The rising costs of earning a degree have many students apprehensive and worried that they will never be able to afford to attend college. Good news for those who plan on attending an institution of higher learning in Texas; there are many colleges and universities, both public and independent, who have scholarships and programs that cover full tuition.
Tuition doesn’t cover the other expenses that college brings about. Room and board, book costs and fees are separate costs. However, some of these scholarships and programs cover those costs as well when certain requirements are met.
Any number of situations can help qualify you for full tuition scholarships. Academic excellence is the most common factor that affects your chances, but other things like financial need, religious affiliation, sports or extracurricular activities, pursuing a degree in a certain field of study and the willingness to commit to working in a certain place after you receive your degree. The military is a prime example of this, though some school districts and public service venues also fit this bill.
Now on to the colleges and universities and their programs.
Abeline Christian University is affiliated with the Churches of Christ, though they welcome all students who value a strong Christian environment. Athletic scholarships here vary, but can reach as much as full tuition. Another variable scholarship is the iSchool Scholarship, that offers up to full tuition for students who have indicated their intended major to be computer science or technology. National Merit Scholarship Finalists have a guarantee of 100 percent tuition when coordinated with federal, state and other institutional grants.
Austin College in Sherman offers Presidential Scholarships that cover up to full tuition for four years. Ten awards are made each year to incoming freshman and are awarded on the basis of superior academic achievement, motivation and involvement in extracurricular activities. The Margaret and Trammell Crow Presidential Scholarship, while also offering full tuition, is only awarded to students who are children or grandchildren of employees of The Trammell Crow Company and its affiliates, and who have an outstanding academic record.
Baylor University is a private Christian university in Waco. Baylor’s Regents’ Gold Scholarship provides a full tuition academic scholarship for up to eight semesters of undergraduate study to National Merit Finalists who select Baylor as their first choice college. In addition, the Regents’ Gold Scholarship offers greater scholarship amounts the higher your SAT or ACT score.
Blinn College offers the valedictorian of any Texas high school a scholarship that covers tuition, fees and use of books. The salutatorian will receive a scholarship that covers tuition and fees. Students from high schools in the Blinn service area who do not qualify for the valedictorian or salutatorian scholarships, but are in the top five percent of their class can apply for the Hallstein-Board of Trustees Scholarships. Blinn also offers one year tuition scholarships for each applicant who participated in the literary or academic contest for the University Interscholastic League at the state meet.
Cisco Junior College has the James M. Rockwell Scholarship Program. Freshman who are graduating in the upper twenty five percent of their class from an accredited Texas high school can apply for this scholarship that is equal to tuition and fee cost each semester for a limit of four semesters.
Dallas Baptist University strives to provide Christ-centered quality higher education. National Merit Finalists may qualify for a full tuition scholarship. Applicants must qualify for the Christian Leadership Scholarship, which is for students who have demonstrated exceptional Christian character and leadership abilities in addition to their high academic performance.
East Texas Baptist University in Marshall offers several opportunities at full tuition scholarships. National Merit Semi-Finalists may qualify for a full tuition scholarship that includes tuition, room and board and fees. They also offer the Earl and Patsy Hollandsworth Academic Fellowship which covers full tuition and fees for four years.
Hill College has numerous scholarships available to new students. Valedictorians graduating from accredited Texas high schools can get a tuition exemption to be used the first two semesters immediately following graduation. Tuition and all fees are exempted for those who are blind or deaf as certified by the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, Texas Commission For The Blind, and Texas Commission For Deaf and Hearing Impaired. Students who have been in foster care or other residential care are eligible for a tuition and fees exemption. Early high school graduation also creates eligibility for a tuition exemption.
Houston Baptist University is a Christian institution. HBU’s Endowed Academic Scholarship offers full or three quarters tuition for a maximum of twelve quarters.
National Merit Finalists can also receive a 100% tuition guarantee, when coordinated with federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarships atKilgore College has Presidential Scholarships that cover tuition, fees and use of books. Applying students should have a grade average of 92 or higher, among other academic requirements. LeTourneau University in Longview.
Lon Morris College in Jacksonville is the oldest two-year college in Texas and are committed to providing quality education in a Christian environment. Academic scholarships at Lon Morris include Scurlock Scholars that provides for full tuition and fees, room and board and is available to students graduating in the top two percent of their high school class or those who have scored ninetieth percentile or above nationally on the ACT or the SAT exams. Trustees Scholars are issued for the same requirements, but cover full tuition. Bishops Scholars is for full tuition and is available to one student from each Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church who has been nominated by his or her presiding bishop and who graduates in the to fifteen percent of their high school class.
McLennan Community College offers a Presidential Scholarship that covers tuition, fees and books for four consecutive semesters following graduation from high school and requires a 3.0 grade point average. They also offer the Tartan Scholars Program that pays for tuition and fees for four semesters and has a book allowance. The Tartan Scholars Program also requires a 3.0 grade point average. In addition, they offer the McLennan Scholars Program for graduating seniors who are in the top ten percent of their class, or the top five students in each graduating class, whichever is greater, at each accredited high school in McLennan County. The McLennan Scholars Program covers tuition and fees for four semesters.
McMurry University has an Honors Scholarship that covers full tuition and fees and to qualify you have to have met certain academic requirements and fill out an application for the honors program. Honors classes are smaller and provide a challenge for the brightest students.
Rice University in Houston offers Engineering Scholarships that cover up to full tuition for four years. These are awarded to outstanding applicants to the engineering division. They also offer Sarofim Scholarships for full tuition to outstanding applicants who are foreign nationals.
Southern Methodist University is a private university in the heart of Dallas. Approximately twenty entering first year freshman will do so with the merit based President’s Scholar Award that pays full tuition and general student fees, on-campus room and board and is renewable through four years. Up to twenty-five more entering first-year students will do so with the Nancy Ann and Ray L Hunt Leadership Scholars Program that covers full tuition and fees and is awarded on academic achievement, as well as extraordinary leadership in high school. The Irsay Family Scholarship is rather different in that it is awarded to graduates of Indiana high schools. It pays full tuition and fees and was created by Jim Irsay, the owner and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts and a graduate of SMU.
Southwestern Adventist University in Keene offers a one hundred percent tuition scholarship for students who are National Merit Finalist.
Southwestern Assemblies of God University awards full tuition University Scholarship to a selected number of Regent Scholars.
Southwestern University in Georgetown has the Brown Scholar Awards that pays full tuition, room and board. Students should minimally be ranked in the top five percent of their high school class and have a 3.8 grade point average, and a minimum 1400 SAT or 32 or ACT.
Tarleton State University in Stephenville has two, three and four year ROTC Scholarships available that pay full tuition and mandantory fees as well as offering a book allowance and a monthly cash stipend.
Temple College is another institution that gives all valedictorians and salutatorians graduating from accredited Texas high schools a one year tuition and fees scholarship for the Fall and Spring semesters immediately following graduation.
Texarkana College has a Rising Star Scholarship that pays full tuition and fees for academic or vocational classes for the freshman and sophomore years. Applicants must be ineligible for the full PELL grant and have a family adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less. Recipients must also be current high school graduates and must maintain full-time status and a minimum GPA of 2.0. Those who complete their freshman year with a 2.75 GPA are eligible for a second year of funding.
Texas Christian University in Fort Worth offers several scholarship awards for members of certain activities that cover up to full tuition, these are the Band Award fro members of the Horned Frog Band, Choral Award for members of the University Choral Program and the Orchestra Award for members of the University Orchestra. TCU also has a NAACP Scholarship that covers tuition and fees for four years in pursuance of a degree in education and the recipient must make a three year commitment to teach in Fort Worth Independent School District. There are two, three, and four year scholarships from the Air Force ROTC and the Army ROTC. The Harriet Tubman Scholarship offers full tuition for black graduates of a Tarrant County High School who have a minimum GPA of 2.8 or higher.
Texas State Technical College in Marshall awards one Presidential Scholarship annually to a graduating senior from Harrison County, Texas. The scholarship includes all tuition and fees, books and limited supplies for two years or six semesters.
Texas Tech University in Lubbock has implemented the Red Raider Guarantee. The goal of the plan is to guarantee free tuition and mandatory fees up to fifteen credit hours per semester to new entering freshman who are Texas residents, are enrolled full-time and have a family adjusted gross income that does not exceed $40,000. Students must be eligible to receive federal financial aid and have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Texas Wesleyan University has the Eunice and James L. West Scholarship in the amount of full tuition and fees for four years. A Business major is preferred and applicants should have a 3.8 GPA, 1200 SAT or 27 ACT, be a United States citizen and maintain a 3.0. The Ella C. McFadden Scholarship pays full tuition for four years with the same academic requirements but is earmarked for a Business, Education, or Science major.
Texas Women’s University Presidential Scholarship is available to entering freshmen who were valedictorians or salutatorians at an accredited high school. This scholarship pays full tuition and fees, but does not cover room, board or books. The Chancellor’s Endowed Scholarship awards tuition, fees and a yearly stipend and recipients are chosen from scholarship applicant pool.
University of Dallas is a private, Catholic university. The Academic Achievement Scholarship ranges from $1000 to full tuition. A variety of criteria is used to determine eligibility; class rank, academic record and test scores are among them.
University of North Texas in Denton is aiding academically talented, but financially needy students, with the Emerald Eagle Scholars Program. Tuition and fees will be paid with a combination of federal, state and institutional funds. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements, including having an adjusted family gross income that does not exceed $40,000.
University of St. Thomas in Houston offers the V.J. Guinan Full Tuition Scholarship to incoming freshmen. Applicants must be Catholic and their SAT scores should equal 1400 (32 ACT) and be ranked in the top ten percent of their class. Alternately, students with a 1300 SAT (29 ACT) can be considered if they are in the top five percent of their class. Other requirements also apply.
University of Texas at Arlington issued a press release in January 2007 that announced a new program called the “Maverick Promise. The financial aid package would guarantee free tuition for undergraduate Texas residents with a family income of $25,000 or less. In addition, the students have to meet the guidelines and be accepted for admittance to the university and have to receive a federal PELL Grant and the University would cover the difference between the grant and the cost of tuition. It is unclear as to whether all UT locations will offer the “Maverick Promise”, but it seems likely as a future development.
Wayland Baptist University’s Pioneer Scholarship recipients who qualify by their academic performance for the Trustee Level receive a full tuition scholarship.
Weatherford College offers valedictorians from any accredited Texas high school a one year tuition scholarship. In addition, first and second place honor graduates from accredited high schools in Parker, Hood, Jack, Palo Pinto and Wise Counties get a scholarship in the amount of tuition, fees, and books on loan each long semester for two years immediately following their high school graduation.
It is suggested that you visit the website of any of the colleges you may be interested in to check for additional requirements, availability of other forms of financial aid, majors offered, and deadlines for scholarship and admittance applications. Most colleges and universities have deadlines beginning in the early part of the calendar year; so you will want to allow yourself sufficient time to have your forms in by January, February, March or later for those schools that don’t have such early deadline times. Western Texas College in Snyder has an Opportunity Scholarship. It covers tuition and fees for a maximum of fifteen credit hours per semester and is available for the Fall and Spring semesters only.
Sources:
TexasCollegeMoney.org
CollegeForTexans.com
Abeline Christian University
Austin College
Baylor University
Cisco Junior College
Dallas Baptist University
Hill College
Houston Baptist University
Kilgore College
Lon Morris College
McMurry University
Southern Methodist University
Southwestern Adventist University
Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Tarleton State University
Temple College
Texarkana College
Texas Wesleyan University
Texas Women’s University
University of North Texas
University of St. Thomas
University of Texas
Wayland Baptist University’s
Weatherford College
Western Texas College
Western Texas College Opportunity ScholarshipUniversity of DallasTexas Tech UniversityTexas State Technical College in MarshallTexas Christian UniversitySouthwestern UniversityRice UniversityMcLennan Community CollegeLeTourneau UniversityEast Texas Baptist UniversityBlinn College
