Non-Trad Student Guide - Scholarships | University of North Texas

Welcome to our scholarship directory designed exclusively for commuter, non-traditional, and student parent students. Here, we aim to simplify your search for financial aid by providing a curated list of opportunities suited to your unique circumstances. Below are scholarship or award opportunities offered by our EEC Office and also other external scholarship opportunities for our students.

Whether you're returning to education after a hiatus, pursuing a career change, or balancing studies with family and work commitments, we're here to support you in achieving your academic goals. Explore our listings and take the first step towards securing the funding you need for your educational journey!

Please note that while our directory offers a wide array of scholarship options, it is not exhaustive. We encourage you to explore additional resources and opportunities to ensure you find the best fit for your needs.

Eagle Engagement Center Award Opportunities

The EEC is proud to offer award opportunities for our Non-Traditional, Commuter, and Student Parent communities. See below for more information on each.

The Academic Supply Award is offered during the Fall and Spring semesters on a case-by-case basis. Students are eligible to receive this award 2 times maximum during their time at UNT. To discuss eligibility, please schedule a 1:1 Meeting with one of our EEC Staff. Students can schedule an appointment with our team in-person or online through Navigate.

The Commuter Care Award is offered by the Eagle Engagement Center and UNT Transportation Services. With this award, Awardees will receive an Eagle Commuter Lot parking pass for the upcoming academic school year (Fall, Spring, Summer). Awards are determined by eligibility criteria and essay. Applicants must complete the following:

You should be currently enrolled in at least one on-campus class for Fall 2026 and plan to enroll in at least one on-campus class for Spring 2027.
You must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours for the upcoming Fall 2026 semester.
You must have completed the 2026-2027 FAFSA and receive one of the following: Any grant aid, work-study, or subsidized loan.
You must be a Sophomore, Junior, Senior or Graduate Student at UNT with a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher and 3.0 or higher for Graduate students.
You must live off-campus and plan to be commuting to UNT (either in Denton, Frisco, or Discovery Park) for the 2026-2027 academic year
You must complete the essay submission on this application. Submissions without a submitted essay will not be reviewed.

The Commuter Care Award for the 2026-2027 academic year is now closed.

The Commuter Care Award application for the 2027-2028 academic year will open in April 2027. The application will be available here on this page.

The Student Parent Success Stipend was created with the intention of providing additional support to student parents when it comes to financial costs that come with being a parent. This award is a one-time $1,000 award that will be given during the Fall 2026 semester. Below are the application requirements you must complete in order to be considered for the award.

For Fall 2026, we have reached the max quota of applications and the Student Parent Success Stipend is now closed.

Check back in Spring 2027 for more information on when the application will open then!

UNT Scholarship Opportunities

Make sure to fill out your UNT general scholarship form and create your account with the Eagle Scholarship Portal to see what financial opportunities are available to you at UNT. Along with creating your account, be sure to reach out to your college and major department to see what in house funding opportunities they may have available. Click here to visits the UNT Eagle Scholarship Portal.

Transfer Excellence Scholarships are available to undergraduate students that have a demonstrated track record of academic success who are transferring to UNT for the first time from a community college or an accredited university. These two-year awards range from $1,500 to $4,000 per year based on transfer cumulative GPA.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

First things first! Have you submitted this year's FAFSA? If you have not done so already, complete your 2025-2026 FAFSA as soon as possible to be eligible for financial aid. Click here to visit the FAFSA application.

This online association houses a list of available scholarships and other online resources and funding opportunities for non-traditional students. Click here to learn more and visit their site.

The ASIST award is available to adult students facing physical, economic, and/or social challenges. Candidates apply through one of the organization's local chapters. Requirements vary by chapter, but applicants generally need to demonstrate financial need and have clearly defined career goals. Click here to visit their website and learn more.

This scholarship is open to students of all ages, education levels, locations, and GPA. Award recipients are chosen based on how "bold" their Bold.org profile is — defined as earnest, determined, and moving. Click here to visit their site.

Applicants must be a US citizen and a college student with a minimum GPA of 2.5. You must submit a 250 word essay on why you deserve the scholarship. A new winner is chosen each month. Click here to visit their site.

This scholarship seeks to honor the efforts of Tracey Johnson-Webb by supporting adult learners who are handling the responsibilities of work or parenting while pursuing higher education. Any undergraduate or graduate student who is at least forty years old and is working full time, in or out of the home, in addition to being a student. Click here to visit their site.

In furthering their mission to increase and retain the number of individuals choosing the transit field as a career, the APTF will award a minimum of thirty scholarships, ranging from $5,000 to $12,000 to college students or transit professionals who are interested in pursuing or advancing in a career in the public transportation industry. Awards cover the academic year, beginning in the fall 2024 semester, and assist with tuition costs or other educational expenses. Other APTF Scholarships are also located on their website.

This program is designed to help enable students who are blind or deaf to attend public colleges or universities in the State of Texas. To learn more about eligibility requirements and apply, visit their site here.

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