Scholarship Opportunities

Welcome to Scholarships and Financial Aid. Sam Houston State University provides current and prospective students with resources to assist in the search for scholarship funds from university and external sources. The Scholarship Team coordinates and oversees the University's comprehensive scholarship program and acts as a liaison between the departments on campus, the University Scholarship Committee, and the Office of Student Financial Aid and Enrollment Management. The Scholarship Team coordinates and administers more than 500 SHSU scholarship programs a year, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

 

Scholarship Types (see blocks)

Eligibility for scholarships (What are general qualifications? FAFSA?)
While financial aid is based on need, scholarships are primarily awarded on the basis of academic merit, leadership, honors, extracurricular activities and other criteria. To be considered for these and other scholarships, you must meet the minimum eligibility criteria.

Scholarship award decisions (general statement)
Sam Houston State University offers a variety of academic scholarship opportunities for freshman, transfer, continuing and other students.
 
How to apply/deadlines (Scholar X/department may have different deadlines)
Sam Houston’s SH ScholarX Scholarship Application is a virtual clearinghouse for many SHSU scholarships. Complete one application and apply for many SHSU scholarships.

What to do next?

• Submit a transcript to the Academic Scholarship Office in person, by fax or mail
• By mail: Scholarship Office, SHSU, Box 2120, Huntsville, Texas, 77341
• By fax:
• Do not send letters of recommendations, essays, or lists

 

How is my Scholarship Disbursed?

• Once a recipient is selected an Award Letter and Participation Agreement is mailed to the student’s permanent address. The student’s signature is required upon receiving the Participation Agreement and returned to the Scholarship Office to complete the awarding process.
• Awarded Scholarships can be viewed by logging into SamWeb, Financial Aid, Financial Aid Status.
• Applications received after deadline dates will be awarded pending availability of funds

 

How do scholarships impact other financial aid awards?
While scholarships are based on merit and academic achievement, they are still considered part of your financial aid package. They are counted towards your overall package along with grants, work-study, and loans. Federal and state financial aid programs require that students not receive financial aid in excess of one's cost of attendance. Need based aid, (such as grants and subsidized loans) also must remain within a student's financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
If you are awarded a scholarship, waiver, and/or tuition exemption and you are or will be receiving financial aid through Sam Houston State University, you must notify your financial aid counselor (either by e-mail, phone, or in person at our office) of your award. Your counselor will help determine if the award necessitates a revision of your financial aid package.

 

Requirements for scholarship renewal
Once awarded a scholarship, please read the award letter carefully for continued eligibility requirements, if any. If the scholarship is renewable, it may require you to submit a new application each year. You may need to maintain a minimum GPA (sometimes less than the GPA that won you the scholarship). You may be required to complete a certain number of credits or specific courses. Scholarships frequently require a minimum level of enrollment. If you fall below the minimum or fail to enroll a semester, you may lose the scholarship. If you struggle with a course and consider dropping, please do not do so until you have talked to your adviser and a scholarship representative from Student Financial Aid and Enrollment Services. Dropping one or more courses below full time may impact your scholarship.