Highest Ranking Graduate Information for Colleges

The Highest Ranking Graduate (HRG) program provides the student graduating at the top of their high school class a tuition waiver for their freshman year of college. Each HRG recipient is responsible for presenting the tuition waiver to the college or university they choose to attend.

Tuition Waiver Process for Colleges:

    A student from an eligible high school receives the tuition waiver from their high school.

   The student presents the hard copy of the tuition waiver to the Texas college or university they have chosen to attend.

   The college or university verifies the high school's eligibility by confirming the school's accreditation by its presence on one of the following:

• Public School (search by 9-digit campus number)
• Charter School (search by 9-digit campus number)
• Private school accredited by the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission (TEPSAC) (search by 9-digit campus number)
• Private school accredited by the International Association for Learner Driven Schools (IALDS) (search by city)

     The college or university verifies the student's eligibility based on meeting both of the following criteria:

• the student is ranked #1 in their high school graduating class*; and
• the student is in possession of the tuition waiver document. **

*If the student is not ranked #1 but has the tuition waiver document, contact the high school directly to verify the student is the HRG.

**If the student does not have the tuition waiver document, the student should contact the high school directly to obtain the tuition waiver.

Note:  The Texas Education Agency (TEA) no longer verifies the Highest Ranking Graduates.

Program Authorization

Texas Education Code

Highest Ranking High School Graduates Chapter §54.301

Continued Receipt of Exemptions or Waivers Conditional §54.2001  

Eligible High Schools in Texas by the Numbers

According to Fall 2022 Campus data, number of schools serving 12th grade students:

• 1484 Instructional public high schools
• 298 Alternative type public high schools
• 262 Charter high schools accredited by TEA
• 416 Private high schools accredited by TEPSAC
• 12 Private high schools accredited by IALDS

Updated 3/22/2023