Terry Foundation Scholarship: A Comprehensive Guide

The Terry Foundation Scholarship Program offers significant financial support to Texas residents pursuing higher education. This article provides a detailed overview of the scholarship, its requirements, and other essential information for prospective applicants.

The Terry Foundation: A Legacy of Support

Founded in 1986 by Houston residents Howard and Nancy Terry, the Terry Foundation is the largest private source of scholarships in Texas. Howard Terry, a native Texan born in Milam County in 1916, understood the transformative power of education, having attended the University of Texas at Austin on an athletic scholarship. After a successful career spanning various industries, including banking and oil & gas, the Terrys established the foundation to provide opportunities for future generations of Texas students.

Nancy Terry, originally from New York, shared her husband's passion for education and actively participated in the Foundation's activities. Both Howard and Nancy Terry remained dedicated to the Foundation until their passing in 2012. Their legacy continues to support deserving students in achieving their academic goals.

Scholarship Overview

The Terry Foundation Scholarship aims to support Texas students who demonstrate leadership, academic achievement, and financial need. The scholarship is available at 11 Texas public universities. The University of Texas at Arlington has been a proud partner with the Terry Foundation since 2015.

The Terry Foundation Scholarship is intended to fund enrollment for face-to-face courses taught in-person and requires Scholars to physically attend class on their Terry-affiliated university campus.

Financial Coverage

The Terry Traditional Scholarship (Freshman Scholarship) is a "last dollar" scholarship, meaning it covers the remaining cost of attendance after other scholarships and grants are applied. The scholarship covers up to eight full semesters of undergraduate education.

The scholarship provides sufficient assistance to cover tuition, mandatory fees, books, and reasonable on-campus living expenses. Scholars are awarded variable stipends based on the university’s official on-campus Cost of Attendance and other financial awards received by the Scholar for each academic year (including scholarships, grants, waivers, savings plans, etc.).

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Terry Foundation Scholarship, applicants must:

Be a U.S. citizen or a Permanent Resident and meet Texas residency requirements.
Be a graduating senior from an accredited Texas high school or homeschool.
Be an incoming freshman student.
Demonstrate leadership potential.
Exhibit academic achievement.
Demonstrate financial need.

Note: The Terry Foundation Scholarship is not available to DACA or undocumented students. However, the Foundation encourages these students to seek assistance from programs like TheDream.Us, which offers awards at some Terry-affiliated universities.

Application Process

The Terry Foundation does not accept applications directly from students. Instead, each participating university reviews applications and nominates candidates for interviews with the Foundation. The process generally involves the following steps:

Apply to a Terry-affiliated University: Applicants must first apply and be accepted to one of the Terry-affiliated universities. For example, at Texas Tech University (TTU), the deadline to apply to TTU and be considered for Terry eligibility is December 1. Apply for on-campus housing once you have been admitted to UH.
Complete the University's Terry Scholarship Application: After applying to the university, students must complete the Terry Scholarship application specific to that institution. At Texas Tech University, the deadline to apply to the Terry Scholars® Program is also December 1.
Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): All Terry Foundation candidates and finalists must complete the FAFSA by the specified deadline (e.g., February 15, 2026). The FAFSA helps determine financial need and eligibility for federal grants like Pell Grants. Terry Scholar applicants are encouraged to apply for a Pell Grant if qualified.
University Review and Nomination: The university's scholarship committee reviews the applications and nominates candidates for interviews with the Terry Foundation.
Terry Foundation Interview: Nominated candidates are invited to participate in interviews conducted by the Terry Foundation. Multiple interview committees work simultaneously in El Paso, Houston, and Dallas over a two-week period in late March/ early April.

University-Specific Requirements and Information

The Terry Foundation partners with multiple universities across Texas. Here's some information specific to a few of them:

University of Houston

At the University of Houston, students may be required to submit essays as part of their application. These essays provide an opportunity to showcase their story and leadership abilities. For example, applicants might be asked to submit a typed essay of 250 words (minimum) telling their story and another essay of approximately 500 words describing an example of their leadership.

Texas Tech University

At Texas Tech University, Terry Scholars live in Murray Hall during their first year to build community and form lasting friendships. They may also choose to continue living with other Terrys on campus after their first year. Terry Foundation® Scholars enjoy the opportunities the Honors College affords.

Maintaining the Scholarship

To maintain the Terry Foundation Scholarship, recipients are generally required to:

Live on campus, in the Terry-designated residence hall, for their freshman year (Traditional Scholarship recipients). After their first year, Traditional Scholarship recipients can live off campus if they wish to do so.
Maintain a substantial portion (at least 6 semester credit hours) of each semester’s course load in physical attendance on the Terry-affiliated university campus.
Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Participate in Terry Scholar program activities.

The Selection Criteria: Beyond Academics

Selection as a Terry Scholar is not solely based on academic achievements or financial need. The Foundation seeks well-rounded individuals who:

Exhibit a strong desire to succeed.
Demonstrate leadership qualities.
Possess a well-rounded personality.

The Terry Foundation emphasizes the importance of character, leadership potential, and a commitment to making a difference in the world.

Terry Scholar Alumni

Terry Scholar Alumni maintain active ties to the Foundation after graduation, assisting current Scholars in various ways. This network provides ongoing support and mentorship for Terry Scholars throughout their academic journey and beyond.

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