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MeritPlaybook / Take-home research

Texas Tech
Decision sheet

Texas · Research checked 2026-07-02 · School research, not an aid offer

The starting point

Lubbock public flagship with one of the most transparent published merit matrices in the US — a GPA-by-test-score grid that pays $1,000–$9,000/year, plus a National Merit Finalist full ride and an automatic in-state tuition rate for Presidential winners from out of state.

More than one award path. Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.

Awards to discuss

First 3 of 5 recorded awards, in chapter display order. This is a selection, not a ranking. Read the full chapter for all awards. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.

Presidential Merit Scholarship — 4.0 GPA × 1500-1600 SAT / 34-36 ACT

$9,000 per year · Published amount

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

GPA: 4.0–3.96 unweighted · SAT: 1500-1600 · ACT: 34-36

Eligibility: Automatic with admission by April 1 for fall entry. Non-residents awarded a Presidential Scholarship also qualify to pay in-state tuition — effectively a second, much larger discount.

Renewal: Renewal requires a 3.5 cumulative GPA and 30 TTU hours per year. Award split one-half toward fall and one-half toward spring terms.

Other terms: Out-of-state students at the top of the matrix get a stacked benefit: $9,000 plus in-state tuition (a roughly $13,000 additional differential vs. nonresident sticker).

https://web.archive.org/web/20251113093024/https://www.depts.ttu.edu/scholarships/incFreshman.php

Presidential Merit Scholarship — 3.85-3.76 GPA × 1500-1600 SAT / 34-36 ACT

$7,000 per year · Published amount

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

GPA: 3.85-3.76 unweighted · SAT: 1500-1600 · ACT: 34-36

Eligibility: Automatic with admission by April 1 for fall entry. Non-residents in this band also qualify to pay in-state tuition.

Renewal: Renewal requires a 3.5 cumulative GPA and 30 TTU hours per year. Awards $7,000-$9,000 share this renewal floor.

https://web.archive.org/web/20251113093024/https://www.depts.ttu.edu/scholarships/incFreshman.php

Presidential Merit Scholarship — 4.0 GPA × 1100-1190 SAT / 22-24 ACT

$5,000 per year · Published amount

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

GPA: 4.0–3.96 unweighted · SAT: 1100-1190 · ACT: 22-24

Eligibility: Demonstrates Tech's GPA-leaning matrix: a 4.0 student with a 22 ACT still earns $5,000/year.

Renewal: Renewal requires a 3.25 cumulative GPA and 30 TTU hours per year (applies to all $3,000-$6,500 awards).

https://web.archive.org/web/20251113093024/https://www.depts.ttu.edu/scholarships/incFreshman.php

Ask before you decide

  1. Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
  2. What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
  3. How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?

Recorded stacking policy: Outside scholarships at TTU can reduce federal/state need-based aid (subsidized loans, work-study, state aid, institutional grants), but TTU explicitly protects UNIVERSITY scholarships — meaning the Presidential Merit award is not reduced by outside aid.

Our unanswered questions / Family notes

Keep the sources with the decision

Full research, award details and source context: https://meritplaybook.com/colleges/texas-tech/merit-aid

The research date is not a guarantee that a policy still applies. Confirm current amounts, deadlines and conditions with the school before making a financial decision.