Texas Leadership Scholars Program Eligibility and Application


Applications for Fall 2025 CLOSED ON FEBRUARY 15, 2025.

**All recommendations must be completed by February 18, 2025 at 11:59 pm CST.**

 

Decisions for the Fall 2025 Cohort have been announced to the applicants via email! 

 

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 the application deadline, February 15, 2025.
  • 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 nomination letter from a high school staff member.
  • 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 teacher, counselor, coach, etc. from their graduating high school.

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 2025 Cohort 5 - November 1, 2024

Students must be nominated by a staff member (guidance counselor, teacher, principal, etc.) from 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 yourself, including your current high school GPA.
  • Self-assess your leadership skills.
  • Provide short responses explaining how you have been a leader in your community.
  • Rank three potential participating schools to which you've applied.
  • Provide the contact information of someone from their high school who can serve as a reference. A recommendation form will automatically be sent to them upon submission.
    • Recommendations will be given a short grace period for candidates who submit an application shortly before the deadline, but 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 2025 CLOSED ON FEBRUARY 15, 2025.

**All recommendations must be completed by February 18, 2025 at 11:59 pm CST.**

Decisions for the Fall 2025 Cohort - are expected to be announced on April 11, 2025!


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