The Free UTRGV Merit-Based Scholarships

UTRGV Merit-based scholarships are given out in a competitive process without the need for a scholarship application. Students must enroll at UTRGV by December 1 in order to be taken into consideration. Prior to the deadline, Dual Enrollment students must submit their college transcript in order to be considered for these scholarships. Priority is given to first-time applicants until all available funds have been awarded. Don’t wait to submit your application!

UTRGV Merit-based scholarships offered by UTRGV that are general and merit-based and are managed by the Scholarship and Enrollment Communications Office are not available to students who choose to participate in the Coordinated Admission Program (CAP).

At The University of Rio Grande Valley, UTRGV Merit-based scholarship is a great way to fund your undergraduate or graduate studies. They are a type of financial aid that is given on the basis of merit, need, or a mix of the two and does not include repayment or work. Scholarships are fiercely competitive and have strict requirements for qualifying, including GPA, major, admission exam results, etc. Federal, state, institutional, and private sources including businesses, foundations, and organizations all offer them. Some scholarships have their own unique deadlines and applications, typically reflecting the goals and ideals of the organization or donor.

Types of UTRGV merit-based scholarships:

MSA Scholarship

MSA Scholarship is a UTRGV Merit-based scholarship that runs till graduation or for a maximum of two additional years of undergraduate study (whichever comes first). A scholarship for the fall and spring semesters that pays all tuition and fees, $500 for books each semester, and double occupancy housing that is not covered by any other federal, state, institutional, scholarship, or other gift-aid programs.

Renewal Requirements

The following are the requirements to renew your MSA UTRGV Merit-based scholarship

1. Enroll in at least 15 hours of coursework each autumn and spring that will help you earn a baccalaureate degree.
2. 30 hours must be completed a minimum each academic year. You must finish a minimum of 12 credits in both the fall and spring semesters in order to keep this scholarship. Transfer credit or results from CLEP examinations are not allowed; courses must be taken at UTRGV.
3. Keep your cumulative institution grade point average at 3.0. (GPA). All grades earned at UTRGV in college-level courses, including those completed while in high school, are used to calculate GPA.
4. After two years of undergraduate study or until graduation, whichever comes first, the scholarship may be kept. When a student transfers to another school or withdraws from UTRGV for any fall or spring semester, the scholarship expires. In exceptional cases, prior authorization for a break from a fall or spring semester may be granted; however, you must notify and receive permission from the scholarship coordinator first.

How to Apply

In order to be considered for the award, an MSA UTRGV Merit-based scholarship recipient who does not meet requirements 1, 2, or 3 may submit an appeal at www.utrgv.edu/appeals. By the first tuition payment deadline of the relevant semester, the scholarship appeal must be made.

UTRGV Scholars Program

The Scholars program is a UTRGV Merit-based scholarship that consists of a Presidential scholarship of $32,000, a Distinguished Scholarship valued at $40,000 for 2 years, and a Meritorious Scholarship valued up to $20,000.

The UTRGV Merit-based scholarship recipients must accept the scholarship within 30 days of receiving it and must be enrolled for the fall semester by June 1st, or the award will be canceled.

Renewal Requirements

• Enroll in a minimum of 15 hours of baccalaureate-level courses each fall and spring semester.
• Complete at least 30 hours per academic year (fall, spring, summer). You must complete at least 12 of the 15 credit hours enrolled in each of the fall and spring semesters to keep this scholarship.
• If necessary, consider taking summer classes to complete the 30 credit hour academic year requirement. Transfer work or CLEP examinations are not accepted; courses must be taken at UTRGV.
• Keep a cumulative institutional grade point average of 3.0. (GPA). GPA is calculated using all grades earned at UTRGV in college-level courses, including those taken in high school.
• The scholarship can be kept for up to four years of undergraduate study or until graduation, whichever comes first. This scholarship will be forfeited if you transfer to another college or fail to enroll at UTRGV for any fall or spring semester. Prior approval for an absence from a fall or spring semester may be granted in extreme circumstances, but you must first inform and receive approval from the Scholarship Coordinator.

How to Apply

Scholarship recipients who do not meet requirements 1, 2, or 3 may file an appeal at www.utrgv.edu/appeals to be considered for the award. The scholarship appeal must be submitted by the corresponding semester’s first tuition due date.

UTRGV Housing Scholarship

UTRGV Housing Scholarship is one of the UTRGV Merit-Based Scholarships that can be renewed for a maximum of four years of undergraduate studies or until graduation (whichever comes first). The award is worth up to $16,000 in total.

Scholarship recipients must accept the scholarship within 30 days of receiving it. You must enroll for the fall semester by June 1st. And have completed a UTRGV Housing Application by June 1st, otherwise, the award will be withdrawn.

Renewal Requirement

• Enroll in a minimum of 12 hours each fall and spring that will help you earn a baccalaureate degree.
• 24 hours must be completed a minimum each academic year. You must finish a minimum of 12 credits in both the fall and spring semesters in order to keep this scholarship. Transfer credit or results from CLEP examinations are not allowed; courses must be taken at UTRGV.
• Keep your cumulative institution grade point average at 3.0. (GPA). All grades earned at UTRGV in college-level courses, including those completed while in high school, are used to calculate GPA.
• After four years of undergraduate study or until graduation, whichever comes first, the scholarship may be kept. When a student transfers to another school or withdraws from UTRGV for any fall or spring semester, the scholarship expires. In extraordinary cases, prior authorization for a break from a fall or spring semester may be granted; however, you must notify and receive permission from the scholarship coordinator first.

How to Apply

In order to be considered for this UTRGV Merit-based scholarship, a scholarship recipient who does not meet requirements 1, 2, or 3 may submit an appeal at www.utrgv.edu/appeals. By the first tuition payment deadline of the relevant semester, the scholarship appeal must be made.

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