High school seniors eyeing an engineering degree now have a reason to look hard at the University of Texas at El Paso: a new scholarship will cover a student's entire cost of attendance for four years, hand out a $1,000 monthly stipend, and dangle a bonus of up to $30,000 for graduates who finish with top honors. The inaugural class of 10 Loya Scholars is set to enroll in fall 2027, and applications are due January 31, 2027.
The program, known as the Miguel A. Loya Scholarship, is a four-year award that covers incoming engineering students' full cost of attendance while also offering that $1,000 monthly stipend, according to KVIA. On top of that base package, scholars who graduate from UTEP with the highest honors and achievements can receive a bonus award of up to $30,000, per the same report. The KTSM 9 News reported that applications for the full-ride scholarship opened through Jan. 31, 2027.
A $30 Million Gift Behind the Program
The scholarship exists because of a $30 million gift from Miguel A. Loya, which KVIA describes as the largest gift in UTEP history. In recognition of that donation, UTEP named its College of Engineering in his honor, the station notes.
Eligibility is fairly specific. Applicants must be high school seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and they must plan to major in engineering and enroll at UTEP full time, the station's report states. UTEP's own scholarship listing adds that applicants must also be Texas residents, while KVIA's eligibility summary does not mention that condition.
No SAT or ACT Scores Required
UTEP's financial aid page states that SAT and ACT scores are not required, though they can increase an applicant's overall score for this opportunity. Top applicants may advance to the interview stage, but only after they have completed UTEP's admission process, according to the university.
The first cohort of Loya Scholars, consisting of 10 students, will enroll at UTEP in fall 2027, per the same account. For El Paso families weighing college costs, the combination of a covered tuition bill, a steady monthly stipend, and a potential five-figure bonus at graduation makes the Loya Scholarship one of the more significant financial aid offerings to land in the region in recent memory.
