Kansas State Scholarship

The Kansas State Scholarship is designed to assist students with financial need in the top 40-50% of Kansas high school graduates who are designated as state scholars during the senior year of high school.  To be eligible to apply for the Kansas State Scholarship, in your senior year of a Kansas high school you would have: 

1. received a certificate from the Kansas Board of Regents stating that you completed the Kansas Scholars Curriculum AND
2. received a letter stating that you were designated as a Kansas State Scholar by the Kansas Board of Regents.

Designation is based on an index, which mathematically combines the student’s ACT composite score and seventh-semester GPA. All applicants must complete the FAFSA and State of Kansas Student Aid Application each year.

The number of State Scholar designees is dependent on state funding levels.

Awards are based on financial need and/or other outside scholarships received.

It is the responsibility of the student to reapply for this scholarship each school year.

Award Information

Designated State Scholars may receive up to $1,000 annually ($500/semester) based on financial need as measured by the Federal Methodology using data submitted on the FAFSA and the availability of state funds. Scholars may renew this scholarship for four undergraduate years (five years if enrolled in a designated five-year program).

Scholars who are not financially eligible for funding this year may be eligible in a following year and should apply for the scholarship each school year to officially learn of eligibility.

Scholars must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours per semester, maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and have financial need to be eligible for funding. Recipients are not notified by the Board of Regents; your college will notify you if you are eligible to receive this scholarship. Funding will be sent to your college in early August.

State Scholar Designation Process

The path to be considered in the pool to become designated as a Kansas State Scholar includes:

1. Take the ACT Assessment by December of your senior year;
2. Complete the Kansas Scholars Curriculum (KSC) in high school;
   • Your high school counselor or registrar should automatically report your information to the Kansas Board of Regents if you’ve completed the KSC. This is typically done in February-April.
3. Graduate high school during the 2023-2024 academic year;
4. Be designated as a Kansas State Scholar by the Kansas Board of Regents.

Out of the approximately 5,000 high school seniors who complete the Kansas Scholars Curriculum each year, only the top 1/2 (roughly 2,500 students) are designated as Kansas State Scholars.