If you recently graduated from high school and are looking for a university in Texas to follow a career path, then UTEP has you covered. The University of Texas at El Paso is an incredible public research university known for its exceptional academic programs and dedication to serving the community.
But sometimes paying for your education can be really hard; and that is why UTEP offers multiple scholarships that you can apply for, whether you are a new or a current student. Some of these scholarships are provided by the university itself, while others are from external sources.
Either way, you cannot miss the opportunity to apply for one if you need it. There are some eligibility requirements you must follow first, and they can vary depending on the scholarship. Remember that some scholarships reopen applications, so even if you miss it, you will be able to apply for the next period.
Ways to Find Scholarships Available
There are a lot of scholarship openings every day, so it can be confusing and messy to find one that fits you the most. For UTEP, some tools can help you ease the search and give you all the information you need, whether it is requirements, necessary documentation, or others.
First of all, you can enter the UTEP’s Division of Students Affairs website and look for the office of scholarships. You will see featured scholarships available and other types of information.
From there, at the left side of your screen, you can either contact the office or scholarships or use Scholarmine. The latter is an online platform that aims to support and promote all types of scholarship opportunities and make them accessible to researchers, scholars, and students.
It is a great tool since not many people do not know what scholarships UTEP offers or even do not search in the right place. You can click here (link: https://utep.awardspring.com/) to see the portal, but you must have a school account to enter your username and password.
Types of UTEP Scholarships
While navigating the UTEP website, you will see at the top of the screen the different types and categories of scholarships. Depending on your student status, you may want to know more about that type of scholarship:
UTEP Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen
This scholarship is for those who just graduated from high school and are ready to enter UTEP and it last for four years. If you want to apply for UTEP’s Academic Scholars Program for the 2024-25 academic year, you must:
- Be a high school senior graduating in the Class of 2024.
- Complete the University’s online scholarship application and be accepted to UTEP by either November 1, 2024 or March 1, 2024.
- Enroll full-time in courses that are part of the student’s degree plan (also to preserve the scholarship)
After you are accepted, you will receive a username and password to access the scholarship application. The academic awards start at $1,000 and continue to $3,000, $5,000, and finally $8,000 each year. Now, the category of awards you might receive depends on two factors:
- Overall high school GPA
- Ranked in a specific percentage of the graduating class
The $8,000 reward, also called the Presidential Scholarship) is special because it is only awarded to the student ranked #1 in the class at the end of the junior year attending a public high school within Region 19, a private or charter school with five or more years of a graduating senior class. Only one student per high school can apply.
Each year you have to renew the scholarship, so meanwhile, if you want to still be eligible you must:
- Maintain full-time enrollment (12 credit hours or more) each semester
- Fulfill the minimum cumulative grade point average (varies depending on the reward category)
- Complete 30 credit hours at the end of each academic year if you want to still be eligible
If, for some reason, your renewal application is denied or you want to request an extension of scholarship eligibility, you can file an appeal by downloading the corresponding form on their website.
International Student Scholarships
Not only the U.S. residents can apply for scholarships. International students can also apply for different types of scholarships that do not have a citizenship stipulation. Some of these are:
- Texas Application for Student Financial Aid (TASFA). It is a form that Texas colleges and universities use to gather information from students to determine their eligibility for state financial aid. Even though you are a non-citizen or non-permanent resident of the U.S., you still need to be classified as a Texas resident
- Instate Tuition Program for Mexican Citizens (PASE). It is a special tuition benefit, offering a discount for Mexican citizens and permanent residents who need financial assistance, paying the same tuition as Texas residents
- Good Neighbor Scholarship. For current students from the Western (American) hemisphere countries, it provides an exemption from the payment of tuition (not fees) for the 12 months beginning with the fall semester following selection as a scholarship recipient. 2024 Applications for this scholarship are closed, but it will open in spring 2024
- TheDream.US Scholarship. It is a wonderful scholarship program that helps immigrant students with or without DACA or TPS status pursue higher education in the U.S. You can either opt for the National Scholarship or the Opportunity Scholarship, each with its eligibility requirements
External Scholarships
This next category is not exactly provided by UTEP. Instead, they are provided by organizations or individuals who want to help students with their education. These scholarships are available to a larger group of students, even if they are not attending a specific school.
They can be given based on different factors like good grades, community service, leadership abilities, or special talents. These scholarships can help pay for things like tuition, fees, books, and other educational costs.
If you do not know where to look, UTEP has you covered with the External Scholarship Bulletin. It is a report containing different organizations providing scholarships, the deadlines, and minimum requirements. It updates every time, so if you miss the deadlines, wait for the notice with new external scholarships and dates.
Other Special UTEP Scholarships
Aside from the normal scholarships that UTEP offers or informs about, there are some particular scholarships that, even if they are external, most people take into consideration and are the most featured in the university.
Terry Foundation Scholarship
This program aims to help incredible Texas high school graduates for attendance at public colleges and universities within the state. This scholarship lasts for up to eight semesters, and if you want to apply, you first must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Be a Texas resident and graduate from a Texas high school or home-school program
- Have a 3.0 minimum GPA
- Be admitted to UTEP as a full-time student in the fall semester of the year awarded
- Reside on the campus for the first year in the Terry Scholar wing of Miner Canyon
- Demonstrate financial need and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Applications open on October 1, 2024, and you will have until January, 16th, 2024 at 11:59 pm for the 2024-2025 academic year. If you are a freshman and have what it takes to demonstrate that you are a leader and a high-achieving student, then apply for it.
Hawkins Scholarship
Now, this scholarship might be hard to get, and with reason. This program awards two $10,000 scholarships for two UTEP students if they show incredible merit, spirit and capability of becoming great leaders and helping others to solve serious problems around the community.
The eligibility requirements are more demanding than the last one:
- Be a UTEP junior who intends to apply for admission and attend graduate school in the fall of 2025
- You must be at least 17 years old and must not have passed your 23rd birthday on 1 October 2024
- Have completed an undergraduate degree at UTEP not later than July 2025
- Be a citizen of any country
- Have a 3.7 on a 4.0 scale minimum GPA
The application deadline for 2024 is on October 5th at 11:59 pm MST. There is no date available for 2024, so you have to wait for it to be announced.
However, only achieving the minimum GPA does not guarantee one of the two scholarships available. You must still show the interviewers what you are capable of and demonstrate good behaviour around the campus.
Murray Watson, Jr. Scholarship
This scholarship is a little bit simpler, but it has its limitations. It awards $5,000 in scholarships each month, but you may only apply once in an academic year and you may only win it once. The eligibility requirements are also similar to the last one, but less demanding:
- Be a graduating high school senior, current college student, or graduate student.
- Be a Texas resident and be at least 17 years old.
- Be accepted and committed to attending or enrolled in a U.S.-accredited state or nonprofit college or university located anywhere within the United States (including UTEP).
- Have a 3.3 minimum GPA or equivalent.
To apply for the Terry Foundation Scholarship you must submit your application between midnight CT on the 1st day of the month and 11:59 p.m. CT on the last day of the month. If you do not get the scholarship, you will have to wait for the next academic year to apply once again.
McDonald’s El Paso Scholarships
This scholarship is the same as the ones already mentioned to support students with financial aid so they achieve their academic objectives. Not only UTEP but also El Paso Community College (EPCC) are partners of this scholarship initiative. The eligibility requirements are:
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Be a Texas resident and a graduating high school senior
- Have a 2.7 minimum GPA
- Be admitted and attend UTEP as an undergraduate full-time student in the upcoming fall semester
- Have at least one parent of Hispanic background/descent
- Demonstrate financial need and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Reside on the campus for the first year in the Terry Scholar wing of Miner Canyon
- Submit an essay regarding academic goals
Applications for 2024 are closed at the moment, but this scholarship is awarded every year, so wait until you know about 2024 applications.
Apply for Your Preferred Scholarship and Receive Aid for Your Classes
If you are about to enter UTEP, do not miss these opportunities. Most people do not even know they exist, so it is okay if you ask for help or use web tools that search for scholarship opportunities near you.
You must know that the eligibility requirements, for some, are not only to obtain it but also to maintain it. If you do not follow the terms and conditions of the respective scholarship, you may face some troubles and even get it taken away. So make sure you learn everything about the scholarship before applying.