Scholarships for Penn State

With 20 campuses across Pennsylvania, Penn State University's main campus is in University Park. As of 2010, more than 44,000 students were enrolled at the school, which offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in hundreds of disciplines. In-state tuition averages $16,500 a year for an undergraduate degree and almost $17,000 for a graduate degree, according to the Penn State Tuition website.

Significance

• Many of Penn State's scholarships honor prominent Penn State alumni and families, such as the Parent/Gajecki scholarship or the Michael Delo scholarship. As of 2010, more than 430 scholarships were offered specifically for Penn State students that provide money to cover tuition, room and board, books and other fees.

Types

• Scholarships vary greatly and are given to undergraduates, graduates, medical students, online students and distance learners. Some go to students in particular schools or pursuing specific degrees, while others are specified for students involved in Greek life, sports and other extracurricular activities, like the Alpha Zeta Fraternity Scholarship for members in the Alpha Zeta fraternity pursuing a degree in agriculture sciences.

Features

• Depending on the scholarship, the award may be merit or need-based and scholarships are worth from $500 a year for the dean's freshman scholarship to full tuition with the Bunton-Waller Fellows Program. Some scholarships, like the Bunton-Waller, can be renewed for all four years, while some are given annually. Many of the scholarships specify the award go to tuition only, while others allow the student to decide whether the award money goes toward tuition or room and board and books, like Penn State's ROTC scholarships.

Qualifications

• To qualify for a Penn State scholarship, students must be enrolled at one of Penn State's campuses. Other qualifications vary depending on the particular award, but can include grade point average requirements, enrollment status and extracurricular involvement. Scholarships for Penn State often require an essay, letters of recommendation and transcripts. Some also require the student to interview, like the Big Ten 9-11 scholarship.

Time Frame

• The time frame for applying also varies. University-wide awards typically are awarded between March and August with the deadline for applying coming in early spring. Most scholarship applications can be found online through the Penn State website.