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Scholarships & State Grants in Texas

By Business & Finance Last updated Sunday, April/28/2024

Texas Career Opportunity Grant Program

This state-supported program provides students with money for college. The Texas Legislature sets the maximum grant amount each year, which tends to be around $2,000. Other factors that determine the actual grant amount include the applicant's financial need, the amount of tuition required by the institution in comparison to the average for a state public school and the enrollment status of the student. Full-time students can receive 100 percent of the maximum award. Half-time students can receive 50 percent. The program is limited to Texas residents who show financial need. Full-time enrollment is considered 12 or more hours per semester. Half-time enrollment is considered at least six hours per semester. The grants are available to students enrolling at schools that have been approved for participation by the state's Workforce Commission. Schools must apply for eligibility each year.

This program provides grant aid to students enrolled at public, two-year colleges in Texas. Students who attend four-year schools are not eligible for the grant. To receive the grant, students must be Texas residents and must show financial need. Specifically, the student's annual family contribution amount cannot exceed $2,000. The family contribution amount is an amount listed on the Student Aid Report sent to the student and the college in response to a student's filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students who maintain an overall grade-point average of at least 2.5 can continue to receive the grant until they have obtained an associate's degree or until they have completed 75 semester hours. The award amount is equal to tuition and fees at a public, two-year college in Texas. For 2010-11, that amounts to $3,390 per semester for public state colleges and $1,575 per semester for public technical colleges.

This grant is funded by the Texas Legislature and requires students to participate in specific high school coursework through either the Distinguished Achievement Program or the Recommended High School Program. Students must complete one of the programs and must enroll in a nonprofit public college or university in Texas within 16 months of graduating from high school. Students who move from a two-year public college to a university must enroll in the university no more than 12 months after receiving an associate's degree. Students are eligible for an award for up to 150 credit hours or until they receive a bachelor's degree. To remain eligible, students must maintain a 2.5 GPA and must complete at least 75 percent of the courses attempted. The award amount for the 2010-11 school year is $6,780 a year for universities, $1,780 a year for public community colleges and $3,150 a year for public technical colleges.

The Top 10 Percent Scholarship is available to all Texas residents who demonstrate financial need and who complete the necessary high school curriculum and rank in the top 10 percent of their graduating high school classes. Students must enroll in a Texas public university or two-year college in order to receive the scholarship. To receive the scholarship beyond their freshman year, college students must maintain a 3.25 GPA and must complete 75 percent of their hours attempted and at least 30 credit hours in the prior year. The scholarship provides as much as $2,000, dependent on available state funds and a student's financial need.

The TEG program is designed to assist financially needy students who do not wish to enroll in public colleges and universities. The program provides aid to students who attend private colleges or universities in Texas. Students can be either Texas residents or non-resident National Merit finalists. Students also must show financial need. The maximum grant amount is $3,808 for the majority of students, but it is $5,712 for students who have an expected family contribution of $1,000 or less.

The Robert C. Byrd Scholarship is a merit award given to students nominated by a high school counselor, a GED center director or a home school instructor and who are in the top 10 percent of their graduating senior classes. Students must be Texas residents and must attend a public or private college or university. The school does not need to be in Texas. The award amount is $1,500 a year for up to four years.

The scholarship is designed to encourage students to become members of the Texas Army National Guard, Texas Air Force National Guard or a branch of the U.S. armed services. Students must enroll in a Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at their college, and they must complete the four-year program. Students then must commit to one of the aforementioned service branches. The award provides up to $15,000 a year for college. Students who fail to complete the terms of the scholarship must repay the scholarship.