Office of Student Aid Scholarships

All students who are offered admission and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to Penn State are considered for scholarships awarded by the Office of Student Aid.

Overview

Penn State scholarships are highly competitive due to limited funding. Scholarships are included in your Student Aid Summary on eLion and count toward your cost of attendance.

Eligibility

For most scholarships you must:

Maintain Federal and Penn State Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements
Enroll full-time (12 credits or more)
Many require that students maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher

Both Pennsylvania and out-of-state students receive equal consideration.

Award

Annual amounts range from $1,500 - $3,200
Some are renewable
Notifications are sent March through August — you will receive a letter or an email if you are selected
Approximately one in five undergraduate students receive a scholarship

How to Apply

The majority of scholarships awarded by the Office of Student Aid are based on a combination of merit and demonstrated financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you have not filled out the FAFSA, please see our application section.

Listed on this page:

The Bunton-Waller Scholarship
Renaissance Scholarship
Trustee Scholarships
Donor-Sponsored Scholarships
Penn State Alumni Association Chapter Scholarsips
National Merit Scholarships

The Bunton-Waller Scholarship

Full-time students in resident instruction (not available for World Campus students) who have the highest financial need are considered for the Bunton-Waller Scholarship. The annual award is $3200, renewable for up to four years, provided the student maintains a 2.50 GPA.

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Renaissance Scholarship

Full-time students with outstanding academic records who have the greatest financial need are considered for a Renaissance Scholarship. The award is $1500 per year with up to four years of eligibility provided the student maintains a 3.0 GPA.

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Trustee Scholarship

Full-time students with the greatest financial need are considered for a University Trustee Scholarship. Award amounts and eligibility for individual trustee scholarships vary depending on funds availability and donor preferences. Typical award amounts are between $2000-3000 per year and may be renewable for future years.

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Donor-Sponsored Scholarships

Students are considered based on the specific scholarship requirements. Award amounts and terms of the award vary depending on donor specifications and funds availability.

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Penn State Alumni Association Chapters

Full-time students are considered for one or two semester awards based on chapter requirements. Award amounts vary.

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National Merit Scholarships

Full-time students who list Penn State as a first-choice school on the National Merit application by February are considered. Award amounts vary with the maximum amount of $2000 per year with up to four years of eligibility.

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