Scholarships

Penn State World Campus students may be eligible for scholarships from the University, from World Campus, from their academic college or degree program, and from other sources. Students may be required to submit the FAFSA, meet eligibility criteria, and submit applications to be considered for scholarships.

Information about any scholarships you have been awarded is available in LionPATH. You can view a tutorial on how to find financial aid information and other important actions.

Scholarships will be counted toward your total financial aid and will be credited toward tuition and fees first.

Graduate Scholarships

Graduate students, including Penn State World Campus students, may be eligible for the following scholarships from the Graduate School.

Penn State Alumni Association Scholarship for Penn State Alumni in the Graduate School
This scholarship supports students who have been admitted to the Graduate School at Penn State as graduate degree candidates, and who also received their undergraduate degree from Penn State. Visit the Penn State Alumni Association scholarship's webpage for more details.

Professional Master's Excellence Award
The Professional Master's Excellence Award recognizes master's degree students in the Graduate School, who are in their final year of graduate work, with the majority of required course work completed. It is awarded to students based on the quality of their academic record and culminating experiences conducted in a professional setting. Visit the Professional Master's Excellence Award scholarship's webpage for more details.

Graduate students can also check the Graduate School website and contact their program office for information about other scholarships, and seek out additional financial resources. At this time, no graduate-level scholarships are available through World Campus. 

Undergraduate Scholarships

Penn State World Campus is proud to offer scholarship opportunities to first-time or returning undergraduate degree students. Some scholarships have specific criteria, such as military branch or specific geographical location. Other scholarships seek to award adult students, or students in specific majors. All scholarships are for both full-time and part-time students. The World Campus scholarships require students to have financial need (as determined by the FAFSA) and a GPA of 2.0 or better. (Penn State employees receiving the educational benefit are not eligible to receive these scholarships.)

Penn State Office of Student Aid Grants

All Penn State students who have submitted a FAFSA are reviewed for grants awarded by the Office of Student Aid. Each grant has unique requirements and eligibility criteria. You can find a list of these grants on the Penn State Office of Student Aid website.

World Campus Scholarships

Penn State World Campus scholarships are available to first-time or returning undergraduate students, adult learners, military students, and other World Campus students. Scholarships are available to both full-time and part-time students and are highly competitive. There is a single application for all of these scholarships. (Employees receiving the educational benefit are not eligible to receive these scholarships.)

How to Apply for Penn State World Campus Scholarships
To be considered for World Campus scholarships, you must:

  • be a Penn State World Campus undergraduate student enrolled in a degree program
  • submit the 2023–24 FAFSA if you are a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen
  • submit the online application form

The deadline to apply for scholarships for the 2023–24 academic year has passed.

Penn State Scholarships

These scholarships are available to Penn State World Campus students as well as students at other Penn State campuses. This is not a complete list. You can find more information about Penn State scholarships on the Penn State Office of Student Aid website.

Summer Success Scholarship
The summer success scholarship helps undergraduate, degree-seeking students who have fallen behind in their degree program. The deadline to apply is typically in April. Visit the Summer Success Scholarship website for more details.

Alpha Sigma Lambda
Two applicants are selected by our Pi Delta Chi committee as candidates for the Alpha Sigma Lambda Adult Student Foundation Scholarship. You do not have to be a member of Alpha Sigma Lambda to apply for a scholarship. Visit the Alpha Sigma Lambda website for more details.

Fannie Lou Hamer - W.E.B. Du Bois Scholarship
The Forum on Black Affairs at Penn State honors the memory of civil rights leaders Fannie Lou Hamer and W.E.B. Du Bois by awarding service scholarships each year. This scholarship is currently open to submissions. Visit the Fannie Lou Hamer - W.E.B. Du Bois Scholarship website for more details.

LGBTQ+ Scholarships
The Penn State Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity offers several scholarships to LGBTQ+ students and those who advocate for and contribute to this community. Each scholarship has its own eligibility criteria. This scholarship is currently open to submissions. Visit the Penn State Student Affairs website for more details.

Penn State Libraries Scholarships
The Penn State Libraries offer multiple scholarships to Penn State students. Each scholarship has its own eligibility criteria.

How to Find Scholarships Outside of Penn State

Check for scholarship opportunities with agencies and organizations in your local area, such as:  

  • your employer
  • chamber of commerce
  • private organizations
  • professional associations
  • career support services

You can also search for scholarships online. Be mindful when completing applications and submitting your information; the Office of Student Aid does not condone any scholarship site that requires payment for the application. The Office of Student Aid recommends the following free scholarship search engines:

Student Financial Services
Attn: Outside Scholarships
109 Shields Building
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-0461
Fax: 814-865-6535

Visit the Student Financial Services website for more information.

Questions?

If you have questions about scholarship opportunities, we are here to help. Please email [email protected].