Scholarships

Scholarships for Penn State students

Q: Does Penn State offer full ride scholarships?

Full-ride scholarships are uncommon. Penn State offers scholarships and awards, but typical awards usually range from $1,500 to $5,000 per year, and the average is often $2,500 or less. Students should also explore grants, work-study, private scholarships, and other funding sources.

Q: Does FAFSA affect Penn State scholarships?

Yes. The FAFSA can affect scholarships that use financial need. Penn State recommends that admitted students submit the FAFSA to keep more aid options open, and many Office of Student Aid scholarships use merit plus FAFSA-determined need.

Q: Can out-of-state students get Penn State scholarships?

Yes. Non-Pennsylvania residents may qualify for some Penn State scholarships, including the Provost Academic Award at University Park or the Discover Award at eligible Penn State campuses, depending on current rules. They can also search for Office of Student Aid, college, campus, and private scholarships.

Q: Can Pennsylvania residents get Penn State scholarships?

Yes. Pennsylvania residents may qualify for scholarships such as the Penn State Academic Award at University Park or the Commonwealth Award at eligible Penn State campuses. They can also look for Office of Student Aid, college, campus, and private scholarships.

Q: Can transfer students get scholarships at Penn State?

Yes, but it depends on the award. Transfer students aren't eligible for some first-year awards, but they may qualify for the Discover Award if they meet current rules. They can also look for campus, college, major-specific, and private scholarships.

Q: Are there scholarships for international students at Penn State?

There may be options, but funding can be more limited for international students because many programs are tied to FAFSA eligibility, U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or residency rules. International students should review Penn State Global resources, college and campus options, and outside scholarships open to international applicants.

Here's a scholarship you can apply for in minutes.

Enter Sallie's $2,000 scholarship Find more scholarships

Key takeaways about Penn State scholarships

Penn State scholarships can be based on merit, financial need, or both.
About 1 in 4 undergrads receives a University scholarship.
Several scholarship and grant programs are available for eligible first-year and transfer students.
Penn State scholarship sources can include the Office of Student Aid, academic colleges, campuses, and other Penn State offices.
Private scholarships can add to Penn State aid and may lower what you borrow or pay out of pocket.

Penn State scholarships: Where to start

If you're looking at Penn State and trying to make the numbers work, you're not alone. Costs can change by campus, major, class year, residency, housing choice, and personal expenses, so it helps to look past one sticker price.

The good news is that scholarships can make a real difference.

Research from Sallie’s “How America Pays for College 2026” found that 61% of families used scholarships to help pay for college, with an average of $8,291 received among scholarship users. Even more encouraging, 76% of families using scholarships said the funding made college attendance possible.

This guide breaks down how Penn State scholarships work, where private scholarships fit in, and how to build a funding plan that can help lower costs over time.

If you're still deciding whether Penn State is the right fit, you can also compare estimated costs, financial aid information, and admissions details using Scout College Search.

How much does Penn State cost?

The cost of attending Penn State depends on several factors, including which campus you attend, your residency status, your program of study, and whether you live on or off campus.

Rather than focusing on the published sticker price, it's more helpful to understand what you might pay after scholarships, grants, and financial aid are applied. Many students pay less than the published cost of attendance once their financial aid package is finalized.

To explore estimated costs, financial aid information, and other details about attending Penn State, visit Penn State's profile on Scout College Search. It's a helpful starting point for comparing costs and planning how you'll pay for college.

Does Penn State offer scholarships?

Yes. Penn State offers scholarships and awards that usually don't need to be repaid. Depending on the award, eligibility can be based on merit, financial need, residency, campus, major, donor rules, or other factors.

Admitted students who submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) to Penn State are considered for scholarships that may be available through the Office of Student Aid, academic colleges, campuses, or other University offices. Some scholarships need separate applications, so check your campus, college, and program pages too.

It's also smart to be realistic. Penn State says it can't guarantee an award to every student who ranks at or near the top of their class. That's a good reason to pair Penn State scholarship options with private scholarships and local awards.

Penn State scholarship programs explained

Penn State has several scholarship and award programs that matter most for incoming first-year students. Rules can change, so check the current details before you count on any award in your plan.

Penn State Academic Award

The Penn State Academic Awardis designed for eligible first-time, first-year Pennsylvania residents enrolling in a bachelor's degree program at Penn State University Park.

There's no separate scholarship application. Penn State reviews students using admission and financial aid information.

Penn State Provost Academic Award

The Penn State Provost Academic Award is for eligible first-time, first-year students who aren't Pennsylvania residents and enroll at the University Park campus.

There's no separate application for this award. Penn State uses admission and financial aid information when considering students.

Penn State Commonwealth Award

The Penn State Commonwealth Award is for first-time, first-year Pennsylvania residents who enroll at a Penn State campus other than University Park or Penn State World Campus. Transfer students aren't eligible.

You don't need a separate application for the Commonwealth Award. Penn State encourages students to file the FAFSA^®, which may also open the door to additional need-based aid.

Penn State Discover Award

The Penn State Discover Award is for eligible first-time, first-year undergraduate students and transfer students who enroll at eligible Penn State campus other than University Park or World Campus.

You don't need a separate application for the Discover Award. The FAFSA^® is encouraged, but not required for the award itself.

Penn State LiveOn Student Success Grant

The LiveOn Student Success Grant is supported by Penn State Housing and Food Services. It helps undergrads stay on track toward their degree and can support students who may face housing or food insecurity.

Office of Student Aid scholarships

Students who are admitted and submit the FAFSA^® to Penn State can be considered for scholarships awarded by the Office of Student Aid.

These scholarships may be based on merit, demonstrated financial need, or a combination of both. Pennsylvania residents and out-of-state students receive equal consideration for these scholarships.

Academic college and campus scholarships

Penn State academic colleges and campuses also offer scholarships. Eligibility, applications, and timing vary, so check your college, campus, and department scholarship pages for current opportunities.

Campus scholarships may look at grades, financial need, leadership, and community service.

Penn State financial aid explained

Scholarships are one piece of paying for Penn State. Many students use a mix of scholarships, grants, work-study, student jobs, family contributions, and student loans.

Aid type	Repayment required?	Usually based on
Penn State scholarships	No	Merit, need, campus, college, donor, or program rules
Penn State grants	No	Financial need or program eligibility
Federal Pell Grant	No	Federal need-based eligibility
Federal Work-Study	No	Financial need and employment
Private scholarships	No	Varies by scholarship
Federal student loans	Yes	Federal eligibility
Private student loans	Yes	Creditworthiness and borrowed funds

The FAFSA^® is an important step because many Penn State scholarships and grants use financial need as part of the review. Even when a scholarship is partly merit-based, submitting the FAFSA^® can help keep more aid options open.

Private scholarships for Penn State students

One easy mistake is assuming Penn State scholarships are your only option. Private scholarships can come from community foundations, employers, nonprofits, professional groups, local organizations, faith groups, and national programs.

Research from “How America Pays for College 2026” found that 67% of families who didn’t use scholarships said the student never applied. That means many students may miss out on funding simply because they don’t start.

Pennsylvania scholarships

Penn State students should explore Pennsylvania scholarships from local foundations, community groups, civic organizations, employers, and state-based programs. Local awards may have smaller applicant pools than large national scholarships, which can make them worth your time.

Major-specific scholarships

Students may find scholarships tied to engineering, information sciences and technology, business, agriculture, education, nursing, health sciences, communications, liberal arts, and other fields. Your Penn State college or department can be a strong place to start.

Military-connected and adult learner scholarships

Penn State serves many students with different paths, including veterans, military-connected students, adult learners, and returning students. These students may qualify for scholarships from service groups, employers, professional groups, or programs made for nontraditional learners.

Outside scholarship rules at Penn State

If you receive a scholarship or education funding from an outside organization, Penn State asks students to report the award to the Office of the Bursar.

Review Penn State's external award guidance for current instructions on sending scholarship information and funds to the University.

Scholarship scam checks

Penn State's scholarship guidance is simple: start early and don't pay. You shouldn't need to pay for a scholarship search or pay an application fee to apply for a real scholarship.

Scholarships for transfer students at Penn State

Transfer students can still find scholarship options at Penn State, but not every award is open to them. Some first-year awards, including the Penn State Academic Award, Commonwealth Award, and Provost Academic Award, aren't available to transfer students.

Eligible transfer students may be considered for the Discover Award if they meet the current campus, residency, and degree-program rules. Transfer students should also look at campus scholarships, academic college scholarships, major-specific awards, Pennsylvania scholarships, and private scholarships.

Scholarships for international students at Penn State

Funding can be harder to find for international students because most federal and state financial aid is limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Penn State Global notes that some limited Penn State tuition grants are available to currently enrolled international students. International students can also explore private scholarships and other outside funding sources. Check Penn State Global's financial aid resources for current information.

Scholarships for graduate students at Penn State

Graduate funding often works differently from undergraduate aid. Graduate students at Penn State may find support through assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, departmental awards, employer tuition help, student employment, and private graduate scholarships.

Start with your graduate program or academic college because many opportunities are program-specific. You can also search for outside graduate student scholarships tied to your degree, research interests, career goals, or professional field.

Scholly Scholarships

Find scholarships that are right for you

Easily search through thousands of college scholarships based on your background, major, state you live in, and more.

Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.

Find scholarships now

How to apply for Penn State scholarships

Scholarship applications get easier when you build a simple plan. Start with Penn State's admission and financial aid process, then widen your search to campus, college, local, and private options.

Apply to Penn State and review scholarship options tied to your campus, residency, and program.
Complete the FAFSA^® as early as you can to keep need-based scholarships, grants, and federal aid options open. For step-by-step help, check our FAFSA^® guide.
Watch your Penn State email and LionPATH Aid Summary for scholarship notices and financial aid updates.
Check your academic college, campus, and department scholarship pages for separate applications or deadlines.
Search for private scholarships based on your hometown, major, background, career goals, and interests.
Prepare reusable essays, resume details, recommendation notes, and short answers so you can apply faster.
Keep applying after your first year because scholarships aren't only for incoming freshmen.

Tips to increase your scholarship chances

Scholarships can be competitive, but having a good system can make the process easier to manage.

Apply to a mix of scholarship types

Don't only chase the biggest national awards. Build a mix that includes Penn State scholarships, campus awards, academic college scholarships, Pennsylvania scholarships, local awards, major-specific scholarships, and private scholarships. Use search tools like Scholly^® Scholarships to find opportunities that match your background, experiences, and interests.

Don't focus only on GPA

Many students assume scholarships are only for perfect-GPA students. Sallie’s research in “How America Pays for College 2026” shows that nearly half of families (48%) believe scholarships are only for top students, even though many awards also look at need, leadership, service, background, work experience, major, identity, or career goals.

Use your Penn State story

If you're applying to Penn State or already enrolled, connect your scholarship materials to your goals. Strong applications often explain what you want to study, why Penn State fits, and how funding could help you make the most of your education.

Track deadlines in one place

Create a tracker with scholarship names, deadlines, award amounts, rules, required essays, recommendation needs, and application status. This helps you avoid missed deadlines and duplicate work.

Keep applying after freshman year

Scholarship searching shouldn't stop once you enroll. Current undergrads, transfer students, adult learners, and grad students can all find options throughout college.

Can scholarships reduce student loan costs?

Yes. Scholarships can lower the amount students and families need to cover through savings, income, payment plans, or student loans. Since scholarships usually don't need to be repaid, every scholarship dollar can help lower your overall college costs.

Scholarship stacking can help lower costs

Scholarship stacking means combining several scholarships from different sources instead of relying on one award.

Scholarship	Award amount
Local scholarship	$1,000
Private scholarship	$2,500
Departmental scholarship	$1,500
Total scholarship funding	$5,000
Potential impact	Up to $5,000 less to borrow or pay out of pocket

A few smaller awards may not seem huge on their own, but together they can make a real difference.

Find more scholarships with Sallie

Finding legit scholarships can take time. Scholarship matching tools like Scholly^® Scholarships can make it easier by surfacing options that match your background, interests, and goals.

Simplified applications can also help you keep going. Scholly^®Easy Apply Scholarships lets you apply to multiple scholarships with one quick application. You can also enter Sallie's $2,000 No Essay Scholarship in 2 minutes or less, and grad students can apply to Sallie's $5,000 Grad No Essay Scholarship.

Additional scholarship resources

These resources can help you find opportunities based on your major, background, education level, and personal experiences.

Scholarships by major See scholarship options connected to your intended field of study.
Scholarships for high school seniors Ideal if you are planning for college during your senior year of high school.
Scholarships for college students Scholarship opportunities continue after freshman year, so current undergraduates should keep searching too.
Scholarships for first-generation students If you are the first in your family to attend college, these awards may be especially relevant.
Scholarships for adults and returning learners Find support if you are going back to school later or finishing a degree.
STEM scholarships Funding options for students pursuing science, technology, engineering, or math degrees.
Scholarships for graduate students Learn about scholarships that can help reduce the cost of graduate or professional study.

Your next steps

You don't need to win one massive scholarship for scholarships to make Penn State more affordable.

Start with Penn State's scholarship and financial aid process, including the FAFSA^®. Then visit Scout College Search to explore estimated costs and financial aid information before expanding your scholarship search to Pennsylvania scholarships, local awards, major-specific scholarships, and tools like Scholly® Scholarships.

Every application creates another opportunity to lower college costs and potentially reduce future borrowing.

FAQs about Penn State scholarships

Does Penn State offer full ride scholarships?

Penn State's main scholarship page doesn't identify a general full-ride scholarship program. Scholarship coverage varies by award, so students should review current Penn State scholarships and consider grants, private scholarships, and other funding sources as part of their plan.

How hard is it to get a Penn State scholarship?

Penn State scholarships can be competitive. Penn State says about one in four undergraduates receives a University scholarship, but an award isn't guaranteed, even for strong students.

Completing the FAFSA^® and searching for private scholarships can help keep more options open.

What GPA do I need for Penn State scholarships?

There isn't one GPA requirement for all Penn State scholarships, though many Office of Student Aid scholarships require a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Private scholarships set their own rules.

Does Penn State give merit scholarships?

Yes. Penn State scholarships can be based on merit, financial need, or both. Eligibility depends on the scholarship program, donor rules, campus, college, residency, and other factors.

Does FAFSA^® affect Penn State scholarships?

Yes. The FAFSA® can affect eligibility for Penn State scholarships and grants that consider financial need. Completing it can also help keep federal and other need-based aid options open.

Can out-of-state students get Penn State scholarships?

Yes. Penn State says Pennsylvania and out-of-state students receive equal consideration for scholarships awarded by the Office of Student Aid. Some admissions awards are also designed specifically for eligible students who aren't Pennsylvania residents.

Can Pennsylvania residents get Penn State scholarships?

Yes. Penn State offers scholarship opportunities for Pennsylvania residents, including certain admissions awards. Residents may also be considered for Office of Student Aid, college, campus, and private scholarships.

Can transfer students get scholarships at Penn State?

Yes. Transfer students may qualify for certain Penn State scholarships and outside awards, although some programs are limited to first-year students.

Some transfer students may be eligible for the Discover Award. They can also look for college, campus, major-specific, Pennsylvania, and private scholarships.

Are there scholarships for international students at Penn State?

Yes, but options may be more limited. Penn State Global notes that some limited tuition grants are available to currently enrolled international students, while most federal and state financial aid is limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

International students can also explore private scholarships and outside funding sources.

What scholarships are available for graduate students at Penn State?

Graduate students may find funding through assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, departmental awards, employer tuition assistance, student employment, and private graduate scholarships.

Start with your graduate program or academic college to see what's available.

Can scholarships cover housing at Penn State?

Some scholarships and grants may help with education-related costs beyond tuition, depending on the award. Penn State's LiveOn Student Success Grant is one example of financial support for eligible undergraduate students with demonstrated need at residential campuses.

What is the easiest way to find scholarships for Penn State students?

Start with Penn State's scholarship opportunities and the FAFSA®, then check your academic college, campus, and department.

You can also explore Pennsylvania scholarships, local awards, scholarships tied to your major, and tools such as Scholly® Scholarships.

More resources to explore

How to find local scholarships: A comprehensive guide

The ultimate 2026 scholarship guide

Why you should never pay for a scholarship search

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. See Official Rules and Entry Periods on each scholarship page.

FAFSA^® is a registered service mark of U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid.

SLM Education Services, LLC does not provide, and these materials are not meant to convey, financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult your own financial advisor, tax advisor, or attorney about your specific circumstances.

The school referenced on this page is not affiliated with Sallie Mae and does not endorse Sallie Mae loans.