Scholarship FAQs

Transfer Scholarships

Awards will be determined based upon our scholarship grid and your official college transcripts. To be eligible for a transfer student scholarship, you must:

  • Submit a complete application by Feb. 1
  • Be a domestic transfer student enrolling for the summer or fall semester
  • Have earned at least 36 college credit hours by the Feb. 1 application deadline with at least a 3.5 college GPA
  • Be transferring from a two-year institution (community college or a combination of four-year and community college, but if you have earned credit from only a four-year institution, you will not be considered for any transfer scholarships)
  • Have not, or will not have, earned a bachelor’s degree by the time you enroll at KU
  • Have not previously attended KU as a degree-seeking student
  • To be eligible for the one-time Phi Theta Kappa scholarship, you must have your PTK counselor submit the membership form by March 1st.

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Freshman scholarship application & eligibility

It’s never been easier to apply for KU scholarships. To be automatically considered for new freshman scholarships, submit a complete application by Nov. 8. No essays or resumes are required. Apply now»

A complete application includes:

  • Admission application and $30 fee (unless you qualify for a fee grant)
  • Self-reported ACT or SAT scores
  • Self-reported high school transcript or GED scores
  • List of your courses in progress

We base awards upon our scholarship grid, your self-reported high school transcript (sixth semester transcript), and your self-reported ACT/SAT score.

After you graduate, have an official copy of your final high school transcript and official ACT/SAT scores sent to the Office of Admissions. We must have these official documents on file by July 1 to confirm your scholarship status. If, based on a review of final, official documents, students no longer meet the scholarship criteria, we will rescind the scholarship offer.

When will I learn of the scholarship I have been offered?
Freshmen and transfer applicants who have met the scholarship-awarding criteria will receive written notification of the scholarship within 7 to 10 days of being admitted to the University of Kansas. If you do not receive written notification within this time frame, please contact Financial Aid & Scholarships at 785-864-4700 or financialaid@ku.edu.
Will I need to submit an essay or co-curricular summary for scholarship consideration?
No. Essays and co-curricular summaries are not required for KU renewable scholarship consideration. However, individual school and department scholarship procedures may vary; be sure to search departmental scholarships to review the requirements.
Is my weighted or unweighted GPA used?
We will use the overall GPA on a 4.0 scale that most benefits you at the time you apply.
What if my grades or scores improve? Can I get a better scholarship?

Yes. If your overall GPA improves after your seventh semester, or if your ACT/SAT score has improved with either the December ACT or SAT, simply email your self-reported test score or overall GPA to processing@ku.edu by Feb 1.

What is the last ACT/SAT score used for scholarship re-consideration?
December. To use your December ACT/SAT scores, you must have submitted a complete admission application by the Nov. 8 deadline.
Will KU super score my ACT or SAT scores?
KU does not super score ACT or SAT scores. Admission and scholarship decisions are based on the score you received from the test agency. KU will not mix and match sub-scores to create a new ACT/SAT score.
Does KU use the ACT Plus Writing Test Score for scholarship consideration?
No. KU uses the composite score (English, Math, Reading and Science) when making scholarship decisions.
What SAT sub-scores does KU use when making decisions?
KU uses only the verbal and math sub-scores for admission and scholarship decisions.
What happens to the nonresident scholarship if I receive residency rates or a non-resident tuition waiver?
As with all nonresident scholarships, a change in residency or a change to resident tuition rates may impact your eligibility for this scholarship.
What is the last date to change my major to be considered for the Midwest Student Exchange Program?
May 1st. To be considered for the Midwest Student Exchange Program, a complete admission application must have been submitted by the Nov. 8 deadline. Only students meeting all criteria can receive the Exchange. To change your academic major, please update your major at admissions.ku.edu/update.

Scholarship renewal criteria

  • Students must successfully complete a minimum of 30 KU hours each academic year (Fall, Spring, Summer) and maintain at least a 3.4 KU GPA
  • Renewal criteria for first-year renewable scholarships will be evaluated at the end of the first semester; scholarships will be revoked after the first term if a student earns less than a 2.0 GPA
  • After that time, renewal criteria will be checked each semester
  • If your scholarship is not renewed after year one because of grades and/or hours, it is possible to earn the scholarship after a future term or academic year
  • We will monitor your grades and hours, and will notify you if you have achieved the renewal criteria

See info for scholarship recipients who entered as freshman or transfer students:

For KU scholarship recipients who entered KU as freshmen on and before Summer/Fall 2008, scholarship review takes place annually.

KU scholarships will expire after four years of undergraduate study or upon graduation, whichever occurs first. You must maintain a KU GPA of at least 3.25 and complete 24 KU hours each academic year.

If you meet the renewal criteria, your scholarship will be renewed for the upcoming academic year. If you don’t, you will be placed on scholarship probation for the upcoming academic year and will continue to receive the FAS scholarship. Your scholarship will not be renewed if you do not meet the criteria during the probationary year. However, your scholarship can be reinstated if you meet your renewal criteria.

For scholarship recipients who entered KU as freshmen between Summer/Fall 2009 and Summer/Fall 2011, scholarship review takes place annually.

KU scholarships will expire after four years of undergraduate study or upon graduation, whichever occurs first. You must maintain a KU GPA of at least 3.25 and complete 24 KU hours each academic year.

If you meet the renewal criteria, your scholarship will be renewed for the upcoming academic year. If the renewal criteria are not met, your scholarship will be revoked. However, your scholarship can be reinstated if you meet your renewal criteria.

For freshman and transfer scholarship recipients who entered KU on or after Summer/Fall 2012. 

Freshman scholarships will expire after four years of undergraduate study or graduation, whichever occurs first. Transfer scholarships will expire after two years of undergraduate study.

Scholarship review takes place each semester. You must maintain a KU GPA of at least 3.4 and complete 30 KU hours each academic year. If you earn less than a 2.0 after the first semester at KU, your scholarship will be revoked for the second semester. If you meet the renewal criteria, your scholarship will be renewed for the upcoming academic year. If the renewal criteria are not met, your scholarship will be revoked. However, your scholarship can be reinstated if you meet your renewal criteria.

If your scholarship is not renewed after year one because of grades and/or hours, you may be able to earn the scholarship after a future term or academic year. We will monitor your grades and hours, and will notify you if you have achieved the renewal criteria.

Deferring your scholarship

If you’re an incoming freshman or transfer student who is offered a scholarship for the fall, you can defer your scholarship as long as you do not attend another college, university, or community college during this deferment year. To defer your FAS scholarship, visit admissions.ku.edu/update.


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