Texas Leadership Scholars Program
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Full-ride scholarship (tuition and fees for four years plus a housing & food stipend) for high-achieving, high-need Texas high school seniors at participating public universities.
- How much
- full tuition and fees for four years plus a housing & food stipend (average on-campus cost at the university)
- Who qualifies
- Texas resident status; graduating senior at an accredited Texas public high school (incl. open-enrollment charter); must be TEXAS Grant eligible (FAFSA/TASFA); top 10% of class OR a recommendation letter from principal/counselor; evidence of leadership and service; must enroll full-time in a bachelor's program at a participating university the fall right after graduation (deferring for fall military service may disqualify).
- For high school seniors
- Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
- When to apply
- Open now · due February 16, 2027 Annual; application opens Oct 1, closes mid-February (Fall 2027 cycle: Oct 1, 2026 - Feb 16, 2027; recommendations due Feb 18, 2027).
- How to apply
- Get the application from a staff member at your high school (counselor, teacher, principal)
- Applications for Fall 2027 open Oct 1, 2026 and close Feb 16, 2027, 11:59 pm CST
- Your FAFSA/TASFA must be done and your recommendation (principal or counselor if you're not top 10%) received by Feb 18, 2027
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + state application + recommendation + essay
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (highered.texas.gov), page 2, page 3 and page 4
The details
State-funded THECB program. Scholars attend one of ~36 participating Texas public universities (2027-28 list includes UT Austin, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UH, UNT, Texas State, UTSA and others). Per THECB, tuition and fees are covered for all four years (through a combination of federal, state and institutional aid) and scholars receive a stipend equal to the average cost of room and board at their university; plus peer network, mentoring, leadership development, undergraduate research and a living-learning community (may require living on campus the first 2 years). Scholars must stay TEXAS Grant eligible, enroll full-time, keep a 2.5 GPA and meet program requirements. The scholarship is tied to the awarding campus and is not transferable.
More money from Texas
- Dell Scholars Program$20,000 flexible scholarship + laptop, book credits, emergency funds, teletherapy
- TEXAS Grant (Toward EXcellence, Access, & Success)up to $5,399 per semester (2026-27 max; up to $16,197/yr with summer); target $2,500 per semester
- Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG)up to $2,134/semester (community colleges), $3,896/semester (technical institutes), $1,840/semester (state colleges) in 2026-27
- Texas First Scholarship$10,798 (graduate 2+ semesters early) or $5,399 (less than 2 semesters early), 2026-27
- Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG)up to $4,270 per year; up to $6,405 per year for undergraduates with exceptional need (2026-27)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.