Scholarships for Higher Education
Since 1991, the Southwest Community Foundation and its affiliate, DJCF, have awarded almost $3 million in scholarships, helping over 1,000 college students attain degrees.
The majority of scholarships are based on financial need, academic merit, involvement in extracurricular activities, and/or community service. We have awards for students studying specific fields and a host of scholarships for students in any field of study.
The application will open in January 2027. There is the opportunity to award just under 100 college scholarships based on financial need, academic merit, involvement in extracurricular activities, and/or community service for the 2027-28 school year. The average scholarship is $2,500, with most allowing study at the college or university of the recipient’s choice. In addition to general scholarships, there are specific scholarships for those studying the following fields: veterinary medicine, medical, law, education, fashion merchandising, nutrition, and many others.
SWCF/DJCF provides a variety of scholarships to students from Dallas, Denton, and Collin Counties and many other criteria. And though there are many scholarships, only one application is needed per student. The questions are designed to allow each applicant to be considered for every scholarship for which they are eligible. To be considered for review by the large scholarship committee the fall transcript and current year SAR (from the FAFSA) must be submitted with the application. The application is to be filled out by the student, not the parent or teacher as this can affect the scoring process.
While the overall majority of scholarships are for students from the tri-county area, there are many exceptions. Some are statewide and a few nationwide. There are also scholarships for students at the University of Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Southern Methodist University, plus a variety of graduate school scholarships. There are also 2 scholarships just for students who are members of an indigenous tribe from Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, or Louisiana.
Students who are U.S. citizens, or who have attained legal status to reside in the U.S., and who plan to attend school full time from fall 2027 through spring 2028 are welcome to apply. Additional criteria for faith-based scholarships are also available and are listed on the application consent page. High school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students of any and all faiths are encouraged to apply.
There are three scholarships that do not require either a FAFSA or TASFA. The FAFSA/TASFA-free scholarships are available to freshmen studying in Israel, graduate students at SMU-Dedman School of Law, and local graduate students with at least a 3.8 GPA. However, if you wish to be eligible for any other awards, you will need to obtain and submit a student aid report or SAR.