Best Colleges in Texas

Most Popular Degrees and Careers in Texas

Cost of Texas College Education & Salaries

College can cost a lot of money, and it frequently involves taking out interest-bearing loans, payments on which must be repaid starting six months after you graduate. For that reason, it's vital to take stock of the financial ramifications of your Texas bachelor's degree. You need to consider things such as the return on your investment, whether to study in Texas or out-of-state, and any steps you can take to mitigate your expenses.

First off, you are far more likely to garner higher wages with a bachelor's degree. Even if you are doing virtually the same job as a colleague with an associate's degree, employers are likely to invest more in you. That's because you are more likely to have the skills and knowledge needed to excel, and to bring them more profit. This holds true no matter your degree but is even more accurate if you are applying your specific degree to a position. Thus, a bachelor's degree is likely to hold its value and continue to yield dividends for years to come.

When you are considering which college to attend, it may be tempting to look at schools in other states. Moving away can be exciting and schools in other states may have programs that seem slightly better than the offerings in Texas. However, consider that Texas is larger than many of the world's nations and it has so many colleges that they are hard to keep track of. If you wish to move away for school, Texas offers you the possibility to stay in-state while experiencing a whole new environment. You'll also save money, as out-of-state tuition can be as much as three times that of public, in-state tuition.

Finally, when you are assessing your college expenses, note that you can reduce costs with things like scholarships, grants, and even community college courses. Scholarships and grants are virtual free money that offset your immediate out-of-pocket spending and reduce your long-term student loan debt. You can also take your core curriculum through a community college. When you eliminate much of your first two years of study at a community college, your savings on those classes can be upwards of 50%.

Ultimately, an education is one thing that nobody can ever take away from you. You'll find that it shows its worth over the course of your lifetime, and it should thus take precedence over other concerns.

Search Programs Offering Texas Majors

Scholarships for Texas College Students

Scholarships are a fantastic way to offset your short and long-term college expenses. Since you don't need to repay these awards, they are essentially free money. You will, however, need to merit these awards through outstanding academic work, professional goals, and your financial situation. Keep in mind that even if a scholarship has a low award amount, you can add the achievement to your resume. This will help you stand out in the job market, even if the scholarship barely covers your books for a semester. Here are a few scholarships to consider:

HAS

Horatio Alger Scholarship

https://scholars.horatioalger.org/scholarships/
Amounts: $10,000
Deadline: October 25
If you are a high school senior who has overcome seemingly insurmountable adversity and has still achieved, this is the scholarship for you. You should demonstrate strong academic achievement, a commitment to graduating with a bachelor's degree, community service activities, and financial need, among other stipulations. The Scholarship chooses a recipient from each of the 50 states and each recipient receives $10,000, which can one year of pay in-state tuition at many Texas colleges

NFB

National Federation of the Blind

https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program
Amounts: $3,000-$12,000
Deadline: March 31
Blind and visually impaired students are welcome to apply for this scholarship. The Federation awards a total of up to $120,000 each year to scholars, and individual awards range between $3,000 and $12,000. To win, you should demonstrate academic excellence, community service, and leadership. For instance, you might mentor younger students who likewise have visual impairments. Past winners have gone on to achieve great things in the fields of computer science, engineering, law, and diplomacy. To apply, you must be able to demonstrate legal blindness in both eyes, be a U.S. resident (including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico,) and plan on achieving a bachelor's degree that starts in the fall term that immediately follows your application. If you are named as a finalist, you will receive funds to attend the mandatory NFB convention. There, you will participate in prescribed activities and then winners will be named.

ASEC

Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

https://www.aynrand.org/students/essay-contests#overview
Amounts: $2,000 (Winner); $250 (2nd Place); $100 (3rd Place); $25 (Finalists)
Deadline: April 25
While not strictly a scholarship program, this contest awards a $2,000 first place prize that you can apply to a year or more of school in a public Texas institution. To write a qualifying essay, you should first read Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged and write an analytical essay from one of three topics provided by the Ayn Rand Institute. The topic questions ask you to read from her other essays and lectures to cull supporting evidence and examples. This contest accepts entries from high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students from any nation.

KFLP

KPMG Future Leaders Program

https://womensleadership.kpmg.us/content/womensleadership/en/index/charitable/condoleezza-rice-developing-future-generations.html
Amounts: $10,000 (renewable for 4 years)
Deadline: Varies
This scholarship program is proud to claim former Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, as its ambassador and is available only to women scholars. The award for winners is $10,000 per year for four years of college, a three-day retreat with Lynne Doughtie, KPMG's U.S. Chairperson and CEO, and Ms. Rice at Stanford University. The retreat will cover various aspects of leadership as well as instruction in the game of golf. Winners will also be paired with a mentor who is an alumnus of the program. This program is a fantastic opportunity for tomorrow's female leaders.

ABES

Alec Beck Endowed Scholarship

https://finaid.utexas.edu/types-of-aid/scholarships/
Amounts: $6,000 (renewable)
Deadline: March 15
This scholarship is for students at the University of Texas-Austin who have had a parent or stepparent incarcerated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The award is a renewable amount of $6,000 that is also available to students whose parents have been incarcerated in any other system including other states and Federal penitentiaries. The award is renewable, so if you win you should be certain to reapply each year. If you are attending a public, Texas university you can offset a significant proportion of your tuition.

FAS

Floy Agnew Scholarship

https://finaid.utexas.edu/types-of-aid/scholarships/
Amounts: $2,000-$3,000
Deadline: March 15
This award is for students at the University of Texas – Austin who are in need of financial assistance. Recipients should maintain passing grades, upstanding moral character, and good behavior to receive and renew the award which assists selected students with $2,500 - $3,000 per year.