West Chester University Financial Aid

WCU Foundation USH Housing Scholarship Application: Available for any student who is planning to live in University Student Housing (USH) for Fall 25/Spring 26  and has signed a lease with USH. A signed lease with USH is a requirement to complete this application. 

 
 

Fund for Unpaid Internships - Summer: Available for any current student who is participating in an unpaid internship during the Summer 2025 semester.

Who do we talk to about being reviewed for a merit scholarship?

The Admissions office reviews for merit awards during the application review process. You will receive notice of your merit award within your acceptance letter; or within an email communication following your acceptance. All merit scholarships are also included in your official Financial Aid Offer starting late January. If you are not selected for a merit award during the Admissions review, know that you can also apply for additional scholarship opportunities via the General Scholarship Application in February of each year.

What are the criteria for qualifying for a merit scholarship?

Students are reviewed based on a combination of their high school performance and test scores if they choose to provide them. If test scores are not provided, high school performance is used to determine eligibility.

When will we know we qualify for a scholarship?

If you were already admitted and selected for a scholarship, you would have received an email communication. Those being admitted moving forward will be notified at the time of your acceptance to WCU; financial aid awards will go out to FAFSA filers starting in late January.

For the General Scholarship application that is available in February at wcupa.edu/scholarship, decisions will be sent by July 1. Most of these awards are one-time funds that range between $500-$2000.

How will we be informed of other institutional aid?

Although merit awards will be included in your acceptance letter other institutional awards will be included in your financial aid offer.

You will receive revised award notices if you are selected for a scholarship after receiving your initial notice.

If we get an acceptance and no scholarship is included should we assume we did not qualify for a merit scholarship?

Although you may not have qualified for a merit award, the financial aid office will review for need-based institutional funds for FAFSA filers and include these awards within your financial aid offer.

You can also apply for additional scholarship opportunities at wcupa.edu/scholarships including outside scholarships and the General Scholarship Application that opens in February.

How can I appeal my financial aid award or scholarship decision?

There will be an appeal form on your applicant portal which will become available in February after the initial financial aid awards are posted. Please wait to receive your full financial aid offer before submitting an appeal.

Who do we talk to about being reviewed for a transfer award?

The Admissions office reviews for transfer awards during the application review process. You will receive notice of your award within your acceptance letter or within an email communication following your acceptance. If you are not selected for an award during the Admissions review, know that you can also apply for additional scholarship opportunities via the General Scholarship Application in February of each year at wcupa.edu/scholarships.

What are the criteria for qualifying for a transfer award?

Students are reviewed based on their college cumulative GPA and the available funding.

When will we know we qualify for an award?

If you were already admitted and selected for an award, you would have received an email communication. Those being admitted moving forward will be notified at the time of your acceptance to WCU or shortly after by email.

How will we be informed?

Although transfer awards will be included in your acceptance letter or emailed to you after acceptance, other institutional awards will be included in your financial aid offer. You will receive revised award notices if you are selected for a scholarship after receiving your initial notice.

If we get an acceptance and no scholarship is included should we assume we did not qualify for a merit scholarship?

Although you may not have qualified for a transfer award, the financial aid office will review for need-based institutional funds for FAFSA filers and include these awards within your financial aid offer. You can also apply for additional scholarship opportunities at wcupa.edu/scholarships including outside scholarships and the General Scholarship Application that opens in February.

How can I appeal my financial aid award or scholarship decision?

There will be an appeal form on your applicant portal which will become available after the initial financial aid awards are posted. Please wait to receive your full financial aid offer before submitting an appeal.

West Chester University institutional aid including the Golden Ram Award, Boundless Ram Grant, and Academic Excellence Scholarship are based on students continued full-time enrollment and good academic standing. Good academic standing is defined by a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater as well as the completion of 24 credits per academic year. Students are limited to 8 semesters for these awards.  Students receiving the Golden Ram Award are also required to complete a FAFSA each year. Changes in the FAFSA or financial aid award, that impact eligibility, could also result in the repackaging of the Golden Ram Award as it is a need-based fund.

Council of Trustee Scholarship: This $8,000 award will be provided each year, up to eight (8) semesters, if you maintain at least a 2.50 cumulative grade point average, enroll full-time each term, and complete at least 24 credits at the end of each academic year. Additionally, you must also remain in good student conduct status with the University. As this is WCU's most prestigious award, students who have been awarded Academic Excellence or other WCU funds may see an adjustment or replacement of funds with the Council of Trustees Scholarship. 

Students who have changes in their residency and therefore cost of attendance may also see adjustments to award amounts. For assistance with scholarship renewal requirements, please email finaidsch@wcupa.edu. 

 

• ROTC Scholarship Opportunities: Learn about our University-based and National scholarship opportunities.
• Military Specific Scholarships and Grants: More military scholarship information.

PASSHE PA STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

ELIGIBILITY:
Applicant must be enrolled full-time or part-time at a PASSHE University in good academic standing. Applicant must attend one of the 10 PASSHE universities.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Awards will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students can reapply for the scholarship the following semester if they are not selected. The first priority will go to students who have yet to receive the award.

AMOUNT OF AWARD:
Full-time students are eligible for an award of up to $2,000 per academic year, and part-time students enrolled in less than 12 credits or non-credit bearing classes are eligible for an award of up to $1,000 per academic year. Scholarship funds are issued directly to your university to support tuition, room, and board.

The Fall 2025 PASSHE Foundation Scholarship Application will be available on June 2nd, 2025 - August 15th, 2025. The application will be available here: PASSHE Portal

 

 

Learn more about Reporting Outside Scholarships to WCU .

West Chester University receives and publicizes information from various businesses, foundations, and civic organizations about scholarships they offer to students. A list of outside scholarship opportunities organized by deadline can be found below.

The University is not affiliated with these groups and does not endorse their products or services and therefore disclaims any responsibility or liability for the information provided. The scholarship links are active at the time the information was received. If you find a link not working, please try to search by the name of the scholarship and also alert us at finaidsch@wcupa.edu

Graduate Scholarships

• OEDb
• Sallie Mae

Rolling Deadline

• Auger and Auger disabled scholar award
• Autolist Used Car to Dream Car Scholarship
• Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Scholarship Opportunities
• Dwayne Graves Entrepreneur Spirit Scholarship
• Education.com Scholarship Program
• Garage Door Nation Scholarship
• Innovation in Education Scholarship
• LGBTQ+ Student Scholarship Database
• Pride Foundation Scholarship
• Smile Tutor Quarterly College Student Scholarship
• Sober Partners® | $1000 College Scholarship
• The Adoption Network Law Center Scholarship Program
• The Chester County Planning Council Marc P. Riddell Scholarship
• The Tree Center 
• CFF Foundation Education Award
• tOnBed.com Scholarship 

September 2024 Deadline

• 9/15 Dr. James Morales Scholarship for Student-Athletes
• 9/15 Omni Law PC Scholarship

December 2024 Deadline

• 12/15 Allied.com Military Scholarship Competition 2024

A

B

• Black Excel: 100 Minority Scholarship Gateway List
• Bold.org

C

• College Board
• Appily
• Chamber of Commerce

F

• Fastweb

G

• Gates Millennium Scholars Program
• Grow PA

H

• Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF)

I

• International Scholarships

L

• League of United Latin American Citizens
• Learn How to Become (Scholarships for Veterans)

M

• My College Options

N

• National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY)
• Niche

P

• PA State Grant
• Peterson's
• Point Foundation (LGBTQ)

S

• Scholarshps.com
• Scholarship Monkey
• Student Scholarship Search

U

• UNIGO
• Undocumented Students Scholarships