Gov. Greg Abbott has announced the selection of 13 members to a Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board working group that will develop a statewide framework for three-year bachelor’s degree programs.
The working group follows Abbott’s earlier directive to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop three-year bachelor’s degree pathways. The initiative is part of the state’s broader efforts to improve degree completion, strengthen connections between higher education and employers, and ensure that postsecondary credentials provide lasting value to graduates and Texas communities.
“Texas students deserve a clear and affordable pathway to high-paying jobs,” said Governor Abbott. “This working group will deliver a statewide framework for three-year bachelor’s degrees to keep Texas a national leader in affordable, accessible, high-quality education.”
The governor’s office estimates that students who complete a bachelor’s degree in three years could save between $15,000 and $35,000, or up to 25 percent.
The initiative is intended to strengthen the connection between higher education and the workforce while helping students complete their degrees in less time. However, the framework is still being developed, and the announcement does not establish that three-year bachelor’s degree programs will immediately be available statewide.
Under Abbott’s directive, the selected working group will include staff and faculty leaders from four-year institutions and community colleges across the state, making recommendations about academic standards, requirements, curriculum, student demand, accreditation, and administrative issues.
The group includes representatives from institutions such as Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, The University of Texas System, the University of Houston, Texas State University, and the Lone Star College System.
“We look forward to hearing from these expert educators as they identify accelerated programs that can offer students a quality education leading to a durable, financially rewarding career,” said Texas Higher Education Commissioner Wynn Rosser.
The working group must submit its recommendations and proposed implementation framework to the governor’s office by December 31, 2026.
