Transfer Scholarships

We want you here

Finish strong on the Hilltop, where your perspectives and experiences will enrich our academic community. We understand the hard work and dedication it takes to reach your goals, and we're committed to making it easier for you to transfer to SMU with scholarships and opportunities to maximize your transfer credits.

We Invest in The Best and The Brightest

Transfer Merit Scholarships are automatically awarded to students who have completed 24 transferable hours post-high school graduation with a minimum 3.30 GPA. (Credits earned by exams, such as AP, IB, or CLEP tests, are not factored into GPA or transferable credit for scholarship consideration.

  • Transfer Merit Scholarships are limited to students seeking their first undergraduate degree.

  • Transfer students who have fewer than 24 hours may be considered for some first-year academic-based scholarships based on high school academic performance.

  • Renewal is based on the successful completion of at least 24 hours of coursework during the academic year (fall and spring semesters). At the conclusion of each spring semester, an SMU cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required.

SMU Transfer Academic Scholarships

Scholarship
Annual Value
Duration
Credit Requirement
GPA Requirement

North Texas Community College Scholarship

Full tuition & fees

Up to 5 semesters

50 Credits

3.7

Transfer Honor Scholarship

Half tuition

Up to 5 semesters

50 Credits

3.7

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship*

$2,000

Up to 5 semesters

50 Credits

3.5

SMU Distinguished Scholarship

$25,000

Up to 6 semesters

24 Credits

3.7

SMU Second Century Scholarship

$20,000

Up to 6 semesters

24 Credits

3.5

SMU Founders Scholarship

$15,000

Up to 6 semesters

24 Credits

3.3

*The Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship is a supplemental scholarship offered to active Phi Theta Kappa members.


Additional Transfer Scholarship Information

This scholarship awards 10 full-tuition scholarships for up to five terms to students transferring from Collin, Dallas, Grayson, Trinity Valley, Navarro and Tarrant County community college districts and completing their admission application by April 1 (fall term entrants only). This scholarship is renewable if full-time enrollment and a 3.0 GPA are maintained.

Requirements:

  • Complete at least 50 transferable credit hours with a minimum 3.70 transferable GPA.
  • Submit an essay. This is a personal statement. We want to get to know you and understand your goals and ambitions.
  • Submit 2–3 letters of recommendation.
  • Submit an extracurricular résumé.

You can submit all of your materials within your personalized status page 24–48 hours after submitting your application. You will receive an email with the login instructions. All NTCC application materials must be received by April 15. 

Selection is based on the student’s academic profile, demonstrated leadership, community involvement and unique life experiences. Candidates are selected and interviewed individually by the University Committee.

2023 SCHOLARS

Timeline for North Texas Community College Scholarship Selection

  • April 1 - SMU Application Deadline. Submit your SMU Transfer Application Online using the SMU ApplicationThe Common ApplicationApplyTexas, or Apply Coalition with SCOIR.
  • April 15 - Once you have submitted your SMU Application, log into your status page (you will receive login instructions within 24–48 hours) to submit your NTCC Scholarship Application and upload your essay, two letters of recommendation and extracurricular/personal resume. Your NTCC application and ALL supplemental materials must be uploaded by April 15.
  • May 16 - Final Spring College Transcript Due.
  • Late-May/Early June - Committee reads application files and selects interviewees.
  • First or second week of June - Interviewees notified by email of interview date and time.
  • No later than mid-June - Interviews held.
  • Within a few days of the interviews - Recipient selection by interview committee. Winners notified by phone and non-winners are notified by email.

The Phi Theta Kappa scholarship offers an extra $2,000 to active Phi Theta Kappa members who are transferring to SMU. This supplementary scholarship is intended to be combined with a Transfer Merit Scholarship. To apply, you must submit the PTK Scholarship Application, which is linked below. Twenty awards are granted in fall and ten awards are granted in spring. The PTK scholarship is renewable for up to five terms if full-time enrollment and a 3.00 GPA are maintained.

Requirements:

  • Must be active member of Phi Theta Kappa at your current two-year college.
  • Must have completed at least 50 transferable credit hours with a minimum 3.50 cumulative transferable GPA.
  • Additionally, students must be a U.S. citizens or permanent residents to be eligible for this scholarship.
  • Submit two letters of academic recommendation, which can be emailed to ugadmission@smu.edu.
  • Submit the PTK Honor Scholarship application form (You will need to know the name and email address of your PTK advisor to complete the application form.)
  • Candidates are selected based on PTK membership, demonstrated leadership, community service and submitted materials including essay, letters of recommendation and application information. 

Deadline is April 1 for fall entry or November 1 for spring entry

Two recipients of the Dallas College Erin Tierney Kramp Encouragement Endowed Scholarship are chosen annually to continue their college education at SMU. This scholarship will cover the cost of tuition and fees for five terms. Students must indicate that they are ETK recipients within their application. If more than two recipients apply, a faculty panel will interview the candidates.

Requirements:

  • Complete at least 50 transferable credit hours.
  • Minimum 3.50 transferable GPA.

Deadline is April 1 for fall entry.

The Dallas Noyce Scholars Program provides scholarships to students who want to become middle and high school teachers in the Dallas area.

Noyce Scholars receive $30,000 for their junior and senior years at SMU, with additional merit- and need-based scholarships available. During that time, students earn a double major in mathematics and education and begin teaching in a local school with a commitment to continue teaching for four years in a high-needs school. 

After completing coursework, Noyce Scholars work as student teachers or teacher interns in Dallas schools under the supervision of SMU faculty. After completing their student teaching or internships, Noyce Scholars are certified to teach in Texas public schools, and the program assists with placement options within Dallas ISD. 

For more information and application instructions, please visit https://www.smu.edu/Simmons/Research/Noyce.

Transfer students who have been admitted can apply for additional endowed scholarships offered by SMU. To submit a scholarship application, please visit the Scholarship Application Portal.

For a comprehensive list of additional scholarships available, please refer to our Financial Aid Scholarship site: SMU Financial Aid Scholarships.