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Financial Aid offers for Spring 2025 only students will begin the week of Monday, November 25th.
Financial Aid & Scholarships will be closed November 28th & 29th in observance of Thanksgiving.
External ScholarshipsWelcome!
The Scholarship Team in the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office coordinates and administers Sam Houston State University scholarship programs for all student classification levels. SHSU utilizes a streamlined application, Scholarships4Kats. This application dramatically simplifies the process for students by importing key information from their student data record and allowing them to be automatically considered for all relevant scholarships. A student has to be accepted to Sam Houston State University to apply for scholarships.
Apply for Scholarships
How to Apply for Scholarships
Access & Sign into Scholarships4Kats
Access the Scholarships4Kats portal.
Click the orange Sign In button at the top right-hand corner.
Complete the General Application
Fill out all the fields for the General Application and click Finish and Submit at the bottom of the page.
Apply for Recommended Opportunities
Click the Opportunities button at the top of the page.
Look through the scholarships and click the orange Apply button to apply for them.
Answer any supplemental questions and click the Save and Keep Editing button.
Important Information
- Scholarships4Kats Priority Date: November 1st
- Once a recipient is selected, an Award Letter is emailed to the student’s SHSU email account
- Offered Scholarships can be viewed by logging into MySam
Popular Scholarships
Bearkat Transfer Scholarship
The Bearkat Transfer Scholarship is a single-year scholarship awarded on a first come, first serve basis to students who transfer to SHSU. This scholarship awards a total of $2,000 to eligible students ($1,000 in Fall and $1,000 in Spring). The Bearkat Transfer Scholarship is awarded automatically, so no application is required other than applying for admission to Sam Houston State University!
Scholarship recipients will be notified by email with instructions on how to accept the offer. Students must accept the award offer within 45 days. For additional information, contact the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office.
Conditions:
- First-time SHSU student, enrolling full-time in a Fall semester*
- Transfer from an accredited community college or university
- Be an undergraduate student, seeking their first bachelor's degree
- Have a minimum of 30 transferable academic credit hours; but less than 90
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
*Students transferring to SHSU starting in a Spring semester are not eligible for the Bearkat Transfer Scholarship
Smith-Hutson Scholarships
Dedicated to providing opportunities to students who otherwise may not have a chance to earn a baccalaureate degree, the Smith-Hutson Scholarship Program is targeted toward individuals with demonstrated financial need and academic potential. The Smith-Hutson Scholarship Program provides educational opportunities for Texas high school graduates pursuing a baccalaureate degree from Sam Houston State University. Additionally, the Smith-Hutson Scholarship program is available to transfer students from a Texas community college who are pursuing a baccalaureate degree at Sam Houston State University. The number of Smith-Hutson scholarships varies year-to-year depending on the number of qualified applicants.
For more information visit the Smith-Hutson Scholarship page.
Honors Scholarship
The Honors Scholarship is distributed over an SHSU undergraduate college career no longer than four years at a maximum of $40,000.
For more information visit the Honors Scholarship page.
External Scholarships
Explore External Scholarships
External scholarships are developed and funded by private organizations. They can potentially help students cover the costs of their education and education-related expenses. Student eligibility rules are created by the organization offering the scholarship and can depend on many factors. SHSU is not endorsing any external scholarships, affiliated awards, and/or practices.
Please remember to read all instructions carefully, and never give out any sensitive information (social security number, etc.) or agree to pay any application fees.
External Scholarship Processing
If you receive an award from an external scholarship, the funds should be sent to SHSU for processing. Instructions on submitting an external scholarship award to SHSU are located on the Student Account Services website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need help logging into Scholarships4Kats?
- Are you a current student? – Only SHSU students can access Scholarships4Kats
- Be sure that you are accessing Scholarships4Kats through the SHSU portal, not through Google or any other search engine. Go to your MySam account, select the Student tab, then click on the Scholarships4Kats link.
How can I make changes to my application once it is submitted?
- The Letters of Recommendation are the only documents/entries that can be edited in regards to the Scholarships4Kats Application.
- No other changes can be made to your application after submitting
How do I know what scholarships I qualify for?
Review opportunities on the Scholarships4Kats home page. All of the requirements are listed under each scholarship opportunity.
When do I know if I am receiving any scholarships?
- You have excelled at meeting the priority date, however, many departments award at later dates. At this time, we cannot provide a definite date of notification. If you are selected as a recipient, you will be notified through your SHSU email account.
- Scholarship committees are urged to notify recipients by May 1st.
- Keep in mind that just because you qualify for a scholarship does not guarantee that you will be selected. Our scholarship process is very competitive.
Can I still apply for scholarships after the priority date has passed?
Yes, students can still apply after the priority date. We've established this date to allow students the best opportunity for scholarships.
Do you offer Summer scholarships?
- Summer awards depend on the funds available.
- Scholarship applications will be posted on the Financial Aid and Scholarships website.
If I change my major, how do you know?
In regards to majors, we pull student’s majors through University data. Be sure that when you “change your major” that you did so with an advisor so that it was changed in the system.
When will the application open for the following year?
The application for the next academic year opens the September prior to the priority date for that year
If I have scholarships from other organizations, where do I or they send payment?
-
Cashier’s Office: ATTENTION: Scholarships
Sam Houston State University
Box 2273
Huntsville, Texas 77341-2273 - Be sure that the organization knows to include your name and SAM ID on the check as well as indicate how the funds are to be disbursed (½ in Fall and ½ in Spring or all in one term).
- For more information visit the Cashier's Office.
Where will my scholarship award be sent?
- Scholarships awarded to students at Sam Houston State University are applied to the student’s account through their Banner Self Service. The scholarship funds will apply to the student’s balance due. Any residual funds will then be issued to the student as a refund.
- Refund preferences can be setup through the student’s Bearkat One account. The contact information is listed on the back of the Bearkat One Card.
I am an entering freshman, what information should I know regarding scholarship opportunities?
- You will need to complete your Scholarships4Kats Application by the November 1st priority date in order to qualify for scholarships offered at Sam Houston State University.
- Check with your high school counselor for additional scholarship opportunities.
Do you have any hints to help me be successful in completing Scholarships4Kats?
- There are essays within the application. Use a program like Microsoft Word to spell check your essays.
- Submit your application well in advance of the date to avoid any technical errors.