SCHOLARSHIPS IN TEXAS

Since Texas has one of the nation's highest high school graduation rates at just over 86% each school year, there is a big demand for scholarships in Texas to provide additional financial aid opportunities for making college more affordable.

As the second largest and second most populated state in the United States, Texas is home to 167 universities that offer huge educational opportunities in a wide range of programs. Due to the fact that the "Lone Star State" is also the leading producer for the agriculture, electronics, energy, petroleum, aerospace engineering, and biomedical industries, graduates will also find plentiful career options with the highest number of Fortune 500 companies in the country.

In order to boost your post-secondary education success, read on to learn about 25 great scholarships that are available in Texas.

1. Ann Arnold Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: June 1st

Named in honor of the long-time president for the Texas Association of Broadcasters (TAB), the Ann Arnold Memorial Scholarship is presented annually for $5,000 to promising junior or senior-level undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled in a fully accredited program for broadcast journalism. Qualified applicants must be attending a four-year university in Texas, demonstrate financial need, and have outstanding potential in the broadcasting industry.

Contact

Ann Arnold Memorial Scholarship
502 East 11th St. Suite 200
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 322-9944

Scholarship Link

2. Bill Wyche Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund Award

Deadline: April 30th

Within the Texas Section of the Society for Range Management (TSSRM), the Bill Wyche Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund Award is granted each year for $2,000 to deserving graduating high school seniors and current undergraduate students who have the intent of concentrating their studies in agriculture. Eligible candidates must be legal Texas residents, have financial need, submit three letters of recommendation on academic achievements, and be actively pursuing a career related to range management.

Contact

Bill Wyche Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund Award
P.O. Box 693
Sweetwater, TX 79556
(830) 569-2232

3. Burl Cockrell Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: June 1st

Annually, the Committee on Professional Education for the Texas Environmental Health Association (TEHA) provides up to two scholarships for $1,500 apiece to current members or immediate family members who have chosen to pursue a major in environmental and/or public health at an accredited Texas university. Along with the application, students should attach an official transcript, list of short-term and long-term career goals, and full employment history.

Contact

Burl Cockrell Memorial Scholarship
P.O. Box 889
Wolfforth, TX 79382
(806) 855-4277

4. Clara Freshour Nelson Music Scholarship

Deadline: April 15th

Sponsored by the Texas Association of Music Schools (TAMS), the Clara Freshour Nelson Music Scholarship is awarded for $6,000 per year to student members who are currently pursuing a music major at an accredited four-year public or private Texas institution in good academic standing. Candidates should be in the second semester of their freshman year, have completed at least 12 semester hours, exhibit quality musical performance, have financial need, and possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better.

Contact

Clara Freshour Nelson Music Scholarship
P.O. Box 4304
Beeville, TX 78104
(361) 358-6339

5. Don't Mess with Texas Scholarships

Deadline: April 4th

In partnership with Keep Texas Beautiful, the Don't Mess with Texas Scholarships are offered by the Texas Department of Transportation to recognize the outstanding achievements of the state's graduating high school seniors who have assumed leadership roles in preventing litter in their school and/or community. Annually, one $3,000 scholarship and two $1,000 scholarships are granted to recipients who will be attending a two or four-year accredited degree program at a Texas college full-time in the upcoming fall.

Contact

Don't Mess with Texas Scholarships
8850 Business Park Drive Suite 200
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 478-8813

6. Dr. Dan J. and Patricia S. Pickard Scholarship

Deadline: May 1st

Established by the Dallas Foundation in honor of an accomplished optometrist who founded the Pickard Eye Clinic, the Dr. Dan J. and Patricia S. Pickard Scholarship is awarded each year for at least $1,000 to African American male students who are graduating from public high schools within Dallas County. Eligible applicants must demonstrate financial need, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or greater, and be accepted into an accredited two or four-year college.

Contact

Dr. Dan J. and Patricia S. Pickard Scholarship
3963 Maple Avenue Suite 390
Dallas, TX 75219
(214) 741-9898

7. Estelle Beaumont Ellison Scholarship Fund

Deadline: March 1st

Founded by the Christ Episcopal Church of San Antonio in honor of her commitment to fulfilling God's mission in this world, the Estelle Beaumont Ellison Scholarship Fund is designed to provide financial support to deserving young people between 14 and 30 years old who will be attending an accredited institution or Episcopal seminary full-time. Selection will be based on moral character, academic achievement, personal motivation, financial need, positive influence in the world, and participation in the Christian community.

Contact

Estelle Beaumont Ellison Scholarship Fund
510 Belknap Place
San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 736-3132

Scholarship Link

8. George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation Scholarships

Deadline: February 21st

Each year, the George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation will award up to 70 scholarships to graduating high school seniors in the Houston metropolitan area for a grand total of $16,000 dispersed over four years of undergraduate studies. Based on both academic merit and financial need, the scholarships are only offered to U.S. citizens who reside within Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller counties.

Contact

George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation Scholarships
3336 Richmond St. Suite 310
Houston, TX 77098
(713) 522-9891

9. Goss-Michael Foundation Texas Art Scholarship

Deadline: March 30th

In the amount of $5,000, the Goss-Michael Foundation Texas Art Scholarship is granted annually to graduating high school seniors in Texas who exhibit the exceptional artistic talents that are needed to pursue a college degree in the fine arts, including painting, drawing, sculpture, art history, photography, and art education. Applicants should submit a transcript, typed essay on future career goals, artist's statement on inspirations, and ten original works.

Contact

Goss-Michael Foundation Texas Art Scholarship
1405 Turtle Creek Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 696-0555

10. Herbert E. Skinner Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: April 1st

Established by the Texas Trucking Association (TXTA) in 2008, the Herbert E. Skinner Memorial Scholarship is awarded for $2,000 each year to ease the financial burden of pursuing higher education for drivers, dock workers, mechanics, office personnel, and their dependents throughout the Texas trucking industry. Applicants must have a high school diploma, be an employee or the dependent of an employee for a member company, and be enrolling full-time with a minimum of 12 credits per semester in a two or four-year institution.

Contact

Herbert E. Skinner Memorial Scholarship
700 East 11th St.
Austin, TX 78701
(800) 727-7135

11. Ivory Moore Undergraduate/Graduate Scholarships

Deadline: January 27th

Within the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education, the Ivory Moore Undergraduate/Graduate Scholarships have been created in honor of a retired educator and administrator for Texas A&M University. In order to qualify for $1,000 in funding, applicants must be African American students, be enrolled in a four-year institution accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), maintain full-time enrollment with at least 12 hours per semester, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Contact

Ivory Moore Undergraduate/Graduate Scholarships
1801 Martin Luther King Drive
San Antonio, TX 78203
(210) 486-2420

Scholarship Link

12. Joe Holstead Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: March 29th

In memory of one of the Fort Worth-Dallas metropolitan area's most revered news personalities and a larger-than-life member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, the Joe Holstead Memorial Scholarship is awarded for $1,000 annually by the Fort Worth Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJFW). Eligible applicants must be Texas residents, be attending post-secondary education in preparation for a career in journalism, be taking at least six credits per semester, and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

Contact

Joe Holstead Memorial Scholarship
P.O. Box 3212
Fort Worth, TX 76113

13. Kenneth H. Ashworth Fellowship Program

Deadline: February 20th

Administered through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Kenneth H. Ashworth Fellowship Program is designed to provide $2,000 to students in Texas who are currently enrolled in an accredited graduate program related to public affairs, public service, and/or public administration. Qualified applicants must be Texas residents, exhibit financial need, intend to work in Texas after graduation, and register for the selective service system.

Contact

Kenneth H. Ashworth Fellowship Program
1200 East Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78752
(512) 427-6340

Scholarship Link

14. Louise Barekman Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: December 31st

Through the Texas Medical Association (TMA), the Louise Barekman Memorial Scholarship presents up to $5,000 to deserving graduate students who are entering their first, second, or third year of study in an accredited medical school of Texas. Eligible candidates must be members of a Protestant church, maintain a record of regular church attendance, exhibit genuine financial need, and demonstrate extraordinary academic progress in medical school.

Contact

Louise Barekman Memorial Scholarship
401 West 15th St.
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 370-1693

15. Luther and Mary Ann Parker Scholarship

Deadline: May 29th

In honor of the retired Executive Director for the Director of the Texas Pharmacy Foundation and his wife who devoted over 40 years of their lives to the industry, the Luther and Mary Ann Parker Scholarship is distributed for $1,000 each year to a deserving student who is pursuing a career in pharmacy at an accredited Texas college. Qualified pharmacy students must be entering their fourth professional year, have a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 or higher, be a member in good standing, and demonstrate involvement in community activities.

Contact

Luther and Mary Ann Parker Scholarship
6207 Bee Cave Rd. Suite 120
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 615-9144

16. Malcolm Helm Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Deadline: May 15th

Named in memory of the illustrious 23-year career of an accomplished bandmaster, the Malcolm Helm Memorial Endowed Scholarship is granted for $4,000 annually to an outstanding undergraduate wind or percussion player at a Texas university who is pursuing a major in music education. Applicants must have participated in their high school band, plan to teach band in Texas after graduation, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, and have completed at least 60 hours for their degree.

Contact

Malcolm Helm Memorial Endowed Scholarship
1002 Central Parkway South
San Antonio, TX 78232
(210) 492-8878

17. Richard A. Brown Student Scholarships

Deadline: November 1st

Within the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA), the Richard A. Brown Student Scholarships are awarded for $1,000 to deserving full-time sophomore, junior, or senior-level undergraduate students who are pursuing a degree in education from an accredited Texas university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better. Applicants must submit a personal statement, a college transcript, three letters of recommendation, and list of goals in education.

Contact

Richard A. Brown Student Scholarships
8134 Exchange Drive
Austin, TX 78754
(512) 450-5404

18. Rodeo Austin Scholarship Program

Deadline: Varies

Sponsored by the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo as one of the largest non-profit providers in central Texas, the Rodeo Austin Scholarship Program offers annual college scholarships for deserving Texas students that range in value from $4,000 to $16,000. For consideration, students must be attending one of the partnering institutions, which include Concordia University, Huston-Tillotson University, Sam Houston State, St. Edward's University, Texas A&M, Texas State, the University of Texas, and West Texas A&M.

Contact

Rodeo Austin Scholarship Program
9100 Decker Lake Rd.
Austin, TX 78724
(512) 919-3000

19. St. David's Neal Kocurek Scholarship Fund

Deadline: March 12th

For graduating high school seniors from Travis, Hays, Bastrop, Caldwell, and Williamson counties of Texas, the St. David's Foundation has created the Neal Kocurek Scholarship Fund to present up to $7,500 annually for a maximum of four years of undergraduate and/or graduate studies at an accredited Texas university. Qualified candidates must be pursuing healthcare professions in a program for biomedical engineering, physician assistant, radiation oncology, nursing, optometry, clinical laboratory technology, or dental assistant.

Contact

St. David's Neal Kocurek Scholarship Fund
811 Barton Springs Rd. Suite 600
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 879-6221

20. Sylvan Landau Founders Scholarship

Deadline: April 1st

As part of the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT), the Sylvan Landau Founders Scholarship has been created to provide up to $5,000 to young adults with financial need who will be graduating from a public high school in Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, or Collin counties of Texas in the current school year. For consideration, students must exhibit an average degree of academic excellence with a GPA of 2.75 or better, be pursuing a major in business or marketing, and be enrolling full-time at any accredited four-year Texas institution.

Contact

Sylvan Landau Founders Scholarship
5500 Caruth Haven Lane
Dallas, TX 75225
(214) 750-4226

21. Texas Educational Opportunity Grant Program

Deadline: March 15th

Ranging in value from $1,350 to $8,000, the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant Program has been established to offer annual scholarships for financially needy students who are enrolling at least half-time at a public two-year community college in Texas. Qualified applicants must be registered with the selective service system, have legal Texas residence, be in the first 30 hours of an associate's degree or certificate program, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, and have a nine-month EFC of $4,800 or less.

Contact

Texas Educational Opportunity Grant Program
1200 East Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78752
(512) 427-6340

22. Texas Top 10 Percent Scholarship Award

Deadline: March 15th

Established by the state legislature in the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas Top 10 Percent Scholarship Award is distributed each year for up to $5,000 to students who are graduating in the top 10% of their high school class and will be attending a public Texas institution in the fall. Candidates must be enrolling full-time, be Texas residents, have financial need, be registered with the selective service system, and maintain a minimum college GPA of 3.25 throughout funding.

Contact

Texas Top 10 Percent Scholarship Award
1200 East Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78752
(512) 427-6340

23. Towards Excellence, Access, and Success (TEXAS) Grant

Deadline: March 15th

Within the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Towards Excellence, Access, and Success (TEXAS) Grant is awarded annually for up to $7,400 for well-prepared high school graduates statewide who have significant financial need for assistance to attend a non-profit public university in Texas within 16 months of graduation. Applicants must be Texas residents, have an EFC of less than $4,000, be registered for the selective service system, and be pursuing their first associate's or bachelor's degree full-time.

Contact

Towards Excellence, Access, and Success (TEXAS) Grant
1200 East Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78752
(512) 427-6340

24. Van Dusen-Tobin-Kaiser Scholarship

Deadline: January 31st

Administered through the Texas Library Association (TXLA), the Van Dusen-Tobin-Kaiser Scholarship is presented for $1,000 biannually to a legal Texas resident who has been accepted into an ALA-accredited library education program in the state to pursue their graduate studies. To qualify, candidates should have attained a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last two years of their bachelor's program and be pursuing a career as an elementary school librarian.

Contact

Van Dusen-Tobin-Kaiser Scholarship
3355 Bee Cave Rd. Suite 401
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 328-1518

Scholarship Link

25. W. Price Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: February 1st

In honor of the first executive director who served for more than 20 years for the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA), the W. Price Jr. Memorial Scholarship is bestowed for $2,000 upon a deserving graduating high school senior who demonstrates a growing passion for entering a career in the food service industry. Eligible applicants must be enrolling in a post-secondary culinary program, be Texas residents, and have an overall GPA of 2.75 or greater.

Contact

W. Price Jr. Memorial Scholarship
P.O. Box 1429
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 457-4100

While you may not want to mess with Texas, you may want to consider attending one of the numerous universities that are inside its vast borders. However, as the cost of tuition continues to skyrocket across the state and the nation at large, you will need to find additional sources of financial assistance in order to boost your own funding and reduce debt. Whether you were born and raised as a Texan or are moving to the "Lone Star State" to benefit from its immense diversified economy, do not forget to apply to some of these scholarships in Texas to overcome any financial struggles in achieving your big dreams.