Private Outside Scholarships

Please let us know about your scholarships so that we can include them on your billing invoice. You may report your scholarships by sending an email to our scholarship manager, Joan Potter jpotter@pugetsound.edu.

Outside scholarships will be applied to any remaining unmet financial need. If your need has already been met with other federal, state, or Puget Sound need-based aid, additional scholarships will result in your need-based aid being reduced. Reductions occur in the following order: work study, loan assistance, and finally Puget Sound grant assistance. Puget Sound grant programs are need-based awards and will be reduced in a financial aid package if the total amount of all scholarships combined with the grant assistance exceeds financial need.

Colleges that Change Lives Scholarship
The Colleges That Change Lives Scholarship was established in 2016 to honor the first edition of Loren Pope's classic book and the 10th anniversary of the non-profit organization, Colleges That Change Lives. CTCL will award two $6,000 scholarships ($1,500 per year for 4 years) to a current high school senior. The 2025 application should open in January 2025 and close mid March 2025. The University of Puget Sound is proud to be a College That Changes Lives member school.

College Board
Get matched to a personalized list of scholarships based on your background, achievements, and future plans.

Fastweb
Fastweb is a free scholarship search platform that connects students to college scholarships, trade school scholarships, and financial aid news and resources.  Students create a profile and get personalized scholarship recommendations.

Fred G. Zahn Scholarship
Eligible students must have or plan to graduate from a Washington State high school, have resided in Washington State for at least 6 months, and demonstrate financial need. Bank of America serves as Trustee. Twelve $1,500 scholarships were awarded for 2024-25. It is unknown when the 2025-26 application will open. The 2025-26 application will be added to the above link once it is available. The University of Puget Sound is proud to be a member of the Fred G. Zahn Scholarship Awarding Committee.

Going Merry
Going Merry is a platform that helps students, counselors, and scholarship providers all improve access to college education.  They help students understand college costs and then pay for them, via scholarships and financial aid.

Greater Seattle Business Association Scholarship Fund
GSBA awards educational scholarships to students who identify as LGBTQ+, are members of LGBTQ+ families, or are cisgender/straight allies who have demonstrated active support of the LGBTQ+ community. Applicants must be a Washington State resident.  Scholarships are open to high school seniors, undergraduate students, and graduate students. The GSBA Scholarship & Education Fund application opens every year on October 11 (Coming Out Day) and closes January 10th at 5pm.

Horatio Alger Association
The Horatio Alger Scholarship Programs specifically assist high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives. The Horatio Alger Association seeks students who have exhibited determination, integrity, and perseverance in overcoming adversity, as well as have critical financial need. The Association administers over 70 scholarship programs and is open to current high school juniors and seniors. The undergraduate application is available annually from December 1 to March 1.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Every year, HSF selects 10,000 outstanding students as HSF Scholars from a broad and talented pool of applicants. Scholars are selected based on merit and award amounts range from $500-$5,000, based on relative need. Students must be of Hispanic heritage with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for high school students and 2.5 for college students, and file a FAFSA. Open to entering freshman, continuing students, and graduate students. Application period opens January 1 and closes February 15 each year.

Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW)
Thanks to the generous contributions of donors, ICW is able to provide scholarships to students attending independent member colleges. The University of Puget Sound is proud to be an Independent Colleges of Washington member school. Some of the scholarships are focused on major, others on community service or place of residence. Applications for the 2025 Scholarship cycle will open December 2024.

Leadership 1000 Scholarship
The Leadership 1000 Scholarship awards funding to certain high school seniors attending eligible high schools or students enrolled in CSF's College Services who are enrolled or planning to enroll in a Washington state college or university. The Scholarship is renewable and available in amounts up to $5,000 per academic year for students who demonstrate financial need. Scholars receive career and financial aid guidance as well as networking opportunities with CSF Alumni and scholarship donors to ensure they graduate with a college degree and achieve success in life. The Application is available annually from October 1 to November 30.

Phi Beta Kappa Public Service Scholarship
The Phi Beta Kappa Society is a leading national advocate for the value of arts and sciences education. Our Key into Public Service program and scholarship opportunity highlights the wide range of opportunities for arts, humanities, natural science, social science, and mathematics majors to pursue rewarding careers in local, state, and federal government. Each scholar will receive a $5,000 undergraduate scholarship and will participate in a conference that provides training, mentoring, and reflection on pathways into local, state, and federal government careers. Applications for the 2025 Key into Public Service Scholarship are open from November 4, 2024 until January 21, 2025.

Scholarship America
Since it was founded in 1958, Scholarship America has distributed $5.4 billion to 3.1 million students under the guidance of its nonprofit mission “to eliminate barriers to educational success so that any student can pursue their dream”. 

UNIGO
Simplifies the scholarship search process in helping students find scholarships to pay for college and grad school. Provides a time-saving, customized list of free scholarships that match your hobbies, interests and academic background.

Sea Mar Scholarships
Since 1998, Sea Mar has been committed to helping students who face economic barriers by providing scholarships in order for them to go to college, accomplish their goals, and succeed in life. Sea Mar offers a Latino/a Educational Achievement Project Scholarship, a Farmworker High School & College Scholarship, and scholarships for students who attend Foster High School and Grandview High School. Funding opportunities for incoming freshman, undergraduate students, and graduate students. Application period is open annually between January 1 and April 15.

UNCF
UNCF's mission is to build a robust and nationally-recognized pipeline of under-represented students who, because of UNCF support, become highly-qualified college graduates.  UNCF is the nation's largest private scholarship provider to minority group members.  Each year, they award more than $100 million in scholarships to students attending more than 1,100 schools across the country.

Washington State Opportunity Scholarship
The Baccalaureate Scholarship (BaS) provides up to $22,500 in scholarship dollars and access to career-launching support services for high-demand STEM and health majors. WSOS can cover costs beyond tuition, such as housing, transportation, food, and more. Funding can be used for any eligible STEM or health care major at any eligible public or private college or university in Washington State. Eligible students are Washington residents, have a GPA of at least 2.75, and demonstrate financial need. Application opens January 8, 2025 and closes February 26, 2025.

Washington Student Achievement Council - American Indian Endowed Scholarship
The American Indian Endowed Scholarship helps financially needy students with close social and cultural ties to a Washington State American Indian community pursue a college education. Funding is prioritized for upper-division and graduate students. Scholarships range from $500 to $2,000 and 15 students are selected each year. Application period is open Dec. 1 to March 1 for the following academic year.

Washington Women in Need
Each WWIN Star Scholar is awarded up to $5,000 for the academic year. The scholarship may be renewed each year up to graduation with a first bachelor's degree or up to $20,000. Eligible candidates identify as women, are Washington residents, have a GPA at or above 2.0, and demonstrate financial need. The next application cycle will open on January 9, 2025 for the 2025-2026 academic year and will be available until 11:59 pm PT on April 17, 2025.

Women in Transportation Scholarships
The WTS Foundation fosters the development of students in the transportation field by encouraging bright new professionals and students to undertake careers in the area of transportation. Applicants can be female or those who identify as female and have career aspirations in the transportation industry, such as transportation engineering, planning, finance, or logistics. In 2025, six (6) $5,000 Strategic Scholarships are available and presented by the sponsoring companies: AECOM, HDR, HNTB, Jacobs, and WSP. Applications for the 2024-2025 Strategic Partner Scholarships are open until December 16, 2024.

theWashBoard.org
WashBoard connects Washington students with Washington scholarship providers. Students create a profile and WashBoard finds scholarship opportunities that fit.

United Methodist Higher Education Foundation
UMHEF scholarships help make it financially possible for qualifying students to obtain higher education, especially those attending United Methodist-related institutions, which includes the University of Puget Sound. Last year, UMHEF awarded $2 million to nearly 1,000 students! Applications will be open January 1-April 1, 2025.