Scholarship FAQs

It’s never been easier to apply for KU scholarships. To be automatically considered for new freshman scholarships, submit a complete application by Nov. 1. No essays or resumes are required. Apply now

A complete application includes:

Admission application and $40 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.

Transfer scholarships

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 May 1st.

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Scholarship renewal criteria

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 recipients who are admitted on or after Summer/Fall 2013 must successfully complete a minimum of 30 KU hours each academic year (Fall, Spring, Summer) and maintain at least a 3.25 cumulative KU GPA.
After Spring grades have posted, our office will verify that students have met the renewable criteria. Students are notified of their scholarship status for the upcoming academic year via their registered KU email address.
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

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 update your application 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. 1 deadline. Updated scores must be received by Feb. 1 to be considered.

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.

Is it possible to defer my FAS 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. Defer your FAS scholarship.

If you are current FAS scholarship recipient, please email us at financialaid@ku.edu to discuss scholarship deferral.

Private scholarships

The time and energy you spend conducting a successful scholarship search can be well worth the effort if you are awarded a scholarship to help fund your higher education.

Start looking for scholarships early, and prioritize. Scholarship deadlines vary, so plan your application efforts by the due date to meet deadlines.

To ensure the best application possible, reserve a block of time to work on scholarship applications regularly, and stick to it. Be sure to apply for scholarships that inspire you, because the applications will feel less like work. You’ll also want to be sure to write tailored essays for each scholarship; avoid copying and pasting without careful revisions.

Finally, if a letter of recommendation is required, brief your reference on the scholarship and provide him/her with a copy of your application and your resume. Give your reference at least two weeks to write the letter for you.

The best ways to find scholarships:

Use our Scholarship Search to find scholarships for which you may be eligible
Talk with your high school counselor, faculty, academic advisors, and financial aid counselors for ideas
Ask your/your parents’ employers or organizations with which you/they are affiliated
Search fastweb.com for national scholarships

WARNING: The following could be signs of a scam. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

You are required to pay money to receive a scholarship (Note: The State of Kansas Student Aid Application requires a small application fee)
You are guaranteed to win the scholarship
The sponsors say things like, “Everyone is eligible,” or “You are guaranteed free money”
You are advised you have been selected for a scholarship for which you did not submit an application
More information on scholarship scams

FAQs

What are outside/private scholarships?

Any scholarship that is not awarded from KU is considered an outside/private scholarship.

Can my scholarships affect my eligibility for financial aid?

In some cases, yes, they may. It is your responsibility to report all scholarships/fellowships/sponsorships to the Financial Aid & Scholarships (FAS) office. We encourage you to report early to avoid repaying financial aid at a later date.

How do I report outside/private scholarships?

You may report these scholarships in Enroll Pay (Student Center>Accept/Decline Awards, Page 2) or by using the scholarship reporting form.

How will I receive my outside/private scholarships?

The donor may provide you with a check or send a check to KU. Please encourage donors to send scholarship checks directly to the Financial Aid & Scholarships office. If we receive outside scholarship funds and the check does not require your signature, the funds will be applied to your KU account within three to five business days. You’ll be notified if a check requires endorsement.

Where should I send my outside/private scholarship check if it is provided directly to me?

Please submit outside/private scholarship checks to our office. Please attach the check(s) to a statement indicating the scholarship name, amount, and term (fall/spring/summer) as well as your first and last name initials, KU ID number, and phone number. If the check is made out to you — or to you and KU — please endorse the check before mailing.

Will the outside/private scholarship be applied to my eBill?

Outside/private scholarships that have been received and processed by us will be applied to your eBill. These scholarships will be listed on the eBill as “Outside School/SFA Payment,” and the amount will be subtracted from the amount owed. Sometimes donors do not send the funds to our office until after the fee payment due date. If the check will not be processed by the due date, you will need to select another payment option to avoid late payment fees.

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

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