Scholarships in Texas to Make College More Affordable

From cowboys and Tex-Mex to Friday Night Lights, Texas has plenty to be proud of — including some of the best colleges in the country. Schools like the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M attract students from all over for their strong academics and vibrant campus life.

But like many states, tuition costs in Texas continue to rise, making financial aid and scholarships more important than ever. The good news? You don’t have to rely on student loans to make college possible. Scholarships can help you afford your education — and they never have to be paid back.

Going Merry makes finding and applying for scholarships easy by matching you with opportunities you actually qualify for. Whether you’re just starting your college journey or already on campus, there’s a scholarship out there for you.

Here are some of the best scholarships for Texas students in 2026.

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Scholarships in Texas

1. Texas Section AWWA Scholarship

Texas Section AWWA Scholarship provides financial assistance to recent high school graduates and current undergraduate and graduate students at a college that has a tie to the Texas Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA).

Amount: Varies

Provider: Texas Section AWWAAustin Board of REALTORS

Who Can Apply: High School Seniors and above

Requirements: Must reside in Texas

2. Texas Medical Excellence Scholarship

The Texas Medical Excellence Scholarship is available to residents of Texas who are studying a medicine-related field. Students who are seeking a bachelor’s, graduate, or doctorate degree are welcome to apply.

Amount: $2,500

Provider: Big Future

Who Can Apply: High school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students studying medicine

Requirements: Must reside in Texas

3. Terry Foundation Freshmen Scholarship

The Terry Foundation awards scholarships in Texas to high school seniors who plan on attending Terry-affiliated universities. While award amounts vary by student, the scholarship committee takes financial needs and other awarded scholarships into account to determine the award amount. They do this with the intention that recipients wouldn’t need to take out student loans, so why not check out the Terry Foundation Freshman Scholarship.

Amount: Varies

Provider: The Terry Foundation

Who Can Apply: High School Seniors

Requirements: (a) Academic achievement, (b) Demonstrated leadership, (c) Financial need, (d) U.S. citizenship, (e) Residency in Texas

4. TMEA High School Senior Scholarships

The Texas Music Educators Association is pleased to provide professional growth opportunities, encourage interaction among music education professionals, foster public support for music in school, offer quality musical experiences for students, cultivate universal appreciation and lifetime involvement in music, and develop and maintain productive working relationships with other professional organizations. Click here to apply for the TMEA High School Senior Scholarship!

Amount: Up to $3,000 per recipient

Provider: Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA)

Who Can Apply: High School and Undergraduate Seniors

Requirements: (a) Enrolled or enrolling in a university in Texas, (b) Majoring in music, education, or music education

5. Education First Scholarship

Education First Credit Union created the Education First Scholarship to help students obtain a higher education without taking out student loans by awarding a number of $1,000 scholarships in Texas. Applicants should be high school seniors in Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Newton, Orange, and Tyler counties to qualify.

Amount: $1,000

Provider: Education First Federal Credit Unions

Who Can Apply: High School Seniors

Requirements: (a) Minimum GPA of 3.0 or in top 25% of class, (b) Enroll in at least 12 credit hours during the first semester

6. Text-Em-All Founders Scholarship

The Text-Em-All Founders Scholarship seeks to support high school or undergraduate students who exemplify these qualities in their lives and studies. If you’re a high school or undergraduate with a disadvantaged background, residing in Texas with a history of non-profit work or volunteering, and you’re driven to use your academic and professional journey to create a positive ripple in the world, you are encouraged to apply.

Amount: $10,000

Provider: Text-Em-All

Who Can Apply: High School Seniors and Undergraduate students

Requirements: (a) Residing in Texas

7. SOAR Scholarship

The SOAR Scholarship Program goes beyond financial resources by giving access to professional development and mentoring resources for these women as they go through school. As new scholarship recipients are chosen each year, previous recipients will be invited to continue participating in SOAR activities. Ongoing participants will be able to pay it forward by providing mentorship to the new recipients and continue to benefit from the ongoing relationships these circles will build.

Amount: Up to $5,000 per recipient

Provider: Heritage University

Who Can Apply: High School Seniors and above

Requirements: (a) GPA ≥ 3.0, (b) Female, (c) Enrolled or Enrolling full-time in a College in Texas, (d) Interested in Leadership and Community Service

8. LNESC Emergency Scholarship

As a result of the joint partnership between LNESC and Macy’s, the LNESC Emergency Scholarship was created to provide financial assistance to students facing economic hardships that prevent them from attending classes or completing a degree program. Reasons for receiving this scholarship include unexpected financial challenges such as a change in family income or support, the loss of a job, the death of an immediate family member, natural disaster, pending eviction or home foreclosure, burglary, and fire. Recipients of this scholarship cannot be winners of other LNESC scholarships.

Amount: Up to $500

Provider: LNESC & Macy’s

Who Can Apply: College Freshmen, College Sophomores, College Juniors, College Seniors

Requirements: (a) Residency in California, Missouri, New York, New Mexico, Florida, Ohio, or Texas, (b) Full-time student status, (c) Immediate financial need, (d) Minimum GPA of 3.0

9. Amarillo Area Foundation Scholarships

The Amarillo Area Foundation (TX) scholarships offer a variety of scholarships for high school seniors and current college students. Scholarship eligibility differs by county.

10. British American Foundation of Texas Undergraduate Scholarship

Texas students studying in the UK or Texas or UK students studying in Texas are eligible to apply for the British American Foundation of Texas Undergraduate Scholarship. Scholarships are awarded in the fall semester and students should be majoring in a field related to science, technology, math, engineering, or business. Winners will be honored at a special awards dinner.

Amount: Varies

Provider: British American Foundation of Texas

Who Can Apply: High School Seniors, College Freshmen, College Sophomores, College Juniors

Requirements: (a) UK or Texas Residency, (b) Full-time student status in the UK or Texas, (c) Demonstrated financial need, (d) Minimum GPA of 3.25, (e) Interview

11. V&E Scholars Program

The V&E Scholars Program is designed for minority students with financial needs interested in pursuing a career in law. Seven scholarships are awarded per year to students in Houston, Dallas, and Austin. In addition to the scholarship, recipients receive the chance to do a summer internship with Vinson & Elkins.

Amount: $10,000

Provider: Vinson & Elkins

Who Can Apply: High School Seniors

Requirements: (a) Academic status in the top 20% of graduating class, (b) Member of an ethnic group underrepresented in the legal profession or member of the LGBT community, (c) Interest in working in a law firm setting, (d) Minimum SAT score of 1100 or minimum ACT score of 22, (e) Valid social security number, (f) U.S. citizenship or residency in Houston, Dallas, Austin, or surrounding areas for at least 7 consecutive years

Still need help with financial aid and college scholarships?

We understand. Financing college tuition can be quite the process. How do you know what to do first?

First, start by submitting your FAFSA form as soon as possible since this will help determine what financial aid you might qualify for. (More information on FAFSA and calculating your Student Aid Index here.)

Next, remember there are Texas scholarships affiliated with specific universities, like:

Then, create a free Going Merry profile to access our extensive list of scholarships. At Going Merry, we make finding and applying for scholarships easy. You’ll be matched with the scholarships you’re eligible for, save your favorite scholarships, and then apply for those scholarships. We’ve even bundled together similar scholarships into single applications, to help you apply uber efficiently.

Get started today.

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