Scholarships and Financial Aid

The College of Education offers many academic scholarships (click here for a complete list) in all fields of study within the College. To be eligible for a Penn State College of Education scholarship you MUST be enrolled or planning to enroll in Penn State's College of Education at the University Park campus for the 2010-11 academic year. You also must complete and submit the online College of Education 2010–11 Scholarship Application Form.

The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. on March 1, 2010. Only complete applications will be accepted and considered. Applications completed after the deadline will not be accepted or considered.

Be sure to read all instructions and guidelines on this page. Questions should be directed to education@psu.edu.

Application Procedures for 2010–2011

CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE and GRADUATE STUDENTS (includes those transferring to University Park from other Penn State campuses):

• When you are ready to apply online, go to ANGEL at cms.psu.edu
• Enter your Penn State Access Account ID and Password
• From My Groups, select Find a Group
• Using the Keyword Search, search for the keyword Scholarship Application
• Select College of Education: Scholarship Application from the search results
• Choose the scholarship application that is appropriate for your academic standing (graduate or undergraduate) and complete the application before the deadline
• Graduate students only: You also must submit your CV through ANGEL

INCOMING STUDENTS (first-year graduate and undergraduate students and those transferring from other universities):

• If you do not already have a Friends of Penn State account, go to fps.psu.edu, and Create an Account (make a note of your password).
• E-mail the Account ID you are given to education@psu.edu. Do not send your password. (Penn State will NEVER ask you for your password.)
• When you receive an e-mail confirmation that your Account ID has been added to the system, go to cms.psu.edu (Penn State's ANGEL system).
• In the Log On box, select Friends of Penn State from the drop down menu and click Log On; enter your Account ID and Password and click Login
• From My Groups, select Find a Group
• Using the Keyword Search, search for the keyword Scholarship Application
• Select College of Education: Scholarship Application from the search results
• Choose Undergraduate Scholarship Application and complete the application before the deadline

Documenting Financial Need

Nearly all scholarships require that you establish and document your financial need. In order to do so, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA on the Web) in accordance with instructions from the Penn State Office of Student Aid. We strongly recommend that you file this financial statement by March 1, 2010. The University's Office of Student Aid provides the College with the financial need documentation you establish by filing FAFSA. This is the only official means by which we can validate your financial need.

Applying for College-wide and Academic Department Scholarships

The information you provide on the application creates an individual profile that identifies to the College which scholarship(s) you are eligible to receive. You will be considered for all College-wide and academic department scholarships for which you are eligible. The receipt of a College or academic department scholarship does not preclude you from receiving University scholarships for which you may also be eligible. For other forms of funding available to graduate students, visit the Funding Opportunities page.

Conditions for Scholarships

Recipients are selected based on the preset criteria established for each scholarship. If you are selected for a scholarship, you will be notified of the criteria you must meet in order to remain eligible for the scholarship. If you fail to meet the criteria, your scholarship may be canceled.

Notification of Scholarship Awards

Efforts are made to award scholarships prior to July 1 for the ensuing academic year, but scholarships are also made throughout the year. If you have been awarded a scholarship, you will be notified through your Penn State e-mail account directing you to confirm the address to which we should send the notification letter. If you do not receive a scholarship, your application will be kept on file for the rest of the academic year, and your application will be reconsidered if additional funds become available.

Disbursement of Scholarships

After the start of classes in fall 2010, the scholarship monies you are awarded will be transferred into your account with the Office of the University Bursar. However, monies will not be released from your Bursar account until we receive a thank you letter to your scholarship donor per the instructions in your notification letter. ALL scholarships require a thank you letter.

After your thank you letter has been received and monies have been disbursed into your account, if all University charges have been met, you may receive a refund for the residual balance to meet other education-related expenses.

Questions regarding your University account should be directed to the Bursar's Office, 103 Shields Building, University Park, PA 16802; 814-865-6528.

For more information, visit the FAQ page.