San Antonio schools, like UTSA and Alamo Colleges, said students should expect to receive financial aid packages later than normal.

A historic $683 million investment in community colleges rewards schools for getting students to complete a degree or certificate, transfer to a four-year university or participate in college courses as early as high school.

During a Texas Tribune event on higher education, panelists also spoke about using the state’s historic surplus to improve the affordability of universities and keep rising costs down.

Three colleges in San Antonio are partnering with the THRU Project to break down the biggest barrier to higher education for young adults who were in the foster system -- finding a place to live.

That is why campuses like Alamo College’s Northwest Vista College has transformed several of its spaces outside for when students come back to campus in the spring. “These kind of pop up classes give us really an expanded space and afford the teachers another venue to teach,” Rick Baser, the president of Northwest Vista College said. An area by the water is now where students can have a pop up lecture as well as enjoy the view. The college had already been working on taking advantage of its outdoor spaces before the pandemic struck. Rodriguez said research has shown the levels of productivity and engagement go up while students learn outside.