2025-26 Texas Tech University Presidential Merit Scholarship (US Based)

Scholarship Awarding University: 
Texas Tech University

Type of degree: 
Bachelor’s

Scholarship Deadline: 
Applications for this scholarship will close on the 1st of April, 2025 (but the priority deadline is December 1, 2024).

Scholarship Summary: 
Presidential Merit Scholarships are awarded to entering first-time freshman (domestic and international) who show exceptional academic ability through superior test scores and class ranking. Annual award amounts pay one-half toward fall and one-half toward spring terms. If you are a non-resident or international student awarded a Presidential Scholarship, you will also qualify to pay in-state tuition.

Scholarship Applicant Criteria: 
To be eligible for consideration, applicants must;
a. Earn a minimum cumulative SAT score of 1100 or a minimum composite ACT score of 22
b. Obtain a minimum HS GPA of 3.0

Value of Scholarship: 
The Presidential Merit Scholarships range in value from $1,000 - $9,000 annually and are renewable annually. 

If you are a non-resident domestic student, awarded a Presidential Scholarship, you will also qualify to pay in-state tuition.

Scholarship Application Guide: 
All merit awards are guaranteed for students admitted by May 1; admission after this date is limited only by the availability of these scholarships.

Scholarship Website: 
Find further information on this scholarship opportunity at the Texas Tech University Freshman Scholarship Page or the International Student Page.


Light bulb graphic used in the Texas Tech University Presidential Merit scholarships post
GUIDE TO MAKING AN APPLICATION FOR THE TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTIAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS
There is no separate scholarship application outside of the regular admission process for Texas Tech and so we'll be reviewing all the criteria Texas Tech looks out for when evaluating an admission application;

1. Academic performance 

With a 3.0 GPA and a 1100 SAT or 22 ACT, you are guaranteed to receive a $1,000 scholarship but for higher scholarship amounts, your academic performance has to be in the top 20% of incoming freshmen for example, a freshman with a 3.75 GPA and a 1470 SAT will receive a higher scholarship amount of $4,500.

2. Academic Rigor

Texas Tech gives great consideration to the level of difficulty of each applicant's high school curriculum and this is because this criterion gives a rough overview of how the applicant will handle the educational structure in place at Texas Tech. An applicant who's taken an Honors curriculum and has performed excellently will have an easier time coping with the curriculum at TTU.
Texas Tech University values high school students who push themselves, are intellectually curious and are interested in learning by engaging in rigorous, college-level coursework such as Honors, AP or IB courses. We believe that these experiences can elevate the high school experience and thus, it is our policy to make academic rigor a factor in consideration for admission to Texas Tech.
This statement culled from the TTU website very clearly shows that your grades are simply not enough to guarantee your admission into TTU but exerting yourself to take on more rigorous schoolwork will definitely lead to your application being reviewed positively.

3. Leadership qualities 

A lot of students erroneously believe that showcasing leadership qualities in your application simply involves highlighting the periods in time when you were in charge of a team but leadership in today's world goes beyond those rhetoric, you have to show how you went about carrying out your leadership qualities. One way to write about leadership in your application can be broken down into 3 steps:
  1. The successful identification of a problem that you can proffer a solution to
  2. The correct selection of suitable individuals to make up the team responsible for implementing the solution
  3. Your effective management of the team to bring about the desired solution.
TTU is looking for individuals with a high emotional quotient, a person that leads by inspiring their team to give their possible best and gives the them the space to communicate their ideas freely.


4. Extracurricular activities 

Your past time shows where your passions and talents lie. TTU is especially interested in applicants who can show through their application that are committed to serving others using their strengths and skills.

If you believe that your experiences and qualifications do not meet the standard TTU admission requirements, they strongly encourage you to respond to essay prompts through the application for admission and submit up to 3 letters of recommendation. Essays or personal statements are a great way to showcase your writing skills while allowing the admissions committee to hear directly from you.

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