The McCombs School of Business has placed a historical emphasis on awarding scholarships to enrolled students as a reward for demonstrated performance at the college level. As McCombs has evolved into one of the nation’s leading names in business education, this legacy has left it inadequately equipped with the freshman scholarships needed to recruit the nation’s top students. Each incoming class numbers some 800 talented freshmen, but McCombs awards only 19 (2%) of these students scholarship packages.

Not surprisingly, the lack of ability to provide scholarships costs McCombs many of its potentially best students. Surveys show that in instances where honors students chose to decline their offer in favor of another institution, half cited lack of sufficient financial support as their primary reason for doing so.

Over the past year, Tom Gilligan, Dean of the McCombs School has made it a top priority to remedy this problem. With his support, we have set a goal to establish a community of scholars built on a tiered “McCombs Scholars” program meant to complement the existing Forty Acres Scholars Program. Over the long-term, this ambitious initiative seeks to equip the McCombs School with 375 total scholarships (over 90 per class)—enough to ensure that the very brightest young minds in business have every reason to call the McCombs School home. We hope you will join us in contributing to this important effort.

McCombs Scholars Program Levels

Forty Acres Scholarship:  $500,000

• The premier full-ride scholarship program attracting the nation’s top student-leaders entering any of our colleges and schools at The University of Texas at Austin
• Funding provides for tuition and fees, housing and food, living stipend, books, summer enrichment activities, including a service-learning experience, study abroad and internships tailored for each individual student
• Awarded to students who possess extraordinary intellectual qualities and the capacity to motivate and lead fellow students
• Every academic year centers the student experience around a theme that allows the cohort to share experiences from their individual academic units and includes varied and substantive team-building, academic, and leadership/cultural programming
• Access to exclusive University-wide opportunities, distinguished alumni, and mentors
• As a member of the McCombs Scholars’ community, the student is entitled to annual recognition at a reception with administrators, other scholarship recipients and alumni, and scholarship donors.

McCombs Presidential Scholarship:  $250,000

• Generates roughly $12,500 per year for 4 years (currently provides full tuition and fees)
• This is an Endowed Presidential Scholarship awarded to students who have exhibited exceptional potential for academic, professional, and ethical leadership.
• As a member of the McCombs Scholars’ community, the student is entitled to both recognition at a reception with administrators, other scholarship recipients and alumni, and scholarship donors, and recognition through the president’s office.
• Funds additional enrichment activities, such as a global experience, leadership development conference, or case competition participation

McCombs Dean's Scholarship:  $125,000

• Generates roughly $6,250 per year for 4 years (currently provides half tuition and fees)
• Awarded to students who have exhibited high potential for academic, professional, and ethical leadership
• As a member of the McCombs Scholars’ community, the student is entitled to both recognition at a reception with administrators, other scholarship

McCombs Scholars Program Progress & Goals

Level	Committed	Goal
Forty Acres Scholarship	32 (7 per class)	75 (19 per class)
Available Full Tuition Scholarships	52 (13 per class)	n/a
McCombs Presidential Scholarship	18 (3 per class)	240 (60 per class)
McCombs Dean’s Scholarship	21 (4 per class)	60 (15 per class)
Total	123 (27 per class)	375 (90+ per class)
*This table’s total of all scholarships currently funded varies slightly each year by 2-3 scholarships due to factors such as non-endowed gifts.

Additional Types of Student Scholarships

• The 40 Acres Scholars Program is a new scholarship created by the Texas Exes to recruit and recognize exceptional students, enriching their lives and nurturing their development as future leaders at The University of Texas at Austin. The 40 Acres Scholars Program will give the university a competitive advantage in attracting the nation's most talented students. Learn more.
  
  
• Endowed Presidential Fellowships are merit-based and are awarded to graduate students who meet the criteria set forth by the donor.
  
  
• Endowed Graduate Fellowships are awarded to deserving graduate students based on criteria set forth by the donor.
  
  
• Endowed Graduate Research Funds are used to provide research support to deserving graduate students.
  
  
• Endowed Presidential Scholarships are merit-based awards for undergraduate students meeting the criteria of the Endowed Presidential Scholarship Program and those set forth by the donor.
  
  
• Endowed Undergraduate Scholarships are awarded to deserving undergraduate students based on criteria set forth by the donor.
  
  
• General Excellence Endowments support specific or general programs in the colleges, schools and units.

Contact Director of Development Dianne Bangle at dianne.bangle@mccombs.utexas.edu or 512-475-8177. For corporate scholarships, contact Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Donnell Ocker Roy at donnell.ockerroy@mccombs.utexas.edu or 512-471-8064.