Texas Scholarships & Financial Aid

One of the most distressing topics of a college-bound senior’s life is money. How much do I need? Where do I find it? How do I apply? Whether you are an incoming freshman or a graduate student in Texas, there are financial aid and scholarships available to help you pay for school.

Texas provides scholarships that range from private to university department sponsored. Texas scholarships are based on merit, year in school, participation in the community, interests, income, and other factors. Texas financial aid and federal financial aid are also available to students who need financial assistance. Financial aid is based on need, as determined by yours and your parents’ income, and grade point average.

Four Main Types of Texas Scholarships and Financial Aid

• Federal financial aid
• Texas state financial aid
• Texas university and college scholarships
• Texas state scholarships

Federal Financial Aid for Texas Students

Texas state universities and colleges support federal financial aid. For all federal financial aid, apply through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You must apply a year before the year in which you need the aid. The federal deadline for FAFSA applications is midnight on June 30, Central Daylight Time. Although many states have their own FAFSA deadlines, Texas doesn’t have an official state deadline. Instead, check with your school(s) of choice to make sure you meet the school deadline

To apply for financial aid in Texas, the first step is to complete and submit a FAFSA application. The financial aid and scholarship office in your school will determine your eligibility, based on information you provide in the FAFSA. Texas residents who are not eligible to complete the FAFSA – including those who are not U.S. citizens, permanent residents, conditional permanent residents or eligible noncitizens — can still apply for Texas financial aid using the Texas Application for State Financial Aid. First, check with your school to make sure they accept the application.

Here is a list of Texas financial aid programs:

• Towards Excellence, Access, & Success (TEXAS) Grant Program. Available to incoming freshmen and transfer students who are Texas residents.
• Texas Educational Opportunity Grant Program (TEOG). Available to Texas residents who are financially needy and attending a two-year college in Texas.
• Texas Public Education-Student Incentive Grant Program (SIG). Available to U.S. citizens, nationals or permanent residents attending college in Texas.
• Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG). Offered to undergraduate and graduate students who are attending public colleges and universities in Texas. Students can be Texas residents, non-residents or foreign, but must have financial need.
• College Access Loans (CAL). Offered to Texas residents who show financial need.
• Hinson-Hazelwood Loans. Various loans available to Texas residents.
• Health Education Loan Program (HELP). Available to health students who are both Texas residents and permanent U.S. residents.

There are also other financial aid programs from individual Texas colleges and universities. Check with your financial aid and scholarship office to find out more about those offers.

Texas university and college scholarships

Texas university and college scholarships, like other similar scholarships, are awarded based on merit and need. Many university and college scholarships are department-sponsored, which means you must be enrolled in whatever department is offering the scholarship to qualify for the scholarship. For example, at Baylor University, the English department offers the Loyd L. & Lee Turner Scholarship for undergraduate English majors with a 2.5 or above grade point average (G.P.A.).

Texas university and college scholarships may require that you submit a FAFSA application and a scholarship application. Some universities, like the University of Texas at Austin and West Texas A&M University, require a general scholarship application for entering freshmen students and a different general application for continuing or transfer students. Departmental scholarships may also require applications separate from the FAFSA and general scholarship applications. Check with your department for more information.

Texas state scholarships

There are more Texas scholarships out there. Here are some Texas state scholarships that you might qualify for:

• The Haraldson Foundation
  Total award: $33,600 ($4,200 per semester for eight semesters)
  Requirements: attending the University of Texas; financial need; demonstrated academic excellence and proven leadership skills.
  Deadline: December 1st

• Texas Lyceum Leadership Award
  Awards: Five $2,000 scholarships
  Requirements: high school seniors planning to attend an accredited Texas college or university; must be a Texas resident with a minimum 3.0 G.P.A.
  Deadline: March 1.

• The Texas Conference for Women
  Awards: Six $5,000 scholarships
  Requirements: female college students who demonstrate leadership, service and academic success; must be studying the arts, business, education, nursing, math and science, or public service.
  Deadline: August 14th.

• Texas Garden Club Scholarship
  Awards: $1,000 to $1,500 scholarships
  Requirements: must be horticultural students who are juniors or above at a Texas college or university; must be Texas residents.
  Deadline: October 1st (for spring and winter semesters)

• Texas Elks State Association Scholarship Program
  Awards: $1,000 to $10,000 scholarships per year for four years
  Requirements: planning to attend or attending an accredited four-year college in Texas. Contact your local Elks Lodge for more information.

• Texas Restaurant Association
  Awards: $2,000 for a student attending a 2-year college and $5,000 for a student attending a 4-year university, graduate program or culinary school.
  Deadline: February 1st

• Texas Exes
  Awards: various scholarships available to students attending or planning to attend the University of Texas.
  Deadlines: December 1st for high school seniors and March 1st for all other students

Four Things to Keep in Mind about Texas Financial Aid and Scholarships

• Many Texas and federal grant programs are first-come, first-serve, so apply early.
• The FAFSA and the TASFA are NOT the same. Filling out a Texas state financial aid application does not mean the same thing as a FAFSA application. The TAFSA is for individuals officially classified as Texas residents who are not eligible for the FAFSA due to U.S. citizenship/permanent resident status.
• Be conscious of deadlines for scholarships. Every scholarship has a different deadline.
• Remember that in times of economic turmoil, apply earlier and apply more.