Governor Greg Abbott announced more than $2 million in grants to nine Texas higher education institutions to expand free, openly licensed course materials for students in nursing and workforce training programs, according to an Aug. 17 news release from his office.
The awards are made through the Open Educational Resource Grant Program, which the release said helps institutions create and adopt openly licensed textbooks and other course materials that students can access through the OERTX digital library. Governor Abbott and the 85th Texas Legislature established the program in 2018, and the release said it has since assisted more than 33,000 Texas students and saved an estimated $3.5 million in textbook costs.
“Texas schools offer a competitive education for a variety of high-demand careers,” said Governor Greg 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.”
Texas Higher Education Commissioner Wynn Rosser tied the awards to a familiar student expense. “As every college student knows, the cost of textbooks and supplies can put a dent in their bank account,” Rosser said in the release. “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.”
Under the 2026-28 awards listed in the release, $285,000 each goes to the Alamo Community College District, the Collin County Community College District, the El Paso County Community College District, Lamar Institute of Technology, Lee College, North Central Texas College and Texas State University. Texas A&M University-Kingsville is listed at $15,000.
The grants cover the 2026-28 cycle and extend a program the governor’s office said is meant to hold down the cost of earning credentials in fields where Texas employers are hiring, from bedside nursing to cybersecurity and the electrical trades.