Universal Access Scholarships

The Universal Access Community Endowment Scholarship is a nationally recognized program that the community of Galveston established to provide higher education and training opportunities for its citizens at Galveston College. Since Fall 2001, Galveston College Foundation, an independent 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization through its’ Universal Access Endowment Scholarship program has ensured that every eligible graduate of a Galveston public or private high school, home school program, and/or GED recipient has the opportunity to attend Galveston College to pursue a two-year associate degree, take university transfer classes and/or receive technical training through a workforce development program.

An applicant must be a resident of the Galveston College taxing district, as determined by the Admissions Office, for a minimum of 12 months prior to graduation or GED completion, and continue to be a resident of the Galveston College taxing district while enrolled at Galveston College and receiving Universal Access scholarship funds.

A recipient must be a resident of the state of Texas and a United States citizen or an alien who has filed with the proper federal immigration authorities a declaration of intention to become a citizen (Texas Education Code 54.057) allowing these students to qualify for resident tuition rates.

Beginning in the fall of 2020, the Galveston College Foundation Universal Access Endowment scholarship instituted a new lifetime limit of $5,476 for full-time and part-time students, which covers tuition and required fees for a 60-credit hour associate degree. All students must have a degree plan on file. Upon enrollment for the Universal Access award, a student’s allocation must be used within a five-year period. After completing the initial semester, UA becomes a performance-based scholarship. Students must receive a minimum GPA of 2.0 to continue accessing funds from the UA endowment.

In fall 2020, the Foundation directors increased and expanded use of the one-time UA+ award for nontuition needs, e.g. books, online access codes, licensing fees, etc. to $35 per semester hour with a lifetime limit of $2,100 beginning spring 2021. The UA+ voucher may be used during any semester as long student remains in good academic standing. The UA+ award is extended to UA students enrolled in a GC baccalaureate program, e.g. Healthcare Management.

Eligibility and participation guidelines for Galveston College Foundation’s Universal Access Endowment Scholarship are available on request from the Financial Aid Office and online at www.gc.edu. For more information, contact the Galveston College Foundation at (409) 944-1306.

To see this and other named and endowed scholarships available and complete an application go to: http://www.gc.edu/scholarships

For financial aid assistance, contact the Financial Aid Office at (409) 944-1235.