Texas State University has launched the Presidential Scholars Program, a strategic merit scholarship initiative to attract and enroll high-achieving first-time-in-college students who demonstrate strong academic preparation and leadership potential.
The Presidential Scholars award includes a four-year scholarship covering tuition and fees as well as a Study Abroad semester and a $1,000 undergraduate research stipend. On-campus housing and a meal plan are covered for the first year.
The program will launch for the Fall 2027 semester, with a Dec. 15, 2026 application deadline.
“The Presidential Scholars Program will equip the top students in Texas with the tools and opportunities they need to reach their full potential, both as Bobcat students and as Texans,” said TXST President Kelly Damphousse.
“TXST is where they can study alongside nationally recognized faculty members, conduct groundbreaking research, and cultivate leadership skills that will last a lifetime, all while gaining transformational global experiences through our Study Abroad opportunities.”
Eligible students must have graduated in the top 5% of their high school class with minimum test scores of 1400 or higher for the SAT or 30 or higher for the ACT. Applicants must be first-time freshmen attending TXST in San Marcos or Round Rock. Texas residency and U.S. citizenship or permanent U.S. residency is required.
Homeschool students are eligible to apply. Test-optional candidates may be considered, but meeting score requirements strengthens the application.
The 24 Presidential Scholars will be selected from each of the eight academic colleges at TXST: Applied Arts; Education; Fine Arts and Communication; Health Professions; Ingram College of Engineering; Liberal Arts; McCoy College of Business; and Science. Each college will be allotted three Presidential Scholars.
The $1,000 research stipend will support Presidential Scholars to pursue undergraduate research initiatives within their selected discipline, under the guidance and supervision of faculty mentors. Overall, the initiative aligns with TXST’s Run to R1 and encourages research at every level at the university.
The one summer semester Study Abroad component may be completed on faculty led-summer study trips or at one of TXST’s five international educational hubs, hosted by partner universities in Edinburgh, Scotland; Inverness, Scotland; Madrid, Spain; Oxford, England; and Tokyo, Japan.
The Presidential Scholars program represents a tremendous opportunity for qualifying students. For more information or to apply, visit https://bit.ly/3VxUqdE.