Scholarships & Aid

Grants are money awarded to students based on financial need and do not need to be repaid. Federal Pell Grants and state grants are common examples but ESU also provides financial aid awards and they can significantly reduce the cost of attending ESU. The first step is filling out the FAFSA at studentaid.gov.

Scholarships are awarded based on a variety of criteria, may come from ESU or from outside organizations, and do not need to be repaid.

• Merit-based scholarships are offered to hard-working students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement to earn admission into The Warrior Family.
• Academic department scholarships at ESU are also offered to incoming and current students who show promise in the discipline.
• The Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Scholarship recognizes and rewards qualified transfer undergraduate students for their academic achievement.
• Grow Pennsylvania scholarship program is available for both in-state and out-of-state students who stay to work in PA in an in-demand occupation after graduation.

Private institutions and non-profit organizations also offer scholarships that can be combined with other forms of financial assistance to offset the cost of your ESU education.

Loans are borrowed money that must be repaid with interest and they are often part of a financial aid package. Federal student loans typically offer lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans, making them a better choice for most students. Your eligibility is based on the information you provide in your FAFSA.

Graduate students can access financial aid such as federal loans, assistantships, scholarships and grants but they are ineligible for other types of assistance such as federal Pell Grants. Graduate aid often focuses on specific fields of study or research opportunities. Students should explore program-specific funding.