Continuing Student Scholarships

Alumni Association Scholarships

Applications are available yearly, beginning in January. The application deadline is in April, posted each year to the application. Late applications are considered, but subject to funding availability.

Estimated Value: $500 to $1,500+ per year.

The University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma Alumni Association oversees more than 100 scholarships established by the generosity of alumni and friends.

Students wishing to apply for an Alumni Association scholarship must complete the application AND provide the necessary materials by the deadline stated on the scholarship application form.

Students must reapply every year for an Alumni Association Scholarship.

All Alumni Association Scholarships are merit awards. They are based on scholastic achievement, character, and leadership potential. There is no need to complete more than one Alumni Association Scholarship application. Once submitted, the Board of Directors Scholarship Committee will determine which scholarship criteria best fits each applicant.

IMPORTANT: Priority is given to students who pre-enroll for fall classes and who have complete financial aid packages. Scholarships require a minimum 2.5 GPA and full-time enrollment (12 hours). If this standard is not met, scholarships are forfeited. (Exceptions for graduating seniors.) Direct questions regarding Alumni Association Scholarships and applications to usaoalumnioffice@usao.edu

Go to Online Application

Betty Baker Jernigan SCholarship

Essay Deadline: February 15^th each year to the Financial Aid Office

Value: $1,000 divided between fall and spring

The Betty Baker Jernigan Scholarship is a permanently endowed scholarship offered every year. The application process is open to both continuing and incoming students.

Requirements:

Must be of good moral character.
Must be a full-time student making Satisfactory Academic Progress according to USAO policy.
Open to all majors.

Application:

Submit a 300-500 word essay addressing the topic: “How is America doing – politically, socially, economically?”. One, two, or all three of the descriptors may be addressed in the essay.
Essays must be typed and double spaced. Pages of the essay must be identified with only the last four digits of the student ID, not names.
A separate cover sheet containing name, contact information, and student ID must accompany the essay.

The winning essay will be judged by the selection committee for proficiency in written expression, dedication to a commitment to citizenship and service, and clarity of thematic development. Winners must consent to sharing their essay with the scholarship benefactors. If the selection committee feels no essay warrants the award, no award will be given.

Foundation Scholarships

Priority Date: June 30th
Estimated Value: $500 to $1,400 per year

All students currently attending USAO are encouraged to apply each year for scholarships funded by the USAO Foundation. The Foundation has a significant number of scholarships available for continuing full-time students, for a variety of criteria.

Scholarship Information:

Instructions on how to apply are sent to student email accounts yearly, when the application is available. These applications are for the next academic year. Applications should be submitted as early as possible, as funding is limited. There is no need to submit more than one Foundation Scholarship Application per year. Applications are reviewed for which scholarship criteria best fits each applicant.
Complete the Foundation Scholarship Application. After submission, the application data is reviewed. Scholarships are generally added to aid packages beginning in May, with the majority awarded by August.
Resumes are encouraged and may be uploaded with the form, or submitted to financialaid@usao.edu, after the submission of the Foundation Scholarship Application. Be sure to state the purpose of the resume submission.
Most scholarships require full-time enrollment status.
Most scholarships require a minimum 3.0 college GPA.

Direct questions regarding Foundation Scholarships and applications to the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@usao.edu. More information on specific USAO Foundation Scholarships is available from the University Advancement Office, Troutt Hall 106. The USAO Foundation may contact scholarship recipients regarding correspondence with scholarship donors and future recognition events. Correspondence with the donors helps ensure future funding.

Momentum Scholarships

USAO is proud to announce the Momentum Scholarship, a new performance-based incentive designed to reward continuing students for their hard work each semester. Unlike many traditional scholarships that look at your overall GPA, the Momentum Scholarship focuses on your Term GPA, giving you a fresh opportunity to earn financial rewards every six months.

How It Works:

No Application Needed: Awards are automatically determined based on your performance—no extra paperwork is required.
President’s Award: Students with a 3.75 – 4.0 Term GPA will receive $1,000 toward their next semester’s tuition.
Dean’s Award: Students with a 3.25 – 3.74 Term GPA will receive $750 toward their next semester’s tuition.

Key Details:

Eligibility: You must have attended USAO full-time for the two previous semesters and completed full-time credits.
Exclusions: Online students and students currently in high school (concurrent enrollment) do not qualify for this program; additionally, concurrent student hours do not apply toward the two-semester full-time requirement.
Athletic Exceptions: Some student athletes may not qualify due to specific NAIA scholarship regulations.
Timing: Awards earned during the Fall term are applied to Spring tuition, and Spring awards are applied to the following Fall.
Last-Dollar Funding: This is a "last-dollar" scholarship intended to fill the gap in your out-of-pocket costs; it can be stacked with other aid as long as the total does not exceed the cost of tuition.