Scholarships

Need-Based Scholarship

Scholarship Award

Average award $500, up to $2,500 per quarter

Number of Awards

Varies per quarter and academic year

Eligibility and Scholarship Conditions

• All U.S. domestic students may apply
• Scholarship must be used for tuition only and may not be paid out as a cash refund if the award is more than the tuition cost
• Remaining award funds may rollover to another quarter for up to two additional quarters before it is rescinded
• Must be registered in credit bearing course(s) in the quarter of the scholarship award
• Students awarded for a quarter who do not attend forfeit their scholarship
• Students may re-apply each quarter of enrollment
• Students must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program or certificate

How to Apply

1. Complete the Need-Based Scholarship Application.

2. Submit an essay answering the questions from the application.

• Explain your family’s primary sources of income and any significant changes in the past year. How have these impacted your ability to pursue your education?
• What would be your financial plan over the next two years assuming you do not receive this scholarship?
• Tell us about a moment when you had to make a significant sacrifice for your education. How has it shaped your goals?

3. Have a valid 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or WAFSA on file with an official SAI on or before the application deadline. This requires all outstanding issues be resolved to calculate an accurate SAI such as verification, missing documents, edits needed, etc.

Application Deadlines

• Summer Quarter: June 1
• Fall Quarter: September 1
• Winter Quarter: December 1
• Spring Quarter: March 1

This scholarship is administered by the Scholarship Department, and the awards are selected by the Scholarship Committee.

Notifications for scholarships are sent out by the first of each quarter:

• Summer Quarter: July 1
• Fall Quarter: October 1
• Winter Quarter: January 1
• Spring Quarter: April 1

Promise Scholarship

Scholarship Award

Up to $10,000 maximum, $1,250 per quarter

Number of Awards

No limit

Eligibility and Scholarship Conditions

• Open to Seattle Promise students transferring from qualifying Seattle colleges within the Seattle Colleges System
• Scholarship must be used for tuition only and may not be paid out as a cash refund if the award is more than the tuition cost
• Remaining award funds may rollover to another quarter for up to two additional quarters before it is rescinded
• Must have successfully completed AA degree or 90 transferrable credits from qualifying Seattle Colleges at time of enrollment at CityU
• Must be admitted to a bachelor’s degree program at CityU
• Award will fund up to 90 credits maximum toward CityU bachelor’s degree
• Award is prorated based on enrollment standing each term
• Award not to exceed three award years
• Must be registered in the quarters of the award
• Cannot be combined with the Transfer Scholarship

How to Apply

1. Complete the Scholarship Application.
2. Have a valid 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or WAFSA on file with an official SAI on or before the application deadline. This requires all outstanding issues be resolved to calculate an accurate SAI such as verification, missing documents, edits needed, etc.
3. Submit your unofficial Seattle College transcripts and your last Financial Aid Notification with your Promise Scholarship listed (this will verify that the candidate is in good standing).

Application Deadline

• First Day of the Quarter

This scholarship is administered by the Scholarship Department, and awards are selected by the Scholarship Committee.

Notifications for scholarships are sent out by the first of each quarter:

• Summer Quarter: July 1
• Fall Quarter: October 1
• Winter Quarter: January 1
• Spring Quarter: April 1

Washington State Community and Technical College Transfer Scholarship

Scholarship Award

15% discount from tuition

Number of Awards

No limit

Eligibility and Scholarship Conditions

• Eligible to first time students;
• Must enroll in 10 credit hours each term to maintain eligibility
• Cannot be combined with the Promise Scholarship
• Must be continuously enrolled each academic year, with one optional vacation term within the academic year;
• Must be a transfer student from any Washington State Community or Technical College;
• Awarded to students who have not exceeded 36 months from transferring;
• Must have earned 45 credits;
• Must be enrolled in an eligible undergraduate degree program;
• May not receive any other forms of tuition discount (military, CityU employees benefit, etc.);
• Programs and courses that lead to professional programs and courses that lead to professional exams or certification preparation, such as but not limited to, Certified Financial Planning (CFP), Certified Management Accounting (CMA), Society for Human Resource Management certification (PHR/SPHR), or Alternative Routes Teacher Certification. Dissertation, comprehensive exam and continuation courses are also excluded.

How to Apply

1. Complete the Transfer Scholarship Application; and
2. Submit a copy of a current transcript from a Washington Community or Technical College confirming 45 credits were earned (may be unofficial transcript).

Application Deadlines

• Summer Quarter: July 1
• Fall Quarter: October 1
• Winter Quarter: January 1
• Spring Quarter: April 1

This scholarship is administered by the Scholarship Department, and awards are selected by the Scholarship Committee.

Notifications for scholarships are sent out by the first of each quarter:

• Summer Quarter: July 1
• Fall Quarter: October 1
• Winter Quarter: January 1
• Spring Quarter: April 1

STC Graduate Research Scholarship

Scholarship Award

A one-time award of $1000

Number of Awards

Three awards per quarter (based on funds secured from fundraising efforts)

Eligibility and Scholarship Conditions

• Must be admitted and enrolled in a qualifying CityU STC graduate program
• Must enroll in the quarter of the award for MS capstone or thesis
• Scholarship funds are applied to tuition only

How to Apply

1. Complete the STC Graduate Research Scholarship application.
2. Must submit a cover letter:
   • A publication plan at a conference or journal after finishing the capstone or thesis must be announced in advance.
   • Contributions to research groups or student clubs through previous participations
3. Must submit a research proposal using the PowerPoint template here. Nine slides include your project’s title, affiliation, motivation, problem statement, related work, approach, evaluation plan, expected conclusion, and key references.

Application Deadlines

Two weeks before classes start

• Summer quarter – June 23, 2025
• Fall quarter – September 22, 2025
• Winter quarter – December 22, 2026
• Spring quarter – March 23, 2026

Notifications for scholarships:

• Up to second week after classes start

Cultivar Scholarship

Scholarship Award

$4000 tuition scholarship disbursed equally between four quarters and $400 refundable testing fee issued in the first quarter

Number of Awards

14

Eligibility and Scholarship Conditions

• Tuition Scholarship of $4000 is for tuition only with disbursements divided across four quarters and a one-time $400 refundable awards for testing fees applied in the first quarter
• Must be a multilingual student admitted to and taking courses towards Alternative Routes to Teaching certificate
• Must be continuously enrolled at least part-time
• Student may not combine the scholarship with a District Block Grant award
• The remaining award funds posted in a quarter may rollover to another quarter for up to two additional quarters from the initial award before it is rescinded (e.g. Summer term first disbursement, all use completed by the end of the following Winter quarter)
• Cultivar Scholarship cannot be combined with the Access and Opportunity Scholarship

How to Apply

1. Complete the Cultivar scholarship application
2. Self-identify as multilingual
3. Submit personal statement describing how this degree will help to achieve your personal and professional goals

Application Deadlines

• Summer Quarter: June 1
• Fall Quarter: September 1
• Winter Quarter: December 1
• Spring Quarter: March 1

This scholarship is administered by the Scholarship Department, and the awards are selected by the SEL/SJEDI Committee.

Notifications for scholarships

Notifications for scholarships are sent out by the first of each quarter:

• Summer Quarter: July 1
• Fall Quarter: October 1
• Winter Quarter: January 1
• Spring Quarter: April 1

Access and Opportunity Scholarship

Scholarship Award

$4000 tuition scholarship disbursed equally between four quarters and $400 refundable testing fee issued in the first quarter

Number of Awards

6

Eligibility and Scholarship Conditions

At City University of Seattle, we’re proud to support students working to become teachers with the Access and Opportunity Scholarship. This $4000 award opportunity with a $400 refundable testing fee is designed for students pursuing a teaching credential.

To be eligible for the Access & Opportunity Scholarship, you must be a candidate admitted to a teacher certification program in the School of Education and Leadership. Ccannot be combined with the Cultivar Scholarship.

Teacher Preparation Programs

• Bachelor of Arts in Education: Teacher Certification Program
• Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification (BAED, MED)

Conditions

• Tuition Scholarship of $4000 is for tuition only with disbursements divided across four quarters and a one-time $400 refundable awards for testing fees applied in the first quarter
• Must be enrolled at least part-time
• The remaining award funds posted in a quarter may rollover to another quarter for up to two additional quarters from the initial award before it is rescinded (e.g. Summer term first disbursement, all use completed by the end of the following Winter quarter)

How to Apply

1. Complete the Access and Opportunity scholarship application
2. Have a valid 2026-2027 Free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or WASFA on file with an official SAI
3. Submit personal statement (minimum 500 words) addressing the following: “This scholarship seeks to support individuals who bring unique viewpoints shaped by their personal journeys, life experiences, and the challenges they’ve overcome. Please share how your background, educational path, or community involvement has influenced who you are today and how it shapes your goals for the future.”

Application Deadlines

• Summer Quarter: June 1
• Fall Quarter: September 1
• Winter Quarter: December 1
• Spring Quarter: March 1

*If all scholarship awards are distributed within a particular quarter, it would result in a situation where funds for the remaining quarters would not be available for allocation.

This scholarship is administered by the Scholarship Department, and the awards are selected by the SEL Scholarship Committee.

Notifications for scholarships

Notifications for scholarships are sent out by the first of each quarter:

• Summer Quarter: July 1
• Fall Quarter: October 1
• Winter Quarter: January 1
• Spring Quarter: April 1

President’s Award of Excellence Scholarship

Scholarship award

$10,000

Number of Awards

Awards will be given on a first-come, first-served basis by acceptance letter issuance date, until available funds have been awarded. If the funds have been exhausted, the eligible student will be awarded the next highest award amount ($2,000-$5,000)

Eligibility and Scholarship Conditions

• Open to first-time international applicants to CityU
• Must hold an F-1 Visa in the Seattle area
• Must be an active I-20 holder
• Scholarship must be used for tuition only and may not be paid out as a cash refund if the award amount is more than the tuition cost
• Remaining award funds may rollover to another quarter for up to two additional quarters before it is rescinded
• Must maintain full-time enrollment and begin your studies at CityU within one quarter of the award letter
• Students who start in the ELP Program must be continuously enrolled in the program, except for approved vacation quarters, and the award will be applied once the student enrolls in degree-program classes

How to Apply

Submit a Financial Declaration Form to the International Student Office, selecting the appropriate scholarship option.

Application Deadlines

• Summer Quarter: June 1
• Fall Quarter: September 1
• Winter Quarter: December 1
• Spring Quarter: March 1

Notifications for scholarships are sent out by the first of each quarter:

• Summer Quarter: July 1
• Fall Quarter: October 1
• Winter Quarter: January 1
• Spring Quarter: April 1

International Student Presidential Merit Scholarship

Scholarship award

$5,000

Number of Awards

Awards will be given on a first-come, first-served basis by acceptance letter issuance date, until available funds have been awarded.*
*All awards have been exhausted for the 2024/25 academic year.

Eligibility and Scholarship Conditions

• Open to first-time international applicants to CityU
• Must hold an F-1 Visa in the Seattle area
• Must be an active I-20 holder
• Scholarship must be used for tuition only and may not be paid out as a cash refund if the award is more than the tuition cost
• Remaining award funds may rollover to another quarter for up to two additional quarters before it is rescinded
• Must maintain full-time enrollment and begin your studies at CityU within one quarter of the award letter
• Students who start in the ELP Program must be continuously enrolled in the program, except for approved vacation quarters, and the award will be applied once the student enrolls in degree program classes

How to Apply

Submit a Financial Declaration Form to the International Student Office, selecting the appropriate scholarship option.

Application Deadlines

• Summer Quarter: June 1
• Fall Quarter: September 1
• Winter Quarter: December 1
• Spring Quarter: March 1

Notifications for scholarships are sent out by the first of each quarter:

• Summer Quarter: July 1
• Fall Quarter: October 1
• Winter Quarter: January 1
• Spring Quarter: April 1

International Student Academic Achievement Scholarship

Scholarship award

$2,000

Number of Awards

Awards will be given on a first-come, first-served basis by acceptance letter issuance date, until available funds have been awarded.

Eligibility and Scholarship Conditions

• Open to first-time international applicants to CityU
• Must hold an F-1 Visa in the Seattle area
• Must be an active I-20 holder
• Scholarship must be used for tuition only and may not be paid out as a cash refund if the award is more than the tuition cost
• Remaining award funds may rollover to another quarter for up to two additional quarters before it is rescinded
• Must maintain full-time enrollment and begin your studies at CityU within one quarter of the award letter
• Students who start in the ELP Program must be continuously enrolled in the program, except for approved vacation quarters, and the award will be applied once the student enrolls in degree program classes
• This is a one-time scholarship

How to Apply

Submit a Financial Declaration Form to the International Student Office, selecting the appropriate scholarship option.

Application Deadlines

• Summer Quarter: June 1
• Fall Quarter: September 1
• Winter Quarter: December 1
• Spring Quarter: March 1

Notifications for scholarships are sent out by the first of each quarter:

• Summer Quarter: July 1
• Fall Quarter: October 1
• Winter Quarter: January 1
• Spring Quarter: April 1

International Student Economic Hardship Scholarship

Scholarship award

$3,000

Number of Awards

12

Eligibility and Scholarship Conditions

• This one-time need-based scholarship is for international students who have completed at least three consecutive quarters of full-time study at CityU
• Scholarship must be used for tuition only and may not be paid out as a cash refund if the award is more than the tuition cost
• Remaining award funds may rollover to another quarter for up to two additional quarters before it is rescinded
• Must be a current F-1 student
• ESL students do not qualify
• Must be enrolled in an eligible degree program
• Must be enrolled at least part-time to maintain eligibility

How to Apply

1. Complete the International Student Economic Hardship Application.
2. Submit a copy of unofficial CityU transcripts showing a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for undergraduates or 3.0 for graduates.
3. Submit an essay (up to 1,000 words) describing your current economic hardship and the impact this scholarship has with you staying in school.
4. Submit supporting documentation that is relevant to your financial situation to support your statement.

Application Deadlines

• Summer Quarter: June 1
• Fall Quarter: September 1
• Winter Quarter: December 1
• Spring Quarter: March 1

This scholarship is administered by the Scholarship Department, and awards are selected by the Scholarship Committee.

Notifications for scholarships are sent out by the first of each quarter:

• Summer Quarter: July 1
• Fall Quarter: October 1
• Winter Quarter: January 1
• Spring Quarter: April 1

Scholarship applications update on the www.cityu.edu/scholarships website in May for the upcoming Academic Year that starts with summer quarter. Students can submit applications at that time for the next quarter. Once a scholarship deadline expires, applications will open up for the next quarter. For example, in May applications can be submitted for summer quarter and when that deadline expires, applications will open up for fall quarter.

Yes, if you meet the eligibility criteria for multiple scholarships, you can apply for each eligible scholarship. If you are also awarded multiple scholarships, they will be applied to your school account to cover your tuition charges.

If you submitted a scholarship application and did not receive an automated confirmation email, please reach out to [email protected] to ensure your application was received.

We will use your first received application and then mark the subsequent applications will be marked as duplicates. If you want us to consider a certain scholarship application when multiple are sent of the same application, please contact us at [email protected] to let us know which one to use.

It depends. The data is taken from the last completed quarter because the deadline for scholarships falls in the middle of an active quarter and not all students have received grades for their classes by the deadline date. If the credits/GPA from your current quarter made you eligible for the scholarship and you are not eligible without considering that information, then you are not eligible. If you have met the minimum criteria in previous quarters, then you are eligible regardless of what your grades/credits completed are from your current quarter. The application will let you know which quarter the information should be taken from.

CityU has limited funds to award students and all our scholarships are competitive. Many students applying are in similar academic and financial situations as you are. When that is the case, refining the other scholarship requirements (resume, essay, etc.) can help to set you apart from other students.

U.S. and U.S. International students share one pool of funds while Canadian students share a separate pool of funds. Within that, there are quarters where the top candidates are awarded scholarships and some quarters where the top candidates within the school (School of Education & Leadership, School of Technology & Computing, School of Business & Management and School of Health & Social Science) are awarded.

• Plan ahead
  • Don’t procrastinate
  • Give yourself plenty of time to review and edit your responses
  • Be aware of the deadline date
• Talk about your accomplishments
• State your need
  • What is your financial situation?
  • Do you work?
  • Do you receive support from your family?
  • Do you receive financial aid?
• Keep it simple
  • Don’t use unnecessary words (i.e., don’t use three words when one will do)
  • Don’t include unnecessary information just to “fill the page”
• Make it easy on your reader
  • Have someone else read your responses for clarity (this can be a friend, co-worker, family, etc.)
  • Write complete sentences and paragraphs
  • SPELL CHECK – make sure words are used correctly (e.g.,: “two,” “to,” “too;” or “there,” “their,” or “they’re;” “its” or “it’s,” etc.)
• ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS
  • Who are you?
  • Why are you who you are?
  • What are you doing?
  • What have you done?
  • Where are you now?
  • Where are you going?
  • How are you going to get there?
  • Why do you need a scholarship?
  • How will it make a difference?
  • How did you make the decision to continue your education?

Scholarship notifications are sent out to all applicants by the first of the quarter regarding the status of their application and will be sent to the student’s school email address.

Congratulations! Your scholarship funds are disbursed in the first couple of weeks of the quarter by the Financial Aid Office. You do have to meet the enrollment criteria to be eligible for the disbursement, so if you enrolled after the initial disbursement are reviewed, then it will be reviewed again after the 100% drop/add date. If you are still not enrolled/enrolled in enough credits to meet the enrollment criteria of your specific scholarship after the 100% drop/add date, your award will not be released to your account.

No. All CityU scholarships are tuition-only. If your scholarship(s) exceeds the tuition amount for the quarter it was awarded in, the excess funds will stay on your account and can be applied to up to two additional quarter tuition costs.

Congratulations! Once your scholarship funds are applied to your school account, they will be applied to your school invoices and the funds from your personal payment will be credited back to you either by direct deposit or by a mailed check by that Friday. If not, please contact [email protected].

There are outside resources here External Grants and Scholarships – CityU of Seattle that can be reviewed for additional funding. These resources have been vetted to ensure they are valid sources. For Canadian students, external or private resources are found here Scholarships – CityU in Canada (cityuniversity.ca).