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

Note: Estimates reflect a full-time undergraduate (15 credit hours per semester) for the 2025-2026 academic year. Actual costs may vary based on housing choice, meal plan, and course load.

💡 Average Net Price: Around $10,600/year after need-based aid, according to federal data.

Out-of-State Tuition Waivers: UTSA can cut your tuition bill dramatically if you qualify. The difference between in-state and out-of-state rates is roughly $16,000 per year. That means a waiver could save your family between $48,000–$64,000 over a four-year degree.

The most common way to qualify is by earning a competitive UTSA scholarship of at least $1,000, which comes with an automatic non-resident waiver. UTSA also participates in the Academic Common Market (for certain majors) where out-of-state students pay in-state rates if their home state doesn’t offer that major. These programs can turn UTSA from a “too expensive” option into one of the most affordable out-of-state choices in Texas.

How much can you save with a non-resident tuition waiver?
If your student qualifies, the waiver replaces the $27,000 out-of-state tuition with the in-state rate of $11,000. That’s about $16,000 in savings every year, or up to $64,000 over four years. Housing and meal costs stay the same for all students, so the savings come directly off the tuition bill.

Is the non-resident waiver automatic?
Not always. At UTSA, the waiver is only automatic if your student earns a competitive scholarship worth at least $1,000 in a given academic year. “Competitive” means it’s awarded through an application or selection process—not just automatic based on GPA or test scores—and it must be recognized as competitive by UTSA’s scholarship office. If they meet those criteria, the waiver kicks in automatically and drops their tuition to the Texas in-state rate, which can save an out-of-state family $16,000 or more per year.

What is the Academic Common Market and does UTSA participate?
The Academic Common Market (ACM) is a tuition reciprocity program that allows students to pay in-state rates for certain majors not offered in their home state. UTSA participates for select programs, mainly at the graduate level, but there are occasional undergraduate opportunities. Always confirm with UTSA’s Academic Affairs office and your state’s ACM coordinator before counting on it.

How can you increase your chances of qualifying?
For the scholarship-based waiver:

• Submit your UTSA scholarship application as early as possible — ideally before the priority deadline.
• Maintain a GPA in the mid-3’s or higher and submit strong ACT/SAT scores if available.
• Target programs where you might be in the top of the applicant pool.

For the Academic Common Market:

• Research eligible majors early and confirm they’re not available at any public university in your home state.
• Get written confirmation from both UTSA and your state ACM coordinator.

📌 Superscoring Accepted: UTSA will consider your student’s highest section scores from different ACT/SAT test dates when calculating eligibility. This can boost award amounts if they test more than once.

Do I need a separate application for automatic merit?
Usually no. If UTSA labels an award as “automatic,” it’s typically based on the GPA and/or test score information on your admissions application. Always verify in the UTSA scholarship portal in case a brief form is required to activate it.

Are GPA/test score cutoffs hard lines?
Cutoffs can shift slightly year to year depending on funding and the applicant pool. If UTSA posts bands (e.g., 3.6+ GPA or ACT 28+), treat them as targets, not guarantees.

Do automatic awards stack with other scholarships or waivers?
Stacking rules vary. Some UTSA awards can combine, others replace lesser awards. Read the award terms carefully and ask the scholarship office how an automatic award interacts with competitive awards (especially if a $1,000+ competitive scholarship could trigger the non-resident waiver).

What about renewal?
Most merit awards require a minimum UTSA GPA and full-time enrollment to renew. Check whether renewal is by semester or by academic year and whether summer counts toward renewal credits.

Note: These awards go beyond automatic consideration. They require an application, essays, and a review process. Fewer students are chosen, but the rewards can be significant.

Do I need to apply separately for the UTSA Top Scholar Program?
Yes. You’ll apply through the Honors College, which includes essays, recommendation letters, and an interview. Only a small cohort is chosen each year.

Will Top Scholar trigger the non-resident tuition waiver?
Yes. The UTSA Top Scholar Program counts as a competitive scholarship worth well over the $1,000/year threshold, so it automatically qualifies out-of-state students for the Texas in-state tuition rate.

How competitive is it?
Very competitive. Each year, only about 10 students are awarded Top Scholar status from a pool of roughly 30–35 finalists. These recipients typically rank in the top 5% of their class and score 1440+ on the SAT or 32+ on the ACT. While the minimum eligibility is ACT 28 or SAT 1300, higher scores make applicants much more competitive.

These aren’t always on the postcard—but they stack, open doors (mentors, research, study abroad), and can quietly fill big gaps.

Scholarship / Program	Award Amount	Eligibility (Plain English)	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Bold Promise (Texas Residents)	100% tuition & fees (~$10k–$12k/yr)	Texas freshmen with family income ≤ ~$100k	No	Yes, 8 semesters	Qualifying Texas residents—few hoops, big saving.
Terry Scholars (Foundation)	≈ $24k–$28k/yr (tuition, housing, books)	Texas students with need, leadership & UTSA nomination	Yes	Yes, up to 8 semesters	Top leaders with financial need—rare, full-ride packages.
First-Gen Scholars Program	Up to $2,000/yr plus mentoring	Pell-eligible, first-gen Texas juniors enrolled full-time	Yes	Yes	Committed first-gen students who stay engaged.
Texas Leadership Scholars (TLS)	Covers tuition & fees after aid	Top Texas high school graduates with financial need	Yes (statewide program)	Yes, up to 4 years	High-achieving Texans nominated by their schools.
Henry Romo Memorial Endowed Scholarship	Varies (~$1,000+)	Preference for first-gen Bexar County students (Fox Tech priority)	Yes	—	Local first-gen students with strong need.
International Education Fund	$300–$1,500 (per term abroad)	UTSA students on approved study abroad programs	Yes	—	Students who meet application deadlines and program rules.
Alumni Association Scholarships	$1,000–$2,500 (some up to $10,000)	Current students via Scholarship Hub form	Yes	—	Students who complete the Hub applications.
College & Department Scholarships	$500–$3,000+	Major-specific forms via Scholarship Hub	Yes	—	Students who apply in the Hub for department-specific funds.
SOSA Marching Band Scholarships	$500–$1,500/year	Participants in Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band	Yes (audition/enrollment)	Yes (program-based)	Skilled musicians who commit to band class and rehearsals.
Army ROTC Scholarships	Covers full tuition/fees or room & board, plus stipend	U.S. citizens meeting GPA, fitness & service requirements	Yes	Yes (if standards met)	Students committed to commissioning after graduation.

Can these stack with automatic merit?
Often, yes. Departmental, Alumni, First-Gen, Study Abroad, and ROTC funds can layer on top of UTSA’s automatic scholarships (subject to Cost of Attendance limits). Note: not all outside grants count as “competitive” for the non-resident waiver—check the award’s status with One Stop.

Which of these helps out-of-state families the most?
Terry (Texas residents only) and Bold Promise (Texas freshmen) are the biggest package-style awards here. For non-residents, a scholarship that UTSA designates “competitive” and worth $1,000+ can trigger the in-state tuition rate—Top Scholar already does this; some departmental awards may, but you must confirm with the Scholarship Hub/One Stop.

What’s the fastest way to tap into these?

• Open the UTSA Scholarship Hub and finish both the General and college/department applications early.
• For Bold Promise: file FAFSA/TASFA early and verify income; watch UTSA communications for any extra steps.
• For Terry: start the foundation application early and work closely with UTSA Honors on nomination steps.
• For First-Gen, TLS, Study Abroad, and ROTC: plan timelines so you can hit award deadlines.

Why this matters: Leaning into a school’s strongest areas can mean better internships, research access, and job pipelines. UTSA has carved out national recognition in cybersecurity, education, and research, with growing momentum in engineering and data science.

Department scholarship tip: If your student is in cybersecurity, data science, education, or engineering, check the UTSA Scholarship Hub and departmental pages early. These programs often have targeted awards or paid research opportunities that don’t appear on the main scholarship list.

Invitation or Application? Admission is by application — high-achieving students are invited to apply, but it’s not automatic. Essays and extracurricular involvement matter just as much as test scores.

Tip: If your student is aiming for Top Scholar or other high-value awards, treat the December 1 deadline as your real cutoff.

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Honors College Dean’s Scholarship	Varies (~$1,000+)	Current Honors College students	Yes	—	Strong GPA, active Honors participants
Ardow Ameduri, M.D. Honors Scholarship	Varies (~$1,000+)	Honors students with 24+ credits and 3.5+ GPA	Yes	—	Upper-division Honors students with strong academics
Will & Mary Hathaway Honors Endowment	Varies	Honors Program students	Yes	—	Honors students with leadership/service
Dawson-Durr Memorial Honors Scholarship	Varies	Honors College students	Yes	—	Active Honors students
George W. Brackenridge Honors Scholarship	Varies	Honors College students	Yes	—	Selected Honors students, merit-based
Catto Endowed Scholarship Fund	Varies	Honors students; preference for underserved & first-gen in tech fields	Yes	—	First-gen & underrepresented Honors students
Honors Experiential Learning Award	$500–$1,500 (varies)	Supports research, internships, certifications, study abroad	Yes	—	Engaged Honors students seeking experience funding

Is the UTSA Honors College worth it?
For students looking for smaller classes, priority registration, and enhanced research or internship options, the Honors College is a strong value — especially since it doesn’t add tuition cost. It also opens doors to exclusive scholarships and programs like Top Scholar.

Do Honors College students get extra scholarships?
Yes. The Dean’s, Ameduri, Hathaway, Dawson-Durr, Brackenridge, Catto, and Experiential Learning awards are reserved for Honors students. While not guaranteed, being in Honors makes students eligible for funding that regular students can’t access.

Do you have to be invited?
No. While some high-achieving students receive invitations, any admitted UTSA student can apply. A strong essay and extracurricular profile can help offset slightly lower test scores or GPA.

Was this helpful? Share it with another parent who’s comparing college costs!