Free Gift Aid from the State of Texas: Scholarships and Grants for All

Texas wants its high school graduates to set their sights firmly on a college education. In an effort to make choosing a college easier, and to make finding that much needed financial aid less daunting, Texas has initiated the College for Texans website. Here Texas residents considering college will find everything they need to know about the universities and colleges within their state. Students can also find valuable information concerning scholarships, grants and other forms of financial aid that help to make a college education accessible to all.

Texas students who want to take advantage of the many scholarship and grant programs provided by their state, must first fill out and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. From there it is just a process of finding the school that suits you, and the financial aid packages for which you are eligible.

General Scholarships and Grants for Texas Students

Most states sponsor substantial scholarship and grant programs that are designed to encourage and support the desire of resident students to attend college. Texas is no different. While scholarship and grant requirements may vary, the goal of all of these programs is the same. To make post-secondary education more affordable to all students who wish to continue their education on the college level.

Texas offers a large number of scholarship and grant programs for it's resident students. The following examples will give you a sampling of what is available in the Lone Star State:

The Texas Educational Opportunity Grant provides full tuition grants to eligible students enrolled in a community college or other 2-year institution in Texas. Students must demonstrate the requisite level of financial need, a low Expected Family Contribution and must be enrolled at least part-time at an accredited Texas college or university.
The Towards Excellence, Access and Success Grant, or TEXAS Grant was designed to help ensure that successful high school students with extreme financial need would have access to the necessary funds to pay for college. Eligible applicants must show the requisite level of financial need, a low Expected Family Contribution, and must be enrolled in a 2- or 4-year undergraduate program in a Texas public college or university. Grant awards can be as large as the total cost of tuition less any other financial aid previously received.
Texas Public Educational Grants are campus-based programs designed to aid financially needy students. Grants are available to resident and non-resident students, as well as qualified foreign students. Applicants must demonstrate the requisite level of financial need, and must be enrolled at a participating public university.
The Top 10% Scholarship is an innovative program aimed at academically talented students with a demonstrable level of financial need. The goal of this program is to retain students of excellence and keep them studying and working in Texas. Awards range from $1000 to $2000 a semester.
Tuition Equalization Grants are provided to Texas resident students who demonstrate a required level of financial need, and are enrolled in a private or not for profit college or university. Tuition Equalization grant awards are limited to $3,330 annually.

Career –Specific Scholarships and Grants

Students enrolled in critical need disciplines such as nursing, medicine and teaching will find a large number of scholarship and grant opportunities sponsored or administered by the state of Texas. Loan forgiveness programs are also available to those students who agree to a predetermined contract of service working professionally within the state. Some of the more lucrative programs include:

The Texas Primary Care Office, in association with the National Health Service Corps provides loan forgiveness/repayment opportunities to graduating doctors and nurses who agree to practice in an under-served state healthcare facility. Awards can be as much as $15,000 annually.
Vocational Nursing Scholarships are provided to student nurses with financial need who are pursuing a vocational program to become a licensed practical nurse. Whith the current nationwide shortage of qualified nurses, many healthcare facilities are turning to LPN's to close the gap. This program is designed to help increase the pool of qualified LPN's in Texas. The current maximum award is $1,500 and preference is given to nursing students from rural districts.
Professional Nursing Scholarships are awarded to both undergraduate and graduate RN students studying at a public college or university in Texas. Applicants must demonstrate the requisite financial need, and awards can be as much as $2,500.

These are only a few of the programs currently being offered to resident students in the state of Texas. The drive to encourage and support college students within the state is strong, and more Texas high school graduates are going on to college than ever before. For more information on the financial aid programs available to students attending a Texas university, visit the College for Texans dedicated website.