Excessive Hours or Taken More Than Twice

UNDERGRADUATE TUITION FOR EXCESSIVE HOURS

Texas Education code §54.014 specifies a maximum number of semester credit hours an undergraduate student may attempt while paying Texas resident tuition.  Students who exceed the maximum hour limitation will be charged a higher tuition rate. 

Maximum Hour Limitations:

  • First term in Texas public institution prior to fall 1999 - Exempt
  • First term in Texas public institution from fall 1999 to summer 2006 – 45 hours over degree program
  • First term in Texas public institution from fall 2006 to present – 30 hours over degree program

Please refer to the SHSU Undergraduate Catalog – Tuition for Excessive Undergraduate Hours, for more information

  • Who determines my total hours?

    The Texas Higher Education coordinating Board (THECB) calculates the total number of attempted hours (including passed or failed) from all Texas schools attended

  • What courses are included in the excess credit hour calculations?
    • Earned and unearned hours (including non-passing grades)
    • Withdrawn courses
    • Repeated courses
  • What courses are excluded from the excess credit hour calculations?
    • Credit hours earned after receiving a baccalaureate degree
    • Credit hours earned by examination or any other procedure by which credit is earned where tuition was not charged
    • Credit hours from remedial and developmental courses
    • Credit hours earned at a private institution or out of state institution
    • Credit hours taken as dual-credit prior to high school graduation
  • Can I continue to register for classes once I reach or exceed my credit hour limit?

    Yes, you will still be able to register for classes. However, you will be charged the additional Excessive Credit Hour fees ($168 per credit hour) for credit hours in excess of the state mandated semester credit hours

  • Do all students have the same credit hour limit?

    Credit hour limits are dependent on:

    • 30 semester credit hours above the number of semester credit hours required for completion of the degree program. Students who enrolled for the first time in a Texas public institution of higher education beginning with the 2006 fall semester and thereafter
    • 45 semester credit hours above the number of semester credit hours required for completion of the degree program. Students who enrolled for the first time in a Texas public institution of higher education from the 1999 fall semester through the 2006 summer semester
    • Exempt prior to fall 1999
  • What happens when I change my major?

    Students are held to the limit for the degree plan in which they enrolled

  • How can I find out how many hours I have?
    • Students requesting an exact total of all hours attempted must sign a FERPA Authorization Release Form – Excessive Credit Hours giving the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) permission to release information to the Registrar’s Office. THECB is the state agency that keeps track of all hours from all Texas schools attended
    • Please contact the Provost’s Office, at 936-294-1006, for the FERPA Authorization Release Form – Excessive Credit Hours request
  • What can I do if I have exceeded my credit hour limit?

    You can contact your academic advisor to discuss your current degree plan. Your academic advisor will be able to discuss how many hours you have remaining to complete your current degree and can explore if there are other options that could reduce time to graduation. However, your current degree plan might be the quickest route to graduation and another route that shortens time to graduation may not be a possibility.

  • What if I believe there is an error in calculating my credit hours?

    If you believe there is an error in your attempted hours, you may contact Ashley Miksch, ashleymiksch@shsu.edu, to fill out the FERPA Authorization Release Form – Excessive Credit Hours for submission to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

TUITION FOR COURSES TAKEN MORE THAN TWICE

Section 50 of Article III, House Bill 1, 78 th Legislative Session (the General Appropriations Act) directs the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to delete term credit hours for formula funding when the courses are attempted more than twice since September 1, 2002.

Effective with the Fall 2004 Term, The Texas State University System has authorized Sam Houston State University and all other components, to charge students the statutory tuition up to the non-resident rate as calculated by the Texas Higher Education coordinating Board if the student is attempting the course for the third time (or beyond).