Undergraduate Excess Hours

Texas Education Code § 54.014 establishes a maximum number of semester credit hours an undergraduate student may attempt while paying Texas resident tuition. A student who exceeds the maximum hours will be charged the non-resident tuition rate. For specific information on the additional charges, please refer to information on Excess Hours Tuition.

• First term in TX 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 the present date – 30 hours over degree program

Courses that count towards the excessive hour calculation are those attempted at any Texas public institution of higher education.

This includes:

• Hours earned in courses in which a grade is earned on the transcript
• Courses dropped with a grade of “W”, “WF”, or equivalent

• Credit hours earned after a baccalaureate degree
• Credit hours taken at a private institution or an out-of-state institution

Degree plan hours include the total number of hours required for a student to complete their degree plan. Students with excessive hours are encouraged to contact their academic advisor to review their degree plan and ensure that it is complete, accurate and to verify the hours required for completion.

• Appeal deadline: Census day of the current term, see Academic Calendar.
• For requests to appeal, please contact the Registrar and Student Records Office.

Students can view their excessive hour status on their MyHSC student portal via the Academic Records tile.