Approximately 750 Texas high school students will receive scholarship offers worth at least $20,000 over a four-year period through Texas Advance, a new University of Texas at Austin initiative aimed at supporting economically disadvantaged students across the state who are at the top of their class.
Texas Advance will award $15 million to Texas high school seniors applying for 2015 fall admission to The University of Texas at Austin. In total, students can earn up to $15,000 per year when Texas Advance is combined with available Pell and TEXAS Grants — enough to cover the cost of tuition, books and fees at UT Austin.
To receive priority consideration, students must complete their admissions applications by Oct. 15. The final deadline to complete an application for Texas Advance is Dec. 1.
“Our priority is to make the campus accessible to students from a variety of backgrounds, and Texas Advance gives top students who have financial need the opportunity to get their education at UT Austin,” said David Laude, senior vice provost for enrollment management and the university’s champion for student success.
In addition to family income and financial need, eligibility will be based on a holistic review of each complete application. This includes performance in the classroom and essay submissions as well as contributions and activities outside the classroom.
“Everyone benefits from a diverse student body. Texas Advance provides students from historically underserved backgrounds with the financial resources to attend a great university and ensures UT Austin continues to recruit the very best students in the state,” said Gregory J. Vincent, vice president of the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement.
Texas Advance students will also be admitted to their first-choice colleges within the university and may be invited to join one of several successful, invitation-only academic-enrichment communities. In these small, community-focused environments, students receive the support and resources they need to thrive at UT Austin and graduate in four years.
This initiative reflects UT Austin’s commitment to providing opportunities for students with limited access to higher education in Texas who have proved themselves in the face of adversity by performing at the top of their high school class.
