Freshman Scholarships

Scholarships are a great way to help cover your educational expenses. Texas State offers incoming freshman students two categories of scholarships: Assured and Competitive. You can stack scholarships and combine them with financial aid up to the cost of attendance.

Texas State University offers the below scholarships to incoming freshmen based on admission credentials. Assured scholarships are offered to qualifying students with SAT or ACT scores, and Merit Scholarships are available to qualifying test-optional students.

For Students Attending the San Marcos and Round Rock Campuses

Freshman National Scholarships

Overview

These National Scholarships are awarded to students who are named National Merit Finalists. To receive a National Distinction Scholarship, you must be a Finalist in the National Merit Scholar Program and select Texas State as your college of choice with the National Merit Corporation. In addition, you must submit an admission application and high school transcript. You may submit an official SAT or ACT score, but it is optional. These scholarships are guaranteed provided you are admitted to Texas State as a first-time incoming freshman and meet the minimum scholarship qualifications prior to your first semester (fall or spring). If you are a nonresident receiving a National Scholarship, you may also qualify to pay the in-state tuition rate for the same period covered by your scholarship.

National Distinction Scholarship ($40,000)

$40,000 Total award
$10,000 Distributed annually

Eligibility Criteria (must meet all)

Finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program
Select Texas State as your first college of choice with NMSC on or before May 31st prior to your first semester (email a copy of the certificate to Admissions at processing@txstate.edu)

Renewal Criteria (must meet all)

3.5 cumulative Texas State GPA
Complete 28 passing Texas State hours/year (fall/spring)
Undergraduate status
Currently enrolled and not have earned a bachelor's degree

Freshman Assured Scholarships

Overview

These Assured Scholarships are awarded on the basis of a student’s academic credentials (i.e., test scores and high school rank as well as IB diploma or AP Capstone Diploma). To be eligible for these awards, you must submit an admission application, high school transcript, and official SAT or ACT scores. These scholarships are guaranteed to all qualified residents and nonresidents (including international students) provided you are admitted to Texas State as a first-time incoming freshman and meet the minimum scholarship qualifications prior to your first semester (fall or spring). If you are a nonresident receiving an Assured Scholarship, you may also qualify to pay the in-state tuition rate for the same period covered by your scholarship.

President's Honor Scholarship

Award Amount	Eligibility Criteria
$48,000 Total Award over 4 years (see renewal criteria below) $12,000 Annual Award (fall/spring)	Minimum SAT score of 1420+ OR Minimum ACT score of 32+	Top 25% of graduating class OR IB diploma or AP Capstone Diploma

3.25 cumulative Texas State GPA
Complete 28 passing Texas State hours/year (fall/spring)
Undergraduate status
Currently enrolled and not have earned a bachelor's degree

Texas State Achievement Scholarship

Award Amount	Eligibility Criteria
$32,000 Total Award over 4 years (see renewal criteria below) $8,000 Annual Award (fall/spring)	Minimum SAT score of 1260-1410 OR Minimum ACT score of 27-31	Top 25% of graduating class OR IB diploma or AP Capstone Diploma
$32,000 Total Award over 4 years (see renewal criteria below) $8,000 Annual Award (fall/spring)	Minimum SAT score of 1160-1250 OR Minimum ACT score of 24-26	Top 5% of graduating class OR IB diploma or AP Capstone Diploma
$28,000 Total Award over 4 years (see renewal criteria below) $7,000 Annual Award (fall/spring)		Top 6% - 15% of graduating class
$24,000 Total Award over 4 years (see renewal criteria below) $6,000 Annual Award (fall/spring)		Top 16% - 25% of graduating class

3.25 cumulative Texas State GPA
Complete 28 passing Texas State hours/year (fall/spring)
Undergraduate status
Currently enrolled and not have earned a bachelor's degree

Texas State Distinguished Scholarship

Award Amount	Eligibility Criteria
$20,000 Total Award over 4 years (see renewal criteria below) $5,000 Annual Award (fall/spring)	Minimum SAT score of 1160+ OR Minimum ACT score of 24+	Top 26% - 30% of graduating class
$16,000 Total Award over 4 years (see renewal criteria below) $4,000 Annual Award (fall/spring)	Minimum SAT score of 1160+ OR Minimum ACT score of 24+	Top 31% - 35% of graduating class
$16,000 Total Award over 4 years (see renewal criteria below) $4,000 Annual Award (fall/spring)	Minimum SAT score of 1060-1150 OR Minimum ACT score of 21-23	Top 25% of graduating class OR IB diploma or AP Capstone Diploma

3.25 cumulative Texas State GPA
Complete 28 passing Texas State hours/year (fall/spring)
Undergraduate status
Currently enrolled and not have earned a bachelor's degree

Freshman Merit Scholarships

Overview

Students applying without an ACT or SAT score, and who are ranked in the top 35% of their class, will receive an academic review of their admission application for Texas State Merit Scholarship consideration. These scholarships are based on the academic review performed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and are subject to the availability of funding. Qualified residents and nonresidents (including international students) will be reviewed provided you are admitted to Texas State as a first-time incoming freshman and meet the minimum scholarship qualifications prior to your first semester (fall or spring). If you are a nonresident receiving a Texas State Merit Scholarship, you may also qualify to pay the in-state tuition rate for the same period covered by your scholarship.

Merit Scholarship

Texas State Merit Scholarship

Award Amount	Eligibility Criteria
Varies	No SAT or ACT score	Top 35% of graduating class OR IB diploma or AP Capstone Diploma	Student will receive an academic review of their application, which will include consideration of their high school curriculum, level of courses taken, high school rank/percentile, and grades earned.

3.25 cumulative Texas State GPA
Complete 28 passing Texas State hours/year (fall/spring)
Undergraduate status
Currently enrolled and not have earned a bachelor's degree

Not A Texas Resident?

You could still qualify for resident tuition

If you qualify for at least $1,000 in Texas State competitive or merit scholarships, you may receive a nonresident tuition waiver.

If qualified, the department that awarded you the scholarship will complete the appropriate nonresident tuition waiver form.

Additional Information

**Award amounts are effective for new fall/spring offers to incoming students admitted summer 2024 semester and forward.**

Students enrolled in an online degree program are not eligible to receive institutional scholarships (National, Assured or Merit scholarships).
For Texas State scholarship purposes, SAT score is defined as the best composite score from the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section and Math Section from a single testing.
ACT score is defined as the best composite score from a single testing.
These scholarships are renewable for up to four years (or eight continuous semesters) based upon required academic performance.
The annual enrollment renewal requirement (28 Texas State hours) considers all completed credit hours with passing grades, regardless if they count toward your degree or if they are repeat courses. Completed credit hours exclude (CR) credit by exam hours (Advanced Placement and CLEP).
Students receiving their last year of funding may qualify for an exception to the full-time enrollment requirement. Scholarships are split evenly between the fall and spring semesters, students who graduate early cannot receive the entire annual award in their final semester.
Any combination of financial aid and scholarships cannot exceed the cost of attendance.
The Freshman Assured Scholarships cannot be combined with a Texas State Merit Scholarship.
If you have become ineligible to receive your scholarship due to your not meeting the renewal requirements, you can file an appeal. The appeal must demonstrate a documented extenuating circumstance that you experienced and led to your not meeting the renewal criteria. Appeal instructions will be emailed to students after spring grades post in May.