Cost

Tuition and Fixed Fees

The following tuition rates will be charged each semester. These rates apply to courses taken for credit and for audit. TUITION AND ALL FEES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IF NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH NEW STATE LAWS AND BOARD POLICY.

In-District (Howard County Residents)
$72 per semester hour with a base amount of $150. Qualified Texas Deaf residents shall be exempt from tuition fees beginning with the fall semester of 1995 as documented.

Out-of-District (Texas Residents)
$132 per semester hour with a base amount of $180. In order to establish in-district residency, a student must have been a resident of Texas for twelve consecutive months immediately prior to enrollment, including six months as a resident in Howard County. Moving into the Howard County Junior College District for the specific purpose of enrolling in Howard College or SWCD does not establish legal residence in the district.

Effective Spring 2024, out of district tuition will be $152 per semester hour with a base amount of $180.

Non-Resident (Out of State and International)
Howard College - $179 per semester hour with a base amount of $200
SWCD - $470 per semester hour, no base, based on State Law 131.005.

Non-State Funded Course Fee
A charge of $70 per credit hour will be added to the tuition charged for courses that do not qualify for state funding, including but not limited to the following conditions:

1. A student’s third attempt or more at the same course.
2. A student taking a developmental course who has exceeded 18 semester credit hours of developmental course work.
3. Any other circumstances for which state funding is not received.

Building Charge
$80 per semester - Big Spring and SWCD
$100 per semester- Lamesa
$400 per semester - San Angelo

Student Services Fee
$50 per semester

TeleHealth Fee
$23 per semester

Senior Citizens
If space is available at the close of regular registration, students age 65 and older may enroll for up to six hours of courses each semester without payment of tuition. All fees will be charged. If space is available at the close of regular registration, students age 65 and older may audit any course(s) at no charge. This exemption will only be honored upon request in person. Registration must be completed on site each registration period. This exemption does not apply to programs with limited enrollment and/or competitive selection.

Cost Reduction

1. Certain fees or other costs may be reduced or waived by the college President or designee for students who are enrolled in classes taken in facilities provided for the purpose of instruction when these locations are located in the college’s service area or have been approved by the Board of Trustees.
2. Certain costs are reduced for inmates at correctional facilities enrolled in academic transfer courses. The base tuition for inmates at correctional facilities enrolled in credit-bearing college courses is $50 for in-district, $100 for out-of-district, and $140 for non-resident students. The hourly rate is $40 for in-district, $52 for out-of-district, and $74 for non-resident.
3. Tuition, fees and/or other costs may be reduced or waived by the college President or designee for students enrolled in classes contracted through a private or public business entity. These are considered on a case-by-case basis and dependent on factors such as class size.
4. Certain costs are reduced for high school students enrolled in dual credit or dual enrollment courses. This applies to all dual credit or dual enrollment courses regardless of course type, location, or instruction mode.

• Hourly tuition for credit courses is $48 for in-district, $55 for out-of-district and for non-resident when the course is taught by a Howard College instructor. 
• Tuition for dual credit workforce continuing education courses is based on the number of contact hours in a course. Tuition is calculated at $2.00 per contact hour between 1-49 hours, $1.50 per contact hour between 50-99 hours, and $1.00 per contact hour 100 hours or more.
• The tuition rate is $0 when the course is taught by a high school instructor.
• Fixed Fees are waived.
• Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) Program: A student who qualifies for the national free/reduced-price lunch program in any of the four years prior to the academic year in which the student enrolls in a dual credit or dual enrollment course will incur no cost for their coursework.
• Students who are not eligible for the FAST program may be responsible for certain course or program costs such as insurance, licensure requirements, testing, certification, equipment, etc.

5. The tuition rate for the summer immediately following a student’s graduation from high school is reduced: Hourly tuition is $48 for in-district, $55 for out-of-district and for non-resident. Fixed Fees are waived. Students may be responsible for certain course or program costs such as insurance, licensure requirements, testing, certification, equipment, etc.

Continuing Education

Tuition for Continuing Education courses is $5.50 per contact hour per course. Building fees are $100 per course and may be waived depending on location/length of course/program. Students may also be responsible for additional charges specific to the course such as resources/supplies, lab fees or insurance.

Transcripts
Students should request official transcripts online from the Howard College website. Official transcript requests will be processed by National Student Clearinghouse. Official Howard College transcripts are $3.00 per transcript. Unofficial transcripts can be obtained at no cost through the Registrar’s Office at each site.

Button Maker

A button maker is available in the Anthony Hunt Library on the Big Spring campus. It creates 2-1/4 inch buttons. Users will need to have their design printed on plain, thin paper. The library has tools to accurately cut the prints and turn them into buttons. Library staff does not make a user’s buttons for them. Buttons are 5 for $1.00 to be paid with cash only.

Printing

Charges are levied as follows:

• 10 cents per page for single-sided black and white
• 15 cents per page for duplex black and white
• 40 cents per page for single-sided color