RUTH HOUSTON

Ruth Houston Undergraduate Scholarship

How to apply for a Ruth Houston scholarship award

To apply, complete the following checklist of tasks.

An essay of no more than 1,000 words describing:
- Your academic and professional goals and the way the scholarship will contribute to your success;
- Your financial need; and
- How your goals relate to AAUW’s goal of advancing equity for women and girls.
Official transcripts from all colleges attended.
Two letters of reference from referees acquainted with applicant's academic or professional work.
Send transcripts to Dr. Kathleen Schmand at Kathleen.Schmand@mtsu.edu or 1301 E. Main St., MTSU Box 0013 Murfreesboro, TN 37132.

The application will open at 7a.m. Monday, April 14, 2025, and close at 11:45 p.m. Sunday, June 15, 2025.

Good luck, scholars!

With the burden on my dad to pay my tuition, which was 2-3 times the tuition of in-state students, I didn’t want the cost of my other needs as a college senior to burden him further. [AAUW's Ruth Houston scholarship] enabled me to avoid that. ... Furthermore, the publishing of this achievement in the Daily News Journal was the cherry on top, and it made me extremely happy to see my parents so proud. As they said, sending me so far away and paying so much for my education seemed to be paying off!

Kanwal Quershi

2014 Ruth Houston Scholar

AAUW Murfreesboro, in partnership with the Middle Tennessee Fund for Women and Girls, will award a $1,200 scholarship each semester — Fall and Spring — to a nontraditional female undergraduate student, age 24 or older, who best demonstrates academic promise and financial need.

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must have successfully completed their freshman year at MTSU or be transfer students who have successfully completed a minimum of 30 hours and are currently enrolled full-time at MTSU. International students, U.S. citizens, and Permanent Residents may apply. Award recipients may renew the scholarship each semester as long as full-time status and a 2.5 GPA are maintained.

Scholarship designations are New Scholarships and Renewed Scholarships. Upon request, scholarship awards are renewed for recipients in good academic standing and who show that they are making good progress towards graduation. When scholarships are renewed, new scholarships for first time recipients are not offered.