In response to calls from Gov. Rick Perry during the 2011 legislative session, universities across the state have devised low-cost, undergraduate degree programs.

Officials at the University of Houston-Victoria on Friday unveiled an economical, accelerated degree plan that could be $10,000 or less for low-income undergraduate students.

The accelerated three-year degree program, coined "$10,000 Degree in Three," or Dn3 program, requires participants to complete 40 credit hours during the span of three semesters or one academic year.

At UHV, tuition and fees, without any scholarships, total $24,468 for 120 credit hours.

About 40 percent of UHV students receive a calculated average of $3,593 per year through the federal Pell Grant award.

Recently, federal Pell Grant awards were extended to students with a parent or guardian who died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11.

A UHV continuation scholarship of $1,845 a year would help create the reduced cost. Each student can receive the scholarship only after the end of their first two years.

Under UHV's Dn3 program, a student would have to be full time for at least two semesters per academic year.

"Dn3 is an intensive program that requires a lot of commitment because it is a full, four-year degree completed in three years," said university provost and vice president for academic affairs Jeffrey Cass. "But those who complete it will be in the workforce a year early, earning an income rather than spending more on their education."

The four-year undergraduate degrees available under the Dn3 program include English, history, communication, psychology, Spanish and criminal justice.

The scholarship program will be available to students as of this month.

UHV was the first Texas public university to begin a three-year bachelor's program in 2010, according to a release sent by the university.

The additional scholarship money and potential funding available to federal Pell Grant recipients make the Dn3 program a low-cost opportunity for students with the time.

• The information is based on average costs for dependent students living off campus who enroll in 15 credit hours in both fall and spring.

  The University of Texas at Austin

  Resident $9,794

  University of Houston

  Resident $9,311

  Texas Tech University

  Resident $9,242

  University of North Texas

  Resident $9,078

  Texas State University-San Marcos

  Resident $8,770

  Texas A&M University

  Resident $8,480

  Sam Houston State University

  Resident $8,120

  The University of Texas at San Antonio

  Resident $9,004

  Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

  Resident $7,668

  Texas A&M University-Kingsville

  Resident $6,940

  Texas A&M University-San Antonio

  Resident $6,666

  The University of Texas-Pan American

  Resident $6,124

  University of Houston-Victoria

  Resident $6,116

  University of Houston-Downtown

  Resident $5,997

  SOURCE: College For All Texans