Smith-Hutson Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Sam Houston State University
Smith-Hutson Scholar Values
Smith-Hutson Scholars value resilience, achievement, and character. They lead with integrity and discipline, embrace challenges, and strive for excellence. Through service and community engagement, they support others and aim to make a meaningful impact.
- Lead with integrity and follow through on commitments.
- Serve and uplift others.
- Grow through challenges and lead with distinction.
Application and Applicant Eligibility
The application will be available through Scholarships4Kats beginning October 1, 2026. Applicants must apply to and be accepted by Sam Houston State University (SHSU) to access Scholarships4Kats through their MySam account. The program accepts applications from incoming freshmen, transfer students, and current SHSU students. Applicants should follow the instructions provided in the application.
Incoming freshmen: Students graduating from a Texas high school in May or June 2027 may apply, regardless of the number of university credit hours they have already earned. Applicants must be seeking a bachelor’s degree in any major at SHSU.
Transfer students: Students transferring from a Texas community college to pursue an undergraduate degree at SHSU may apply. Current SHSU students are not eligible to apply in this category.
Current SHSU students: Undergraduate students must have completed at least 60 credit hours, including at least 30 hours at SHSU, and no more than 75 credit hours. They must also have an institutional GPA of at least 3.25.
- Applicants must be pursuing an undergraduate degree at SHSU.
- Freshman applicants must graduate from a Texas high school in May or June 2027.
- Transfer applicants must be transferring from a Texas community college.
- Current SHSU applicants must meet the specified credit-hour and GPA requirements.
Award Value and Scholarship Structure
Freshman award: Recipients may receive up to $21,000 per year for a maximum of four years, or until they earn a bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first.
Transfer and upperclassmen award: Recipients may receive up to $21,000 per year for a maximum of two years, or until they earn a bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first.
Completer scholarship: The award includes other scholarships, excluding the Pell Grant, up to the applicable annual maximum. For example, a recipient who receives $6,000 from a local scholarship could receive $15,000 from Smith-Hutson, for a combined $21,000. A $3,000 Pell Grant would bring the total award amount to $24,000.
- Annual awards are up to $21,000.
- Freshman awards cover up to four years; transfer and upperclassmen awards cover up to two years.
- Other scholarships count toward the Smith-Hutson maximum; Pell Grants do not.
Renewal and Continuing Requirements
Smith-Hutson scholarships renew automatically if recipients continue to meet program requirements; scholars do not need to reapply each year. Freshman awards may renew for up to eight semesters, while transfer and upperclassmen awards may renew for up to four semesters. In either case, renewal ends when the recipient earns a bachelor’s degree or reaches the semester limit, whichever comes first. Scholars must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 and complete at least 30 semester credit hours each year.
FAFSA: All applicants are required to file the FAFSA.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5.
- Complete at least 30 semester credit hours each year.
- File the FAFSA.
- Renewal is subject to program requirements and semester limits.
Housing
Freshman Smith-Hutson Scholars are housed in San Jacinto Hall as part of the Freshmen Learning Community. Transfer and other non-freshman scholars may use any remaining scholarship refund after tuition and fees toward off-campus rent. If rent exceeds the refund, scholars are responsible for paying the difference.
- Freshman scholars live in San Jacinto Hall.
- Transfer and non-freshman scholars may apply their remaining refund to off-campus rent.
- Scholars must cover any rent amount that exceeds their refund.