Texas Leadership Scholars Program Eligibility and Application


Applications for Fall 2026 Open October 1, 2025.

Applications for Fall 2026 will Close on February 17, 2026 at 11:59 pm CST.

**All recommendations must be completed by February 19, 2026 at 11:59 pm CST.**


Eligibility Criteria

The Texas Leadership Scholars (TLS) program seeks top performing students with demonstrated financial need, leadership in their high school community, and academic success.

  • Demonstrated financial need, as evidenced by FAFSA or TASFA (must be TEXAS Grant eligible). The FAFSA/TASFA must be completed by February 19, 2026.
  • Graduating High School Senior during the current application cycle from an accredited Texas High School.
  • Scholastic record and ability through top 10% or submit a recommendation letter from the student's high school principal or counselor.
  • Evidence of leadership and service within your high school and community.
  • Accepted to a participating 4-year institution.
  • Complete Application Process and receive a recommendation from a principal, teacher, counselor, coach, etc. from their graduating high school.

Military Service and Eligibility - The Texas Leadership Scholars (TLS) Program requires scholars to be enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate degree program at a participating institution during the fall semester immediately following high school graduation. Applicants who plan to complete National Guard or other military service during the fall semester and intend to defer enrollment until the spring may not be eligible for consideration for this program.

Once scholars are admitted to the program, they must maintain TEXAS Grant eligibility, full-time enrollment, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5, meet Satisfactory Academic Progress, and complete all program requirements.

Each participating university has a designated TLS Campus Coordinator as the scholars’ primary point of contact and a mentor. Programming will be conducted or organized by this person, who will also regularly meet with the scholars as a group and in 1:1 meetings. 

A Living Learning Community (LLC) is a component of this program. This may require scholars to live on campus in a specific community with other TLS recipients for the first 2 years of the program. Questions regarding this requirement should be directed to specific institution.

The Application Process

Applications Open for the Fall 2026 Cohort 5 - October 1, 2025

Students must receive the application from a staff member (guidance counselor, teacher, principal, etc.) at their graduating high school. High School staff members can learn more about the program or request the application by visiting the High School Staff Resources page.

In the application, students should be prepared to:

  • Provide basic information about themselves, including their current high school GPA.
  • Self-assess their leadership skills.
  • Provide short responses explaining how they have been a leader in their community.
  • Rank three potential participating schools to which they've applied.
  • Provide the contact information of someone from their graduating high school who can serve as a reference. A recommendation form will automatically be sent to them upon submission of the application.
    • All recommendations must be received by February 19, 2026 at 11:59 pm CST.  We strongly urge completing the application by mid-January to ensure time for the recommendation to be submitted before applications are reviewed by Texas Leadership Scholars Program staff.

*At the onset of awarding, the Scholarship is not transferable because we seek to ensure a cohort of students at each campus. If the student does not attend the institution which awarded the scholarship, they will be foregoing being a participant in this program.*

Please review eligibility criteria above before applying!

Applications for Fall 2026 are due by FEBRUARY 17, 2026 @ 11:59 pm CST.

Have questions? Contact TLS staff at TexasScholars@unt.edu.