Requirements to Apply:

Applicant must be a graduating high school senior (Class of 2026) from one of the following high schools in the Greater Houston area:

Applicant must also meet the following requirements:

• Must be a first-generation college student
• Must demonstrate financial need
• Minimum cumulative GPA to apply: 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted)
  • Students with a GPA of 2.49 or below are not eligible.
  • Please review this guide for instructions on converting your GPA to a 4.0 scale. GPA should be rounded to two decimal points.
• Must plan to attend an accredited 2- or 4-year public college, university, or vocational school within the Greater Houston area 
  • A list of eligible colleges in the Greater Houston area can be found here: Eligible Colleges for Houston Opportunity Scholarship 
• Preference will be given to students pursuing a career in education or medicine (such as Nursing, Pre-Med, or community college programs such as Phlebotomy or Radiology)

About the Scholarship Award

This is a renewable scholarship, meaning recipients can renew the award for multiple years funding if they meet the GPA and enrollment requirements and complete the renewal application for each academic year they plan to be enrolled.

• Multiple scholarships awarded for the 2026-27 academic year. Award amount varies by college/degree type:
  • 4-Year College - Annual award of $15,000 for the academic year. Award is renewable for a total of four (4) years, totaling $60,000 in funding.
  • 2-Year College - Annual award of $5,000 for the academic year. Award is renewable for a total of two (2) years, totaling $10,000 in funding. 
    
    
• What can the scholarship be used for?
  • The scholarship will be mailed directly to the student's college to be used towards tuition, required academic fees, and/or book expenses. 
  • Scholarship funding cannot be distributed directly to the student. Funding cannot be used for room and board, rent, meal plans, parking passes, or other similar living expenses.
    
    
• Are there any requirements I must meet if I'm selected as a scholarship recipient?
  • Recipients must attend an accredited public 2- or 4-year college, university, or vocational school in the Greater Houston area.
    
  • Recipients must enroll in at least 12 credit hours for both the fall and spring semesters (or be enrolled full-time according to your school if it is on a different system).
  • Recipients must submit college enrollment information online through GHCF Scholar the summer before the academic year begins. This information is required in order for the scholarship check to be mailed to the student's college. Instructions will be included in the student's award letter.

What Is Needed for This Application?

• Eligibility questions based on the criteria above
• Financial information
• One essay response (see below for essay prompts)
• Transcript to confirm your high school and GPA (unofficial transcripts are accepted)
• Education information
• Resume Form (involvement in community service, school activities, employment, etc.)

Language Considerations:

• This application is offered in both English and Spanish.
• To view your application in Spanish, click the "EN" dropdown button in the top right corner of the screen and select "Español".
• You may toggle between English and Spanish while filling out your application.