The University of North Texas is pleased to offer UNT Excellence Scholarships to entering first-time freshmen who have demonstrated academic success. 

First-time freshmen admitted for Fall 2026 by March 1, 2026 will be automatically considered for the UNT Excellence Scholarship based on their admission application and supporting documents available at the time of admission. A separate scholarship application is not required for consideration. 

UNT Excellence Scholarship offers are determined by a student’s high school class rank and unweighted high school grade point average (GPA) at the time of admission. If a class rank is not available, a scholarship determination will be made based on the student’s unweighted high school GPA and a review of their academic record.

Award Level 

The listed amounts are based on an academic year. One-half will be applied to the fall term and the other half to the spring term. All levels are renewable for up to 4 years. 

High School Class Rank 3.75 - 4.00 Unweighted High School GPA 3.50 - 3.74 Unweighted High School GPA 3.25 - 3.49 Unweighted High School GPA
Top 1% $12,000 per year $10,000 per year  $8,000 per year
Top 5% $10,000 per year $8,000 per year $6,000 per year 
Top 10% $8,000 per year  $6,000 per year  $5,000 per year 
Top 15% $6,000 per year  $5,000 per year $4,000 per year 
Top 20% $5,000 per year $4,000 per year $3,000 per year 
Top 25% $4,000 per year  $3,000 per year $2,000 per year

Bonus Award

A first-time freshman admitted for Fall 2026 and receiving a UNT Excellence Scholarship is eligible for an additional $1,000 scholarship with the following test scores:

  • Minimum 1350 SAT score or
  • Minimum 30 ACT score

This bonus award is in addition to the UNT Excellence Scholarship and is renewable for up to 4 years. To qualify for this bonus award, students must qualify for a UNT Excellence Scholarship and have submitted their official test score to UNT by July 1, 2026.

UNT Achievement Scholarship

Students who do not meet the criteria of the UNT Excellence Scholarship program will be automatically evaluated for the UNT Achievement Scholarship. This is a $1,000 annual award, renewable for up to 4 years. One-half will be applied to the fall term and the other half to the spring term. The UNT Achievement Scholarship is awarded based on students’ academic achievement as demonstrated via their application materials submitted for admission. 

Award Notification

UNT Excellence Scholarship award notifications are sent to students’ UNT EagleConnect email address.

The deadline to accept UNT Excellence Scholarship offers is May 1, 2026. Instructions for accepting offers are included in award notices.

Additional Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Fall 2026 UNT Excellence Scholarship or UNT Achievement Scholarship, a student must:

  • Be admitted as a first-time freshman to UNT by March 1, 2026
  • Be seeking a first bachelor’s degree
  • Enroll full-time (minimum of 12 UNT hours) in the fall semester immediately following graduation from high school
  • Maintain continuous fulltime enrollment in each fall and spring semester

Please note the following:

  • An unweighted high school GPA is calculated based on the high school transcript using a 4.0 grading scale.
  • The high school class rank as documented on the high school transcript at point of admission is used.  If a class rank is not available via the high school transcript, a scholarship determination will be made using the high school transcript and available academic records at point of admission.
  • Students who are admitted to UNT without a transcript from an accredited domestic high school must submit an SAT or ACT test score to be considered for an Excellence or Achievement scholarship.
  • Excellence and Achievement Scholarships are competitive merit awards and are subject to available funding. Priority consideration is given to the earliest applicants.
  • Funding is applicable for fall and spring semesters

Non-Texas Residents

  • Non-Texas residents and international students receiving a UNT Excellence Scholarship or UNT Achievement Scholarship may be eligible to receive a Texas state competitive scholarship waiver for the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition. To receive and maintain eligibility for this waiver, students must maintain eligibility for the scholarship and meet Selective Service requirements. Per Texas Education Code 51.9095, students must have met Selective Service requirements to receive a Texas state competitive scholarship waiver.

  • Non-resident students living outside of Texas while taking UNT courses are charged an Out-of-State Teaching Fee (OSTF) in lieu of tuition and instructional fees. This fee covers the cost of instruction and is set by each academic department annually. The OSTF fee is not waived by the Texas state competitive scholarship waiver.

Annual Renewal

UNT Excellence Scholarships and UNT Achievement Scholarships offer up to four years (8 semesters) of support toward courses required for a first bachelor's degree. The following are the UNT Excellence Scholarships renewal requirements:

  • Maintain continuous fall and spring enrollment with a minimum of 12 UNT hours each semester.
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative UNT GPA of 3.00.
  • Complete a minimum of 24 UNT hours each year during the fall and spring.
  • Students are encouraged to take and complete 15 UNT hours each fall and spring to graduate within 4 years.