Scholarships and Financial Aid

Students at Texas A&M get a world-class education at a reasonable cost—and graduate with far less college-related debt than their peers at other universities. We award over $200,000 in scholarships annually to undergraduate students in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology and support graduate students through scholarships, assistantships, fellowships, and travel and research grants. This funding is made possible by donors and supporters of the department including former students, family and friends, former faculty and industry sponsors.

Texas A&M University Scholarships
Financial Aid

Non-Resident Tuition Waiver

Available for graduate or undergraduate students, The Competitive Scholarship waiver, authorized under Texas Education Code 54.213a, is an optional waiver that institutions can implement. An eligible non-resident student who holds a competitive academic scholarship of a specified minimum dollar amount for the academic year or summer for which the student is enrolled may be eligible to pay the fees and charges required of Texas residents without regard to the length of time the student has resided in Texas. Learn more about requirements and eligibility for the non-resident tuition waiver.

Undergraduate Scholarships

The following scholarships are available on a competitive basis. Each year the University Scholarship Application is open from October 15 to February 1.

Freshman Scholarships

The Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology offers a number of freshman scholarships awarding up to $5000/yr. Applications are available via the Texas Common Scholarship Application on the Texas Common Application Website.

Continuing Undergraduate Student Scholarships

The Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology offers several scholarships for continuing students. Students must be enrolled full time during the semesters the scholarship is awarded. Scholarships awards vary depending on the availability of funds each year. Students must complete the University Scholarship Application between October 15 and February 1 each year.

External Funding Sources

Disclaimer: The listing of outside scholarships on this page is for informational purposes only. Inclusion in the listing does not constitute an endorsement by Ecology and Conservation Biology or Texas A&M University. Neither ECCB nor Texas A&M University can guarantee the accuracy or the timeliness of information found at any of the links in the listing.

Full list of Undergraduate Scholarships

Graduate Funding Opportunities

We understand that graduate education is an investment and one we don’t take lightly. ECCB and Texas A&M University offer competitive assistantships and fellowships to help alleviate the cost of higher education and make attending graduate school more affordable. Approximately 95% of current full-time, on-campus graduate students in ECCB are supported by departmental teaching assistantships, grant-based research assistantships, or internal and external graduate fellowships and grants, amounting to over $200,000 per year. Research and travel grants are also available from the department and university. Check with the Graduate and Professional School for details on opportunities available across the university.

Graduate Funding Opportunities

Assistantships

Teaching assistantships (GAT) 

A call for graduate teaching assistantships will be sent to all ECCB graduate students each March (for fall) and October (for spring). Students may apply via the online application by the given deadline.

Teaching Assistantship Application
Teaching Assistant Protocol

Research assistantships (GAR) 

Grant-based graduate student support. Contact your faculty advisor on the availability of research assistantship positions.

Departmental Scholarships and Awards

The Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology offers several scholarships for graduate students. Students must be enrolled full-time during the semesters the scholarship is awarded. Scholarship awards vary depending on the availability of funds each year. Students must complete the University Scholarship Application between October 15 and February 1 each year.

Prospective Student Graduate Departmental Fellowships and Assistantships

The Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology invites nominations for graduate assistantships and fellowships available to qualified incoming graduate students matriculating each fall semester funds are available. Outstanding prospective doctoral students are given first priority for awards. However, exceptional prospective master’s students (thesis-based) are also considered, where applicable. A call for nominations for available fellowships will be sent each fall for the following academic year.

Eligibility

  • Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.3 or above, or have an M.S. degree in a relevant field;
  • Be a new doctoral or master’s student majoring in ECCB;
  • Have already applied for graduate admission to Texas A&M University and have a complete application package on file;
  • Meets the criteria of the gift agreement, and
  • Must not be related to a Board of Regents Member

Graduate Fellowships

These competitive fellowships are available from the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies (OGAPS) for incoming masters or doctoral students. Your faculty nominates you for the fellowship. You must have a complete graduate school application on file with ECCB by December 1 prior to your incoming fall semester. Recipients are chosen by a university-wide selection committee. ECCB provides matching funds, in the form of a teaching or research assistantship. (More information available at the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies Dr. Dionel Avilés ’53 and Dr. James Johnson ’67 Fellowship Program)

External Funding Sources

Graduate fellowships from national and private agencies

Research funding opportunities

Postdoctoral fellowship opportunities

Scholarships for minorities