Forty Acres Scholars Program
Offered by Texas Exes (The University of Texas at Austin)
About This Scholarship
The Forty Acres Scholars Program is the premier full-ride, merit-based scholarship at The University of Texas at Austin, administered by the Texas Exes, the university's alumni association. Beyond covering the cost of a UT Austin education, the program builds a tight cohort of scholars who move through four years of academic, leadership, professional, and cultural programming together. It is widely regarded as one of the most competitive merit awards at any public flagship in the country.
What makes the Forty Acres process unusual is that every admitted applicant starts as a candidate automatically: submitting a UT Austin admission application through Common App or ApplyTexas enters you into consideration. Students who want to raise their hand can also complete a short Scholarship Interest Form inside UT's MyStatus portal once their admission application is on file. Selected semifinalists are contacted directly for interviews and finalist events in the spring.
Both Texas residents and out-of-state students are eligible, which is notable for a flagship full ride — many peer programs restrict to in-state applicants. Transfer and international students are not eligible, so the window is strictly for high school seniors applying for first-year admission.
Eligibility
- High school senior applying for first-year admission to The University of Texas at Austin
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- In-state and out-of-state students are both eligible
- Transfer and international students are not eligible
How To Apply
- Submit your UT Austin admission application via Common App or ApplyTexas by the early action (October 15, 2026) or final (December 1, 2026) deadline — this automatically makes you a candidate
- Optionally complete the Scholarship Interest Form in your MyStatus portal (available about 48 hours after submitting the admission application; form opens September 1)
- If selected as a semifinalist, respond promptly to the program's outreach and complete the additional interview and finalist steps
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate application for the Forty Acres Scholars Program?
No. Applying for admission to UT Austin automatically enters you as a candidate. There is an optional Scholarship Interest Form in MyStatus if you want to self-indicate interest, but selection begins from the admission applicant pool.
Can out-of-state students win the Forty Acres Scholarship?
Yes. Both Texas residents and out-of-state U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible, which makes this one of the few flagship full rides open to non-residents. Transfer and international students are not eligible.
What does the scholarship cover?
It is a full-ride award covering the cost of attending UT Austin for four years, paired with cohort-based leadership, professional, and cultural programming through the Texas Exes.