university expanded Hawk Promise to include them starting in Fall 2026. The new $100,000 income threshold is a separate, additional change layered on top of that expansion.

"Expanding Hawk Promise to transfer students has been an important step in increasing access to a UHCL education," said Dr. Ann Theodori, vice president for strategic enrollment management. "Combined with the higher income threshold, the Hawk Promise allows us to support more students on their path to a bachelor's degree."

Why it matters locally

UHCL sits at 2700 Bay Area Blvd., directly adjacent to the Clear Creek ISD and Friendswood ISD service areas. The university frames the higher threshold as targeting families who previously fell into a gap between qualifying for need-based aid and comfortably affording tuition on their own.

Two out of three UHCL students already receive some form of financial aid, according to the university's website.

What families should do

Prospective students planning to enroll for Fall 2027 should apply for admission and complete the FAFSA as early as possible. Eligibility also requires meeting residency, enrollment and academic requirements.

Full details and deadlines are posted at uhcl.edu/costs-aid/types/grants.