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Where to Start

Paying for your college education can be intimidating and in some cases, even confusing. To gain a better understanding of Penn State financial aid, visit Financial Aid and Scholarships and College Scholarships or you can schedule an appointment virtually or in person to discuss financial aid and scholarship awarding with the HHD Student Enrollment Services Team.

Emergency funding requests can be sent to HHDScholarships@psu.edu

Additionally, you can schedule an appointment with a financial aid specialist through the Office of Student Aid. The Financial and Life Skills Center provides resources for students regarding money management. Learn more about how scholarships work by visiting Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education.

More general scholarships can be found using the following scholarship search engines: BigFuture, FastWeb, UNIGO, Finaid.

Scholarships

Need additional aid to support your collegiate career? Check out the featured programs, resources, and scholarships below. Use the links provided to learn more about each scholarship and review eligibility and application requirements. These scholarships are for incoming 1st-year students. If you are a current student, we recommend using the information above to learn more about financial assistance. 

Featured Programs for Incoming 1st-Year Students: 

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Millenium Scholars Program

The Penn State Millennium Scholars Program is designed for high-achieving science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) students who will become leaders in their chosen fields and are committed to increasing the diversity of professionals in STEM-related disciplines. Millennium Scholars are students with both the passion and the ability to advance the frontiers of knowledge and change the world. Learn About and Apply to the Millennium Scholars Program

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Bunton-Waller Scholars Program

Named in honor of Mildred Settle Bunton (1932), recognized as the first African American woman to graduate from Penn State, and Calvin Hoffman Waller (1904), believed to be Penn State’s first African American graduate, the scholarship is given to students who enhance the broad and diverse student population at Penn State. The Bunton-Waller Program attracts students from various backgrounds who have demonstrated academic potential and are eligible to attend Penn State. 

HHD Bunton-Waller Scholars Program Application
Apply Through the Office of Diversity & Inclusion
This application is only available to potential 1st-year undergraduate students and is typically open on October 15 and will continue to collect applicants throughout the academic year until January 15.

  

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Full Circle Scholarship

The Full Circle Scholarship is provided by the American Indian college fund to American Indians and Alaska native college students seeking undergraduate and graduate degrees.

JCS Scholarships

JCS offers several scholarships for Jewish high school seniors to attend an accredited U.S. college or university. There is a scholarship available for a student with a documented diagnosed learning disability and several scholarships available for students from single-parent homes.

Microsoft Scholarship Program

The Microsoft Scholarship Program strongly encourages underrepresented groups to pursue STEM fields of study. Microsoft greatly values a broad range of perspectives and contributions, so a large majority these scholarships will be awarded to female students, underrepresented minority students (African-American, Hispanic or Native American etc.) or students with disabilities.

Hispanic Scholarship

The Hispanic Scholarship is for high school seniors, undergraduate students, community college students transferring to 4-year universities, and graduate students of Hispanic heritage. All majors and graduate fields are accepted, with an emphasis on STEM majors.

Maguire Scholars Program

The Maguire Scholars Program at Penn State selects students who graduate from a Maguire Foundation partner high school. The Maguire Foundation provides last-dollar scholarship support to up to five students beginning in their first year for a maximum of eight semesters. Scholars must remain in good academic standing and be an active participant in school and their community. Maguire Scholars are part of a community of students who bring diverse perspectives, identities, and interests to Penn State. 

Lenfest Scholars Program

The Brook J. Lenfest Trustee Scholarship provides significant financial aid for students attending Penn State University Park. Eligibility is based on demonstrated financial need through qualification for federal Pell Grant support and participation in specified Philadelphia programs. Scholars are selected and awarded in consultation with Philadelphia partners, based on one of two paths: Graduate from a Mastery Charter high school or involvement in the Philadelphia Futures program.

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S. Evelyn Lewis Memorial Scholarship

The S. Evelyn Lewis Memorial Scholarship in medical health sciences, provided by the Zeta Phi Beta sorority national education foundation, supports women enrolled in a program leading to a degree in medicine or health sciences.

R&D Systems Scholarship

The R&D Systems Scholarship is open to students pursuing a baccalaureate, graduate, associate degree, or diploma in nursing or any science-related field.

SeniorCare.com Aging Matters Scholarship

SeniorCare.com continues to bring more awareness to the key issues we face as an aging population. For the 8th consecutive year, we will be awarding an annual college scholarship to an individual that best demonstrates to us why "Aging Matters" to them. A $1500 scholarship will be given annually to a selected college student that currently cares for an aging loved one, works within the senior community, or intends to pursue a career that will have an impact on the elder population. Any existing student (or incoming freshman), in good academic standing, at a 2 or 4 year accredited college can apply for this scholarship. The recipient will demonstrate a unique and admirable understanding and desire to show us that "Aging Matters" to them.

All applicants can get more information and apply online at this address:
https://www.seniorcare.com/scholarship/

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Microsoft Scholarship Program

The Microsoft Scholarship Program strongly encourages underrepresented groups to pursue STEM fields of study. Microsoft greatly values a broad range of perspectives and contributions, so a large majority these scholarships will be awarded to female students, underrepresented minority students (African-American, Hispanic or Native American etc.) or students with disabilities.

R&D Systems Scholarship

The R&D Systems Scholarship is open to students pursuing a baccalaureate, graduate, associate degree, or diploma in nursing or any science-related field.

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American Council of the Blind

This scholarship program helps students with post-secondary education financial needs, including tuition, fees, relay board, or costs associated with adaptive technology.

Incight Scholarship Program

The Incight Scholarship Program is a long-term commitment to students with disabilities entering and attending college. It functions to help reduce the barriers of education advancement and completion by providing the necessary skills for youth with disabilities. Scholarship recipients are matched with an eMentor and are provided with internship placement experience as well.

AbbVie Cystic Fibrosis Scholarship

The AbbVie Cystic Fibrosis Scholarship provides financial assistance toward higher education for exceptional students living with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Microsoft Scholarship Program

The Microsoft Scholarship Program strongly encourages underrepresented groups to pursue STEM fields of study. Microsoft greatly values a broad range of perspectives and contributions, so a large majority these scholarships will be awarded to female students, underrepresented minority students (African-American, Hispanic or Native American etc.) or students with disabilities.

Powering Education Scholarship

This annual scholarship was established by Alpha One to assist people with disabilities who wish to pursue post-secondary education.

VSA Emerging young artist program

The VSA Emerging Young Artists Program, a Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability Program, recognizes and showcases the work of emerging young artists with disabilities, ages 16-25, living in the United States.

AG Bell College Scholarship Award

The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) offers several scholarships for full-time students who are deaf and hard of hearing and use listening and spoken language, and who are pursuing a four-year undergraduate degree or a graduate degree at an accredited mainstream college or university. 

Matrix Health Group Memorial Scholarship Program

The Matrix Health Group Memorial Scholarship Program supports students diagnosed with hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease, or other bleeding disorders, and in the case of a number of the scholarships, immediate family members may also apply.  The organization aims to provide individualized, focused services to people with bleeding disorders nationwide.

Business Plan Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

This scholarship is awarded by FitSmallBusiness.com to students with any type of disability, including but not limited to physical disabilities, medical conditions, mental and psychiatric conditions, speech and language, learning disabilities, behavioral conditions, and all other disabling conditions.

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Powering Education Scholarship

This annual scholarship was established by Alpha One to assist people with disabilities who wish to pursue post-secondary education.

ENF Emergency Educational Grants

The ENF Emergency Educational Grant program provides financial assistance to children of deceased or totally disabled Elks, who wish to obtain or further their college education.

Unigo $10K Scholarship

"Would you rather be smart, funny, or rich? Why?" The Unigo $10K Scholarship could help increase your education with $10,000 to use towards school.

Gilman-McCain Scholarship

The Gilman-McCain Scholarship is a congressionally funded initiative of the Bureau of Education and Cultural affairs at the US department of state and named after John S. McCain. It gives $5,000 for child dependents of active duty service members to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs.

Tylenol Future Care Scholarship

The Tylenol Future Care Scholarship supports well deserving students—undergraduate and graduate students attending an accredited one to four year college or university—pursuing careers in healthcare.

First Responders Children's Foundation

The First Responders Children's Foundation supports students whose first responder parent has suffered a line of duty disability or line of duty death, and demonstrate the greatest financial need.

One Planet, Many People Scholarship Video Contest

The One Planet, Many People Scholarship Video Contest is open to high school seniors and college undergraduates. To be considered, students must create and submit a video of 60 seconds or less that explores how a growing human population may cause other problems for humanity and our planet.

AALL Graduate Scholarships for Non-Law Degree

Educational scholarships are available from AALL to assist individuals studying to become law librarians with their educational expenses. Scholarships will be awarded to library school graduates who are degree candidates in an area, other than law, which will be beneficial to the development of a professional career in law librarianship.

Course Hero $5K for College Giveaway

The Course Hero Scholarship aims to support students with $5,000 per year until graduation on what is often a challenging road to education.

United Negro College Fund (UNCF)

The UNCF offers a number of scholarships that support minority group members. 

I Have a Dream Scholarship

"We want to know... what do you dream about? Whether it's some bizarre dream you had last week, or your hopes for the future, share your dreams with us for a chance to win $1,500 for college." Learn more about the I Have a Dream Scholarship

Sweet and Simple Scholarship

"Not every gift has to be expensive or extravagant. In fact, sometimes it's the sweet and simple things that make a real difference in our lives. Think back and tell us about something you received as a gift and why it meant so much to you." Learn more about the Sweet and Simple Scholarship.

Superpower Scholarship

"Which superhero or villain would you want to change places with for a day and why?" Learn more about the Superpower Scholarship.

Fifth Month Scholarship

"May is the fifth month of the year. Write a letter to the number five explaining why five is important. Be serious or be funny. Either way, here's a high five to you for being original." Learn more about the Fifth Month Scholarship.

Do-Over Scholarship

"If you could get one 'do-over' in life, what would it be and why?" Learn more about the Do-Over Scholarship.

Flavor of the Month Scholarship

"Summer and ice cream go hand-in-hand. In fact, July is National Ice Cream Month, and that's the inspiration behind this award. We think people are very similar to ice cream; some are nutty, others a little exotic, while some are very comforting. If you were an ice cream flavor, which would you be and why?" Learn more about the Flavor of the Month Scholarship

Make Me Laugh Scholarship

"OMG... finding and applying for scholarships is serious business, but it's time to lighten things up a little. We don't want to know why you deserve $1,500 or how great your grades are, we simply want to LOL. Describe an incident in your life, funny or embarrassing (fact or fiction), and make us laugh!" Learn more about the Make Me Laugh Scholarship.

Shout it Out Scholarship

"If you could say one thing to the entire world at once, what would it be and why?" Learn more about the Shout it Out Scholarship.