Governor Abbott Announces More Than $2 Million In Grants To Expand Free Educational Resources For Texas Students

August 17, 2026 | Austin, Texas | Press Release

Governor Greg Abbott today announced more than $2 million in grants to nine Texas higher education institutions to support free, open educational resources for students in nursing and workforce training programs. These grants are awarded through the Open Educational Resource (OER) Grant Program, which helps institutions to create and adopt openly licensed textbooks and other course materials that students can access through the OERTX digital library.

“Texas schools offer a competitive education for a variety of high-demand careers,” said Governor Abbott. “As we strengthen our workforce in nursing, cybersecurity, electrical technology, and business, it is critical that students have access to the resources they need to succeed in their chosen field. These grants will expand access to free learning materials to make education more affordable for Texans.”

“As every college student knows, the cost of textbooks and supplies can put a dent in their bank account,” said Texas Higher Education Commissioner Wynn Rosser. “The OER grant program has reduced those costs for thousands of Texas students through the continual expansion of the OERTX online library of free textbooks and course materials.”

Since Governor Abbott and the 85th Texas Legislature established the OER grant program in 2018, it has assisted more than 33,000 Texas students, saving an estimated $3.5 million in textbook costs.

Institutions receiving the 2026-28 awards:

• Alamo Community College District:
• Collin County Community College District:
• El Paso County Community College District:
• Lamar Institute of Technology:
• Lee College:
• North Central Texas College:
• Texas A&M University - Kingsville:
• Texas State University:
• West Texas A&M University:

$15,000