Scholarships and financial assistance
Pitt State offers its students many opportunities for scholarships & financial assistance.
We understand that, as a student, your focus should be on the classroom and not on the paperwork. The professionals in our Office of Student Financial Assistance are here to provide you with the information you need to make the right choices about financial aid.
Nearly 80 percent of Pitt State students receive some sort of financial aid, including:
- Grants: assistance that does not require repayment
- Scholarships: awards for students who have demonstrated superior academic achievement or meet specific criteria, which do not require repayment
- Employment: about 10% of our students are employed on campus
- Loans: loans can be made to parents and/or students, and must be repaid
In many cases, our student financial assistance professionals can help you combine these options into a personal package that fits your individual need. The amount of assistance you receive is based upon your family’s expected contribution to your educational costs.
Apply early
We encourage you to apply early and to take advantage of the support that is available for you - priority date for scholarships is November 1.
The final scholarships deadline for incoming freshmen and transfer students is based on the availability of the funds. It's never too late to apply – funds are often available up to the start of the semester.
When applying for scholarships, we will need:
- Submitted admission application
- Submitted scholarship application
- All required documentation (official school transcripts and ACT test scores)
Scholarships
Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen
| Award | Amounts | Details | Priority date |
| Academic Achievement Award | $500 - $1,200 | Based on your cumulative high school GPA and your ACT score. Renewable for one additional year. | Priority date - November 1 |
| Valedictorian | $1,000 | For High School Graduates ranked #1 in High School class. The award is divided over the first two semesters of attendance. It is not renewable. | Priority date - November 1 |
| Diversity scholarship | $1,000 | 19 ACT and 3.4 GPA or 20 ACT and 3.3 GPA or 21 or above ACT and 3.2 GPA; must meet diversity factors. | Priority date - November 1 |
| Alumni Legacy License Plate Scholarship | Amounts vary | Parent/Grandparent must be a PSU graduate; minimum 21 ACT or 3.0 GPA; first time enrolling in PSU |
Priority date - November 1 |
| Departmental awards and scholarships | Amounts vary | Contact the department of your major to see if a separate application is required Department contacts View all departmental scholarships |
Priority date - November 1 |
| PSU Campus-wide general scholarships | Amounts vary |
Requirements vary - apply for general scholarships |
Priority date - November 1 |
Note: All applications will be considered for scholarships. Funds are often available up to the start of the semester. Priority is given to applications submitted early.
Scholarships for Incoming Transfer Students
| Award | Amounts | Details | Priority date |
| Academic Achievement Award | $750 | Minimum 3.5 cumulative college GPA and 24 transferable hours or minimum 3.25 cumulative college GPA and 48 transferable hours earned after high school graduation. | Priority date - November 1 |
| Diversity scholarship | up to $1,000 | 3.5 college GPA; must meet diversity factors | Priority date - November 1 |
| Alumni Legacy License Plate Scholarship | Amounts vary | Parent/Grandparent must be a PSU graduate; minimum 21 ACT or 3.0 GPA; first time enrolling in PSU | Priority date - November 1 |
| Departmental awards and scholarships | Amounts vary | Contact the department of your major to see if a separate application is required Department contacts View all departmental scholarships |
Priority date - November 1 |
| Kansas All-State Academic Team | $1,000 | Member of the Kansas All-State Academic Team sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa and the Kansas Association of Community Colleges | Current year selection |
| Phi Theta Kappa | $500 | Phi Theta Kappa member; proof of membership required | Priority date - November 1 |
| PSU Campus-wide general scholarships | Amounts vary | Requirements vary - apply for general scholarships | Priority date - November 1 |
Note: All applications will be considered for scholarships. Funds are often available up to the start of the semester. Priority is given to applications submitted early.
Scholarships for Current Students
There are many scholarship opportunities for current students. Current students must apply or re-apply for Scholarship every year to be considered. Apply for scholarships by February 1.
Additionally, there may be scholarship opportunities available through the college departments and/or scholarships awarded by the industry. Please contact your adviser or a department of your majors for more information.
Pitt State Campus-wide general scholarships
- View all general scholarships
- Apply or Re-Apply for General Scholarships (Current Students)
Departmental Scholarships
- Contact the department of your major to see if a separate application is required
- Department contacts
- View all departmental scholarships
Honors College Awards
| Award | Amounts | Deadline |
| Presidential Award | $9,500/year; $2,000 study abroad stipend | January 15 |
| University Award | $4,500/year; $2,000 study abroad stipend | January 15 |
| Crimson & Gold Award | $1,000/year; $2,000 study abroad stipend | January 15 |
Deadline to apply for entering freshman is January 15th prior to the fall semester in which the student will enter Pittsburg State.
To apply, a student must first meet the following:
1. Must be a new incoming freshman
2. ACT composite score of 28 or higher OR SAT composite score of 1310 or higher; AND
3. Complete the pre-college curriculum with at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale (unweighted)
The Pre-college Curriculum as established by the Kansas Board of Regents includes:
- 4 units of English
- 4 units of Math (Nothing below Algebra I will be accepted)
- 3 units of Natural Science (One unit must be Physics or Chemistry)
- 3 units of Social Science
- 3 units of electives
Visit Honors College web page
Diversity Scholarship for Incoming Students
Students of diversity may be eligible for a $1,000 renewable scholarship. Diversity status will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
For freshmen: 19 ACT and 3.4 GPA or 20 ACT and 3.3 GPA or 21 or above ACT and 3.2 GPA
For transfer students: 3.5 college GPA
Current students must maintain a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA for the Diversity Scholarship to be renewable.
Nursing Scholarship
Nursing Scholarship Program is available to incoming and current nursing students
Programs for Out-of-State Students
| Award | Amounts | Details |
| Gorilla Advantage | In-state Tuition | Effective Fall 2021: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin residents |
| Alumni Legacy Tuition Program | 150% of In-State Tuition | Parent/grandparent must be a PSU graduate |
External Scholarships Search Engines
General Scholarship Search Engines
| Federal Student Aid | https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/scholarships |
| Fastweb | www.fastweb.com |
Minority Student Resources
| America's Black Collegians | www.am-blk-coll.com | |
|
www.hsf.net | |
|
www.collegefund.org | |
| United Negro College Fund | www.uncf.org | |
| Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund | www.apiasf.org | |
| Bureau of Indian Education | www.bie.edu | |
| Gates Millennium Scholars | www.gmsp.org | |
| U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce | http://uspaacc.com/index.php/programs/college-scholarships/ | |
Military Scholarship Resources
| Kansas Military Service Scholarship | http://www.kansasregents.org/scholarships_and_grants |
Disabled Student Resources
| FinAid for Disabled Students | www.finaid.org/otheraid/disabled.phtml |
| National Center for Learning | http://www.ncld.org/ |
| Scholarship Searches-International | www.iefa.org |
| Scholarship Searches-International | www.internationstudent.com |
Other Scholarship Resources
| Scholarship Experts | www.scholarshipexperts.com |
| Scholarship Help | www.scholarshiphelp.org |
| Scholarship Scams | www.finaid.org/scholarships/scams.phtml |
| Greater Kansas City Community Foundation | www.gkccf.org |
| Student's Guide to Writing a Scholarship Essay | www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/tips/scholarship-essay-tips.php |
Scholarships for International Students
| Award | Amounts | Details |
| Gorilla International Scholarship | Up to $6,000; renewable | See details and how to apply |
| Undergraduate Academic Excellence Scholarship | $1,000; one-time | See details and how to apply |
| Intensive English Program Academic Excellence Scholarship | $1,000; one-time | See details and how to apply |
| Honors College Scholarship | $4,500 - $9,500 | See details and how to apply |
| Legacy Scholarship Program | 150% of in-state tuition | See details and how to apply |
| International Advocate Scholarship | $1,000; renewable | See details and how to apply |
| Malaysian High Achiever Scholarship | $1,000; renewable | See details and how to apply |
| Malaysian Technology Major Scholarship | In-State tuition | See details and how to apply |
| Paraguay-Kansas In-State Tuition Waiver | In-State tuition | See details and how to apply |
| Tsang-Hsun Tsai and Ching-Hui Huang Scholarship | $150; renewable | See details and how to apply |
| Samuel J. Pease & William R. Herr Foreign Student Scholarship | $1,000; renewable | See details and how to apply |
| Graduate Assistantship | 20 hrs/week | See details and how to apply |
| General University Scholarships & Academic Department Scholarships | Amounts vary | See details and how to apply |
External Scholarships
Privately funded scholarships from outside companies.
On-Campus Employment
| Award | Amounts | Details |
| Federal Work Study | Up to $3,500/yr. | Students with financial need |
| Pitt State Student Employment | Minimum wage, up to 20 hrs/week | Open to all students |
Visit Career Services web page
Grants
| Award | Amounts | Details | Deadline |
| Federal Pell Grant | $605 - $5,645 | Students with financial need | February 1 |
| Federal Supplemental Grant | $200 - $400 | Students with financial need | February 1 |
| Kansas Comprehensive Grant | $100 - $1,100 | Kansas residency; based on income | February 1 |
| Federal Teach Grant | Up to $4,000/year | Undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate students preparing to teach in a high-need field may be eligible. Contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for more information | February 1 |
Loans
| Award | Amounts | Details | Deadline |
| Graduate Federal Stafford Loans-unsubsidized | Up to $20,500 | Financial need not required | February 1 |
| Federal Stafford Loans-subsidized | Up to $5,500; depends on class standing | Students with financial need | February 1 |
| Federal Stafford Loans-unsubsidized | Up to $5,500; depends on class standing | Financial need not required | February 1 |
| Nursing Student Loan | Up to $2,500 | Admission to Nursing program; students with financial need | February 1 |
| Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) | Amounts vary | For parents borrowing on behalf of dependent undergraduate students | February 1 |
| Non-federal Private Loans | Amounts vary |
Financial need not required. |
N/A |
Applying for General Scholarships
Incoming Freshmen and Transfer Students
- For incoming freshmen, submit ACT/SAT scores, high school cumulative GPA and class rank to Pitt State by November 1st (Self-reported information is not used for scholarship purposes.)
- For transfer students, send all college transcripts to Pitt State by November 1st for first consideration
- Apply for admission and scholarships online by November 1st. If you completed a paper application for admission, complete a separate scholarship application
- Applications received after November 1 will be considered only if funds remain available
Current students
- Must apply or re-apply for General Scholarships every year to be considered. Apply every year by February 1 for first consideration
- Apply or Re-Apply for General Scholarships (Current Students)
- Applications received after February 1 will be considered only if funds remain available
Admission Scholarships
Many incoming freshmen and transfer students who apply to Pittsburg State University are eligible for Admission scholarships based on academic performance.
Academic Achievement Award for Freshmen- New incoming freshmen (most recent high school graduates only) who have applied for admission and completed their admission file (submitted their high school transcript and ACT score) by November 1, with a minimum ACT score of 22 and a minimum unweighted 3.2 GPA are eligible for at least $500. The scholarship is divided between the fall and spring semesters and renewable for a second year with 24 PSU credit hours and at least a 3.2 PSU GPA after the first year.
High school class valedictorians (students ranked #1 in high school class) are also eligible for an Admission scholarship if they have applied for admission and completed their application file by November 1.
Academic Achievement Award for Transfer Students - Students transferring from an accredited college, university, or community college, who have applied for admission and completed their admission file (submitted all required college transcripts) by November 1, with 48 completed hours and a 3.25 GPA or 24 completed hours and a 3.5 GPA may be eligible for $750. Students with 48 completed hours or 24 completed hours and a 4.0 GPA may be eligible for $1,500. This award is non-renewable. Please note: to be considered a transfer student and for transfer scholarships, a minimum of 24 college credit hours must be taken after high school graduation.
Note: Self-reported scores are not used for scholarship purposes.
Deadlines
There are three important dates for every student to remember:
- November 1 - Priority date application for Pitt State Scholarships
- January 15 - Application deadline for Honors College Scholarships
- March 1 - Application deadline for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Frequently Asked Questions
Scholarships
Who is eligible?
Scholarship requirements vary widely, but generally, you will need a minimum 22 ACT score and a 3.2 GPA.
How do I apply for scholarships?
There are many different scholarships available for students at Pitt State.
-
- New Pitt State students: students who are new to Pittsburg State must complete the Admission and Scholarship Application in order to be considered.
- Current Pitt State students: current students must apply or re-apply for General Scholarships each year in order to be considered. Apply for a scholarship every year by November 1.
- Departmental Scholarships: Contact the department of your major to see if a separate application is required
- Department contacts
- View all departmental scholarships
- Honors College Scholarships: these scholarships require a separate application and have a deadline of January 15. Honors College Scholarships cannot be considered unless a student has (1) applied for admission – including the $30 fee, (2) submitted a transcript(s), and (3) submitted ACT score(s).
Is there a deadline for scholarship applications?
Yes. The deadline for all general scholarships at Pitt State is November 1 for first consideration.
How will I be notified?
Scholarship recipients will receive an award letter after April 1.
Are family finances considered?
Most scholarships are awarded on a merit basis. Some scholarships include financial need as a requirement.
Are scholarship awards renewable?
It depends upon the scholarship. You should apply for scholarships each year to ensure that you receive the maximum award for which you are eligible.
Do I have to apply for scholarships every year even if I am a current Pitt State student?
Yes, to be considered for scholarships you must apply or re-apply for general scholarships every year. Departmental scholarships may require a separate application. Please contact the respective department chair for application procedures.
Can I update my scholarship application?
Yes. Access the scholarship application, login to GUS, and make the necessary changes. Updates should be done by November 1.
Financial Assistance
How do I apply?
As soon as possible after October 1 of your senior year, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. (PSU’s Federal School Code is 001926.) Within 3-5 days, you’ll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) via email. The Office of Student Financial Assistance will receive your application electronically and will contact you if additional information or documentation is needed. Be sure to watch your e-mail for information.
Is there a deadline?
Yes. The priority deadline is March 1.
How will I be notified?
Once your application is processed, you will be notified via e-mail and provided instructions on how to accept your awards online. Make sure to check your e-mail often, in case we need additional information from you.