Scholarships for Texas Students
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While college is nowhere near cheap, plenty of scholarship programs are available to help offset the rising cost of tuition and fees. What’s excellent about scholarships is that, unlike student loans, you don’t have to pay them back.
The scholarship money awarded to you is yours to keep, although these funds typically go towards tuition and fees, such as housing, books, and school supplies.
Scholarships can be institutional — meaning they can come directly from your school — or independent, meaning they come from an outside source like an individual donor, corporation, or nonprofit.
Want to learn more? Read this page. You’ll find a wealth of scholarship opportunities and resources for college students in Texas.
Texas Financial Aid Options
One way to become eligible for scholarships (and grants) is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TAFSA) each year you’re in school.
Keep in mind that you should not fill out both applications. The TAFSA is designed to help Texas residents who are ineligible for federal financial aid but may be eligible for state and institutional aid.
You can also pursue Texas-wide tuition programs like the Towards Excellence, Access, and Success (TEXAS) Grant Program and The Texas First Program. The University of Texas System offers free tuition and fees to undergraduates whose families earn $100,000 or less.
Also, check if your college or university offers institutional scholarships or need-based grants. Write down scholarship deadlines and gather your application materials early.
Scholarships for College Students in Texas
Below, you’ll find 10 scholarships for college students in Texas. Many of these awards target specific groups, including minorities and veterans, and there are also location- and merit-based scholarships.
1. American Legion Auxiliary
- Award Amount: $500
- Deadline: March
- Eligibility: Applicants must be Texas residents and direct descendants of veterans who served in World War I or any war or conflict after 1941.
2. George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation
- Award Amount: $25,000
- Deadline: March
- Eligibility: The George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation awards 70 scholarships annually to high school seniors in Harris, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller counties. Candidates receive funds based on their grades and financial need.
3. Kids’ Chance of Texas Scholarship
- Award Amount: $2,500-$5,000
- Deadline: June and November
- Eligibility: This scholarship goes to students ages 16-25 who had a parent critically injured or killed because of a workplace accident. Full-time students at two-year and four-year colleges can apply and renew their scholarships for up to five academic years.
4. Jo Caldwell Meyer Merit-Based Scholarship
- Award Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: February
- Eligibility: The Women Communicators of Austin offers this scholarship to one student enrolled in a communications or media major at a Central Texas school. Applicants must be enrolled full-time and are required to submit an essay, letter of reference, college transcripts, and link to their LinkedIn profile.
5. Rocco C. Caffarelli Scholarship
- Award Amount: $5,000 per year
- Deadline: February
- Eligibility: This scholarship benefits a male high school graduate who resides in Texas and intends to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Requirements include good character, financial need, and a strong academic record. Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA to renew the scholarship.
6. Hope Pierce Tartt Scholarship
- Award Amount: Up to $5,000
- Deadline: Varies
- Eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to students who have resided in Harrison, Gregg, Marion, Panola, or Upshur counties for at least two years. Applicants must meet family income requirements, have a “C” grade average for all high school courses, and attend college full-time.
7. Atlantic Housing Foundation
- Award Amount: Up to $1,500 per semester
- Deadline: February
- Eligibility: This foundation provides scholarships to Atlantic Housing residents pursuing degrees at colleges in Huntsville, Denton, or San Marcos. Qualified applicants must meet income requirements and complete 40 hours of community service.
8. Greater Than Gatsby Annual Scholarship
- Award Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: May
- Eligibility: These scholarships are awarded to two undergraduate or graduate students studying the visual arts. Applicants must submit three photos and a short essay to show their creativity.
9. COMTO North Texas Scholarships
- Award Amount: $500-$2,500
- Deadline: April
- Eligibility: This scholarship awards $500 to $2,500 to minority graduate high school students living in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, area. Applicants must have plans to pursue careers in transportation and have at least a 2.5 GPA.
10. NFBTX Scholarship
- Award Amount: $2,000-$3,000
- Deadline: August
- Eligibility: This scholarship is designed for Texas-based students who are legally blind. Applicants must plan to attend technical school, college, or university full-time in the fall.
University-Specific Scholarships for Students in Texas
Universities commonly award scholarships to their students. Explore six scholarship opportunities below from popular Texas colleges.
1. Morty Rich Scholarship
- Award Amount: $5,000 minimum
- Deadline: April
- Eligibility: This scholarship awards service-focused Rice University students for their dedication to school and their community.
2. Cullen Leadership Scholarship
- Award Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: Continuous
- Eligibility: Offered by the University of Houston, this scholarship is awarded to students who have shown outstanding leadership abilities. The Student Financial Support Committee considers all admitted students for this scholarship.
3. Carr P. Collins Scholarship
- Award Amount: $6,850
- Deadline: January
- Eligibility: Baylor University offers this scholarship to service-minded first-year students. Awardees can renew this scholarship for up to three years. Applicants should be at the top of their class, with at least a 1310 on the SAT or 28 on the ACT.
4. Cecil and Sandra M. Mayo Scholarship
- Award Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: March
- Eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to undergraduate males at Texas State University who actively work to improve their community. Applicants must attend college full time and have at least a 2.75 GPA.
5. Founders’ Scholarship
- Award Amount: $15,000 per year
- Deadline: Continuous
- Eligibility: Texas Christian University offers this scholarship to students with GPAs between 3.72-3.85. Eligible recipients need at least a 30-31 ACT score or 1360-1400 SAT score.
6. Proven Achievers Scholarship
- Award Amount: $4,000 per year
- Deadline: Continuous
- Eligibility: Transfer students at Texas Tech University can receive the Proven Achievers Scholarship. They need at least 60 transfer credits and a minimum 3.5 GPA.
Resources to Help Texas Students Find Scholarships
Your first stop to find college scholarships in Texas should be a visit with an academic counselor. High school students can get help from their college counselor, while current college students can visit the financial aid office.
Outside resources — nonprofits and community foundations — also offer a large amount of scholarship aid to students. These organizations can be a great resource for locating multiple scholarship funds you can apply for in Texas.
- Communities Foundation of Texas: This foundation, founded in 1953, works with families, companies, and individuals to establish scholarship funds. Students can access a universal application portal to apply for numerous scholarships. Awards range from $500-$20,000.
- East Texas Communities Foundation: Founded in 1989, this foundation manages scholarship funds that award students $500-$5,000. Scholarships may stipulate a preference for students from specific Texas counties or high schools.
- North Texas Community Foundation: This foundation, which donated $31 million to local nonprofits in 2020, offers numerous scholarships to Texas students. Awards often go to graduates of specific high schools or students studying certain majors.
- Texas Comptroller: The website for the Texas Comptroller of Public Affairs, the state’s accountant and tax collector, maintains a list of scholarships for Texas students that includes grants and work-study programs.
- The Greater Texas Foundation: The Greater Texas Foundation, created in 1981, helps underserved and low-income students access college. The nonprofit also has provided more than $10 million in scholarships since 2012 through its Scholars Program.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships in Texas
College students enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program in the University of Texas System whose families earn $100,000 or less per year can receive free tuition and fees at any of its nine institutions. Eligible students are enrolled full-time and have applied for financial aid via the FAFSA or the TASFA.
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