Texas Scholarship Programs

Applying for Scholarships

Scholarship applications are separate from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Typically, each scholarship has its own deadline and application process. The Every Chance, Every Texan website maintains a database of scholarships for Texas students. The site contains a list of scholarships with descriptions, contact information, deadlines and application instructions. In most cases, students must contact the granting foundation for an application packet.

High school athletes interested in pursuing their sport at a college or university may be eligible for an athletic scholarship. As of 2008, 48 Texas schools offer athletic scholarships. Most schools, such as the University of Texas at Austin, instruct prospective students interested in applying for an athletic scholarship to send a letter of interest to the athletic department. Some private foundations also offer scholarships based on athletic performance, such as the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation. Athletic scholarships often have minimum requirements for academic performance; for example, the TAAF scholarship requires a minimum grade point average of 2.5. (See Resources)

Students planning to pursue certain types of degrees may be eligible for field-of-study scholarships. For example, many Texas schools offer scholarships to professional or vocational nursing students. These scholarships are partially based on financial need, with preference given to nursing students from rural areas. The National Press Club Scholarship grants awards to qualifying students majoring in journalism or a related field of study. Other foundations offering field-of-study scholarships to Texas students include the Texas Floral Endowment and the Texas Restaurant Association.

Private foundations often grant specialty scholarships based on a wide variety of criteria, such as a student's height or his parents' occupations. For example, the Two-Ten Footwear Foundation awards scholarships to qualifying students whose parents are employed in the footwear or leather industries. The William C. Doherty and John T. Donelon Scholarship Fund grants awards to the qualifying children of members of the National Association of Letter Carriers.