Student success drives everything we do, and we simply can’t stop. Scholarships are the spark that help our students start strong, stay on track and cross the finish line. They’re counting on us.
But choosing UH is just the beginning. Through Can’t Stop Houston: The Centennial Campaign, we’re investing in the full student journey, from bold beginnings to the critical middle and final mile. Our goal is simple: ensure every Cougar has the resources they need to keep moving forward, overcome obstacles and cross the stage with confidence.
Through the Distinguished Scholars program, you can create multiple $100,000 scholarships, each named for you or someone you choose. For endowments of $100,000 or more, UH will double the income distribution for recruitment scholarships over a 10-year period, through August 31, 2031.
Great minds have no shortage of options in great schools.
Our students are first-generation, high-achieving, working and community-minded, often all at once. But when cost becomes a barrier, even the most promising students can be forced to walk away from their top choice university. First Mile Scholarships help UH compete, removing financial barriers so exceptional students can choose UH and all it has to offer.
Diane Z. Chase
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at UH
Types of First Mile Support
You’re investing in bold beginnings that build unstoppable futures.
Why it Matters
We often celebrate the start of college and the joy of graduation, but what happens in the middle?
Sophomore and junior years are when the pressure builds, course loads intensify, financial stress grows and the finish line still feels far away.
NEXT MILE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE BUILT FOR THIS MOMENT.
They provide timely, strategic support when students are deep in their academic journey but still vulnerable to academic, financial or personal setbacks.
These scholarships keep students enrolled, engaged and moving forward.
WHY IT MATTERS
Without support in the middle of their journey, students may delay graduation, take on unsustainable debt or leave UH altogether. Those from low-income families are especially vulnerable to unexpected expenses and other institutions are often ready to step in with competing offers.
TYPES OF NEXT MILE SUPPORT
• University Scholarships – flexible aid administered through the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid
• College-Based Awards – tailored to students’ majors and academic goals across all UH colleges and schools
90% of students who receive a Last Mile Scholarship go on to graduate.
This scholarship supports juniors and seniors in good academic standing who face unmet financial need and have an outstanding balance at UH. It’s designed for hardworking students from working families who don’t qualify for Federal Student Aid but need critical support to complete the “last mile” of their degree.
“They did the work. All they lack is some funding to walk across the stage.”
Thasunda Brown
Duckett (’96)
“The cost of becoming a physician is immense — financially, in time and energy, and even in terms of family planning and retirement. The amount of debt you’re carrying from medical school makes a difference in the specialty you might choose. For me, when I was making my choice of specialty, I felt like I had one less consideration. I could really just follow where my passions and my values were.”
“Receiving a scholarship, I feel like I’m part of the legacy of UH as a student. Somebody believed in me enough, and in the legacy of UH enough, to invest in my future. That means a lot to me.”
“Since being a recipient, I have been able to spend a lot more time on campus making friends and serving in new roles like on the Homecoming Board and with Bauer Ambassadors.”
UH graduates earn more than double the median income of Texas high school graduates.