Duncan Scholars was established through a $9 million bequest from late Waco philanthropist Malcolm Duncan, Sr., who worked tirelessly to ensure local students have an opportunity to graduate from college debt free.


Our Purpose:

Duncan Scholars strives to increase college completion rates in McLennan County by providing financial aid, academic support, and success coaching through partnerships with MCC, Texas Tech and Tarleton State at the University Center and Baylor University.

Who We Serve:

Currently, Duncan Scholars is partnering with Waco Independent School District to select students who have great potential to succeed in this program. Students who are selected to participate as a Duncan Scholar will be notified by their counselor at either University High School or Waco High School.

Our Goals:

1. Reduce Student Debt

Duncan Scholars is designed to reduce student loan debt to provide cost effective solutions for post-secondary degrees or certificates.

2. Improve College Completion Rates

Duncan Scholars increases college completion rates by providing both academic and financial support, along with personalized college to career navigation.

3. Identify Barriers to Success

Duncan Scholars is designed to provide consistent research and data to identify and alleviate current student barriers.

4. Interventions to Success

Duncan Scholars provides one-to-one success and academic coaching with our expert staff to ensure students are fully supported in their post-secondary journey.

Duncan Scholars FAQs

No. The MAC Grant will no longer be available beginning the 2022-2023 School year.

The MAC Scholarship will only be available to those students who have previously been accepted as a MAC Grant recipient prior to the 2022-2023 school year.

Duncan Scholars will provide a wide range of resources and materials to assist you in completing your FAFSA application. Please visit our FAFSA Resources Page to learn more. We will no longer offer individual FAFSA appointments, but if you prefer to meet with a FAFSA professional, you may reach out the CAP program to schedule an appointment with their staff.

Students who were previously selected as a MAC grant recipient prior to the 2022-2023 school year are grandfathered in as an eligible applicant to the MAC Scholarship. This application will be open to previous MAC grant recipients on October 1.

Yes. Click here to learn more about Waco Foundation scholarship opportunities.