Financial Aid Services
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Lipka Hall, Corner of 14th and Potter Streets
- 610-499-4161
- finaidmc@widener.edu
Scholarships & Grants for Undergraduate Students
Explore the various scholarships available to Widener University undergraduate students.
Academic Scholarships
- Open to: full-time, undergraduate, day students
- How to apply: incoming students are automatically considered for academic scholarships just by applying
- Scholarship amount: Merit scholarships for first-year students start at $100,000 over four years. The scholarship is limited to eight full-time semesters, is applicable to tuition charges only, and is reviewed annually. Merit scholarships for transfer applicants starts at $20,000 per academic year.
Merit scholarships for first-year students are based on academic performance in high school and the strength of your high school's curriculum. Merit scholarships for transfer students are based on cumulative college grade point average (from all institutions attended). Phi Theta Kappa honor society members are eligible for additional scholarship.
Maintaining Merit Scholarships: In order to maintain a merit scholarship, students must progress toward the completion of their program of study at a rate that will ensure graduation is a reasonable length of time, both quantitatively (credit hours) and qualitatively (grades) while maintaining full-time, undergraduate, day status.
- Open to: undergraduate first year students accepted into the The Honors Program in General Education
- How to apply: no separate application is required to be considered, students are invited to join The Honor's Program in General Education based on their high school academic performance
- Scholarship amount: up to $2,000 per year for up to 4 years
- Open to: Community college transfer students who are part of the Phi Theta Kappa honors society and who are interested in pursuing a full-time, undergraduate, day program.
- How to apply: Students must submit proof of Phi Theta Kappa membership during application process
- Scholarship amount: $2,000/year in addition to all other merit scholarships awarded
Talent-Recognized Scholarships
- Open to: undergraduate students
- How to apply: submit a Music Scholarship application
- Virtual audition requirements:
1. Participate in a short Zoom interview with Dr. Iain Moyer, Director of Athletic Bands.
2. Email imoyer@widener.edu a YouTube link of a Band performance you have participated in.
3. Dr. Moyer will reach out to your Band Director via email for a short recommendation. - Scholarship amount: $2,000 - $3,000, renewable each year
Maintaining Music Scholarships: Students are expected to participate in band and wind ensemble, and take private lessons.
- Open to: undergraduate students
- How to apply: submit a Color Guard Scholarship application
- Virtual audition requirements:
1. Participate in a short Zoom interview with Dr. Iain Moyer, Director of Athletic Bands.
2. Email imoyer@widener.edu a YouTube link of a Band performance you have participated in.
3. Dr. Moyer will reach out to your Band Director via email for a short recommendation. - Scholarship amount: $1,250 fall semester, renewable each year
NOTE: Because Widener is a Division III school, we do not provide any athletically-related scholarship funding to our scholar athletes. Learn more about Athletics & Recreation at Widener.
Additional University Scholarships
- Open to: Incoming first-year students who are graduating from a Maguire Foundation partner high school who hold at least a 3.0 GPA, actively participate in school, community, volunteer or extracurricular activities, and demonstrate financial need on their FAFSA.
- How to apply: Submit the FAFSA and list Widener University, as well as complete a Maguire Foundation Scholarship Application. If you have questions or concerns, please contact LaShanda Patton, Director of Civic Engagement, at lapatton@widener.edu.
- Scholarship amount: $5,000 per year for a total of eight consecutive semesters.
The Maguire Foundation provides scholarship awards to up to three incoming Widener first-year students.
Scholarships for Military Members & Their Families
As the former Pennsylvania Military Academy (PMC), Widener University supports active and fallen military members and their families by offering several scholarships and other financial aid opportunities.
View financial aid for military members and veterans
Army ROTC Scholarships & Other Financial Benefits
Cadets in the ROTC program are given the opportunity to have a significant portion of their education paid for through scholarships. If eligible, the scholarship program has numerous benefits for cadets including room and board, a monthly stipend, and more.
Widener offers many scholarship opportunities to undergraduate international students including the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship and other exclusive scholarships.
Learn More About International Scholarships
International undergraduate students can also apply for specialty and talent-based scholarships, including:
- Honors Program Scholarships
- Band Scholarships — Music & Color Guard
- Open to: Students from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware who received a High School Leadership award who have enrolled at Widener as a first year student
- How to apply: Students are nominated by their high school principal or administrator
- Scholarship amount: Total awarded over four years is $20,000
The High School Leadership Awards program recognizes the region's best and brightest future leaders. If an award recipient enrolls as an undergraduate student at Widener they will automatically receive the scholarship and be included in the apogee scholars program managed by the Office of Student Engagement.
City Year is proud to partner with Widener University, offering a $5000 scholarship to one student in a fulltime undergraduate day program. Scholarships are awarded to City Year corps members and alumni for at least one year of service and City Year staff members employed for at least two years. Applicants will be required to successfully complete an interview and will be considered for additional merit-based awards depending on the applicant's academic strength.
Interested students can visit our Partnership page on City Year's website for additional information.
Private Scholarships
We aren't the only ones that can help you finance your education through helpful scholarships. There are many places you can also seek financial assistance.
Resources for Additional Scholarships
If you receive a private scholarship from a foundation or organization, you must report this information to the Financial Aid Services Office as it may impact your financial aid offer. Once financial need has been met, the loan and work-study portions of your financial aid offer may be adjusted before reducing or retracting any need-based aid offered by the university.
How to Apply for a Grant
You apply for a grant by completing the FAFSA. Have questions? Learn more about how to submit your FAFSA.
Types of Grants
Federal Pell Grants are funds provided by the U.S. government for students who need it to pay for college based on their expected family contribution (EFC). Federal Pell Grants are administered by Widener's financial aid services department.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, you must:
- Be an undergraduate student who has not earned a bachelor's or professional degree
- Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regularly admitted student in an eligible degree or certificate program
- Have earned a high school diploma or a GED or have completed a high school education in an approved home-school setting
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
Award Amount
- The maximum Federal Pell Grant award for 2019–2020 academic year is $6,195
*U.S. government determines maximum grant amounts annually - Individual award amounts are finalized at the end of drop/add periods each semester and are determined based on student status
FSEOG grants are for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need.
To be eligible for a FSEOG grant, you must:
Be an undergraduate student who has not earned a bachelor's or professional degree
Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regularly admitted student in an eligible degree or certificate program
Have earned a high school diploma or a GED or have completed a high school education in an approved home-school setting
Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
Although the requirements for eligibility are the same as the Federal Pell Grant, not all Pell Grant recipients will receive a FSEOG grant.
Many states offer grants that are typically need-based and limited to students attending schools within their own state of residence.
For a comprehensive list of state-specific grants and awards, visit the State Contacts page on the U.S. Department of Education website.
Some states, such as Delaware, have reciprocity agreements with Pennsylvania, so that you can receive Delaware grants while studying in Pennsylvania. Students who are residents of Pennsylvania, Delaware, or other reciprocal states are expected to apply for their own state's grant.
Widener shares its financial resources with full-time, undergraduate, day students who demonstrate financial need and are pursuing their first degree.
Eligibility
- Eligibility is determined based on the FAFSA
- Students are automatically considered for the Widener Grant-In-Aid after they complete and submit their FAFSA. A separate application is not needed
Award Amount
- up to eight full-time semesters of grant assistance