collageScholarships
Eckerd College awards residential students who show academic and/or artistic merit through our scholarship program. Academic Scholarships are awarded based on the student’s application for admission shortly after admission to the College.
Academic Achievement Scholarships – First Year Students
Eckerd College Academic Achievement Scholarships recognize outstanding applicants for admission each year. These merit-based scholarships, for students who do not require a visa to study in the United States, are based on the student’s high school GPA and are given regardless of financial need. Students who are admitted, without conditions, are automatically considered for our academic scholarships on the basis of their internally calculated GPA. All merit-based scholarships are renewable.
For students seeking admission for the Fall of 2021, academic achievement scholarships range from $12,000 – $22,000, awarded annually for four years.
These scholarships may be applied to tuition charges only.
International Student Scholarship & Aid
Eckerd College automatically considers international first-year applicants (student who require a visa to study in the United States and who have not taken college or university coursework) for an International Student Grant of up to $22,000. A grant of up to $2,000 in work-earned money is also available. While international students are not eligible for need-based aid, they may apply to other talent-based scholarships such as our Artistic Achievement Awards, First-Year Research Associateships and Diversity Leadership Scholarship.
Artistic Achievement Awards
Students who have talent in creative writing, music, theatre, film or visual arts are encouraged to apply for the Artistic Achievement Award.
During the first year, students winning the Artistic Achievement Award will participate in an Artist Workshop or will participate in academic course work or a co-curricular activity in the discipline of their award. In order to receive the award in subsequent years, scholarship recipients must meet with faculty in the area of their scholarship for specific renewal criteria.
Submitted materials become the property of Eckerd College and will not be returned.
Creative Writing application
Film application
Music application
Theatre application
Visual Arts application
First-Year Research Associateships
Eckerd College Research Associateships are awarded to approximately 25 incoming first-year students each year. Students are selected on the basis of their overall high school record and are given the opportunity to work closely with a member of the faculty on a research project of mutual interest. The associateship includes a one-year stipend of up to $1,000. The application must be submitted by February 1st.
View and apply for 2022-23 First-Year Research Associateship Opportunities.
Academic Excellence Scholarship
Eckerd College seeks to enroll students of excellent academic caliber who also demonstrate a desire to serve their community. Students must be admitted as a first-year applicant and have a minimum internally recalculated GPA of 3.85 on a 4.0 scale. These students are invited to apply to our top Academic Excellence scholarship. Students who meet this minimum unweighted GPA will automatically qualify for our Founders Scholarship valued at $22,000 annually. Students selected for Academic Excellence will receive $25,000 which will replace any previously awarded Founders Scholarship.
Apply for the Academic Excellence Scholarship.
Diversity Leadership Scholarship
The Diversity Leadership Scholarship recognizes talented students likely to provide campus leadership in the areas of diversity and inclusiveness. Preference is given to students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Apply for the Diversity Leadership Scholarship.
Church and Campus Scholarships
Eckerd College Presbyterian Church and Campus Need-Based Scholarships are awarded to Presbyterian Church members, based on church and community involvement as well as financial need. Recommendation by their Presbyterian pastors is required. Nomination forms must be postmarked by February 1st.
Transfer Scholarships
Eckerd College Transfer Scholarships recognize outstanding transfer applicants for admission. Students must be admitted without conditions to be eligible for a transfer scholarship. The scholarships are available for up to four years of study at Eckerd. Recipients will be notified of their Transfer Scholarship amount shortly after admission.
Transfer Scholarships are based on the cumulative GPA of all previous college work and are awarded as follows:
3.5 – 4.0 = $17,000
3.0 – 3.49 = $15,000
2.75 – 2.99 = $10,000
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
Any transfer student who is a member of Phi Theta Kappa will receive a $1,000 merit award. Please provide proof of your membership to our Transfer Counselor. First Year applicants who are dual-enrolled and are Phi Theta Kappa Members are not eligible to receive this scholarship. Scholarship is renewable annually for transfer students who maintain an Eckerd College GPA of 2.0
Athletic Aid
Eckerd College is a NCAA Division II college and a member of the Florida Sunshine State Conference. Athletic aid is available for select sports. Please contact the Athletic Department for specific details.
VA Benefits Chapter 33 and Yellow Ribbon
VA Benefits Chapter 33 and Yellow Ribbon Eckerd College accepts VA educational benefits for eligible veterans or their dependents under the Chapter 33 (Post 9/11) GI Bill. Chapter 33 tuition and fees benefits are up to $22,805.34. When the combined tuition and fees exceed this amount, eligible veterans or their dependents that enroll in the Eckerd College Residential Program and are eligible for 100% of the Chapter 33 benefits will receive additional funding through the Yellow Ribbon Program. The Eckerd College Yellow Ribbon Program provides fifty percent of the remaining tuition and fees. The VA Yellow Ribbon Grant matches this amount. With these funds, 100% of tuition and fees are paid through the combination of Chapter 33, Eckerd College Yellow Ribbon Grant and the VA Yellow Ribbon Matching Grant.
The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program became effective Aug. 1, 2009 as a supplement to the Post 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008. Eckerd has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund full tuition and student fee expenses (excluding room, board and other charges) for all students who qualify for the VA’s new Yellow Ribbon Program. Students who are eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program will receive a grant from Eckerd College which covers out-of-pocket tuition charges and student fees which are not covered by VA benefits or other state and federal financial gift aid program. The institution’s portion of Yellow Ribbon Grant will replace any previously awarded Eckerd College scholarship or grant.
For more information about the Yellow Ribbon Program, see www.gibill.va.gov or call (888) GI-Bill-1. You may also contact Kelly McGaughey, director of financial aid, mcgaugheyk@eckerd.edu 727-864-8334.
Other State Scholarships
Students from outside of Florida should check with their state scholarship agency to determine if scholarship funds are portable to colleges in Florida. Students from Vermont are able to use their state scholarships at Eckerd College.
Private Scholarship Sources
Organizations, foundations, businesses and individuals also support continued education through scholarship programs. There are a number of excellent free website and search programs to help you locate these scholarship funds. Do not pay for a scholarship search as these services are usually not reliable. The following sources are options you may want to consider. You may also find options through your high school guidance office, service organizations, religious affiliations, or your parent’s employer.
Student Loan Programs
Many students find it necessary to borrow to pay for educational expenses. Federally sponsored loans are the best way to finance educational costs since the interest rates are lower than private loans. Repayment begins after you are no longer enrolled in school at least half time. While the standard repayment period is for up to ten years, you may apply for an extended repayment schedule. Both the Federal Perkins Loan and the Federal Direct Loan programs offer loan forgiveness programs if a borrower is employed in certain public or military service positions.
Federal Direct Loan Program
Entrance Counseling Session
Exit Counseling Session
Parent PLUS Loans
Alternative Loans
Grant & Work Programs
Eckerd College Grant
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
Florida Grants
Federal Work Study
Florida Aid
The state of Florida provides scholarships and grants to students, who are permanent residents. To be considered a Florida resident, an independent student or either natural parent of the dependent student must have been a resident of the state, for purposes other than education, for at least twelve consecutive months prior to the first day of classes for the academic term for which assistance is requested.
At Eckerd College, all first time recipients of Florida scholarship or grants must submit documentation of Florida residency before funds can be disbursed. The Office of Financial Aid will send recipients a residency verification form when needed.
Don’t forget to review the renewal requirements section.
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