Scholarships & Grants

Overview

All incoming undergraduates are considered for the Founders, Alumni, Faculty, Dean’s, President’s, or Trustee scholarships, which are valued up to $33,000 per year. Awards are made based on the student’s overall admission application, including academic performance in high school or college. No separate scholarship application is required. Academic Scholarship award amounts stay constant year over year, assuming eligibility criteria is met.

Scholarships

• Founders Scholarship
• Alumni Scholarship
• Faculty Scholarship
• Dean’s Scholarship
• President’s Scholarship
• Trustee Scholarship
• Provost’s Scholarship

Terms & Conditions

• Your scholarship amount is expressed as an annual amount, of which half is available fall semester and half available spring semester for offset against full-time tuition charges on your student account.
• This scholarship is available for fall and spring semesters only and cannot be applied to summer enrollment.
• Eligibility for your scholarship requires that you be enrolled each semester as a full-time undergraduate student enrolled in at least three (3.0) academic units and paying full-time tuition.
  • The total amount of university scholarships and grants received cannot exceed the cost of tuition.
  • Puget Sound scholarships and grants may only be applied towards Puget Sound tuition, not room, board, or other expenses. If you receive other scholarships, grants, stipends, tuition remission or tuition exchange assistance designated to be used only for tuition, either through Puget Sound or from an outside source, and the sum of these awards exceeds the cost of your tuition, your Puget Sound scholarships or grants will be reduced or withdrawn until the total amount of your tuition-designated scholarship dollars equals the amount of tuition.
  • The total amount of need-based federal, state, or university scholarship and grant aid received cannot exceed financial need.
  • The total amount of aid received from all sources cannot exceed the cost of attendance.
• After successfully completing one academic year of study you may take up to a one-year formal leave of absence and retain your scholarship when returning to the university, as long as you continue to meet all other eligibility criteria.
• Puget Sound’s scholarship programs are funded in part by the financial commitments of alumni, parents and friends. To help build strong relationships with our donors, you may be asked to write a brief thank you letter acknowledging the generosity of the donor responsible for funding your scholarship. 

Renewal

Your award is renewable for up to a maximum of ten (10) semesters of undergraduate study or the point of earning your first Bachelor’s degree at Puget Sound, whichever comes first, providing you maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Study Abroad

Students studying abroad are permitted to apply Puget Sound scholarships and grants to their study abroad program. Program fees will be assessed for study abroad based on the cost of individual study abroad programs relative to the cost of Puget Sound tuition, and are used to support students prior to and during their study abroad experience. There are three program fee tiers, ranging between $300 up to $2400, with the majority of program fees falling at the $300 tier.

The Lillis Scholarship is University of Puget Sound’s most prestigious honor for students who combine extraordinary promise in academics and scholarship. The award recognizes students in each entering first-year class who demonstrate academic excellence, passionate interest in ideas, and intellectual independence. In Lillis Scholars, Puget Sound sees the promise of outstanding performance during their undergraduate years and the potential to compete for undergraduate and post-graduate fellowships and scholarships, such as the Rhodes Scholarship, the Truman Scholarship, or the Watson Fellowship. The award was established through a generous gift made by the Lillis Foundation of Castle Rock, Colorado.

In love with ideas, Lillis scholars enjoy pursuing intellectual endeavors to discover how they can improve the world. Thriving on knowledge exploration, they possess a natural passion for academic rigor and a commitment to classroom excellence. Two Lillis scholarships are awarded every year – any incoming first-year student can apply and will be considered. Recipients often go on to post-graduate fellowships and scholarships. Lillis scholars currently calling Puget Sound home find themselves engaged in a wide range of academic pursuits, including biochemistry, voice performance, psychology, history, and computer science. They also study abroad, conduct independent research, pursue internships, and present at professional conferences. The award was established through a generous gift made by the Lillis Foundation of Castle Rock, Colorado.

The Lillis Scholarship covers the cost of tuition, standard double room, and standard medium meal plan for up to four years of undergraduate education at the University of Puget Sound. A separate application is required and due by Dec. 1 for consideration.

More Information About the Lillis Foundation Scholarship

For Matelich scholars, leadership begins with great intention. They make a difference through their character and commitment and positively impact and inspire their communities. For them, college is about more than building a resume. These scholars embark on challenging paths to achieve personal goals while clearly recognizing the importance of giving back to their community along the way. Every year, two Matelich Scholarships are awarded to outstanding students. Any incoming first-year student can apply and will be considered. Current Matelich scholars perform extraordinarily well in their coursework while leading in a wide range of activities on campus, including independent research, business, outdoor education, music, community service, and international aid work – just to name a few. The award was established in 2010 through the generosity of George E. Matelich ’78 and Susan E. Matelich.

The Matelich Scholarship covers 100 percent of Puget Sound’s tuition and fees (standard double room, standard medium meal plan, and student government fee) for up to four years of undergraduate education at the University of Puget Sound. Applicants must submit a completed admission application and the scholarship application by Dec. 1. 

More Information About the Matelich Scholarship

High School residents of Minnesota and students attending high school in Minnesota are now eligible to apply for the Pohlad Family Scholarship. Ten students will be selected—based on their leadership, academic excellence, and demonstrated financial need—to have their tuition fully covered in combination with other forms of financial aid.

In order to be eligible, students must:

• Be residents of Minnesota or be attending a high school in Minnesota
• Submit their Puget Sound application via the Common App by Jan. 15
• Submit the Pohlad Family Scholarship application by Jan. 15

Apply to the Pohlad Family Scholarship

Since 2015, Puget Sound has partnered with The Posse Foundation, a national nonprofit organization, to recruit outstanding young leaders from diverse backgrounds. Each year, Puget Sound selects 10 public high school students from the San Francisco Bay Area and awards each student with a full-tuition scholarship, regardless of financial need. The Posse Scholars Program application and nomination process is coordinated by the Posse Foundation.

Applicants must demonstrate talent in art, forensics, music, or theatre. Recipients are expected to share their talents through performance or other forms of demonstration. Auditions and/or scholarship applications are required.

Art Scholarships
$5,000 per year
Awarded to students who plan to major in the visual arts or art history. The deadline to apply is Jan. 15. 

Forensics Scholarships
$1,000 - $3,000 per year
Recipients will compete in intercollegiate speech and debate events. The deadline to apply is Jan. 15. 

Music Scholarships
Recipients are expected to take an active role in musical activities and participate either in a university performing music group or as an accompanist. The deadline to register for an in person audition or indicate an intention to submit a video-recorded audition will vary based on your admission application plan. Please review registration details provided in the link above.

Theatre Scholarships
$1,000 - $1,500 per year
Recipients will serve as crew or cast members for fall and spring productions. Students are not required to major in theatre. The deadline to apply is Jan. 15. 

Incoming first-year students who are National Merit Finalists and list the University of Puget Sound as their first-choice college with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation by May 31 are eligible to receive a $1,000 to $2,000 scholarship, depending on their level of financial need. This scholarship is awarded to National Merit Finalists in addition to other academic scholarships they may receive. See more information on National Merit Scholarships.

The All-Washington Academic Team (AWAT) is a scholarship recognition program for Washington State’s top academic achievers at the Community College level. Puget Sound will offer up to three $2,000 scholarships to All-Washington Team members. This scholarship is awarded to All-Washington Team members in addition to other academic scholarships they may receive. See more information on AWAT Scholarships.

Private outside scholarships are a great way to help you with your college expenses. We strongly encourage all students to research and apply for these scholarships. The following resources are meant to provide you with a starting place in your search for private scholarships.

Puget Sound is a NCAA Division III institution. Like other Division III schools, Puget Sound cannot give scholarships based on athletic performance. Other financial aid solutions are available based on academic merit and financial need.

Puget Sound grant assistance is awarded to undergraduate students based on demonstrated financial need. The amount of grant awarded may vary each year depending upon the level of financial need and other scholarship or grant assistance received.

Federal Pell Grant - Pell Grants are directed at undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. The amount of grant awarded is determined by the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC), as calculated by the FAFSA. The maximum Pell Grant award is $5,920.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) – SEOG grants are awarded to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. Priority is given to Pell Grant recipients. The maximum SEOG award is $2,000.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (TEACH) - TEACH grants up to $4,000 are available for graduate students who intend to teach in an elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families. 

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG) - IASGs, up to $5,692.73, are available for students whose parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. armed forces and died as a result of performing military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11. Students must be ineligible for a Federal Pell Grant due to having less financial need than is required to receive Federal Pell Grant funds and must have been younger than 24 years old or enrolled at least part-time at the time of the parent or guardian’s death.

Learn more about Federal Grants

The Washington College Grant program helps the state’s lowest-income undergraduates. Eligibility is determined by the Washington Student Achievement Council.

The College Bound Scholarship award amount will combine with Washington College Grant and other state funding to cover tuition and fees (at public institution rates) and a small book allowance for income-eligible students who sign up in the 7th or 8th grade.

For information on state grant assistance for students from states other than Washington, please visit the  Department of Education website.