Is Bezos Academy Free? Universal City Income Limits & How to Apply

A Universal City parent sees a Facebook post about a free, full-day, Montessori-inspired preschool on a college campus a few minutes from home.

The first reaction is usually suspicion. Free? Full day? What is the catch?

The short answer

For many families, there isn't one. Bezos Academy Universal City is tuition-free for children ages 3 and 4 whose household income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level.

For a family of four in 2026, that is $132,000 a year. Admission is by lottery. The school runs Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and serves up to 80 children in four classrooms at Northeast Lakeview College.

Whether it works for your family comes down to three things: your household income, the timing of the application window, and whether you can cover the hours after 3:30 p.m. This SchoolPath guide covers each one, along with how the lottery works, what the classroom looks like, and how Bezos Academy compares with other Northeast options.

What Bezos Academy is

Bezos Academy is a nonprofit network of tuition-free preschools funded through the Bezos Day One Fund. Its schools serve children from families with low and moderate incomes and cover operating costs at no cost to families, including classroom materials, field trips and meals.

The Universal City school opened in fall 2024 on the Northeast Lakeview College campus. It was the first Bezos Academy in the San Antonio area and remains the only one. Other Texas locations are in the Dallas and Houston areas.

Bezos Academy Universal City at a glance

Is Bezos Academy free?

Yes, for accepted families. There is no tuition, and the school does not charge for supplies, field trips or meals. At opening in 2024, Northeast Lakeview College described meals as part of the program. Ask the school which meals are served this year.

The main costs to plan for are indirect: transportation, since we found no evidence of bus service, and care after 3:30 p.m. if you work a standard day.

Who qualifies: the income limits

Bezos Academy uses 400% of the federal poverty level as its income ceiling. For the 2026 guidelines:

• Count everyone in the household, usually the parents or guardians and all children living in the home.
• Use gross income, before taxes and deductions.
• You upload proof of your child's age and your household income with the application.

The ceiling is much higher than the limit for free public pre-K in Texas, which is tied to free or reduced-price meal eligibility at 185% of the poverty level. A family of four earning $110,000 would not qualify for free district pre-K on income but could still apply to Bezos Academy. That is why so many middle-income Northeast parents are surprised to learn they are eligible.

How the lottery and waitlist work

• Every eligible application received before the lottery deadline is entered. Applying on day one gives no advantage over applying the week before the deadline. The deadline has been in April (April 20, 2026, at 5 p.m. Pacific time, for the 2026-27 year).
• Preferences may apply. A third-party listing reports preferences for children experiencing homelessness or in foster care, siblings of current students, children of employees, and transfers from other Bezos Academy schools. Confirm the current list with the school.
• After the lottery, new applications are offered a seat if one is open or added to the waitlist in the order received. Families hear back within about three business days.
• Offers have a deadline. Families have five business days to accept.

When we checked in October 2026, Universal City had no open seats listed. A family applying outside the lottery window will most likely join the waitlist, so the most important date is the next lottery.

When to apply for next school year

Applications have opened in late January, with the lottery deadline in April. Expect a similar pattern each year, and confirm dates on bezosacademy.org. Sign up for email updates on bezosacademy.org so you hear when the window opens.

If your child will be 3 by September 1 of the coming school year, you can apply in that cycle. Ask the school how returning students are handled for a second year.

The hours: an honest look

The school day ends at 3:30 p.m. In parent research we reviewed, one working teacher found that the schedule did not line up with her own workday, and many commuters and shift workers will face the same gap. Before you enter the lottery, sketch a realistic weekday:

• Who drops off by 8:00 a.m., and does that fit work start times?
• Who picks up at 3:30 p.m., or which licensed after-care provider can?
• What is the backup plan on days the school is closed?

Common solutions include a relative or neighbor for pickup, a licensed after-care provider nearby (check its record on the Texas Health and Human Services child care search), a flexible work arrangement, or for military families, hourly care through Joint Base San Antonio Child and Youth Programs. Some third-party directories list hours until 5 p.m., but the official page says 3:30 p.m. Plan around the official hours.

What the classroom looks like

Bezos Academy describes its approach as Montessori-inspired. In practice, that usually means:

• Mixed-age classrooms where 3- and 4-year-olds learn together.
• Child-sized, hands-on materials on low, open shelves that children choose and return themselves.
• Long blocks of focused work time rather than constant whole-group activities.
• Practical life skills such as pouring, dressing and cleaning up, alongside early literacy and math.
• Teachers as guides who observe and introduce new materials as each child is ready.

Montessori-inspired programs vary, so visit or attend an information session to judge fit. For more on the approach, see Montessori in San Antonio: is it right for early childhood?

How Bezos Academy compares with other Northeast options

Bezos Academy fills a gap district programs leave open: it serves 3-year-olds and families above the free pre-K income limit. Pre-K 4 SA covers longer hours, but Judson and SCUC families pay tuition there, and many Universal City and Schertz addresses are outside the city and ETJ. A licensed center offers the most flexible hours at the highest cost. Many families apply to more than one and decide once offers arrive.

What to do while you wait

Gather documents now. Income proof is usually your most recent tax return or recent pay stubs for every working adult. Have a clear copy of your child's birth certificate ready.

Line up a backup plan. A lottery is never a sure thing. If you live in the City of San Antonio or its ETJ, apply to Pre-K 4 SA on February 1.

If your child meets a Texas criterion, plan to register with your district in spring. Otherwise, tour two or three licensed centers so you are not choosing in a rush in July.

Ask to stay on the waitlist and check how often seats open midyear. Families move, especially near a military base.

Keep your contact information current. Offers come by email or text with a five-day window, so check spam folders.

Military families near JBSA-Randolph

Bezos Academy Universal City is a few minutes from Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph and can be an off-base option while a Child Development Center request is pending. Check how military allowances count toward household income when you calculate eligibility. If a parent is on active duty, the child also qualifies for free pre-K 4 in Judson, SCUC and other Texas districts. Our Randolph CDC guide covers on-base care and the waitlist.

How to apply

1. Go to bezosacademy.org and open the Eligibility and Application page.
2. Select "Get Started" and create an account in Avela, the platform Bezos Academy uses for applications.
3. Choose Universal City as your school.
4. Enter household information and upload proof of your child's age and household income.
5. Watch for an email or text with your lottery result or waitlist status.
6. If you receive an offer, accept within five business days and complete enrollment paperwork.

Questions to ask the school

• Which meals are served, and can you accommodate dietary needs?
• What does a typical day look like from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.?
• How are children with developmental needs or an IEP supported?
• How many closure days are on the calendar?
• Can my child stay for a second year, and do siblings receive a preference?

Frequently asked questions

Plan your preschool search with SchoolPath

If your household is under the income limit and you can cover drop-off at 8:00 a.m. and pickup at 3:30 p.m., Bezos Academy Universal City is worth entering in the next lottery. Since admission is never guaranteed, a strong backup list matters just as much.

SchoolPath is a free school discovery platform for San Antonio-area families. Tell SchoolPath about your child and what you need, and see preschool and pre-K options that fit your schedule, location and budget. Then reach out to the programs you like.