our Pathway to Scholarships & Grants
The best thing about scholarships and grants as educational funding is you don’t have to pay them back after graduation!
- Scholarships are a way for the university and other organizations to honor the academic, merit, and talent-based achievements of our students.
- Grants are a form of financial aid that can come from various sources like state and federal grants and event directly from Widener. You’ll sometimes hear grants referred to as “gift aid” because, like a gift, they’re yours to keep.
Explore the various scholarships and grants below to see all of the potential ways you can receive some well-earned financial assistance.
Academic Scholarships
- Open to: full-time, undergraduate, day students
- How to apply: incoming students are automatically considered for academic scholarships just by applying
- Scholarship amount: Merit scholarships for freshmen start at $90,000 over four years. The scholarship is limited to eight full-time semesters, is applicable to tuition charges only, and is reviewed annually. Merit scholarships for transfer applicants starts at $20,000 per academic year.
Merit scholarships for first-year students are based on academic performance in high school and the strength of your high school’s curriculum. Merit scholarships for transfer students are based on cumulative college grade point average (from all institutions attended). Phi Theta Kappa honor society members are eligible for additional scholarship.
Maintaining Merit Scholarships: In order to maintain a merit scholarship, students must progress toward the completion of their program of study at a rate that will ensure graduation is a reasonable length of time, both quantitatively (credit hours) and qualitatively (grades) while maintaining full-time, undergraduate, day status.
Honors Program Scholarships
Open to: undergraduate first year students accepted into the The Honors Program in General Education
- How to apply: no separate application is required to be considered, students are invited to join The Honor’s Program in General Education based on their high school academic performance
- Scholarship amount: up to $2,000 per year for up to 4 years
Learn more about The Honors Program in General Education
Phi Tetha Kappa Transfer Student Scholarships
- Open to: Community college transfer students who are part of the Phi Theta Kappa honors society and who are interested in pursuing a full-time, undergraduate, day program.
- How to apply: Students must submit proof of Phi Theta Kappa membership during application process
- Scholarship amount: $2,000/year in addition to all other merit scholarships awarded
Talent-Recognized Scholarships
Band Scholarships Music
- Open to: undergraduate students
- How to apply: submit a Music Scholarship application
- Virtual audition requirements:
1. Participate in a short Zoom interview with Dr. Iain Moyer, Director of Athletic Bands.
2. Email imoyer@widener.edu a YouTube link of a Band performance you have participated in.
3. Dr. Moyer will reach out to your Band Director via email for a short recommendation. - Scholarship amount: $2,000 – $3,000, renewable each year
Maintaining Music Scholarships: Students are expected to participate in band and wind ensemble, and take private lessons.
Band Scholarships Color Guide
- Open to: undergraduate students
- How to apply: submit a Color Guard Scholarship application
- Virtual audition requirements:
1. Participate in a short Zoom interview with Dr. Iain Moyer, Director of Athletic Bands.
2. Email imoyer@widener.edu a YouTube link of a Band performance you have participated in.
3. Dr. Moyer will reach out to your Band Director via email for a short recommendation. - Scholarship amount: $1,250 fall semester, renewable each year
Esports Scholarships
- Open to: incoming new undergraduate students
- How to apply: Submit an Esports application
- Interview requirements: Short interviews are required in order to be eligible for the scholarship. Please schedule an appoint with Devin Hartnett, Esports Coach at dhartnett@widener.edu. Interviews can be held on campus. If you cannot make it to campus, you may also request a remote interview with Coach Hartnett.
- Scholarship amount: $1,000 – $5,000, can be renewed each year if criteria are met
Additional University Scholarships
Maguire Foundation Endowed scholarships
- Open to: Incoming freshmen who are graduating from a Philadelphia high school who hold at least a 3.0 GPA, actively participate in school and community volunteer extracurricular activities, and demonstrate financial need by having an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $0-$25,000. High schools that are partners with The Maguire Foundation will be prioritized.
- How to apply: Submit the FAFSA and list Widener University, as well as complete a Maguire Foundation Scholarship Application. If you have questions or concerns, please contact LaShanda Patton, Director of Civic Engagement, at lapatton@widener.edu.
- Scholarship amount: $5,000 per year for a total of eight consecutive semesters.
The Maguire Foundation provides scholarship awards to up to three incoming Widener freshmen.
Military And Army ROTC Scholarships
Scholarships for Military Members & Their Families
As the former Pennsylvania Military Academy (PMC), Widener University supports active and fallen military members and their families by offering several scholarships and other financial aid opportunities.
View financial aid for military members and veterans
Army ROTC Scholarships & Other Financial Benefits
Cadets in the ROTC program are given the opportunity to have a significant portion of their education paid for through scholarships. If eligible, the scholarship program has numerous benefits for cadets including room and board, a monthly stipend, and more.
Learn More About ROTC Scholarships & Benefits
International Undergraduate Scholarships
nternational undergraduate students can also apply for specialty and talent-based scholarships, including:
- Honors Program Scholarships
- Presidential Service Corp (PSC)/Bonner Leader Scholarships
- Band Scholarships — Music & Color Guard
- eSports Scholarships
High School Leadership Award
- Open to: Students from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware who received a High School Leadership award who have enrolled at Widener as a first year student
- How to apply: Students are nominated by their high school principal or administrator
- Scholarship amount: Total awarded over four years is $20,000
The High School Leadership Awards program recognizes the region’s best and brightest future leaders. If an award recipient enrolls as an undergraduate student at Widener they will automatically receive the scholarship and be included in the apogee scholars program managed by the Office of Student Engagement.
City Year Gives a Year Partnership
- Open to: Students from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware who received a High School Leadership award who have enrolled at Widener as a first year student
- How to apply: Students are nominated by their high school principal or administrator
- Scholarship amount: Total awarded over four years is $20,000
The High School Leadership Awards program recognizes the region’s best and brightest future leaders. If an award recipient enrolls as an undergraduate student at Widener they will automatically receive the scholarship and be included in the apogee scholars program managed by the Office of Student Engagement.