Scholarships and financial assistance
Pitt State offers its students many opportunities for scholarships & financial assistance.
We understand that, as a student, your focus should be on the classroom and not on the paperwork. The professionals in our Office of Student Financial Assistance are here to provide you with the information you need to make the right choices about financial aid.
Nearly 80% of Pitt State students receive some sort of financial aid, including:
- Grants: assistance that does not require repayment
- Scholarships: awards for students who have demonstrated superior academic achievement or meet specific criteria, which do not require repayment
- Employment: about 10% of our students are employed on campus
- Loans: loans can be made to parents and/or students, and must be repaid
In many cases, our student financial assistance professionals can help you combine these options into a personal package that fits your individual need. The amount of assistance you receive is based upon your family’s expected contribution to your educational costs.
Apply early
We encourage you to apply early and to take advantage of the support that is available for you - application opens October 1.
The final scholarships deadline for incoming freshmen and transfer students is based on the availability of the funds. It's never too late to apply – funds are often available up to the start of the semester.
Scholarships
The 2025-26 application is now available! The priority date to February 1, 2025.
Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen
| Award | Amounts | Details | Due |
| Great Gorilla Scholarships (Academic Achievement) | $1,000 - $4,000 per year | Based on your cumulative high school GPA. Starting in fall 2025, ACT can also be considered. Renewable for three additional years. | February 1 |
| Alumni Legacy License Plate Scholarship | Amounts vary | Parent/Grandparent must be a PSU graduate; minimum 21 ACT or 3.0 GPA; first time enrolling in PSU |
February 1 |
| Departmental awards and scholarships | Amounts vary | Contact the department of your major to see if a separate application is required Department contacts View all departmental scholarships |
February 1 |
| PSU Campus-wide general scholarships | Amounts vary |
Requirements vary - apply for general scholarships |
February 1 |
Note: All applications will be considered for scholarships. Funds are often available up to the start of the semester. Priority is given to applications submitted early.
Scholarships for Incoming Transfer Students
| Award | Amounts | Details | Due date |
| Great Gorilla Scholarship Program (Academic Achievement) | $1,000 | Minimum 3.0 cumulative college GPA and 24 transferable hours earned after high school graduation | February 1 |
| Alumni Legacy License Plate Scholarship | Amounts vary | Parent/Grandparent must be a PSU graduate; minimum 21 ACT or 3.0 GPA; first time enrolling in PSU | February 1 |
| Departmental awards and scholarships | Amounts vary | Contact the department of your major to see if a separate application is required Department contacts View all departmental scholarships |
February 1 |
| Kansas All-State Academic Team | $1,000 | Member of the Kansas All-State Academic Team sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa and the Kansas Association of Community Colleges | Current year selection |
| Phi Theta Kappa | $500 | Phi Theta Kappa member; proof of membership required | February 1 |
| PSU Campus-wide general scholarships | Amounts vary | Requirements vary - apply for general scholarships | February 1 |
Note: All applications will be considered for scholarships. Funds are often available up to the start of the semester. Priority is given to applications submitted early.
Scholarships for Current Students
There are many scholarship opportunities for current students. Current students must apply or re-apply for scholarships every year to be considered. Deadline is February 1.
Additionally, there may be scholarship opportunities available through your college, departments, and/or industry. Please contact your adviser or a department of your majors for more information.
Pitt State Campus-wide general scholarships
- View all general scholarships
- Apply or Re-Apply for General Scholarships (Current Students)
Departmental Scholarships
- Contact the department of your major to see if a separate application is required
- Department contacts
- View all departmental scholarships
Honors College Awards
| Award | Amounts | Deadline |
| Presidential Award | $9,500/year; $2,000 study abroad stipend | January 15 |
| University Award | $4,500/year; $2,000 study abroad stipend | January 15 |
| Crimson & Gold Award | $1,000/year; $2,000 study abroad stipend | January 15 |
Deadline to apply for entering freshman is January 15th prior to the fall semester in which the student will enter Pittsburg State.
To apply, a student must first meet the following:
1. Must be a new incoming freshman
2. ACT composite score of 28 or higher OR SAT composite score of 1310 or higher; AND
3. Complete the pre-college curriculum with at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale (unweighted)
The Pre-college Curriculum as established by the Kansas Board of Regents includes:
- 4 units of English
- 4 units of Math (Nothing below Algebra I will be accepted)
- 3 units of Natural Science (One unit must be Physics or Chemistry)
- 3 units of Social Science
- 3 units of electives
Visit Honors College web page
Programs for Out-of-State Students
| Award | Amounts | Details |
| Gorilla Advantage | In-state Tuition | Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin residents |
External Scholarships Search Engines and Resources
Scholarship Search Engines & Resources
Scholarship Opportunities
Scholarships for International Students
| Award | Amounts | Details |
| Gorilla International Scholarship | Up to $6,000; renewable | See details and how to apply |
| Undergraduate Academic Excellence Scholarship | $1,000; one-time | See details and how to apply |
| Intensive English Program Academic Excellence Scholarship | $1,000; one-time | See details and how to apply |
| Honors College Scholarship | $4,500 - $9,500 | See details and how to apply |
| Legacy Scholarship Program | 150% of in-state tuition | See details and how to apply |
| International Advocate Scholarship | $1,000; renewable | See details and how to apply |
| Malaysian High Achiever Scholarship | $1,000; renewable | See details and how to apply |
| Malaysian Technology Major Scholarship | In-State tuition | See details and how to apply |
| Paraguay-Kansas In-State Tuition Waiver | In-State tuition | See details and how to apply |
| Tsang-Hsun Tsai and Ching-Hui Huang Scholarship | $150; renewable | See details and how to apply |
| Samuel J. Pease & William R. Herr Foreign Student Scholarship | $1,000; renewable | See details and how to apply |
| Graduate Assistantship | 20 hrs/week | See details and how to apply |
| General University Scholarships & Academic Department Scholarships | Amounts vary | See details and how to apply |
On-Campus Employment
| Award | Amounts | Details |
| Federal Work Study | Up to $3,500/yr. | Students with financial need |
| Pitt State Student Employment | Minimum wage, up to 20 hrs/week | Open to all students |
Grants
| Award | Amounts | Details | Deadline |
| Federal Pell Grant | Up to $7,395/year | Students with financial need | February 1 |
| Federal Supplemental Grant | $200 - $400 | Students with financial need | February 1 |
| Kansas Comprehensive Grant | Up to $2,000/year | Kansas residency; based on income | February 1 |
| Federal Teach Grant | Up to $4,000/year | Undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate students preparing to teach in a high-need field may be eligible. Contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for more information | February 1 |
Loans
| Award | Amounts | Details | Deadline |
| Graduate Federal Stafford Loans-unsubsidized | Up to $20,500 | Financial need not required | February 1 |
| Federal Stafford Loans-subsidized | Up to $5,500; depends on class standing | Students with financial need | February 1 |
| Federal Stafford Loans-unsubsidized | Up to $5,500; depends on class standing | Financial need not required | February 1 |
| Nursing Student Loan | Up to $2,500 | Admission to Nursing program; students with financial need | February 1 |
| Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) | Amounts vary | For parents borrowing on behalf of dependent undergraduate students | February 1 |
| Non-federal Private Loans | Amounts vary |
Financial need not required. |
N/A |
Applying for General Scholarships
Incoming Freshmen and Transfer Students
- For incoming freshmen, submit ACT/SAT scores, high school cumulative GPA and class rank to Pitt State (Self-reported information is not used for scholarship purposes.)
- For transfer students, send all college transcripts to Pitt State
- Apply for admission and scholarships online by February 1st. If you completed a paper application for admission, complete a separate scholarship application
- Applications received after February 1 will be considered only if funds remain available
Current students
- Must apply or re-apply for General Scholarships every year to be considered. Apply every year by February 1 for first consideration
- Apply or Re-Apply for General Scholarships (Current Students)
- Applications received after February 1 will be considered only if funds remain available
Great Gorilla Scholarship Program
Many incoming freshmen and transfer students who apply to Pittsburg State University are eligible for the Great Gorilla Scholarship Program that honors their academic achievements. This program does not require an application.
Academic achievement awards for new freshmen - new incoming freshmen (most recent high school graduates only) who have applied for admission and completed their admission file (submitted their high school transcript), with a minimum GPA of 2.85 are eligible for at least $1,000 per year. The scholarship is divided between the fall and spring semesters and renewable for three additional years for full time students if satisfactory academic progress is made. See more here.
Academic achievement awards for transfer students - students transferring from an accredited college, university, or community college, who have applied for admission and completed their admission file (submitted all required college transcripts), with a minimum college GPA of 3.0 are eligible for $1,000. This award is renewable for one additional year. Please note: any student with college credit taken after high school graduation as part of a degree-seeking program is considered a transfer student.
Deadlines
There are three important dates for every student to remember:
- October 1 - Application for Pitt State Scholarships opens
- January 15 - Application deadline for Honors College Scholarships
- March 1 - Application deadline for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Frequently Asked Questions
Scholarships
Who is eligible?
Scholarship requirements vary widely, but generally, you will need a minimum 22 ACT score and a 3.2 GPA.
How do I apply for scholarships?
There are many different scholarships available for students at Pitt State.
-
- New Pitt State students: students who are new to Pittsburg State must complete the Admission and Scholarship Application in order to be considered.
- Current Pitt State students: current students must apply or re-apply for General Scholarships each year in order to be considered. Apply for a scholarship every year by November 1.
- Departmental Scholarships: Contact the department of your major to see if a separate application is required
- Department contacts
- View all departmental scholarships
- Honors College Scholarships: these scholarships require a separate application and have a deadline of January 15. Honors College Scholarships cannot be considered unless a student has (1) applied for admission – including the $30 fee, (2) submitted a transcript(s), and (3) submitted ACT score(s).
Is there a deadline for scholarship applications?
Yes. The deadline for all general scholarships at Pitt State is February 1.
How will I be notified?
Scholarship recipients will receive an award letter after April 1.
Are family finances considered?
Most scholarships are awarded on a merit basis. Some scholarships include financial need as a requirement.
Are scholarship awards renewable?
It depends upon the scholarship. You should apply for scholarships each year to ensure that you receive the maximum award for which you are eligible.
Do I have to apply for scholarships every year even if I am a current Pitt State student?
Yes, to be considered for scholarships you must apply or re-apply for general scholarships every year. Departmental scholarships may require a separate application. Please contact the respective department chair for application procedures.
Can I update my scholarship application?
Yes. Access the scholarship application, login to GUS, and make the necessary changes. Updates should be done by February 1.
Financial Assistance
How do I apply?
As soon as possible after October 1 of your senior year, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. (PSU’s Federal School Code is 001926.) Within 3-5 days, you’ll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) via email. The Office of Student Financial Assistance will receive your application electronically and will contact you if additional information or documentation is needed. Be sure to watch your e-mail for information.
Is there a deadline?
Yes. The priority deadline is March 1.
How will I be notified?
Once your application is processed, you will be notified via e-mail and provided instructions on how to accept your awards online. Make sure to check your e-mail often, in case we need additional information from you.