Scholarships: Incoming First-Year Students

This information is for incoming first-year students, who are defined as students who are newly accepted to Penn State. Once a first-year student enrolls and starts classes, they are considered a continuing student and should apply for scholarships via the continuing student application.

The application for incoming first-year students is now open.

Penn State login is required to enter the application form. Application deadline is January 7, 2025. Applications submitted after this date will be considered on a rolling basis as resources allow. The application process will close on April 7, 2025.

The College of Engineering is not involved in determining eligibility for financial aid, such as student loans, federal and state grants, or work-study. All applicants to Penn State, regardless of campus, should refer to the Office of Student Aid for that information.

The College of Engineering administers certain endowed and corporate scholarships for prospective engineering students. These scholarships are highly competitive due to the limited endowment. To be considered for these scholarships, first-year students who are newly admitted to the College of Engineering must submit a scholarship application.

Students are also strongly encouraged to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is not required, nor are all students eligible to submit the FAFSA, but it can help the college identify students for more scholarships. Students who file a FAFSA may also learn of other funding opportunities administered by the University or federal government.

Scholarship Application

Newly admitted, incoming first-year students must submit an application to be considered for scholarships from the College of Engineering. Scholarship applicants are considered for these scholarships based on their academic credentials, the submitted scholarship application, and data collected from the Office of Admissions and the Office of Financial Aid.

Scholarship Notification

The College of Engineering typically awards scholarships to admitted students on a rolling basis through the spring semester, with the first round awarded in February. Most awards are typically made by April. Recipients are sent an email notification with details of their award.

Individual financial aid and scholarship packages are detailed in individual student Penn State portals. Students should log into their MyPennState Account for updates.

Please note that most scholarships from the college are initially listed as “Engineering Recruitment” awards. Prior to a recipient beginning classes, the award will likely be updated to reflect a specific endowment or donor. The amount of the award does not change during this administrative change.