Access and Affordability
Providing access and helping you afford your Penn State education are top priorities for the University and the College of the Liberal Arts.
Thanks to the generosity of Liberal Arts alumni and friends, the college offers many need-based scholarships for students with at least one Liberal Arts undergraduate major enrolled at Penn State University Park. A single yearly application covers all available general need-based scholarships offered through the Office of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies.
Select the option below that best describes you:
Academic Scholarships for Incoming Undergrads
Students starting in fall 2025 or spring 2026
Scholarship support for incoming undergraduate students attending Penn State University Park in fall 2025 has been distributed. Email Academic Scholarships (lascholarships@psu.edu) with any questions.
Students starting in fall 2026 or spring 2027
Applications for 2026–27 incoming students will open January 2026.
To apply for an academic scholarship, you must:
- Receive a confirmed message from the Office of Student Aid that they have accepted your FAFSA;
- Demonstrate a financial need based on the FAFSA;
- Have accepted status to University Park campus with a Liberal Arts pre-major to apply
Scholarship amounts vary from year to year depending on the amount and availability of funding, so we recommend students not make decisions based on anticipated scholarship awards.
Academic Scholarships for Current Undergrads
To apply for and maintain a need-based scholarship, undergraduate students must meet the following requirements each academic year:
- Be registered and in active status as a full-time undergraduate student (12 or more credits per semester, summers not included) at University Park campus for the 2025–26 academic year.
- Demonstrate a financial need based on the FAFSA;
- Have at least one major or pre-major in Liberal Arts.
- Maintain a successful grade-point average; a grade-point average or predicted grade-point average of at least 3.0 is required for most scholarships.
If you no longer meet one or more of these requirements, your scholarship is subject to cancellation at any time.
The priority application period for first consideration is January 1 through April 1 each academic year. Applications submitted after April 1 will be considered non-priority and reviewed in the order received, if additional funding becomes available during the academic year.
Scholarships are not guaranteed or automatically renewed, and students must re-apply each year. Awards vary annually based on available funding.
Liberal Arts Complete Penn State
Need additional support to finish your Liberal Arts undergraduate degree? Are you within 30 credits of graduating? You could be eligible for consideration of a one-time Liberal Arts Complete Penn State award of up to $3,000. For more information, please contact lascholarships@psu.edu.
Tyler Hoppe
Kara Stover
Cherish Graham
