Competitive Scholarships

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These scholarships are awarded competitively and require admission to Texas State and the submission of a Texas State scholarship application. All awards are based on the overall strength of your scholarship application. To be eligible to apply for this category of scholarship, you must apply for admission to Texas State then submit your Freshman Scholarship Application via the Bobcat Online Scholarship System BOSS by December 15, prior to your first summer/fall semester. For students admitted to Texas State for the incoming spring semester, you will be eligible to apply for Continuing Scholarships once you have a Texas State GPA.

If your scholarship application meets initial eligibility criteria for the Terry Scholarship, you will be able to apply for it in BOSS once it is listed under your Recommended scholarships under the Opportunities tab. You will also be required to submit two letters of recommendation to Financial Aid and Scholarships; one of the letters must be from a high school teacher, advisor or principal. To be eligible for these Competitive Scholarships, you must complete all applicable Texas State Admission Steps by December 15 (prior to your first summer/fall semester). Texas State will consider admitted freshmen for Competitive Scholarships with or without a test score. If you are a nonresident receiving a Competitive Scholarship of at least $1,000, you may also qualify to pay the in-state tuition rate. 

Expand FAQ List

  • Number of new annual awards varies.

    Award Amount

    • $119,600 (maximum award amount) *

    Eligibility Criteria (must meet all)

    • Competitively awarded based on exceptional scholastic and leadership ability (SAT and ACT test scores are not required for the incoming summer and fall 2025 class)
    • Financial need (complete FAFSA® in October or soon after)
    • U.S. citizen and Texas resident
    • Graduate of a Texas high school or equivalent
    • Live on campus during first year with the Cibolo Hall as part of The Terry Scholar Learning Community

    Renewal Criteria (must meet all)

    • 2.5 Cumulative Texas State GPA
    • Complete 12 hours/semester
    • Undergraduate status

    * Full academic scholarship up to cost of attendance (amount varies per student). For more information, go to the Qualifications for Terry Traditional Scholarship Incoming Freshmen page.

  • Number of new annual awards varies.

    Award Amount

    • $40,000 Total award
    • $10,000 Annual award

    Eligibility Criteria (must meet all)

    • Business major

            AND

            One of the following:

    • National Merit commended, semifinalist, or finalist
    • Valedictorian or salutatorian
    • Top 5% of graduation class

    Renewal Criteria (must meet all)

    • 3.3 Cumulative Texas State GPA
    • Complete 27 hours/year (fall/spring)
    • Remain business major
    • Submit renewal portfolio
    • Undergraduate status
    • Currently enrolled and not have earned a bachelor's degree

  • Number of new annual awards varies.

    Award Amount

    • $24,000 Total award
    • $6,000 Annual award

    Eligibility Criteria (must meet all)

    • Business major

            AND

            One of the following:

    • National Merit commended, semifinalist, or finalist
    • Valedictorian or salutatorian
    • Top 10% of graduation class

    Renewal Criteria (must meet all)

    • 3.3 Cumulative Texas State GPA
    • Complete 27 hours/year (fall/spring)
    • Remain business major
    • Submit renewal portfolio
    • Undergraduate status
    • Currently enrolled and not have earned a bachelor's degree

  • Number of new annual awards varies.

    Award Amount

    • $32,000 Total award
    • $8,000 Annual award

    Eligibility Criteria (must meet all)

    • Electrical, industrial, manufacturing, civil, or mechanical engineering major
    • Top 15% of graduating class
    • Minimum SAT score of 1260 with a minimum math subscore of 610
    • OR
    • Minimum ACT score of 27 with a minimum math subscore of 26
    • Preference given to candidates with demonstrated financial need

    Renewal Criteria (must meet all)

    • 3.0 Cumulative Texas State GPA
    • Complete 28 hours/year (fall/spring)
    • Remain in qualifying major
    • Undergraduate status
    • Currently enrolled and not have earned a bachelor's degree

  • Number of new annual awards varies.

    Award Amount

    • $16,000 Total award
    • $4,000 Annual award

    Eligibility Criteria (must meet all)

    • Engineering technology and other qualifying majors *
    • Competitively awarded based upon high school grades, class rank and standardized test scores

           Preference given to candidates with demonstrated financial need

    Renewal Criteria (must meet all)

    • 3.0 Cumulative Texas State GPA
    • Complete 28 hours/year (fall/spring)
    • No change in major
    • Undergraduate status
    • Currently enrolled and not have earned a bachelor's degree

    * Ingram Engineering Technology Qualifying Majors: Engineering technology, construction science & management, construction engineering technology, electrical engineering technology, environmental engineering technology, manufacturing engineering technology, mechanical engineering technology, industrial technology or industrial technology-manufacturing technology.

  • Number of new annual awards varies.

    Award Amount

    • $12,000 Total award
    • $3,000 Annual award

    Eligibility Criteria (must meet all)

    • Concrete industry management major
    • Competitively awarded based upon high school grades, class rank and standardized test scores

          Preference given to candidates with demonstrated financial need

    Renewal Criteria (must meet all)

    • 3.0 Cumulative Texas State GPA
    • Complete 28 hours/year (fall/spring)
    • No change in major
    • Undergraduate status
    • Currently enrolled and not have earned a bachelor's degree

  • Each academic college selects candidates from the freshman scholarship applicant pool to receive this award. Number of new awards varies.

    Award Amount

    • $22,000 Total award
    • $5,500 Annual award

    Eligibility Criteria (must meet all)

    • Top 10% of graduating class

    Renewal Criteria (must meet all)

    • 3.25 Cumulative Texas State GPA
    • Complete 24 hours/year (fall/spring)
    • Remain in qualifying college
    • Undergraduate status
    • Currently enrolled and not have earned a bachelor's degree

  • 12 New awards annually.

    Award Amount

    • $20,000 Total award
    • $5,000 Annual award

    Eligibility Criteria (must meet all)

    • Mathematics, engineering, science, computer science, musical theatre, or dance and music major
    • Financial need
    • Top 10% of graduating class

    Renewal Criteria (must meet all)

    • 3.25 Cumulative Texas State GPA
    • Complete 12 hours/semester
    • Remain in qualifying major
    • Undergraduate status
    • Currently enrolled and not have earned a bachelor's degree

  • Number of new annual awards varies.

    Award Amount

    • $16,000 Total award
    • $4,000 Annual award

    Eligibility Criteria (must meet all)

    • Business major
    • 3.0 GPA
    • Financial need
    • Top 25% of graduating class
    • Minimum SAT (Reading + Math) score of 1000 *
    • OR
    • Minimum ACT score of 21
    • Demonstrate leadership
    • Graduate of a Texas high school
    • Preference given to students who have participated in Rodeo Austin activities

    Renewal Criteria (must meet all)

    • 2.5 Cumulative Texas State GPA
    • Complete 12 hours/semester
    • Submit required documents to donor

  • 10 new awards annually.

    Award Amount

    • $10,000 Total award
    • $2,500 Annual award

    Eligibility Criteria (must meet all)

    • Top 10% of graduating class

    Renewal Criteria (must meet all)

    • 3.25 Cumulative Texas State GPA
    • Complete 12 hours/semester
    • Undergraduate status
    • Currently enrolled and not have earned a bachelor's degree

  • Award Amount

    • $8,000 Total award
    • $2,000 Annual award

    Eligibility Criteria (must meet all)

    • Qualify for President's Honor Scholarship
    • Apply and be admitted by March 1 for upcoming Fall semester
    • Completed Texas State Scholarship application via BOSS by December 15

    Renewal Criteria (must meet all)

    • 3.25 Cumulative Texas State GPA
    • Complete 28 hours/year (fall/spring)
    • Undergraduate status
    • Currently enrolled and not have earned a bachelor's degree
  • Students enrolled in an online degree program are not eligible to receive institutional scholarships (National, Assured, Merit or competitive departmental and college 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.
  • All competitive scholarships listed above are renewable for up to four years based upon required academic performance and meeting all renewal eligibility criteria.
  • Any annual enrollment renewal requirements for the above scholarships, 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.