Scholarship and Grants
Clarkson awards various types of grants and scholarships. These awards do not have to be repaid. Grants are considered need-based aid and scholarships are based on merit. Eligibility for grants is based on the information you provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For more information on all of the awards available, please use the navigation on the left.
Federal regulations require students report any outside scholarships they receive to the Financial Aid Office. This includes scholarships that are paid directly to the school and those paid directly to the student. In both cases, the school is required to consider outside scholarships as a financial resources in meeting educational cost. The Financial Aid Office will apply your outside scholarship to your unmet need first. When necessary, the Financial Aid Office will reduce self-help portions of your financial aid package rather than reducing grants or other scholarships. In rare cases, some grants and scholarships may be reduced if the amount of an outside scholarship is such that all self-help aid has been eliminated from a student's financial aid package or if the scholarship is considered a duplicate benefit.
Upon receiving the scholarship information, the Financial Aid Office will update the student's financial aid package to include the amount awarded. If the scholarship is paid to the school it will be listed as an Outside Scholarship and will be considered anticipated aid on the Student Account. If the scholarship is paid directly to the student it will be listed as a Non-Payable Scholarship and the amount will not show as anticipated aid on the Student Account. Due to implications for other financial aid, all scholarships from outside sources will be divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters. In order for a scholarship to be applied entirely to one semester, the Financial Aid Office must be notified in writing by the donor prior to, or at the time of, receipt of the funds by the University. Once a scholarship check is received and applied to the student's account for the Fall and Spring semester, no changes will be made.
Federal & State
Federal Grants
Federal Grants are need based awards that do not need to be repaid.
Pell Grants: Eligibility for this undergraduate grant program is determined by the information you provide on your FAFSA. To be eligible for a Pell Grant for the 2019-2020 academic year, your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) must be less than $5,576. Award amounts range from $657-$6,195. The EFC limit and award amounts are determined annually by the US Department of Education. If you received a Pell Grant for the first time on or after July 1, 2008, you can receive this grant for up to 12 semesters.
Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship: this scholarship is awarded to Pell-eligible students whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer. Please contact your Student Achievement Services Representative for more information or if you believe you may qualify for this scholarship.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG): This federal grant program is awarded to undergraduate Pell Grant recipients with the lowest Expected Family Contribution. Awards range from $600-$800 annually. Availability is dependent on federal funding.
State
The New York State Higher Education Assistance Corporation (HESC) administers the New York Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and other Scholarship Programs. These are available for students who meet residence, income, academic, or other requirements, as established by state law.
If you are a New York State resident, you can apply for New York State aid online by using the New York State resident TAP application link on the FAFSA Submission Confirmation page. If you do not already have a HESCpin, you will then need to establish one to complete your Express TAP (ETA) application. Some NYS Scholarships such as the Award for Academic Excellence require you submit a TAP application annually.
An estimated NYS TAP award may be included as part of your financial aid award package, however the state’s notification is your official approved award. In order to receive your award, you must be enrolled as a full-time student and be making satisfactory academic progress according to New York State law. Standards of satisfactory academic standards for TAP are located in the Financial Aid Section of the Clarkson Regulations (link to FA Regulations on the FA web-site).
For more information regarding awards available to New York State residents, visit http://www.hesc.ny.gov/
Other States
Several States including Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania have reciprocal agreements with New York State. This means that, as a resident of that state, you may be eligible to receive an award while attending Clarkson. Check with the higher education authority in your state or visit NASFAA for more information.
Institutional, Endowed & Sponsored
Institutional
Clarkson offers a wide range of institutionally funded Scholarships and Grants. Scholarships are merit based awards while grants are need-based awards. The Office of New Student Financial Aid will offer you scholarships and/or grants depending upon your admissions application and your financial need as reported on your FAFSA. These awards do not require repayment and are renewable annually provided you are making Satisfactory Academic Progress in your degree program. Certain scholarships may also require a minimum GPA or continuation in a specific degree program. Grants require you to submit a FAFSA each year and continue to demonstrate financial need.
Endowed and Sponsored
Various alumni, individuals, foundations, and corporations have donated funds to establish scholarships for Clarkson students who meet certain criteria. These criteria may include, but are not limited to, specific majors, GPA, evidence of leadership, geographical location of hometown or high school, class year, financial need and extracurricular activities. Endowed scholarships provide assistance to students in perpetuity. Sponsored scholarships provide assistance on an annual basis.
Separate applications are not required. Students who meet the criteria for these scholarships are reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee.
Scholarships established through the generosity of Clarkson benefactors are awarded with the understanding that there is a moral obligation for the student to repay the funds received. By accepting the scholarship award, the student accepts the moral responsibility to contribute to Clarkson when financially able to do so. By fulfilling this moral obligation, the student will help replenish the scholarship fund, ensuring Clarkson will be able to offer institutional aid to future students. A list of the endowed and sponsored scholarships can be found in the college catalog.
Scholarship Searches
- Amount: varies
- Details: Academic Invest - Scholarship listings for American and Canadian students in Arts, Business, Engineering, and Science.
- Amount: Varies
- Details: AREMA Educational Foundation - Provides scholarships to engineering students. General criteria – have an interest in railway engineering, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 and be available for interview by the AREMA Scholarship Committee. Various types of scholarships are available. Priority given to a Clarkson University student for the New York Central Railroad Memorial Scholarship. Deadline: varies.
- Amount: Varies
- Details: StudentScholarships.org - "NY's leading source" for finding scholarship money.
- Amount: $2,000
- Details: PixelPlex - Bi-Annual STEM Scholarship was established to help support students pursuing education in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), as well as economics and business. Application deadlines are June 5, 2023 and December 5, 2023 at 11:59 PM PST for this bi-annual scholarship.
- Amount: $3,000 / $1,000
- Details: MPOWER scholarships are awarded annually to female international / DACA students who are currently enrolled or accepted to study full-time in a STEM degree program. MPOWER currently supports students at Clarkson University. The grand prize winner will receive $3000 and two honorable mentions will receive $1000 each. Application deadline is January 31, 2023 (Others to follow - please see website for further opportunities).
- Amount: Varies
- Details: SMART (Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation) recognizes the need to support the education of America's future scientists and engineers. This program offers scholarships to both undergraduate and graduate students who have demonstrated ability and special aptitude for excelling in STEM fields. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, maintain a minimum GPA of at least 3.0, and be pursuing a degree in one of 21 STEM fields. The SMART application is open August through December of every year, with awards being granted the following spring.
- Amount: $10,000
- Details: John Galt Solutions is awarding a $10,000 scholarship for the 2020-2021 academic year. Applicants must be full-time undergraduate students seeking education in supply chain management or business forecasting. Applicants must also demonstrate a passion for supply chain, financial need, and dedication to personal growth. Scholarship application is currently closed but will reopen in Spring 2023.
- Amount: up to $9,500
- Details: The Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship provides successful undergraduate applicants with awards that include financial academic assistance for full-time study and a 10-week, full-time paid internship at a NOAA facility during the summer. Applicants must be US citizens and enrolled within an accredited college or University, have a GPA of 3.0, and declared a major in one of several qualified disciplines. Application deadline is January 31, 2023.
- Amount: $2,500
- Details: Zillion created this scholarship in an effort to aid and empower women within the STEM fields. Applicants must be female students with a STEM major at an accredited college or university in the US. A 500-1000 word essay submission is required. Application is currently closed for 2023, will reopen in the Fall of 2023 for the 2024 Aid year.
- Amount: $5,000
- Details: Wells Fargo is strongly invested in supporting our nation's veterans, including a commitment to assist them in completing postsecondary education programs to help them return to, and succeed within, a competitive job market. Applicants must have served in the U.S. Military, provide DD214, be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate level program, and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Application is currently closed, check back in January for updated program information. You can also be added to a notify list to be notified when scholarship programs open up.
- Amount: $2,500
- Details: The CNC Machines Manufacturing Scholarship is available for students pursuing a certification, certificate, associates, or bachelors in manufacturing or a related area of study. Application closes Sept, 29th 2022 and the winner will be announced on Oct 30th, 2023.
- Amount: $2,500
- Details: The CNC Machines Veterans Scholarship is a yearly scholarship awarded to US veterans studying manufacturing. Application closes Friday Sept 29th, 2023 and the winner will be announced on Friday November 10th, 2023.