UNT students who speed to graduation and earn their bachelor's degrees in four years can now save up to $4,000 with the Eagle Express Tuition Plan.

They get the best of both worlds -- a great education and an affordable price. In addition to the graduation incentive, undergraduate students benefit by locking in their tuition and fee rates for four years (12 consecutive semesters).

Most importantly, they get a faster start on their career. UNT's ultimate goal is to help students succeed and earn a degree in four years. To do this, the university is strengthening advising support, course offerings and career guidance to help students along.

Students have access to tips and resources through the Succeed at UNT initiative.

"The Eagle Express plan gets our students into the workforce sooner with an increasingly valuable UNT degree in hand," says President Neal Smatresk, the plan's architect. "With this plan, UNT is putting itself on the cutting edge in controlling the cost of higher education and providing extra incentives for students to graduate in four years."

One of two plans

The Eagle Express plan is one of two tuition plans that give students and families flexibility and convenience. Under the traditional tuition plan, the tuition and fee rate increases by 3.9 percent annually for four years, starting in fall 2014. The Eagle Express plan locks in tuition and fee costs, including course fees, at a slightly higher initial rate than the traditional plan, but the rate remains fixed for four years.

Each plan allows students and their families to better plan and budget because the rates are set for four years. And both plans enable UNT to continue offering a high-quality education at affordable rates. UNT created the Eagle Express plan as part of a state mandate requiring public universities to offer entering students a fixed tuition price plan starting fall 2014. UNT took the opportunity to extend the program to current students and to create an innovative plan that encourages timely graduation.

Save time and money

Through the Eagle Express plan, students will save up to $3,000 in their last 15 hours by graduating on time. If they qualify for the statewide $1,000 tuition rebate, the total savings could be as much as $4,000.

Eligible students starting in fall 2014 will pay effectively the same price for four years of tuition and fees as they would at today's prices if they graduate on time and get the savings. But there is no penalty if students who opt into the Eagle Express plan don't graduate in four years. Without the savings, they would end up paying about the same cost as they would on the traditional plan over four years.

President Smatresk emphasizes that the Eagle Express plan helps students graduate in a timely fashion and save money. And the plan benefits the North Texas region and state, too.

"With the Eagle Express plan, we want to send a clear signal to high-ability students in Texas that we're here to support them and their success and we want to keep them in the region and state," Smatresk says. "They are the future of Texas -- and we want to ensure the future remains bright."

Eligibility for the Eagle Express Tuition Plan:

• Students must meet Texas residency requirements and be seeking a bachelor's degree.
• The plan is available to all new freshmen and transfer students entering UNT in fall 2014 and beyond.
• Current students have a one-time opportunity to opt-in to the plan, and the incentive amount varies from $1,000 to $3,000 depending on how close they are to graduation and how soon they finish. No continuing students will be allowed to join the plan after fall 2014.
• Graduate students are not eligible for the plan.