Texas First Early High School Completion Scholarship

The Texas First Scholarship rewards students who finish high school early. It is frequently mistaken for a class-rank award because one route to qualifying is finishing in the top tenth of the class, but that is not what it funds: the scholarship pays for one or two semesters of college depending on how many semesters early you graduate, and a student who finishes on schedule with their cohort does not qualify no matter how strong their record. There is no essay and no competitive application; eligibility is determined from the transcript once you earn the Texas First Diploma. Because the decision to accelerate has to be made well before senior spring, this belongs in front of sophomores and juniors rather than seniors.

Other deadlines near this one

How hard is the Texas First Early High School Completion Scholarship to win?

This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives.

Estimated odds: qualifying students generally receive it
Paperwork: ~1 hr to file

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

Fewer rivalsOpen only to Texas residents
Fewer rivalsAn official transcript is required
Fewer rivalsRequires at least a 3 GPA

How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the Texas First Early High School Completion Scholarship?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

Must be a resident of Texas
Must attend a college in Texas (the award does not travel out of state)
Open to high school freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, and high school seniors
GPA of 3 or higher (unweighted)

Confirm these before applying

You must GRADUATE EARLY. A student finishing on schedule with their cohort does not qualify regardless of GPA or class rank. This is an acceleration award, not a merit award.
Requires earning the Texas First Diploma: a final GPA at or above the 3.0 threshold, plus either a high percentile on a qualifying test or a top-decile class rank, plus completion of the required STAAR End-of-Course exams.
The offer expires at the end of the first academic year following graduation, so it must be used promptly.

Good to know

The scholarship covers one semester if you graduate one semester early, or two semesters if you graduate two or more semesters early.
Usable at any Texas public institution, including community and technical colleges.

What the application takes

Transcript required. Request it from the school registrar ahead of the deadline.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is August 31, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around August 31 each year. There is no application deadline. The operative date is that the offer expires at the end of the first academic year after you graduate. Decide about accelerating in sophomore or junior year, because by senior spring the window has closed.

Applications close: August 31, 2027

Remind me before Aug 31 Apply on the official site

Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.

Common questions about the Texas First Early High School Completion Scholarship

How much is the Texas First Early High School Completion Scholarship worth?

The Texas First Early High School Completion Scholarship awards matches the TEXAS Grant award amount, for one or two semesters.

When is the Texas First Early High School Completion Scholarship deadline?

The current deadline is August 31, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around August 31 each year. There is no application deadline. The operative date is that the offer expires at the end of the first academic year after you graduate. Decide about accelerating in sophomore or junior year, because by senior spring the window has closed.

Who is eligible for the Texas First Early High School Completion Scholarship?

Key requirements: Must be a resident of Texas; Must attend a college in Texas (the award does not travel out of state); Open to high school freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, and high school seniors; GPA of 3 or higher (unweighted).

Does the Texas First Early High School Completion Scholarship require an essay?

No essay is required. The application does ask for a transcript. Expect to spend about 1 hour on it.

How hard is it to win the Texas First Early High School Completion Scholarship?

This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives. Solyo classifies this award as qualify and receive, meaning qualifying students generally receive it. Plan on about 1 hr of paperwork.

Is the Texas First Early High School Completion Scholarship free to apply?

Yes. The Texas First Early High School Completion Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.