The Texas First Diploma and Scholarship Program

We’re excited to introduce the Texas First Diploma, a program to recognize high-achieving students. Eligible students can graduate early with the Distinguished Level of Achievement and receive a scholarship. The Texas First Diploma is designed to keep Texas’ best and brightest on a direct track to a postsecondary pathway here in our great state. Texas’ top students can accelerate their path to college and earn up to a year in scholarship dollars to attend select Texas institutions. Participating institutions include:

NOTE:  Effective September 1, 2023, the number of institutions of higher education that are eligible to award the Texas First Scholarship to eligible Texas First Diploma graduates expands from ten institutions to all Texas public institutions of higher education, including colleges, universities, and technical colleges (Senate Bill 2294, 88^th Texas Legislature, Regular Session).

Program Details

Students who graduate early and earn a Texas First Diploma receive a scholarship at participating institutions.

Students who graduate two or more semesters before their class receive a two-semester scholarship, equivalent to the amount of the TEXAS grant, to a participating university. Students who graduate one semester early receive a one semester scholarship to a participating university. Students may also be eligible for additional financial aid at most of these institutions.

The Texas First Diploma does not guarantee automatic admission for students. A student should consult their counselor for guidance on whether the student’s grade point average at graduation qualifies the student for automatic admission under the state’s top 10 percent law.

Students who graduate early with a Texas First Diploma may apply to any college or university they choose. However, the scholarship will only apply toward the participating universities listed above.

The scholarship offer will expire at the end of the first academic year following a student’s graduation, so students are encouraged to attend college directly after high school.

Student Eligibility

Eligible students must demonstrate college readiness in academics and attitude. Eligibility requirements include the following:

• Texas residency
• FAFSA or TASFA completion
• At least 22 high school credits
• Final GPA equivalent to 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• Overall score in at least the 80th percentile on one or more of the following assessments: ACT, SAT, PSAT/ NMSQT, TSIA/TSIA2, or GED; or, alternatively, a GPA in the top 10 percent of the student’s class
• Completion of the STAAR EOC exams in English I or II, Algebra I, and Biology, or completion of eligible substitute assessments
• Demonstration of mastery in each subject area of English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and a language other than English