Penn State World Campus Scholarships: An Affordable Pathway to Education

Penn State is dedicated to making higher education accessible and affordable. Through participation in federal and state student aid programs, and with the support of generous individuals, Penn State World Campus offers a variety of scholarships to support hard-working students in their educational pursuits. By submitting a single application, in addition to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students can be considered for numerous scholarships for which they are eligible. These scholarships are designed to strengthen new and existing opportunities for students.

Maintaining Eligibility: Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students using federal aid must maintain aid eligibility by meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. This includes several key requirements:

Completion Rate: Students must complete at least 67% of their total attempted credits. Credits are not earned when a student fails a course, drops a course after the regular drop/add period, or withdraws from the semester.
Minimum GPA: Undergraduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, while graduate students must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.
Maximum Timeframe: Students must complete their degree within 150% of the necessary credits. For example, a student pursuing a 120-credit bachelor’s degree can receive aid for up to 180 credits. Graduate students must earn a grade of C or better, or a Satisfactory/Pass grade, in order to earn credits for a course.

Dropping, withdrawing from courses, or failing a course can impact tuition and fees as well as current and future financial aid. Students may owe a portion or all of their financial aid back for the semester and have a balance on their student account.

Featured Scholarship Opportunities

Penn State World Campus offers a diverse range of scholarships, each with specific eligibility requirements. Here’s a detailed look at some of these opportunities:

Scholarships for Forensic Science Students

Several scholarships are available to full-time junior and senior-level undergraduate students and graduate students majoring in forensic science or a related field:

The Carol De Forest Forensic Science Research Grant
The George W. Chin Memorial Scholarship
The George W. Neighbor Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Scholarships for Nursing Students

For students dedicated to the field of nursing, the following scholarships are available:

The Florence (Madden) Grady-Fasick Scholarship Fund: Available to students attending nursing school in Pennsylvania.
The Alumni Association Scholarship Fund: Available to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in a nursing program in Pennsylvania.
The Nursing Foundation of Pennsylvania Nurse Leader Scholarship: Available to full-time students enrolled in a BSN, MSN, or doctoral program in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Scholarships for Specific Academic Programs

John M. Haniak Scholarship: Available to sophomore-level and above undergraduate students who are studying materials science/engineering, metallurgy, or a related field. Applicants must be a member of ASM International.
Laurel Haven Endowment Scholarship: This scholarship prioritizes students enrolled in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Second preference is given to students in the College of Education with a major in elementary or secondary education and an interest in environmental education, or students in the College of Agricultural Sciences with an option in Environmental Sciences. Applicants must be full-time undergraduate or graduate students for Fall/Spring 2026-27 and engaged in, previously engaged in, or still interested in conservation education.

Scholarships Based on Affiliations and Background

Steve A. Garban Grant-in-aid For Children of Penn State Technical Service or Staff Employees: This grant-in-aid assists with room and board charges for two years for one new first-year student, provided the student continues full-time enrollment at Penn State or Penn College, incurs on-campus room and board charges, and demonstrates academic success. The student must be a child of a full-time Penn State or Penn College technical service or staff employee and must be a first-year, full-time student at any Penn State campus or at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. The student must have demonstrated leadership and humanitarian qualities through extracurricular activities during high school and must have achieved or show promise of achieving academic success. The student must be living at a Penn State location that offers on-campus housing - campus location with housing are as follows: Penn State Abington, Penn State Altoona, Penn State Beaver, Penn State Berks, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Erie, Penn State Greater Allegheny, Penn State Harrisburg, Penn State Hazelton, Penn College, Penn State Schuylkill, and Penn State University Park.
Employees of Consolidated Freightways Scholarship: This scholarship is available to a child or grandchild of a former Consolidated Freightways employee enrolled at Penn State Harrisburg or Penn State York. Applicants must be outstanding undergraduates and demonstrate financial need, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The David Schwebel Endowed Memorial Scholarship: This scholarship is for a child of an active, full-time employee of the Schwebel Baking Company or its subsidiaries and divisions who has been employed for at least two years. Applicants must be an undergraduate enrolled or planning to enroll at Penn State, have achieved or demonstrated academic merit and demonstrate financial need, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). First preference is given to eligible first-year students.
Andrew James Bartels Memorial Scholarship: Established to honor and recognize outstanding achievements by undergraduate students who have achieved Star, Life or Eagle rank in the Boy Scouts of America. Must be a full-time undergraduate student who is enrolled or planning to enroll at any Penn State campus. Must have achieved or demonstrated academic merit.
Ernest Morgan Memorial Scholarship: The Ernest Morgan Memorial Scholarship is available to graduating students from the following high schools: Apollo, Cathedral, Technical, Area Learning Center, Foley, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, St. John's Preparatory, Annandale, Sauk Centre, Holdingford, Albany, Elk RIver, Monticello and Melrose. citizens and demonstrate financial need.

Scholarships Based on Location and Background

Henrietta M. Fisher Memorial Honor Scholarship Fund: This scholarship is for a first-year, Penn State University Park baccalaureate degree student who files the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and is a Dauphin County resident (Steelton-Highspire High School graduates preferred). May be pursuing any college major (Engineering, Earth & Mineral Science, Science, and Liberal Arts majors preferred). Must demonstrate leadership and patriotism (ROTC students preferred).
Frank A. Sinon Scholarship at Penn State: This scholarship is for an undergraduate student enrolling at Penn State, University Park who has graduated from Austin Area High School in Austin, PA. Applicants must demonstrate academic success, demonstrate financial need, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Scholarships Promoting Cultural Awareness

Richard J. and Dolores Bush Scuderi Scholarship: Available to undergraduate or graduate students enrolling at any Penn State campus who demonstrate superior academic success and financial need, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants must be in good standing as determined by the Office of Judicial Affairs. Preference for first generation students (i.e., first one in the family to attend college) who provides examples of the student's academic success and demonstrated knowledge of Italian history, culture or language; and/or who have completed coursework in Italian studies; and/or who have made a commitment to enhance Italian culture.
Dolores Bush Scuderi and Richard J. Scuderi Scholarship: Available to undergraduate or graduate students enrolling at any Penn State campus who demonstrate superior academic success and financial need, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants must be in good standing as determined by the Office of Judicial Affairs. Preference for first generation students (i.e., first one in the family to attend college) who provides examples of the student's academic success and demonstrated knowledge of Polish history, culture or language; and/or who have completed coursework in Polish studies; and/or who have made a commitment to enhance Polish culture.

Overcoming Academic Challenges

The Summer Success Scholarship: This scholarship helps undergraduate students who have fallen behind in their degree program and would benefit from taking a summer course to get caught up but have financial challenges to doing so. Students at all Penn State campuses are eligible to apply. Students who receive the scholarship will receive $2,000 toward their summer tuition. Applications are due by April 11, 2026 at 11:59 pm.

Supporting Outreach and Online Education

The Edward L. and Dessa B. Keller Memorial Scholarship: Available to students who are currently enrolled full-time or part-time in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at Penn State World Campus or University Park. Edward L. and Dessa B. Keller Memorial Scholarship applicants must submit an application form and provide contact information for a professional reference who can submit a letter of recommendation.

Application Process and Deadlines

To be considered for the various Penn State World Campus scholarships, students must complete a single application in addition to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Specific application requirements vary, so be sure to carefully review the instructions for each scholarship.

For scholarships requiring additional documentation, such as verification of relationship to a former employee or a personal essay, students should submit the necessary materials as indicated in the scholarship description.

Important Dates and Deadlines:

Summer Success Scholarship: Applications are due by April 11, 2026 at 11:59 pm.

The award recipients for many scholarships are selected by the Office of Student Aid Scholarship Committee and announced in May (with the exception of the Frank A. Sinon Scholarship at Penn State, which is announced in September). All applicants will be notified of the committee's decision.

Read also: Penn State Admission: Average ACT

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