Affordability is more than the cost of tuition. It is about ensuring students have the financial resources, support and opportunities they need to stay enrolled and complete their education.
The EPCC Foundation plays a critical role in making that possible. Since 2016, the Foundation has provided more than $1.97 million in direct student support through more than 1,951 scholarships, averaging nearly 200 scholarships each year. These scholarships help reduce the financial barriers students face while pursuing their education.
The results demonstrate that this investment is translating into student achievement. More than 52% of EPCC Foundation scholarship recipients graduate within three years or less, while more than 866 have transferred to universities. Scholarship recipients also have an average 3.41 GPA, demonstrating strong academic performance among students receiving this support.
The Foundation’s impact also extends beyond scholarships. Emergency funding helps students address unexpected financial challenges that could otherwise force them to stop out or leave college altogether.
EPCC’s Grants Management Office expands this impact by identifying and securing external resources that support students and the College’s mission. During 2024–25, EPCC received nearly $8 million in federal, state, private and other grant funding. These resources support innovative programs, services and opportunities that strengthen student outcomes.
Together, the Foundation and Grants Management Office demonstrate that EPCC approaches affordability from multiple directions: reducing direct financial barriers, addressing emergency needs, and bringing new resources to the College that expand opportunities for students.
Another important way EPCC deepens our vision and commitment to students is by being sensitive to poverty rates/income levels in the area. Not only do we drive economic mobility by providing clear pathways to high-wage and in-demand jobs, but we also ensure that getting an education is affordable. With 88% of our students receiving financial aid or scholarships, and a median household income that is around $51,000—well below state and national averages—we know that the path to education must be affordable. Full-time tuition is $1,632 a semester. EPCC has not raised tuition since 2019 and remains the lowest taxing entity in the region at only four cents per dollar.
EPCC is strategic and intentional with outreach and enrollment practices to help ensure students and the community see the college as an affordable and high-quality pathway to higher education. EPCC participates with school districts and other partners to host community-wide FAFSA Nights and Apply Texas Week where students and their families can learn about and apply for financial aid/college and maximize aid eligibility. The college has options for students to pay for tuition over the semester, making enrollment more financially manageable. EPCC also offers access to financial literacy training and resources which help students budge, borrow responsibly and complete their education.