The Terry Foundation

The Terry Foundation is a Houston organization that funds scholarships for Texas students at selected public universities. Its Terry Traditional Scholarship, also called the Freshman Scholarship, is described as last-dollar aid: it is calculated after other resources and may cover up to eight semesters. Students do not submit an application at a central office or directly to the foundation. Each affiliated university publishes its own process, deadlines and contact, and must nominate the student.

The official list includes eleven public campuses, among them the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M, the University of Houston, Texas State, UT Dallas, UT San Antonio, Texas Tech, the University of North Texas, Texas Woman’s University, UT Arlington and UT El Paso. Applicants must be admitted as full-time incoming freshmen for fall, demonstrate financial need through the FAFSA, show leadership, meet Texas residency and in-state tuition requirements, and agree to live on campus during the first year. They must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and have graduated from an accredited Texas high school or accredited homeschool. Selection and deadlines vary by campus, making the affiliated-university page the key application directory.

The award is described as a last-dollar “full ride,” but each student’s budget and other aid affect the actual amount. Compare the campus’s official cost of attendance and ask its Terry coordinator which expenses are covered, what happens if financial aid changes and how renewal works. The foundation is at 3336 Richmond Avenue, Suite 450, Houston, Texas 77098, and lists (713) 552-0002; that office does not accept the student application. One important distinction: the foundation’s FAQ says its former transfer program ended in 2020, so this profile covers the freshman scholarship, not a current award for community college transfers.