Collin College partners with Texas State University, UT Dallas to offer pathway to 4-year degrees

A new initiative from Collin College will enable students to earn a degree from a four-year university without leaving Collin County.

Collin College is partnered with Texas State University and The University of Texas at Dallas to create Collin College Academic Alliancea new higher education opportunity, according to an Aug. 13 news release.

The details

The program allows students to earn an associate degree and then go on to take courses at Collin College that will earn them a bachelor's degree from UT Dallas or Texas State University.

Students in the program will have access to Collin College courses that have been approved for application to undergraduate degree programs. Participants could see a savings of about $20,000 in education costs, the release said.

“We know that our shared mission with Collin College makes us excellent partners to support the tremendous population growth in and around Collin County,” Texas State University President Kelly Damphousse said in the release. “Students will not only attend our classes at the Collin Tech campus, but they will also be part of the Texas State experience while saving thousands of dollars through this deal.”

The program will begin in the spring semester of 2025, according to the Collin College website.

Students must apply and be co-enrolled at Collin College and the partner university.

The degree programs offered are pending approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, as well as the Southern Commission on Colleges and Schools, the release said.

Bachelor's degree programs planned to be offered by Texas State University as part of the Academic Alliance initiative include:

• Computer science
• Exercise and sports science
• electrical engineering
• Engineering technology

Bachelor's degree programs planned to be offered by UT Dallas through the initiative include:

• Computer information systems and technology
• Business analytics

Deeper dive

Collin College will serve as the hub for the partnership, the release said, and students in the program will have access to:

• ADVISORS
• Dining services
• A library
• A bookstore on campus
• Career services
• consultation
• Collin College student organizations, clubs and events
• Other student support services

Students in the program will also have access to benefits from partner universities, according to the release, such as library services and tickets to football games.

“The University of Texas at Dallas is proud to be at the forefront of important initiatives, and this collaboration is no exception,” UT Dallas President Richard C. Benson said in the release. “We have a long and strong relationship with Collin College, and together we are paving the way for students to succeed.”

Quote note

“We are excited to take our partnerships with Texas State University and the University of Texas at Dallas to a new level,” Collin College District President Neil Matkin said in the release. “This alliance creates truly simple pathways that guide students from Collin College degrees to leading programs at exceptional universities while providing tremendous cost savings.”

Looking ahead

Collin College officials anticipate expanding the program in the future. Working with partners in the Academic Alliance, additional programs may be added in the future, the release said, including education certification programs.

For more information on the Collin College Academic Alliance, visit www.collin.edu/academics/alliance.