💰 University of Houston Merit Scholarships

Total Scholarships

16

Automatic

6

In-State Awards

$1,000-$5,000/yr

Out-of-State Awards

$1,000-$5,000/yr

Multi-Year Awards

$1,000 total

Typical Requirements for Automatic Merit

3.0 GPA

What you'd actually pay at University of Houston

Tuition & fees

$21,515

−

Largest annual award

$5,000

=

Students receiving it pay about

$16,515/yr

Tuition and fees only — housing (about $11,286), books and travel are extra. Awards must still be won and may carry renewal conditions. Need-based aid is separate and may reduce this further.

Official Scholarship Information

View complete details on University of Houston's website

Visit School Website →

Automatic merit scholarships at University of Houston — no separate application

6 awards granted on your admission application, based on GPA and test scores.

Academic Excellence (various competitive awards)

The Academic Excellence Scholarship offers competitive scholarships of various amount to new incoming freshman who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement. The scholarship can be received a total of four years (five years for Architecture students) if students meet the renewal criteria each year at UH.

Eligibility: To be considered for a university-funded scholarship, you must meet the following criteria: Apply for admission to UH for the fall semester immediately following high school graduation. Complete your application for admission, including the submission of all supporting documentation (application, application fee, official transcripts, and test scores), by the priority date( s), typically in early November of your senior year.

How to apply: ["apply for admission and complete application by priority deadline", "submit supporting information (application fee, transcripts, test scores) by Supporting Information due date (Nov. 10, 2025)"]

Source ↗

Cullen Leadership Scholarship

Award

$1,000/yr in-state

$1,000/yr out-of-state

**Amount:** $1,000 per year (renewable for up to four years)

Eligibility: For students who have a competitive academic profile and demonstrated leadership skills. Recipients are selected by the Student Financial Support Committee from among the pool of admitted applicants. No additional application is necessary.

How to apply: ["selected by Student Financial Support Committee", "no additional application necessary"]

Source ↗

Dean's Scholarships (entering J.D.)

Dean’s Scholarships are offered to highly qualified students in each entering first-year class. These scholarships vary in number and amount each year, and are renewable under the terms outlined below.

Eligibility: Every J.D. applicant accepted for admission is automatically considered for available merit scholarships, and no additional application is required.

How to apply: ["acceptance to J.D. program (applicants automatically considered)", "maintain full-time enrollment and good academic standing for renewal"]

📋 Merit scholarships are renewable under terms; payments applied to student account in two installments each yea Source ↗

National Merit Finalist - UH support

Amount: Full cost of tuition and required fees, for four years (five years for architecture students). In addition, recipients are eligible for a one-time $1,000 undergraduate research stipend and a one-time $2,000 study abroad stipend.

Eligibility: The University of Houston will automatically award scholarship support to National Merit Scholarship finalists who select the University of Houston as their first-choice institution in accordance with the rules and deadlines established by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

How to apply: ["be a National Merit Scholarship finalist and select UH as first-choice", "comply with NMSC rules and deadlines"]

Source ↗

Transfer Achievement - one-time

Award

$1,000 one-time in-state

$1,000 one-time out-of-state

In-State Requirements

GPA 3.0+

Amount: $1,000 one-time award.

Eligibility: To be eligible, an applicant must: be admitted as an undergraduate student to the University of Houston for the spring term; enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester at the University of Houston (central campus); have more than 15 transferable hours from a regionally accredited U.S. institution; have a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0-point scale), and demonstrate financial need, based on a completed FAFSA (or TASFA, as appropriate). Awards are offered to eligible applicants as funding is available. No separate scholarship application is required.

How to apply: ["admit for spring term", "enroll in minimum 12 credit hours", "have more than 15 transferable hours", "3.0 GPA", "demonstrate financial need (FAFSA/TASFA)", "No separate scholarship application is required"]

Source ↗

Transfer Excellence ($1,000-$2,000)

Award

$1,000-$2,000/yr in-state

$1,000-$2,000/yr out-of-state

In-State Requirements

GPA 3.0+

Amount: $1,000-$2,000 per year ($500 or $1,000 per term) beginning with transfer students admitted for fall. Funding is limited and scholarship offers are made on a first come, first serve basis until funds are exhausted.

Eligibility: To be eligible, an applicant must: be admitted as an undergraduate student to the University of Houston for the fall term; enroll in a minimum 12 credit hours per semester at the University of Houston (central campus); have 48 or more transferable hours from a regionally accredited U.S. institution; and have a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0-point scale). Awards are offered to eligible applicants for fall admit terms only ... No separate scholarship application is required. Transfer Excellence Scholarships qualify for non-resident tuition waivers.

How to apply: ["be admitted as transfer for fall term", "enroll in minimum 12 credit hours per semester", "have 48+ transferable hours", "have a 3.0 GPA", "No separate scholarship application is required"]

Source ↗

Other scholarships at University of Houston (10)

These require a separate application, or the school does not publish their eligibility criteria.

Delphian Endowment Scholarship

The Delphian scholarship is based upon merit, character and financial need. It is only available for the fall and spring semesters, up to eight semesters or graduation, whichever comes first.

Eligibility: Qualifying applicants must be classified as an undergraduate sophomore, junior or senior, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 from all colleges attended as well as maintain full-time enrollment (12 credit hours) each semester. Additionally, applicants must submit an official University of Houston transcript and/or transcripts from any previously attended university or college with the application.

How to apply: ["minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0", "full-time enrollment (12 credit hours)", "submit official UH and prior transcripts"]

Source ↗

Textbook Scholarship

$1,000/yr

**Amount**: $1,000 per year ($500 per semester). Textbook scholarships will be awarded to selected UH students who have been admitted to undergraduate programs to support student success and access at UH. Selected applicants will receive a total of $1,000/academic year ($500/semester).

Eligibility: Selected UH students who have been admitted to undergraduate programs (additional qualifying language not specified on this page).

How to apply: ["selected applicants will receive award", "application/selection process not specified on this page"]

Source ↗

Bauer College Scholarships (various)

$1,000-$5,000/yr

Last year, more than 700 Bauer College of Business students were awarded more than $3 million in Bauer scholarships. The average amount awarded ranged from $1,000 to $5,000 per academic year.

Eligibility: To be eligible for the Bauer College Scholarships, students must be admitted to the University of Houston (Main Campus) and the Bauer College of Business. Many scholarships include financial need as a selection criterion; students must complete FAFSA for need-based consideration.

How to apply: ["complete Bauer Scholarship Application", "FAFSA for need-based scholarships", "resume and personal statement (incomplete applications not considered)"]

Source ↗

Distinguished Scholarship (invitation-based)

Each year a select group of admitted applicants who represent those with the top merit credentials are provided an opportunity to apply for a University Distinguished Scholarship award. This scholarship award will be provided in addition to the Academic Excellence Scholarship and is eligible for renewal for up to four years.

Eligibility: Eligible students will receive an invitation to apply for the Distinguished Scholarship.

How to apply: ["invitation to apply", "apply when invited"]

Source ↗

Mark & Judith Cook Foundation Full-ride

**Amount**: Full-ride. The scholarship award covers up to eight semesters (or up to 10 semesters if student is enrolled in a five-year program) including tuition and fees; on-campus room and board or the equivalent; books and University of Houston sponsored student health insurance.

Eligibility: Applicant must be a Texas resident, U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have a permanent address in the Tamina community located within zip code 77385. Scholarship applicant must also demonstrate financial need. Applicant must submit a resume, two letters of recommendation and a 250-word narrative outlining why applicant wants to attend the University of Houston and how this scholarship will enable him/her to meet this goal. All scholarship documents should be submitted to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.

How to apply: ["Texas resident or U.S. citizen/permanent resident with Tamina address", "demonstrate financial need", "submit resume, two letters of recommendation, 250-word narrative", "submit scholarship documents to Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid"]

Source ↗

Meal Plan Scholarship (UH Dining Services)

**Amount:** One Meal Plan per term. UH Dining Services will award scholarships to selected UH students that have been admitted to undergraduate programs to support student success and access at UH.

Eligibility: Qualifying applicants who meet the eligibility requirements below are invited to apply.

How to apply: ["qualifying applicants invited to apply", "application (invited) required"]

Source ↗

NSM Scholarships (various)

A variety of scholarships are available to incoming freshman and continuing undergraduate students. Only one application must be submitted to be considered for all scholarships listed.

Eligibility: Applicants must be incoming freshman or continuing undergraduate students. (Specific scholarship pages list individual eligibility criteria.)

How to apply: ["submit single NSM scholarship application to be considered for multiple awards", "individual scholarships may have additional criteria"]

Source ↗

Princess Chinwendu Eke Memorial Endowed Scholarship (HHP)

This Scholarship is merit based. Applicant must be a full-time undergrad or grad, may accept other scholarships and grants, award is non-renewable.

Eligibility: The Department of Health and Human Performance has several annual scholarships available to students within our department. All scholarships require a minimum 2.5 GPA and the completion of an application form. Some scholarships have additional application requirements.

How to apply: ["minimum 2.5 GPA", "complete application form", "resume/CV, one-page personal statement, one letter of recommendation required (second optional)", "submit official transcripts if required"]

Source ↗

PURS stipend

$1,000/semester

**Amount**: $1,000 per semester of research

Eligibility: Any junior or senior who has either successfully completed at least 12 hours in residence at UH with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 OR who has completed fewer than 12 hours in residence at UH but has a 3.5 cumulative GPA on all college level course work taken at UH or elsewhere is eligible to apply.

How to apply: ["application required (PURS program page)", "must enroll and maintain minimum 12 hours in semester of award unless graduating"]

Source ↗

Tier One - Full tuition + housing/meal benefits

Amount: Full cost of tuition and required fees for four years (five years for architecture students). On-campus housing and meal plan for the first two years at UH. In addition, recipients are eligible for a one-time $1,000 undergraduate research stipend and a one-time $2,000 study abroad stipend.

Eligibility: As in previous years, if you have a 1400 SAT or 30 ACT composite score and rank in the top 10% of your class, you'll improve your chances of moving forward in the selection process. Test optional candidates are considered.

How to apply: ["complete Tier One Scholarship application", "letter of recommendation required", "mandatory Tier One Invitational and interview (top-scoring applicants)", "complete application for admission by Nov. 3, 2025"]

Source ↗

Deadlines that affect merit consideration at University of Houston

Regular Decision

06/01/2026

Common questions about University of Houston scholarships

How much merit aid does University of Houston give?

Published awards range $1,000-$5,000/yr. University of Houston lists 16 merit scholarships in total.

What GPA or test scores do you need for a scholarship at University of Houston?

The lowest published threshold across automatic awards is 3.0 GPA. Individual scholarships set their own cutoffs.

Does University of Houston give merit scholarships to out-of-state students?

Yes. Awards for out-of-state students run $1,000-$5,000/yr.

Is there a full-ride scholarship at University of Houston?

Not a full ride. The largest published award covers about 23% of tuition.

Do you have to apply separately for merit scholarships at University of Houston?

2 of the published awards are granted automatically on your admission application, with no separate scholarship application.

When is the scholarship deadline at University of Houston?

Merit consideration usually follows the admission deadline, which is 06/01/2026. Confirm scholarship-specific dates with the financial aid office.

More on University of Houston

Admissions, cost & outcomes → 🏈 Athletics & sports 📍 All schools in TX 💰 Schools with automatic merit

Other TX schools with automatic merit scholarships

Angelo State University San Angelo, TX → Baylor University Waco, TX → Concordia University Texas Austin, TX → East Texas Baptist University Marshall, TX → Hardin-Simmons University Abilene, TX → Houston Christian University Houston, TX → Howard Payne University Brownwood, TX → Lubbock Christian University Lubbock, TX →