University of Texas at Arlington Scholarships

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

For many families, the University of Texas at Arlington offers a strong academic experience with the perks of a big-city location — all while keeping tuition within reach. The good news? UTA offers a range of scholarships for both Texas residents and out-of-state students. From automatic awards based on GPA and test scores to competitive programs that require extra applications, there are opportunities here for almost every type of student. If your family is Texas-based, don’t forget to also check out the Texas state aid programs — they can often be combined with UTA awards for even greater savings.

Below, we’ve broken things down into plain-English sections so you can see what’s available, how to qualify, and where to focus your student’s energy. Think of this as a roadmap to making UTA more affordable without having to decipher university jargon.

💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Texas at Arlington

	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition & Fees	$11,728	$29,300
Housing & Meals	$11,200	$11,200
Total (Estimated)	$22,928	$40,500

Average Net Price: $15,240 per year after financial aid (federal average). Your student’s actual net price will vary depending on scholarships, grants, and family income.

Out-of-State Savings & ACM (Graduate Only): UTA participates in the Academic Common Market (ACM) for graduate programs only (per Texas policy). Eligible students from participating SREB states may pay the in-state rate when enrolled in an ACM-approved UTA graduate program and certified by their home state.

UTA does not offer blanket cross-border reciprocity for undergraduates, but certain high-merit scholarships automatically grant in-state rates to non-Texas residents — often saving families $17,000+ per year.

Note: ACM is program-specific and not automatic; admission to an approved program and state certification are required.

✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships

How UTA uses test scores: UTA superscores the SAT (highest EBRW + Math across multiple dates). For the ACT, they use your highest composite score from a single test date — they do not superscore.

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Presidential Scholarship	$10,000/year	Top 10% of class or unweighted GPA ~3.8+ and SAT 1320+ or ACT 29+	No — automatic with admission	Yes (up to 4 years)	Mostly Texas residents and high-achieving OOS students who apply by March 1. Strong test scores are key — ACT 30+ or SAT ~1350+.
Maverick Academic Scholarship	$1,000–$8,000/year	Unweighted GPA ~3.5+; SAT 1200+ or ACT 25+ for higher tiers (lower awards may go to GPA 3.3+ with solid rigor)	No — automatic with admission	Yes (up to 4 years)	Broadly awarded; many recipients fall in the 3.5–3.7 GPA and ACT 25–28 (SAT 1200–1280) range. Higher awards are much more competitive.

Note: GPA and test score cutoffs shown above are approximate when not explicitly stated on the university’s website. These ranges are based on a mix of official award descriptions, past recipient data, and published student profile statistics. They’re here to give you a realistic target, but the actual cutoff can shift depending on the year’s applicant pool and funding.

Good to know: These scholarships are competitive, not guaranteed. Meeting the GPA/test score cutoffs means you’ll be considered — final offers depend on applicant pool and available funds.

Automatic Scholarship FAQ

Are test scores required?
Yes, for Presidential. Maverick is test-optional, but higher awards usually go to students who submit strong scores.

Do these include in-state tuition for out-of-state students?
Yes — the Presidential award includes a full non-resident waiver. Some Maverick recipients may get a waiver if their award is at least $1,000, but it’s not guaranteed.

What GPA does UTA use?
These cutoffs refer to unweighted GPA, since that gives a consistent baseline across schools.

What’s the key deadline?
Apply for admission and submit all materials by March 1 for merit consideration.

🏆 Competitive Scholarships

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Terry Foundation Scholarship	Covers full tuition & fees, books, and on-campus housing/meals; may include study-abroad stipend	Texas residents; strong academics, leadership, and need; must complete FAFSA/TASFA; finalists interview	Yes — Terry + UTA nomination	Yes (up to 4 years)	Extremely selective. Winners typically have top 10% class rank, strong leadership/service, and compelling personal stories. Interviews weigh heavily.

Note: UT Arlington’s competitive scholarships are limited. Most other opportunities are housed in Mav ScholarShop (see Hidden Gems below).

Competitive Scholarship FAQ

What makes the Terry Scholarship “competitive”?
It’s awarded through a statewide nonprofit, requires UTA nomination, essays, recommendations, and a finalist interview.

Is it worth applying?
Absolutely. It’s life-changing if won — full ride with housing — but families should have a backup plan since it’s highly selective.

How can my student increase their chances?
Focus on leadership, service, and telling a compelling personal story. Grades alone aren’t enough — the interview can make or break a finalist.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These aren’t the automatic scholarships you will find but in many cases ones that are buried inside the college’s website and sometimes harder to find. It’s what I call “hidden gems”.

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Departmental Scholarships	$500–$5,000/year	Awarded by specific colleges/departments based on major, GPA, or involvement	Yes	Varies	Students in certain majors who apply directly to their department
Robert D. Riley Endowed Scholarship	$4,000/year (up to 4 years)	Incoming freshmen not in the Honors College; academic promise and financial need	Yes — via Mav ScholarShop	Yes (4 years)	High-potential students who didn’t qualify for large automatic or Honors awards
Study Abroad Scholarships	$500–$2,000	Students participating in approved UTA study abroad programs	Yes	No	Students planning short-term or semester-long international study
Community Service Scholarships	$500–$1,500/year	Exceptional volunteer/service involvement, strong recommendation	Yes	Yes	Students with sustained community service and leadership roles
UTA Maverick Spirit Scholarship	$500–$1,000/year	Outstanding involvement in campus organizations or leadership roles	Yes	No	Students active in student government, clubs, or campus initiatives
Band & Music Performance Scholarships	$500–$4,000/year	Marching band, pep band, or certain ensembles (audition required)	Yes	Yes	Talented musicians committing to university performances
Greek Life Leadership Scholarship	$500–$1,500/year	Active fraternity/sorority members holding leadership positions	Yes	No	Engaged Greek life members demonstrating strong leadership
Texas Leadership Scholars Program	Full financial support + mentoring/network	Top Texas HS students; leadership, financial need, community impact	Yes — statewide application	Yes (4 years)	High-achieving first-gen/low-income students with leadership stories
Dean’s Leadership Circle (College of Business)	Varies (often $2,000+)	Business majors with strong GPA and leadership potential	Yes — College of Business	Varies	Business students active in orgs or internships
Second Year Leader Award	$1,000+	Sophomores nominated by faculty/staff; must hold campus leadership role	Yes — nomination required	No	Engaged sophomores in org leadership positions
Yardi Scholars Program (Business)	Varies ($1,000+)	Business majors; financial need; preference for first-gen students	Yes — College of Business	Varies	First-gen business majors with FAFSA need
Billy & Tilly Wasson Study Abroad Scholarship	Varies ($500–$2,000)	First-gen students with financial need; study abroad plans	Yes — study abroad office	No	First-gen travelers looking for global experience
Shirlee J. & Taylor Gandy Endowed Scholarship	Varies	Sophomores with need; preference for first-gen students w/out freshman merit aid	Yes — UTA Foundation	Varies	Students overlooked for big freshman scholarships
UTA Native American Student Association Scholarship	Varies	Students (UG or grad) involved with Native American community/service	Yes — NASA org	Varies	Active Native American org participants and advocates
Army ROTC Scholarships	Full tuition + fees + monthly stipend	Meet ROTC academic, fitness, and leadership criteria; service commitment required	Yes — national ROTC application	Yes (up to 4 years, with service obligation)	Students pursuing military leadership with strong academics and fitness

Tip: Many of these hidden gems are stackable with your main merit scholarship — but they often require early, separate applications through your department, music program, or student organization.

Hidden Gem Scholarships – FAQs

Are these scholarships only for certain majors?
Some are. Departmental awards are tied to your major — for example, engineering, nursing, or business students may have access to their own pool of scholarships. Others, like ROTC or identity-based awards, are open to any student who meets the criteria.

Can I stack these with my main merit scholarship?
Yes, in most cases. Many of these smaller awards can be combined with your automatic or competitive merit aid. Just remember — you may have to apply separately for each one, and some programs (like marching band) require participation every semester to keep the award.

Do I have to be a freshman to apply?
Not always. Some are aimed at incoming students (like Texas Leadership Scholars), but others (such as the Second Year Leader Award, Gandy Endowed, or departmental scholarships) are specifically for current students.

How do identity-based scholarships work?
They’re usually donor-funded and awarded to students who identify with or serve a particular community (first-gen, Native American, etc.). These can be especially helpful for students who didn’t qualify for large freshman merit packages.

What about ROTC scholarships?
Army ROTC awards are national but administered locally. They require academic strength, physical fitness, and a service commitment after graduation. They can fully cover tuition and stack with UTA aid in some cases.

When should I apply?
As early as possible. Many hidden gems have deadlines that line up with FAFSA/TASFA or even precede admission deadlines. Departmental, ROTC, and study abroad scholarships in particular may require extra lead time.

About UT Arlington’s Academic Strengths

**UT Arlington** is a dynamic R-1 research university situated in the heart of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. With a strong commitment to both access and excellence, it combines top-tier research activity with student-centered programs that drive upward mobility. Its recognition as a Hispanic-Serving and Asian American & Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution further underscores its mission to amplify diverse talent and social impact.

Standout Program: The Civil Engineering Department within UTA’s College of Engineering consistently ranks among the top 33 nationwide — distinguishing the university as a major engineering hub in Texas. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Online Graduate Education (Master’s): Ranked #26 nationally and #10 for veterans by U.S. News & World Report.
Online Nursing Master’s Program: Ranked #18 for veterans by U.S. News & World Report.
Part-Time MBA: Ranked #58 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report (2025).
Graduate Social Work Program: Ranked #43 nationally by U.S. News & World Report.
Top-Ranked Overall Public University: Moved up to #126 as a top public university and earned the #63 spot for innovation nationally.
Highly Ranked for Access & Earnings: UTA is #1 in the UT System for access and top-10 in Texas for graduate earnings.
Exceptional Diversity & Mobility: Ranked #4 in Texas for advancing social mobility and #6 nationwide for undergraduate ethnic diversity.

🎖 Honors College at UT Arlington

UT Arlington’s Honors College is not an automatic invite — students must apply separately, even if they have high grades and test scores. Admission is competitive and based on GPA, course rigor, leadership, service, and essays. While there’s no Honors dorm, the program provides close faculty mentorship and makes a big campus feel more personal.

What a Typical Honors College Student Looks Like:

GPA: 3.7–4.0 unweighted
Test Scores (if submitted): ACT 28–32 / SAT 1300–1450
Several AP/IB/Dual Credit or Honors courses in high school
Leadership roles, service projects, or academic competitions
Strong writing skills — essays matter here
Often involved in research, creative projects, or community outreach

Honors College Scholarships

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Presidential Honors Scholarship	$13,000/year + non-resident waiver	Top 5% class rank or GPA ~3.9+ and SAT 1400+ or ACT 31+; must be admitted to Honors	No — automatic if admitted to Honors	Yes (4 years)	Very high-achieving freshmen who apply early with test scores
Honors College Merit Scholarship	$1,000–$2,000/year	Incoming or current Honors College students; strong GPA; active Honors participation	Yes — via Honors College	Yes	Engaged Honors students with strong academics and service
Carolyn A. Barros Founding Dean Scholarship	Varies	Honors students with strong academics and leadership	Yes — Honors College	Varies	Top Honors students recognized for service and impact
Charles R. Knerr Scholarship	Varies	Honors College students; merit-based	Yes	Varies	Well-rounded Honors students with strong GPAs
Nancy C. Sommerman Scholarship	Varies	Honors students, need and merit considered	Yes	Varies	Active Honors students balancing academics and service
Dana Dunn Scholarship for Service Learning	Varies	Honors students engaged in service-learning projects	Yes	Varies	Students combining academics with civic engagement
Stuckler Family Endowed Scholarship	Varies	Honors students; merit-based	Yes	Varies	Well-rounded Honors College members
McMahon Honors College Study Abroad Scholarship	$500–$2,000	Honors students participating in study abroad	Yes — Honors College	No	Students planning an academic or research-based study abroad trip
Alan and Bonnie Petsche Award for Honors Study Abroad	Varies	Honors students conducting independent research abroad	Yes	No	Students pursuing project-based travel experiences
Honors College Early Completion Scholarship	$500 (one-time)	Students who finish Honors requirements early (including Senior Project)	Yes	No	Proactive students who complete Honors work before senior year

Note: Dollar ranges (e.g., $1,000–$2,000 or $500–$2,000) reflect typical award levels. Actual amounts may vary by year, applicant pool, and available funding.

Honors College – FAQs

Do I have to apply to join the Honors College?
Yes. You must submit a separate application with essays and recommendations in addition to your UTA admission application.

What GPA or test scores are expected?
Successful applicants usually have a 3.7+ unweighted GPA and ACT 28+/SAT 1300+. Exceptional essays and leadership can outweigh slightly lower numbers.

Can I apply after freshman year?
Yes. Current UTA students with strong GPAs can apply to join the Honors College later.

Do Honors scholarships stack with automatic merit?
Often, yes. Students admitted to Honors can sometimes stack the Presidential Honors Scholarship with other departmental or donor awards.

📎 Official Links

📌 Closing Thoughts

UT Arlington is one of those schools that sneaks up on families. On paper, it’s a huge public university in the middle of Dallas–Fort Worth — but once you start digging, you see the pieces that make it a real value: strong automatic merit, a chance at major competitive awards, and a long list of hidden scholarships tied to leadership, music, first-generation status, and even ROTC. Layer that with an Honors College that comes with its own Presidential award, and you’ve got plenty of ways to bring the price down without sacrificing quality.

If your student is serious about nursing, engineering, business, or any of UTA’s nationally ranked programs, this campus can feel like a launchpad. And for first-gen or cost-conscious families, the mix of automatic aid and “hidden gem” opportunities means you don’t have to rule out a big metro school. The key is applying early, watching those March 1 deadlines, and encouraging your student to throw their hat in the ring for more than just the obvious scholarships.

Parent to parent: The earlier you know what UTA is looking for — in GPA, test scores, and leadership — the easier it is to line things up before senior year. A little planning now can mean thousands saved later.

✅ Last updated: September 2, 2025