🎓 Texas A&M Scholarships & Aid Guide

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What This Page Covers:

Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
Automatic merit ranges and who typically qualifies
Competitive and hidden-gem scholarships worth a look
Honors perks and how to stack awards the smart way

Your student’s worked hard. Texas A&M might help—but the scholarships aren’t always easy to find. This guide shows where to look, what’s automatic, what’s competitive, and hidden aid most families don’t see.

🎓 Estimated Cost of Attendance (2025–26)

Expense	Texas Resident	Non‑Resident
Tuition & Fees	$13,012	$41,928
Room & Board	$11,400	$11,400
Books, Supplies, Misc.	$4,142	$4,142
Total Estimated COA	$28,554	$57,470

💡 Don’t Miss State Aid:
Your family may qualify for state-funded grants like the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant or the Toward Excellence, Access, and Success (TEXAS) Grant—visit our Texas state aid page for full details:
👉 Texas State Grants & Scholarships

🌎 Out-of-State Tuition Waivers & Discounts:
Texas A&M participates in the Academic Common Market (ACM) at the graduate level, allowing eligible students from SREB states to pay in-state rates for approved programs not offered in their home state. In addition, several nonresident waivers can significantly cut costs:

Competitive Scholarship Waiver: Students who receive at least $4,000/year in TAMU scholarships may pay in-state tuition.
Graduate Assistant Waiver: Teaching and research assistants (50% appointment or more) and often their dependents qualify for in-state rates.
Military & Veteran Waivers: Includes Hazlewood Act and federal provisions for active duty, veterans, and dependents.
Other Waivers: Available for National Lab employees, NATO families, Texas Tuition Promise Fund users, and select Good Neighbor programs.

Savings Example: Out-of-state tuition is about $39,000 vs. $13,000 in-state — a difference of roughly $26,000 per year if you qualify through ACM or a waiver.

📉 Projected Net Price After Average Aid
Federal and institutional data show:

Average Net Price (after grants and scholarships): ≈ $21,880/year
% Receiving Aid: ~94% of full-time undergraduates
Average Aid Awarded: ~$13,600/year

Most Texas students qualify for merit and state grants; out-of-state students can earn competitive institutional awards that bring net costs down significantly. Use Texas A&M’s Net Price Calculator for personalized estimates.

✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships

No Automatic Grid at Texas A&M: Unlike some public universities, Texas A&M does not offer guaranteed automatic scholarships based strictly on GPA or test scores. All major freshman scholarships (President’s Endowed, Lechner, McFadden, etc.) are awarded through the competitive university scholarship application process.

🔹 What this means for families: your student must complete the university scholarship application by the December 1 priority deadline to be considered.
🔹 Strong GPA and test scores still matter, but there’s no guaranteed cutoff grid like at some other universities.

Automatic Scholarship FAQ

Does Texas A&M have automatic scholarships?
No. Texas A&M does not publish an automatic merit grid. All major scholarships are competitive through the university’s scholarship application process.

Do I have to apply separately?
Yes. Students must complete the general scholarship application by the priority deadline to be considered.

Are test scores required?
A&M is test-optional for admission, but high ACT/SAT scores still strengthen scholarship applications. Superscores are considered if officially reported.

Can out-of-state students qualify?
Yes. Competitive awards are open to both residents and non-residents. Non-resident students who receive at least $4,000 per year in competitive scholarships typically qualify for the non-resident tuition waiver, which reduces tuition to the Texas resident rate.

🏆 Competitive Scholarships

These scholarships don’t fall in your lap. Your student has to apply, stand out, and compete — but if they’ve done the work, they’re worth it.

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
President’s Endowed Scholarship (PES)	$3,000/yr + $1,000 enrichment	Top Texas students; strong academics, leadership, service	Yes	Yes — up to 4 years	Roughly 300–400 awarded each year across the freshman class
Terry Foundation	Full ride + enrichment	Texas residents with financial need, leadership, and service	Yes	Yes — 4 years	Extremely selective; ~50–60 TAMU students chosen annually
Regents’ Scholarship	$6,000/yr	First-generation and limited-income Texas students	Yes	Yes — 4 years	Several hundred awarded yearly; designed to support first-gen families
Craig & Galen Brown Foundation	Up to full cost of attendance	Texas high achievers; interview required	Yes	Varies	Highly selective; ~70–80 across TAMU and partner schools
Century Scholars	$5,000/yr + study abroad support	Students from targeted Texas counties	Yes	Yes — 4 years	Dozens each year; designed to broaden geographic diversity
Texas Leadership Scholars	Full ride	Top Texas students with strong academics and service record	Yes	Yes — 4 years	Small statewide cohort each year; highly competitive nomination process

Note: Numbers of awards are approximate, based on past cycles and public reports. Eligibility ranges are estimates when not explicitly published by Texas A&M.

Competitive Scholarship FAQ

When is the scholarship deadline?
The priority scholarship application deadline is December 1. Final consideration closes by February 1. Apply early to maximize chances.

How many President’s Endowed Scholarships are awarded?
Roughly 300–400 PES awards are offered each year across the freshman class.

Are these scholarships renewable?
Yes. Most major awards renew for up to four years as long as GPA and credit requirements are met.

Do test scores still matter?
Yes. While Texas A&M is test-optional, ACT/SAT scores strengthen applications for competitive scholarships. Superscores are considered when submitted officially.

Can students receive more than one?
No. Students cannot stack multiple flagship freshman academic scholarships. They will be awarded the single highest scholarship for which they qualify.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These are the lesser-known awards and waivers that often stack with other aid. Many are activity-based (Corps, Aggie Band, ROTC), identity-focused, departmental, or tied to clubs/hometowns.

Scholarship / Program	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Corps of Cadets Scholarships	$1,000–$19,000/yr	Corps membership; merit/need reviewed	Yes	Yes	Cadets in good standing; awards widely distributed
Aggie Band Participation	Included in Corps range	Auditioned member of Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band	Yes	Yes	Marching band cadets who stay active in Corps
Army ROTC + Patriot	Full tuition + fees + R&B	Contracted Army ROTC cadets	Yes	Yes	Strong ROTC applicants; Patriot covers room/board
Air Force ROTC + Patriot / Murray	Tuition + R&B; Murray gives in-state	AFROTC cadets in Corps	Yes	Yes	AFROTC cadets, esp. OOS, gain major savings
Navy/Marine ROTC + Patriot	NROTC covers tuition; Patriot adds R&B	Contracted NROTC students	Yes	Yes	Scholarship NROTC midshipmen in Corps
Foundation Excellence Award (FEA)	Multi-year stipend	First-gen/underrepresented w/ need	Yes	Often	Need-based & diversity-focused students
Departmental Awards	≈ $1,000–$2,500/yr	Declared major; GPA/merit	Yes	Varies	Students excelling in their department
Aggie Moms & Hometown Clubs	≈ $500–$1,500/yr	Residency or club ties	Yes	Varies	Students from active club regions; some unclaimed
Education Abroad Scholarships	≈ $500–$2,000	Approved TAMU study abroad	Yes	No (one-time)	Students who plan ahead with advisors
Veteran / Dependent Awards	≈ $500–$10,000/yr	Military-affiliated students	Yes	Varies	Vet/dependent families who apply annually
Non-Resident Tuition Waiver for Cadets	Pays in-state rate	Must be in Corps of Cadets	No (status-based)	Yes	Out-of-state cadets; huge savings

Note: Award amounts and eligibility are approximate. Some vary by year, major, or available funding. Always confirm with TAMU before relying on specific figures.

⭐ What Texas A&M Is Known For

Texas A&M is a flagship R1 land-, sea-, and space-grant university—big-time in research, leadership, and hands-on learning with roots deeply woven into Texas’s industries and communities.

Top National Program:
The Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering is ranked No. 1 in the nation for undergraduate programs in the U.S. News & World Report 2025 rankings. Texas A&M is also classified as an R1: Doctoral University — Very High Research Activity.

Engineering & Petroleum: Top-10 ranking for undergraduate engineering (#16) and undergrad management (#9); No. 2 in the nation for graduate Petroleum Engineering.
Ocean Engineering: #1 in the U.S. (College Factual, 2025).
Nutrition Science & Psychology (undergrad): Each holds a #1 national ranking (College Factual, 2025).
Veterinary Medicine (grad school): #10 nationally (U.S. News, 2024).
Online M.B.A. (Mays Business School): Ranked #1 nationally in U.S. News 2025 for online master’s business programs (including Veterans).
Public Affairs (Bush School): Top 10% of MPA programs; 6th in Homeland Security graduate ranking.
Law School Specialty Areas: Tied #22 overall U.S., with Top-3 rankings in dispute resolution and Top-6 in IP law.
NSF R&D Funding: Ranked 14th in governmental funding and 22nd overall in research & development.

🎖 Honors College at Texas A&M

Texas A&M’s University Honors Program is designed for high-achieving students who want an extra layer of challenge, community, and faculty mentorship. Admission is by application — it isn’t automatic, even for top students. Strong academics matter, but essays, recommendations, and leadership involvement are key.

What a Typical Honors Aggie Looks Like:

Unweighted GPA: 3.75–4.0
ACT: 28–33 or SAT: 1300–1450 (superscores considered)
Several AP/IB/Dual Credit or advanced coursework
Strong writing in essays plus leadership or service roles
First-gen, rural, and underrepresented students encouraged to apply

Perks of the Honors Program

Priority registration and smaller seminar classes
Honors housing options with a built-in peer community
Access to undergraduate research with faculty mentors
Special advising, mentorship, and leadership workshops
Recognition at graduation and on transcripts

Honors Scholarships

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Lechner Scholarship	$2,500/yr	Admitted to Honors; GPA ≥3.75; ACT 29+ or SAT 1350+	Yes	Yes — up to 4 years	~200 students each year. Typically strong Honors admits who aren’t PES winners but still near the top of the applicant pool.
McFadden Scholarship	$2,500/yr	Honors admission; GPA 3.85+; ACT 31+ or SAT 1400+	Yes	Yes — up to 4 years	Selective group, often overlapping with top PES and National Merit students who bring strong leadership and essays.

Disclaimer: GPA/test score ranges and award counts are based on typical past recipients. Texas A&M does not publish strict cutoffs; actual eligibility varies depending on applicant pool and funding.

Honors FAQ

Is admission automatic for top students?
No. All applicants must submit a separate Honors application with essays and recommendations.

How selective is it?
Only a small fraction of each freshman class is admitted. GPA and test scores matter, but essays and leadership play a major role.

Do Honors students receive extra scholarships?
Yes. Lechner and McFadden are tied directly to Honors admission. Additional stipends are available later for research and study abroad.

Can Honors stack with PES or Terry?
No. Students can only hold one flagship freshman scholarship. They will be awarded the single highest scholarship for which they qualify.

📎 Official Links

Texas A&M is more than just a big Texas school with a famous football team — it’s a place where strong academics, deep traditions, and serious scholarship support come together. From flagship awards like PES and Terry, to hidden gems in the Corps, Aggie Band, and departmental funds, there are real ways to make an Aggie education more affordable. The key is applying early, stacking where you can, and matching your student’s strengths to the opportunities that fit best.

✅ Last updated: September 1, 2025