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KU Scholarships  |  Acceptance  |  Petition  |  Renewal  |  Financial Aid

Are scholarships and financial assistance available?
Each student's financial needs are different, and 55 percent of KU students receive some form of assistance. The University annually awards more than $100 million in an array of scholarships, loans, grants and part-time jobs – the four basic sources of support funds. The Office of Student Financial Aid and the Office of Admissions and Scholarships can guide students toward programs and combinations of programs – a scholarship combined with federal or state aid, for instance – that best meet their needs.

The first stop for KU scholarships is the combined application for Admission and Scholarships.

You are eligible to be considered for freshman scholarships if you:

  • Have at least a 3.25 unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale.
  • Have not attended another college or university after graduating from high school.
  • Submit a complete application by December 1.

You are eligible to be considered for transfer student scholarships if you:

  • Have at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA in your college level coursework.
  • Have attended an accredited college or university since graduating from high school.
  • Have completed 24 college credit hours by the time you enroll at KU.
  • Have not previously earned a bachelor's degree.
  • Submit a complete application by March 1.
Scholarship Deadlines:

November 1
Early notification deadline for freshman scholarship consideration (summer and fall freshman applicants only)

Note:
If you will be a freshman and you have at least a 3.25 unweighted GPA with a 26 on the ACT or 1170 on the SAT (math and critical reading only) and you submit a complete application by Nov. 1, you will automatically receive at least a $1000 non-renewable scholarship. This amount could increase after your application is sent to the scholarship committee.

December 1
Final deadline for freshman scholarship consideration (summer and fall applicants only)

March 1
Final deadline for transfer student scholarship consideration (summer and fall applicants only)


Application evaluation:
A committee evaluates the student's academic career (both high school and college) in the following areas: strength of curriculum, official transcripts and standardized test scores (ACT/SAT; freshman applicants only), grade point average, scholarship essay, employment, demonstrated leadership, school and community service involvement, and special awards and honors.
Note: December is the last possible test date to submit improved test scores for scholarship consideration.

Co-curricular Summary:
Activities/ Involvement, Leadership and Awards
The scholarship committee utilizes this section to better understand you and your involvement in activities outside of the classroom. Please provide a detailed description of your involvement with school sponsored clubs and organizations and community-based program; employment; any elected or appointed leadership positions that you have held; and a listing of any honors or special recognitions that you have received. With each, provide the dates you were involved in the activity or that you received the award or recognition.

Scholarship Essay:
The committee will evaluate your scholarship essay based on creativity, thoughtfulness and structural development. Limit your response to 500 words or less.
  • Freshman Students:
    Respond to one of the three statements below:
    1. During the recent U.S. presidential campaign the word “change” became a rhetorical device used by candidates from across the political spectrum to mobilize supporters, especially young people. As you view U.S. society and culture, what do you think ought to change and how do you see yourself as an agent of that change?.


    2. The KU academic community consists of diverse perspectives and opinions – both in and out of the classroom. How do you intend to take advantage of this type of environment to broaden your educational and life experiences?


    3. If you could spend a year of your life engaged in service or research, without having concern for money, what would you do and why? How would this experience foster your educational goals and aspirations?

  • Transfer Students:
    Respond to the statement below:
      • Briefly discuss your personal and academic goals and how you will achieve these goals at KU.

      Students who wish to be considered for the Phi Theta Kappa scholarship will need to have their chapter advisor submit a membership verification form. This form is available below for you to download below. Your Phi Theta Kappa advisor may email the form or mail to:

      Attention: Kay Salami
      KU Visitor Center
      Office of Admissions & Scholarships
      1502 Iowa Street
      Lawrence, KS 66045

Freshman scholarships
Although scholarships are competitive, one in four KU freshmen receives an academic scholarship each year. Scholarships are also available to transfer students.

Below is a complete list of scholarship opportunities at KU for first-year students.


Freshman Achievement Scholarship
The University of Kansas awards two types of Freshman Achievement Scholarship: non-renewable and renewable. The non-renewable Freshman Achievement Scholarship is awarded for the freshman year only, while the renewable Freshman Achievement Scholarship can be renewed for up to four years.

Non-Renewable:
Selection is based on GPA, strength of school curriculum, senior year schedule, ACT or SAT scores, involvement in co-curricular activities and community service.

Award: $1000 to $3,000 (freshman year only)

Renewable:
Selection is based on GPA, strength of school curriculum, senior year schedule, ACT or SAT scores, involvement in co-curricular activities and community service. A portion of the renewable Freshman Honors Scholarships will include consideration of the applicant’s financial need. The results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be used to verify the student’s financial need for the need-based awards. We strongly encourage you to submit a FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible. Priority is given to those who file before March 1. The FAFSA is available from your high school counselor, or at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Award: $1000 to $3,000/year for four years.
Bob and Marlene Whittaker Leadership Scholarship
Selection is based on GPA, strength of school curriculum, senior year schedule, ACT or SAT scores, involvement in co-curricular activities and community service.

Award: $1,000 (nonrenewable)
Summerfield and Watkins-Berger Scholarships
These competitive scholarships are awarded to the top 100 graduates from Kansas high schools in recognition of their outstanding commitment to academics, record of community service and demonstrated leadership. The Chancellor's Honor Scholarship Committee selects recipients. Minimum requirements include a cumulative 3.5 unweighted high school GPA, an ACT composite of 31 or SAT of 1360 (math and critical reading only) and graduation from a Kansas high school.

Award: $4,500/year for four years.
Endowment Meritorious Scholarship (Diversity Enhancement)
These are awarded to students who enhance the diversity of the student body. Selection is based on GPA, strength of school curriculum, senior year schedule, ACT or SAT scores, involvement in extracurricular activities and community service.

Award: $500 to $2,500/year for four years.
National Merit, National Achievement, and National Hispanic Scholarship (Kansas and Out-of-State)
You must take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT), which serves as the National Merit Scholarship qualifying test, during the fall of your junior year. If you become a Finalist, and designate KU as your first college choice with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and/or College Board will forward your name to KU to be sponsored as a scholar.

Award: $10,000/year for four years. Renewable for four years.
Midwest Student Exchange Program
KU awards 35 exchanges each year to incoming freshmen. Students must meet the minimum criteria for consideration:
  1. Minimum of a high school GPA of a 3.25 on a 4.0 scale.
  2. Must have an ACT score of 24 or higher, or a SAT score of 1090 or higher.
  3. Must rank in the top 25% of your high school graduating class.
  4. Must complete the thirteen-unit college preparatory curriculum as defined by ACT, including four units of English and three units each of social science, natural science and mathematics.
  5. Must enroll as a full-time student at the University of Kansas, Lawrence campus and remain in good scholarship standing with the Office of Admissions and Scholarships
  6. Reside in Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin or North Dakota. Declare a major in any of the following fields to be considered: African and African-American Studies, American Studies, Astronomy, Classics, Dance, Engineering Physics, Geology, Health Education/Community Health, Humanities, Journalism and Mass Communications, Latin American Studies, Linguistics, Microbiology, Music Education, Music Therapy, Petroleum Engineering, Physics, Religious Studies, Russian and East European Studies, Slavic Languages and Literatures, Visual Arts Education, Women Studies.
Award: Tuition assessed at 150% of Kansas resident undergraduate rates.
Crimson and Blue Scholarship
These are awarded to students based on academic achievement, senior year schedule, involvement in extracurricular activities, and community service. Eligibility is also based on the student's geographic location. Crimson and Blue Scholarships include, but are not limited to, residents of the following Kansas counties: Allen, Barber, Barton, Bourbon, Butler, Cherokee, Clark, Clay, Decatur, Ellsworth, Ford, Greenwood, Harvey, Jackson, Kingman, Kiowa, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Linn, Logan, Marshall, Meade, Miami, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morris, Nemaha, Norton, Osage, Pawnee, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Rawlins, Reno, Rooks, Shawnee, Sheridan, Sherman, Seward, Sumner, Thomas, Trego, Tribune, Wabaunsee, Wallace, Washington, Woodson and Wyandotte.

Award: Varies
Departmental Scholarship
Incoming freshmen students interested in architecture, art and design, business, classics, ecology and evolutionary biology, engineering, environmental studies, geology (geophysics, paleontology, oceanography), journalism, music, dance, ROTC and theatre and film are eligible for consideration for these awards. If you meet the department's criteria for scholarship consideration, the Office of Admissions and Scholarships will forward your application. Departmental requirements vary. Students will be contacted by the department regarding departmental awards. All KU scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis.

Award: Varies by school and department.
KU Perfect Achievement Scholarship
These scholarships are awarded to Kansas students who achieve perfect scores on the ACT (36) or SAT (1600 -- math and critical reading only) college entrance examinations and at least an unweighted 3.25 GPA.

Award: Tuition and fees for four years of undergraduate study, housing in a traditional residence hall with a full meal package and a generous allowance for textbooks. Renewable for four years.


Hixson Scholars Program (For students overcoming obstacles to attendance)

The Hixson Opportunity Award was established to provide the opportunity for students to attend the University of Kansas who would otherwise not be able to attend.

You are ready to go to college, and you have chosen the University of Kansas. But maybe you are the child of a parent who did not go to college, or you do not think you can afford to go to KU. Or maybe you have other obstacles in your path to a college education. If so, there's a new scholarship program just for you. It will help you understand how to make the transition from high school to college, give you a scholarship for four years, and help you make life-long connections with faculty mentors.

Eligibility Criteria:

  1. Students must have faced challenges of personal and/or financial hardship.
  2. Students must be residents of Kansas and current high school seniors.
  3. Students must be admissible to the University of Kansas.
  4. Students must be entering freshman for the upcoming fall term at KU.
  5. Students must demonstrate financial eligibility as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  6. Students whose parent(s) did not earn a 4-year college degree will receive priority consideration (first generation).

Application Procedure:

Hixson Scholars Program applications will be available online by October 1. Applications will be available at: www.scholarships.ku.edu/hixson.shtml. This program has a final deadline of Feb 1.


Transfer student scholarships
Transfer students may receive one scholarship from the Office of Admissions and Scholarships. A committee evaluates the student's academic career based on the strength of the curriculum, number of credit hours earned, GPA, scholarship essay, employment, demonstrated leadership, and school and community service involvement. Below is a list of scholarships available for students transferring to KU.

Jayhawk Transfer Scholarship
Awarded to transfer students with strong academic records. Students must have completed at least 24 college credits and have at least a 3.25 GPA in college courses.

Award: $1000 (non-renewable)

Community College Scholarship
Awarded to students with strong academic records who enroll at KU directly from a community college. Students must have an overall community college GPA of at least a 3.25 and a record of leadership and service.

Award: varies, up to $2000 (non-renewable)

Kansas All Academic Team Scholarship
Awarded to students named to the Kansas All-State Academic Team sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and the Kansas Association of Community Colleges.

Award: $3500 (non-renewable)

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
Awarded to active members of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. You must have a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.75 and have your Phi Theta Kappa chapter advisor submit a membership verification form.

Award: $2500 (non-renewable)


Coca-Cola Scholarships

Notice regarding 2008-2009 Coca-Cola Scholarships:
As the current contract with the Coca-Cola Company is expiring soon, the University is engaged in negotiations with the Coca-Cola Company to determine whether the contract will be renewed. Updates regarding the Coca-Cola Scholarship program at KU will be posted here as soon as information is available. Thank you for your patience as we all await the outcome of these negotiations. The Office of Admissions and Scholarships has been authorized to proceed with awarding these scholarships for the 2008-09 academic year. Any student who is eligible to receive one of these scholarships for the coming year, but has not, should contact Kay Salami in the Office of Admissions and Scholarships (785-864-5477 or ksalami@ku.edu).

  • The scholarship is only available to eligible students pursuing their first under graduate degree.
  • The scholarship is for children (or step-children claimed as dependents) of benefits eligible KU faculty or staff members (KU affiliates included). Graduate and non-degree students are not eligible.
  • The student must enroll as a degree-seeking, full-time student (12 or more credit hours) per semester.
New Freshmen:
Incoming freshmen are guaranteed the Coca-Cola scholarship if the student meets the eligibility requirements and if they apply by the priority deadline of April 1. Awards cannot be guaranteed after the priority deadline. However every effort will be made to award late applicants based on available funding.

Current KU Students:
Current KU students may apply for the scholarship by completing the Current Student Coca-Cola Scholarship Application by the priority deadline of June 1. The number and amount of these scholarships will depend on fund availability. If awarded, the scholarship will apply to the current academic year.

Transfer Students:
Transferring students may apply for the scholarship by completing the Transfer Student Coca-Cola Scholarship Application by the priority deadline of June 1. The number and amount of these scholarships will depend on fund availability. If awarded, the scholarship will apply to the current academic year. For eligibility requirements and the appropriate application, please reference the appropriate application found below:

Application for Incoming Freshmen (28 KB)
Application for Current Students (28 KB)
Application for Transfer Students (24 KB)