Unlocking Opportunities: A Comprehensive Guide to Tarleton State University Scholarships

Tarleton State University, true to its founder's vision, is committed to providing accessible, high-quality education. A significant part of this commitment involves offering a wide array of scholarships to help students finance their education. With 80% of students receiving financial aid, including over $12 million in Tarleton and private college scholarships annually, understanding the available opportunities is crucial. This article provides a detailed overview of the various scholarships offered at Tarleton State University, eligibility criteria, and the application process.

General Scholarship Application: Your Gateway to Over 600 Awards

Tarleton State University streamlines the scholarship application process through a single Online General Scholarship Application. This application serves as a gateway to over 600 different Tarleton awards. By completing this application, students are automatically matched with any college scholarships for which they qualify, based on the information provided. There is no need to apply for each scholarship individually, simplifying the process considerably.

The application opens on August 1st each year, and an active admissions application with a student ID is required to access it.

Key Steps:

Fill out the Online General Scholarship Application.
Submit official high school or college transcripts.
Submit official SAT/ACT college exam scores (must be sent directly from the testing agency).

Important Dates:

The Fall 2026 Scholarship Priority Deadline is February 15, 2026.
Submitting the scholarship application after the February 15 deadline will make students eligible as funding allows.

Tarleton State Promise Program

The Tarleton State Promise program is designed to cover the remaining bill amount after a student’s scholarships, grants, and exemptions are applied, making education more accessible.

To be considered for the Tarleton State Promise program, students must:

Complete Tarleton State’s General Scholarships Application.
Complete the FAFSA application.
Submit official SAT or ACT test scores (must be sent from the testing agency).

President’s Guaranteed Scholarship Program

The President’s Guaranteed Scholarship Program aligns with the university's commitment to providing education to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity.

To be considered, students must:

Be admitted to Tarleton.
Have 30 transferable hours completed prior to registration.
Complete the General Scholarship Application.

Scholarships for Transfer Students from Distinguished College Partners

Tarleton State University has partnered with several Distinguished Colleges, including Blinn College, Cisco College, Ranger College, Dallas College, Hill College, McLennan Community College, Navarro College, Tarrant County College District, Texas State Technical College, and Weatherford College. Students transferring from these institutions are guaranteed an annual award level between $500 and $2,500, depending on GPA and Course Load.

Non-Resident Tuition Waiver

Non-resident students may qualify for a non-resident tuition waiver by receiving at least $1,000 in competitive scholarship funds. The scholarship must be open to both Texas and non-Texas residents and awarded by a scholarship committee authorized in writing by Tarleton to grant scholarships that permit this waiver.

Specific Scholarship Opportunities

Tarleton State University offers a multitude of scholarships tailored to various fields of study, interests, and backgrounds. Here's an overview of some specific scholarship opportunities:

Agriculture-Related Scholarships

Agricultural Services and Development Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to a full-time student majoring in agricultural services and development, seeking initial certification through traditional coursework, demonstrating strong leadership skills, and an expressed interest in teaching. Preference is given to an active member of the Tarleton Collegiate FFA chapter.
Texas Resident Agriculture Scholarship: This scholarship is given to Texas resident, full-time undergraduate students majoring in agricultural services and development, as a first preference, who demonstrate financial need. Recipients must maintain a 3.0 or higher grade point average. Second preference is given to Texas resident, full-time graduate students majoring in agricultural and consumer resources.
Agriculture and Rodeo Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to a student majoring in agriculture and participating in rodeo. The recipient must be majoring in an area of agriculture and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in their major.
Agriculture/Environmental Engineering Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to students majoring in agriculture (1st preference) or environmental engineering (2nd preference).
Animal Sciences Scholarship: This scholarship is given to a full-time, undergraduate student majoring in a field in the Department of Animal Sciences at Tarleton.
Animal Science (Business Concentration) Scholarship: This scholarship is given to a sophomore or higher animal science student in the business concentration with a 2.5 or higher grade point average.
Agriculture Scholarship: Permanent resident, or eligible noncitizen, majoring in agriculture.
Coy L. Geosciences or Agriculture Scholarship: This scholarship is given to students majoring in geoscience or agriculture, demonstrating financial need but not necessarily from FAFSA, with preference given to students who are graduates of a high school located in Young County, Texas or the surrounding area.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Scholarships

STEM Major Scholarship: This scholarship is given to full-time, undergraduate students enrolled in a major that falls into the category of a science, technology, mathematics, or medicine major. Recipients must maintain a 3.0 or higher grade point average and demonstrate financial need.
Engineering, Computer Science, and Related Fields Scholarship: This scholarship is given to full-time undergraduate or graduate students (master or doctorate level) who are in good standing at Tarleton State University, majoring in one of the following majors/areas of study: engineering, computer science, construction science or engineering technology, biological sciences, chemistry, physics, or mathematics.
Hydrology & Water Resources Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to students majoring in hydrology & water resources.

Nursing and Pre-Health Scholarships

Nursing Program Scholarship: This scholarship is given to a student in the Nursing Program at Tarleton State University without regard to age, sex, nationality, or race.
Arthur J. Nursing Scholarship: This scholarship is given to a full-time nursing major, taking nursing degree-specific courses. First preference is given to students from the McLennan County area.
Medical Related Field Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to a full-time, undergraduate student(s) majoring in a medical-related field, with preference given to pre-nursing or nursing majors with an overall GPA of at least 2.5. Preference will be given to a student or students who demonstrate leadership through school and community service.
Pre-Dental, Pre-Medical, or Nursing Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to students pursuing a degree and fulfilling the pre-dental, pre-medical requirements or majoring in nursing at Tarleton State University with at least 30 semester credit hours at Tarleton and a 3.0 overall GPA for nursing majors or a 3.2 overall GPA for pre-dental and pre-medicine majors.

Business Scholarships

Dr. Sam Pack College of Business Scholarship: This scholarship is given to students majoring in the Dr. Sam Pack College of Business pursuing classes on either the Stephenville or Waco campus only. The recipients must have a 2.5 or higher overall grade point average and be from a single-parent household or be a single parent with a child under 18 and must exhibit financial need.
Dr. Sam Pack College of Business Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to a full-time, undergraduate student with a 3.0 overall GPA majoring in the Dr. Sam Pack College of Business.
Business Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to full-time or part-time students majoring in the Dr. Sam Pack College of Business with first preference to general business (or equivalent major), second preference to management majors.
Business Scholarship: Permanent resident, or eligible noncitizen, majoring in the Dr. Sam Pack College of Business. The recipient must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrate strong academic performance. The recipient shall show leadership qualities, including participation in student activities and/or part-time employment, actively working to financially supplement their education in order to pursue his or her collegiate studies.

Education Scholarships

Interdisciplinary Studies (Elementary Education) Scholarship: This scholarship is given to a student majoring in interdisciplinary studies, planning to teach at the elementary level. The recipient should also be a Texas resident and a recent graduate of a Texas High School.
Graduate Kinesiology or Counseling Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to graduate students that have a Texas teacher certification who are pursuing a Master of Science degree in kinesiology or a Master of Science degree in the Department of Counseling.
College of Education Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to needy, Texas resident graduate students majoring in the College of Education.
Doctoral Student in Education Scholarship: This award will be given to a doctoral student within the College of Education. Recipients must be in their final semester and have defended their dissertation.
College of Education Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to doctoral, graduate, or undergraduate students in the College of Education that are in good standing in the academic program and are recommended by the respective Department Head.
Masters Student Teaching Assignment Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to a full-time or part-time masters student enrolled in a program seeking a degree in a field of study related to the recipient's teaching assignment.

Arts and Music Scholarships

Band Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to students participating in band. Recipients shall be full-time students with a 2.50 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA in music.
Music Performance Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded based on music performance. Recipients must maintain a 2.50 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA in music. Active membership and satisfactory progress in appropriate department-selected courses and selected instrumental ensembles are required.
Music or Theatre Performance Scholarship: This scholarship is given based on music or theatre performance. Recipients must have a GPA of 2.75 overall and 3.0 in major (MUSC/THEA). Recipients must remain full-time students during the duration of the award and be active in appropriate department performances.
Music (Piano Emphasis) Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to full-time, undergraduate students majoring in music (piano emphasis). Recipients must complete a successful piano audition, enroll in applied piano lessons, enroll in and make satisfactory progress in piano ensemble (if required by the piano professor), and be active in appropriate department performance opportunities.
Undergraduate Music Performance Scholarship: This scholarship is given to undergraduate, full-time students based on music performance. Recipients must maintain a 3.0 GPA in music courses and a 2.5 overall and current semester GPA.
Art, Music, or Theatre Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to students majoring in art, music, or theatre.
Visual Arts Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to incoming freshmen who plan to pursue a degree in visual arts, visual art education, or visual art history.
Theatre Major Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to a theatre major maintaining full-time student status with a 2.50 overall GPA and 3.0 GPA in theatre courses.

Other Specific Scholarships

Alpha Phi Omega Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to a full-time student in good standing with the university that is an active member of the Xi Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega. In the event there are no active members of the Xi Omicron Chapter in a given year, TSU may award the scholarship to a deserving student who exemplifies those same principles.
Dietetics or Business Scholarship: This scholarship was established to assist worthy students pursuing a career in dietetics or business.
De Leon High School Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to students that graduated from or attended De Leon High School for at least one year, or those who are currently employed in the De Leon ISD. Scholarships may be renewed for five years. There are no restrictions based on student type or attending hours.
Motley County I.S.D., Patton Springs I.S.D., or Dickens County High School Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to a high school graduate of Motley County I.S.D., Patton Springs I.S.D., or a high school in Dickens County, as a first preference.
Communications Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to full-time students majoring in communications.
Corps of Cadets Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to a full-time, sophomore participating in the Corps of Cadets with a minimum grade point average of 2.8. Recipients must be seeking an undergraduate degree as well as a commission in the Armed Forces. Four and three-year Army or Air Force ROTC Scholarship recipients are not eligible to apply.
Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity that demonstrates leadership abilities in the school and community, demonstrates moral character, and is a Texas resident.
Erath, Comanche, Hamilton, Bosque, Somervell, Hood, Palo Pinto, or Eastland County Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to a full-time undergraduate student that graduated from a high school in one of the following counties: Erath, Comanche, Hamilton, Bosque, Somervell, Hood, Palo Pinto, or Eastland.
Giving Day Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to students from the College who raise the most money on Giving Day.
Football Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to full-time football student-athletes with a 2.25 or higher grade point average in good standing with the University who demonstrate financial need.
Criminal Justice Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to a full-time criminal justice major with a 3.0 or higher grade point average.
Texan Corp of Cadets Leadership Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to a student/cadet who has displayed outstanding leadership qualities with the Texan Corp of Cadets and has completed the sophomore year with plans to continue at Tarleton as either a Texan Leaders or ROTC cadet. The recipient must exhibit the need for financial assistance, be in good standing with the University, and be a member of the Tarleton State University Corps of Cadets located in Stephenville, Texas.
Financial Need Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to full-time students demonstrating financial need with a 2.5 overall grade point average.
Student Athlete Summer Sessions Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to a sophomore, junior, or senior-level student-athlete enrolled in summer sessions at Tarleton State University.
Study Abroad Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to undergraduate or graduate students in good academic standing with the university (2.0 or higher GPA), registered in a study abroad class offered by Tarleton State University's Dr.
Comanche County High School Graduates Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to full-time students that are graduates of any high school in Comanche County, demonstrating financial need in order to pursue his or her collegiate studies, a strong desire and commitment to pursue a college degree and having work experience.
Good Standing Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to full-time or part-time students in good standing.
Upward Bound Project Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to a student in the Upward Bound Project at Tarleton State University or a student who has completed the Bridge Program of the Tarleton State University Upward Bound Project demonstrating financial need. The recipient must be an undergraduate full-time student at Tarleton State University.
Plowboy Organization Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to a sophomore member of the Plowboy organization that exhibits the qualities of Dalton as a leader, mentor, and friend.
Golf Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to full-time students participating in golf at Tarleton State University.
Athletic Pep Band Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to a male or female non-music major participating in athletic pep bands. The recipient must demonstrate financial need and be a deserving full-time or part-time student in good standing with the University. The recipient must also have a positive impact on the Tarleton Athletic Band program, its members, and beyond.
Kinesiology Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to full-time or part-time kinesiology majors not currently on athletic scholarship who demonstrate financial need and are in good standing with the University. The recipient should be coachable and open to feedback on ways to succeed and never give up on him/herself. The recipient should be a visible advocate of the importance of taking care of one's own personal health and wellness.
Delta Chi Fraternity Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to an active member of the Delta Chi Fraternity for the applying semester. The recipient must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.85, be an initiated and active member of Delta Chi Fraternity, and be involved in at least one other organization on campus. Applicants must submit a 600-word essay with a letter of recommendation from a faculty or staff member.
Hico High School Graduate Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to a graduate of Hico High School demonstrating leadership abilities in the school and community, moral character, and a record of good citizenship.
Thompson Student Center Facilities and Events Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to students with a 2.5 or higher grade point average demonstrating financial need. First preference will be given to student workers in the Thompson Student Center Facilities and Events department.
Cross Timbers School Development Council Scholarship: This scholarship will be given to students that graduate from a high school with membership in the Cross Timbers School Development Council.

Important Considerations

Notification of Other Offers: Scholarship recipients must notify Tarleton State University if they accept any other offers prior to May 1 of the acceptance year.
Forfeiture of Scholarship: Failure to fulfill all stated conditions may result in immediate forfeiture of the scholarship.

Read also: The Legacy of Tarleton Football

tags: #tarleton #state #university #scholarships #available