Funding Your Undergraduate Education

When seeking funding to support your undergraduate education:

• It pays to start early. Application deadlines may fall 6-12 months before awards are distributed, so plan to search for funding well before the academic year in which you will need to use it.
• Use your college or school, department, and instructors as information resources. People within your field of study are often familiar with specific funding opportunities available to undergraduate students pursuing a degree in that subject.
• Remember that you are more than what you study. Funders may be looking to support undergraduate students based on their ethnicity, geographic origin, gender identity, non-traditional or first-generation student status, religious affiliation, or other characteristics.
• Think creatively about funding options. Undergraduate funding can come from many different sources - professional associations, non-profit organizations, religious organizations, corporations, and many more. 

Personalized Support at Seattle University

Office of Student Persistence

Want personalized help with finding and applying for scholarships or other funding opportunities? Visit Student Persistence's Scholarships page for information about: 

• In-person scholarship workshops
• Monthly scholarship drop-in support
• Database of funding opportunities relevant to Seattle University students
• One-on-one scholarship advising appointments

Office of Fellowships

This office supports Seattle University students seeking fellowships, competitive grants that may fund graduate school, research, service opportunities, or travel abroad. Although “scholarship” and “fellowship” are often used interchangeably, they are different types of grants - a fellowship will usually include an internship or other service commitment for a period of one or more years, while scholarships are often immediate, one-time awards.

Visit the Office of Fellowships to find a list of fellowship opportunities on their Find a Fellowship page or check out their FAQ page for more information. They can help identify specific fellowships relevant to your interests and also offer:

• Proposal and other application writing services in conjunction with Seattle University's Writing Center
• Connection to faculty representatives who advise on specific fellowships
• Logistical guidance and support throughout the fellowship application process
• Preparation for interviews that may be part of the selection process
• Help with application submission to ensure timely delivery

Scholarship Scams

Although many legitimate scholarships exist, some opportunities are, unfortunately, designed to take advantage of students eager to fund their education. When searching for funding, be on the lookout for potential scams or predatory scholarships. Some red flags include:

• Being selected for a scholarship when you did not apply.  Scholarships are awarded to you after a review of materials you provide. 
• Being guaranteed a scholarship.  Nobody representing a legitimate scholarship organization can or will be able to guarantee that you will receive funding. 
• Being required to pay a fee.  Applying for legitimate scholarships should never cost money. Watch out for companies that claim they have unique scholarship search engines or can connect you with private funding opportunities after you pay a membership or other fee.
• Being required to provide private information.  Although scholarship applications often require basic personal information, such as your name and mailing address, be wary of scholarship providers that ask applicants to submit their social security or bank account numbers.

To learn more about avoiding predatory scholarships or to file a complaint, visit these resources: