The waiver ties into Free College Application Week, a statewide push the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board started so Texans can chase college without sweating the cost. Residents apply to undergraduate programs through ApplyTexas, and Texas Tech skips the fee.
Texas Tech adds its own bonus on top of that basic setup. Texas residents eligible for graduate programs apply free. Current Texas Tech undergraduates can apply to the Graduate School for free during the same week, regardless of residency.
That matters for anyone weighing a next step. Texas Tech offers more than 150 undergraduate degree programs and more than 200 graduate and professional programs, so the free week covers a long list. Online applicants and Law School applicants qualify too, but Veterinary Medicine applicants do not, because the School of Veterinary Medicine's application is not free. Anyone interested can start at ApplyTexas or the Texas Tech admissions webpage.