Dell Scholars Program — Michael & Susan Dell Foundation

Dell Scholars, funded by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, combines a scholarship with support for completing college and preparing for a career. For the 2027 cycle, living in Texas or having financial need is not enough: applicants must graduate from a Texas high school, have participated in an approved college-readiness program during grades 11 and 12, plan to attend an accredited four-year public college or university in Texas full time, be Pell Grant eligible and have at least a 2.4 GPA.

The 2027 application opened on October 1, 2026 and closes January 12, 2027. The program describes a flexible $20,000 scholarship, along with a laptop, book credits, emergency funds and support for tuition and housing. Scholars also receive academic advising, career coaching and teletherapy. If an applicant advances as a finalist, the foundation requests additional documents, including a FAFSA Submission Summary and an updated transcript. The dollar amount should not be read as an immediate one-time payment; review the program’s rules on disbursement and eligible uses directly.

The college-readiness program requirement may rule out an otherwise interested student. The official list includes AVID, GEAR UP, Upward Bound, KIPP Forward and YES Prep, among others, but the organization keeps a defined list and says it is not accepting new program applications for the current cycle. Check the list by name and ask your school how it records participation; attending similar activities does not replace the stated requirement. Start the application at dellscholars.org/students. The site also lists the finalist timeline and answers common questions. This can be valuable support for a student who meets every criterion and wants guidance throughout college, but it is not a general scholarship for every Texas graduate.