Maximizing Financial Aid Opportunities to Make College Affordable at UT Austin

College is costly. As of 2026, UT Austin charges $28,000 annually, making a degree a significant financial commitment. To make it more affordable, students need to secure a portion of the $475 million in financial aid UT distributes to over 30,000 students each year. Whether from the university, private foundations, donors, or other sources, external funds play a crucial role in helping students succeed.

“Students who don't need to work are more likely to graduate on time and perform better,” says Diane Todd-Sprague, director of financial aid at UT.

Without the stress of tuition payments, students can take full advantage of the networking, learning opportunities, and work experiences that scholarships offer.

CHECK OUT THESE TOP 5 SCHOLARSHIPS AT UT!

University Leadership Network

Awarded to 500 students per year

Average value $5,000 per year

Eligibility requirements - Incoming freshman with high potential and financial need

“The most significant indicator of whether a student will struggle to graduate is if they come from an under-resourced background,” says David Laude, senior vice provost of enrollment and curriculum services. “We established the University Leadership Network to assist students with the greatest financial need in succeeding and graduating within four years.”

ULN is a scholarship program based on incentives, designed to integrate students into a community and provide leadership training. Participants are expected to meet academic goals through weekly meetings, professional development, community service, ULN events, and reflection journal assignments. By fulfilling these requirements, students can earn $20,000 over four years.

[Learn more about the University Leadership Network Scholarship]

Forty Acres Scholars

Awarded to 15-20 students each year

Average value $30,000 per year (includes $13,000 stipend for enrichment opportunities)

Eligibility requirements - Incoming freshman with high merit

The Forty Acres Scholars Program, funded by TexasExes, offers an enriching college experience that includes academic, leadership, and cultural opportunities within a close-knit group of fellow scholars, all with access to UT Austin’s extensive alumni network.

Besides covering all tuition, living expenses, and books, Forty Acres Scholars receive an “enrichment stipend” — $13,000 given to each scholar to pursue opportunities beyond the Forty Acres, such as philanthropic projects, internships, or studying abroad. As part of the program, students connect with accomplished alumni like Michael Hartman, CEO of Amy’s Ice Cream, and Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey. These connections are tailored to the students’ academic and professional interests.

[Learn more about the Forty Acres Scholars Program]

Presidential Scholars

Awarded to 450 students each year

Average value $5,000 per year + $1500 Individual opportunity scholarship

Eligibility requirements - Incoming freshman with high merit and financial need

The Presidential Scholars Program is designed to attract top talent to the university. Offering about 450 scholarships annually, funded by donations, the program provides promising Longhorn students with the resources and financial support necessary to focus on their studies and engage in experiential learning.

“Through the Presidential Scholars program, our students grow professionally and personally, becoming leaders who uphold our university’s status as one of the top public research universities globally.” —President Gregory L. Fenves. Besides financial assistance, scholars receive guidance from a dedicated team on meeting professors, utilizing learning resources, and connecting with the UT community. The team helps students plan their degree progress and remain on track to graduate. In addition to the $5,000 given annually, there is a one-time $1,500 Enrichment Scholarship for internships, research, study abroad, or professional conferences, encouraging scholars to engage in experiential learning, enhance their resumes, and explore career paths.

[Learn more about the Presidential Scholars Program]

Terry Scholarship

Awarded to 60 Incoming students per year (Plus hundreds at UTD, UTA, UNT, UTEP, UTSA, UTT)

Average value - Full Ride

Eligibility requirements - Incoming freshman and transfers with high merit, demonstrated leadership, and financial need. The Terry Scholarship has Longhorn roots. Howard L. Terry, BBA ’38, and his wife, Nancy, founded the Terry Foundation, a Houston-based non-profit funding the scholarship. Terry, a self-made businessman born in Milam County in 1916, received a football scholarship to UT, which he considered a pivotal event in his life. In the spirit of giving back, the Terry Scholarship offers exceptional Texas high school graduates and transfer students assistance covering tuition, books, and living expenses, renewable for up to four years for Traditional Scholars and three years for Transfer Scholars. The aim is for scholars to graduate debt-free. This year, the foundation is sponsoring 1,640 Terry Scholars statewide; on average, 80 of these Scholars join UT Austin each year. The Terry Foundation’s mission is to foster enterprise by “helping Texas college students to help themselves.” Terry Scholars are not only outstanding students but have also overcome adversity or made a positive impact in their communities during high school.

[Learn more about the Texas Terry Scholarship]

Hutchison Scholarship

Awarded to 30 students per year

Average value $4,000 upon admission

Eligibility requirements - Incoming freshman with high merit and financial need

The Hutchison Scholarship provides international study opportunities to students who might not have considered it otherwise. “We discovered that waiting for first-generation college students to apply for study abroad wasn’t effective,” says Margret Storm McCullers, coordinator of the Hutchison Scholars Program in the UT International Office. “There were institutional barriers preventing their participation.” Unlike most scholarships, the Hutchison Scholarship requires no application. It offers a one-time award of $4,000 upon admission to around 30 outstanding first-generation college freshmen as an invitation to study abroad. McCullers notes that this proactive approach “is reaching an audience unlikely to consider studying abroad.”

[Learn more about the Hutchison International Scholars]

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