Student Financial Assistance
Did You Know?
Collegescholarships.org provides this interesting opportunity: "High school seniors who are skateboarders and United States citizens are invited to apply for the Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship. Eligible applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and have plans to enroll in either a two- or four-year degree program at a college or university. Four scholarships are awarded each year: one in the amount of $5,000 and three in the sum of $1,000 each."

2012 Freshman Scholarships

Apply for Scholarship! | Before You Begin  |  Helpful Hints

IMPORTANT NOTE TO FRESHMAN SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS:  The deadline for the freshman scholarship application is January 15, 2012.  Northern Kentucky University is closed on Monday, January 16, 2012 to observe the Martin Luther King holiday.  If you experience technical issues when completing the on line scholarship application on January 14 or 15 2012, please send an email to ofa@nku.edu  or call and leave a message for Penny Asalon at 859-572-6435.  Your questions will be addressed and answered when the office reopens on Tuesday, January 17, 2012.  Please be assured that we will take all technical issues into consideration when reviewing your scholarship application.

Please send your letter(s) of recommendation by email to ofa@nku.edu or fax to 859-572-6997.

If you do experience technical issues, please try the following; 

  1. Try using another internet browser, such as Firefox or Internet Explorer.
  2. Make sure the essay is in a word document (saved in Microsoft Word format) if attaching document and/or no bigger than the 250 word requirement if you are typing the essay in the application.
  3. Try taking the attachments off and email them to ofa@nku.edu.  When you take the attachments off, you must type “see attached” in the text box for that question.

 Apply
Northern Kentucky University awards over one million dollars in academic scholarships each year to the incoming freshman class. The scholarship process is very competitive. Scholarships are awarded to highly motivated students who demonstrated strong academic performance.*  To compete for NKU scholarships, you must be admitted to the university and submit a scholarship application and all required credentials by January 15, 2012.

Before You Begin
  • Apply for admission to NKU, if you have not already done so. 
     
  • Prepare to answer these scholarship essay(s), you will not be able to save your scholarship application and return to it. 
     
    • Section 2 will require you to submit a 250-word response to this topic: People have various definitions of success (career, wealth, civic engagement). How do you define success? When you look back on your life in 30 years, what would it take for you to consider your life successful?
    • If you want to be considered for the Educational Diversity Scholarships, Section 6 will require you to submit an additional 150-word essay on your contribution to help ensure that our community is rich with diversity must accompany this application. NKU believes that a diverse student body enhances the quality of the living and learning environment. Please describe how aspects of your identity, your life experiences, special skills or values equip you to make a positive contribution to help ensure that the NKU community is rich with diversity, yet inclusive of all its members.
    • If you majoring in a STEM discipline and wish to be considered for the SOAR Scholarship, you will be asked to submit an additional 250-word essay on your chosen major or career. 

  • Review your application carefully; once you click submit you will not be able to make changes to your scholarship application.

Helpful Hints

  • All scholarship applicants will need to submit one letter of recommendation prior to the posted deadline.  If you wish to be considered for the William H. Greaves, CINSAM, or SOAR scholarships, and additional letter of recommendation from a mathematics or science teacher is required.  Letters of recommendation should be written by a teacher, coach, school counselor, other school administrator or employer.

  • You will not be asked for your ACT/SAT or GPA when completing the scholarship application.  The official scores and transcripts you send to the Office of Admissions will be used for scholarship consideration (don’t send your scores twice).  You must meet the eligibility guidelines for ACT/SAT and GPA before January 15.  The easiest way to know if the Office of Admissions has your highest test scores on file is to email admitnku@nku.edu and ask.

*Meeting the scholarship eligibility guideline does not guarantee you a scholarship offer, but we can ensure each applicant will receive careful consideration and fair treatment in what is a very competitive process.