National Merit scholarships in Texas: two cost-of-attendance options

Texas Tech: an institutional budget guarantee

Texas Tech says qualifying National Merit® Finalists who select it as first choice receive a package equal to 100% of approved undergraduate cost of attendance. Grants and institutional scholarships are combined; loans are excluded. Nonresident Finalists qualify for in-state tuition. Published renewal terms require 30 hours per academic year and a 3.5 GPA, for four years. The page lists April 1 for college-choice designation; confirm the year with admissions. Texas Tech: National Merit Scholars.

For a 2026–27 illustration, TTU's general Texas-resident undergraduate budget is $29,783. Engineering and business have different totals. These are institutional estimates, and actual expenses vary with courses, housing and spending. Texas Tech: 2026–27 cost of attendance.

UNT: check the actual offer

UNT's financial-aid page describes a four-year Finalist scholarship covering tuition, mandatory fees, standard double-occupancy campus housing, the specified meal plan and textbooks. First-choice designation is required. Renewal conditions come with the offer; other aid can reduce this scholarship so total aid stays within the applicable budget. UNT: Meritorious Scholarship terms.

There is a public-page discrepancy: UNT's overview advertises four-year values of $128,000 resident / $177,000 nonresident, while its financial-aid page lists $108,000 / $157,000. Neither page labels those figures with an entering cohort. Do not choose a budget from these conflicting totals; obtain the dated offer. UNT: National Merit overview; UNT: Meritorious Scholarship terms.

Turn recognition into a concrete comparison

These examples require Finalist standing, not just a high PSAT/NMSQT® score or Semifinalist recognition. Texas Tech: National Merit Scholars; UNT: Meritorious Scholarship terms. Compare them with Florida's state-funded Benacquisto rules, which use a different eligibility and funding structure.

For each offer, ask the college to identify covered semesters, room and meal assumptions, uncovered expenses, renewal requirements and treatment of other aid. Check the official pages and your entering-year award letter before committing.