Scholarships
Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s School for Professional Studies offers several scholarships exclusively for adult students studying in our online degree programs.
Available scholarships are both merit-based and need-based. And many of our degree programs offer special scholarships for students in particular programs. Scholarships listed on this page are for qualified undergraduate students except for the Graduate Student Success Scholarship. In addition, graduate assistantships may be available for students studying in master’s programs.
SLU's School for Professional Studies scholarships are awarded to qualified students in our programs. The number and profile of applicants will vary by term; consequently, you may be awarded a scholarship one term but not the next.
SLU employees and family members who qualify for SLU tuition remission are not eligible for SPS scholarships. The scholarships are not cash refundable and are applied directly to the cost of tuition for the term awarded. Receipt of an SPS scholarship is contingent upon successfully completing the enrolled courses each term. Students who withdraw from courses may be subject to forfeiture of all monies awarded by SPS.
New Student Scholarships
The New Student Commitment Scholarship is a non-renewable award for incoming undergraduate students committed to registering in courses for the remainder of the academic year. Eligible students must be a clear admit in their first or second term with no more than six hours with SPS toward a degree or certificate.
Availability: Three to four recipients will be selected for the summer, both fall terms and the first spring term.
Award Amount: $750 for part-time students and $1,500 for full-time students.
The New Student Incentive Scholarship is a nonrenewable award for incoming undergraduate students enrolled in SPS courses for their first term. Students must be registered for courses by the application deadline. In addition, you must also be registered for courses in the term for which you are seeking a scholarship.
Availability: Four to eight recipients will be selected each term.
Award Amount: $500 for part-time students and $1,000 for full-time students.
Current Student Scholarships
The Brandt Disability Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students with a documented disability who are admitted into an SPS degree or certificate program. To be eligible, you must have completed at least one term with SPS and be registered for courses by the application deadline. In addition, you should:
- Have a disability documented with SLU’s Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources
- Be registered for courses in the term for which you are seeking a scholarship
Availability: One to two recipients selected in the first term of fall and spring
Renewal: Eligible students must apply for fall I and spring I
Award Amount: Varies depending on available funds.
The Catherine and Nathan Merrick Finish Line Scholarship is intended to provide students with financial assistance to complete their undergraduate degrees.
To be eligible for the Catherine and Nathan Merrick Finish Line Scholarship, you must:
- Be registered for courses
- Have four or fewer courses remaining
- Have a minimum 2.5 GPA
- Demonstrate financial need
Availability: Varies based on need and available funds.
The Continuous Progress Scholarship is awarded to continuing undergraduate students who have completed at least 12 hours with SPS, earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and demonstrated financial need.
You must be registered for courses by the application deadline and can reapply for the award each semester. In addition, you should:
- Have completed courses in four of the previous five terms
- Be registered for courses in the term for which you are seeking a scholarship
- Be in good academic standing with no outstanding incomplete grades
Availability: Up to four students selected each semester: Summer, fall I, spring I
Renewal: Eligible students must reapply each semester.
Award Amount: $500 for part-time students and $1,000 for full-time students.
The Dean’s Emergency Scholarship is a nonrenewable award for undergraduate or graduate students who can demonstrate a substantial financial need that poses a threat to the completion of coursework. Consideration will be given to those who have exhausted all other financial aid. You must be registered for courses by the application deadline. In addition, you should:
- Be registered for courses in the term for which you are seeking a scholarship
- Be able to provide documentation of financial hardship or emergency
Availability: Varies based on need and available funds.
Award Amount: Varies depending on need and available funds.
Deadline: You can apply at any point in the term when there is a qualifying emergency.
The Graduate Student Success Scholarship is available to graduate students in the School for Professional Studies who demonstrate financial need.
To be eligible for the Graduate Student Success Scholarship, you must meet the following criteria at the time of application:
- Be seeking a master’s degree in applied analytics or leadership and organizational development.
- Have completed six graduate credit hours in the School for Professional Studies.
- Earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Demonstrate financial need (i.e. receive less than 50% of funds for their tuition from their employer).
- Be in good academic standing without incomplete grades.
Availability: Varies depending on available funds and a number of qualified applicants.
Renewal: Eligible students must reapply each Fall 1 and Spring 1.
Award Amount: Varies depending on available funds and number of qualified applicants.
To be eligible, students must complete the application and a 500-word essay that addresses the question: "How do you plan to utilize your graduate education to further yourself personally and professionally and give back to the community?"
This non-renewable scholarship is awarded to one fully admitted full-time or part-time undergraduate student facing a challenging health situation. The scholarship is awarded based on the student's life experience and personal statement.
To be eligible for the Latisha Barefield Memorial Scholarship, you must submit a 300-500 word essay describing the challenging situation you are facing at the time.
Availability: One recipient will be selected per academic year.
Award Amount: $500
The School for Professional Studies (SPS) Service and Mission Scholarship is awarded to SPS undergraduate students with financial need who exhibit leadership skills and service to their families, colleagues or community that align with the mission of SPS and Â鶹´«Ã½.
- Have a minimum 3.0 SPS or transfer GPA.
- Submit a 300- to 500-word essay describing your leadership to your families, colleagues and community
- Be available for an interview with the scholarship committee, if appropriate.
Availability: One to four students are selected each academic year.
Award Amount: $500 to $1,000
This nonrenewable scholarship is awarded annually to a full-time undergraduate student in the School for Professional Studies. The scholarship is awarded based on community service, financial need and quality of the goal statement.
To be eligible for the Steven and Diana Ippolito Scholarship, you must also:
- Be enrolled in courses for the term in which they are applying.
- Complete math or English placement tests as necessary
- Submit a 300- to 500-word essay describing recent community service activities and how your SLU education will assist you with similar activities in the future
Availability: One to two students are selected each academic year.
Award Amount: $500 to $1,000
Program-Specific Scholarships
The Brewing Science and Operations Scholarship is awarded to a new or continuing SPS undergraduate student pursuing a brewing science and operations certificate. Eligibility is based on financial need and the quality of a personal statement essay.
To be eligible for the Brewing Science and Operations Scholarship, applicants must meet the following additional criteria at the time of application:
- Pursuing a certificate in brewing science and operations
- Submit a 300- to 500-word essay addressing the following: "Present a personal statement of your commitment to or interest in the brewing industry. Outline specifically how this scholarship will advance your specific area of educational focus. Additionally, discuss the characteristics or skills that will allow you to succeed in this field and how you plan to give back to the industry in the future."
- Demonstrate a financial need.
Availability: One to two students are selected each academic year.
Renewal: Eligible students must reapply each year.
Award Amount: $2,000. Must be used within the academic year it is received.
The Exit Now Scholarship provides students with financial assistance toward tuition in SLU's Cannabis Science and Operations certificate program. Priority will be given to applicants who have completed the Exit Now program.
Exit Now promotes the decriminalization of non-violent cannabis offenses and believes such individuals deserve a second chance. Exit Now has established the Exit Now Scholarship, a term scholarship at Â鶹´«Ã½.
To be eligible for the Exit Now Scholarship, you must:
- Be registered for courses in the Cannabis Science and Operations certificate program.
- Have a minimum 2.5 GPA.
- Demonstrate financial need.
Availability: Renewable and varies based on need and available funds.
The Intelligence Community Centers for Academic Excellence Scholarship is for high-performing students with demonstrated academic and/or research skills who are interested in pursuing a career within the intelligence community. Each year a group of scholarships will be competitively awarded to students across Â鶹´«Ã½, Lincoln University and Harris-Stowe State University.
To be eligible for the Intelligence Community Centers for Academic Excellence Scholarship, you must meet the following criteria at the time of application:
- Citizen of the United States.
- Declared major or minor/certificate in one of the following areas: strategic intelligence, STEM or language study; or completed at least six credits of academic coursework in one or more of the following subject areas: intelligence, languages, leadership, emergency management, analytics, geospatial sciences, cybersecurity or any STEM area.
- Must be available to participate in at least two MW-IC CAE-related University-sponsored events each year on topics related to the intelligence community, national security, or more general subjects such as diversity and inclusion, leadership and ethics.
- Earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3. or above.
- Personal statement addressing why you want to pursue a career in the United States intelligence community (500 words max).
- Cannot be a federal employee.
Availability: Varies depending on available funds and the number of qualified applicants.
Award Amount: $2,000
The Nathan and Catherine Merrick Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students pursuing a leadership and organizational behavior degree in the School for Professional Studies.
To be eligible for the Nathan and Catherine Merrick Scholarship, you must meet the following additional criteria at the time of application:
- Be currently enrolled as an undergraduate student at the School for Professional Studies
- Be seeking a bachelor's degree in organizational studies
Award Amount: Varies
The Larry L. Cockell Security and Strategic Intelligence (SSI) Scholarship is awarded to one or two full-time undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor's degree in security and strategic intelligence. The non-renewable scholarship is awarded based on GPA and financial need.
To be eligible for the Larry L. Cockell Security and Strategic Intelligence Scholarship, you must meet the following additional criteria at the time of application:
- Be seeking a bachelor's degree in security and strategic intelligence (A change of major may result in forfeiture.)
- Submit a 300- to 500-word essay addressing the following question: "How will you use your SSI degree to further yourself personally and professionally and give back to the community?"
- Able to serve the School for Professional Studies by volunteering at the Security and Strategic Intelligence Panel Presentation or an equivalent of five hours of service to the SSI program.
- Available to complete an interview with the selection committee, if appropriate.
Availability: One to two recipients are selected each academic year.
Award Amount: $2,500 to 5,000
The Anne Haltenhof Project Management Scholarship is awarded annually to an undergraduate student pursuing an undergraduate degree, minor or certificate in project management. This non-renewable scholarship is awarded based on financial need, fit of the project management program with career goals and quality of goal statement.
To be eligible for the Anne Haltenhof Project Management Scholarship, you must meet the following additional criteria at the time of application:
- Be in good academic standing
- Be seeking a minor or certificate in project management and enrolled in at least two project management courses in the academic year the scholarship will be awarded
- Demonstrate a financial need
- Submit a 300- to 500-word essay addressing the following question: "How will your study of project management contribute to your immediate and long-term career plans and personal goals?"
Availability: One to two students are selected each academic year.
Award Amount: $750 to $1,500
Steven and Diana Ippolito established this scholarship to benefit an undergraduate student working in or entering the health care industry in the School for Professional Studies.
To be eligible for the Diana, Alice, Emily, and Cecelia Ippolito Health Care Scholarship, you must meet the following additional criteria at the time of application:
- A minimum of a 3.0 cumulative SLU GPA
- Completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year for which you are applying
- Submit a 300- to 500-word essay addressing the following: "Describe your interest in the health care field and how your SLU education will assist you in meeting your health care goals in the future."
Availability: One recipient is selected each academic year. Students must reapply to renew the scholarship.
Award Amount: $1,500
The Cybersecurity Scholarship is awarded to one or two School for Professional Studies undergraduate students pursuing a degree in a field closely related to cybersecurity. The non-renewable scholarship is awarded based on GPA and financial need.
To be eligible for the scholarship, you must meet the following additional criteria at the time of application:
- Be seeking a degree closely related to the field of cybersecurity (CIS, SSI)
- Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Submit a 300- to 500-word essay addressing the following question: "How will you use your degree to further yourself personally and professionally and give back to the community?"
- Be able to provide service to the School for Professional Studies by volunteering at the CIS/SSI Cybersecurity event each spring or an equivalent of four hours of service to the program.
- Be enrolled in courses for the term in which you are applying.
Availability: One to two recipients are selected each academic year.
Award Amount: $500 - $1,000
How to Apply
To apply, complete the following steps:
- Log into your MySLU
- Click on the "Tool"s tab
- Click on the "Scholarship Suite" icon (white icon with a lime green circle in the middle)
- Complete the general application questions upon entering the site (the system will direct you to the specific scholarship you want to apply for)
Note that to receive any of the following scholarships, you must:
- Have all required official transcripts submitted to SPS
- Have a current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the Office of Student Financial Services
- Receive less than the equivalent of nine credit hours ($5,400) in tuition assistance per year (This does not include grants or loans received through the FAFSA.)
- Although not a requirement for applying, it is also recommended that you complete any necessary placement tests as soon as possible.