Merit Scholarships

Kean University offers a comprehensive array of merit and need-based scholarships for incoming freshmen. Freshmen and transfer applicants applying for admission are considered for merit scholarships.  Your complete application for admission to Kean University is your application for these merit scholarships.

Merit scholarships will be awarded through June 1. Incoming freshmen and transfer students must complete their applications by May 30 to be considered.

These awards are given based on alternate indicators including, but not limited to courses taken, academic rigor, class rank with a primary focus on high school (unweighted) GPA and standardized exams (SAT, ACT) if applicable.  Only recent high school graduates primarily admitted as full-time freshmen are eligible.

These scholarships are renewable for up to four years (8 semesters) of consecutive undergraduate study. To renew your scholarship award, you must file the FAFSA, and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA. Please note that merit awards cannot be combined. Scholarship awards have no cash value and we reserve the right to reduce the scholarship amount if the total of all federal, state, and other grant/scholarship awards exceed direct costs defined as tuition, university fees, room and board, if applicable. 

There are six named levels of merit scholarships and recognition that range from $500 to full-in-state tuition. 

*Scholarship decisions are made by the Office of Admissions and are administered by the Office of Scholarships Services. Please know that all decisions are final. 

DISTINGUISHED FRESHMAN SCHOLARSHIPS 

School of Integrative Science and Technology (IST) Scholarship, also referred to as the STEM Scholarship

For incoming freshmen who matriculate directly into five-year, combined bachelor/master’s degree honors programs who maintain a cumulative (unweighted) high school GPA of 3.1 or higher are eligible for consideration for the IST in-state tuition scholarships at time of entry. Consideration for these scholarships is conducted by the IST Admission Committee at the time of review for admissions, therefore there is no separate application needed. 

Eligible 5 year IST programs for this scholarship are:

Biotechnology / Molecular Biology | Computational Science and Engineering |  Biology Education |  Chemistry Education |  Mathematics Education

100% in-state tuition only 3.7 - 4.0 GPA**

75% in-state tuition only 3.4 - 3.69 GPA

50% in-state tuition only 3.1 - 3.39 GPA

* Eligibility for scholarships will depend greatly on the successful completion of biology, chemistry, and pre-calculus OR equivalent courses in high school.

** GPAs are based on a 4.0 scale.

This scholarship is renewable each undergraduate academic year, as long as recipients uphold a minimum 3.0 GPA and full-time enrollment at the University. The fifth year is not eligible for scholarship coverage.

For students in the STEM Education major within the IST honors college who commit to teach for three years in a New Jersey school upon graduation, scholarships are renewable in accordance with program requirements. For academic program information, contact (908) 737-7200 or email sist-scitech@kean.edu. Students admitted to the B.S. Biomedicine Program are not eligible for these awards, as that is a flat-rate tuition program. 

OUT-OF-STATE ON-CAMPUS RESIDENCY SCHOLARSHIP

Kean University awards a scholarship in the amount of $16,000 over four years ($4,000 annually) to a select number of qualified incoming freshmen from outside New Jersey, who choose to live on campus. Students must have a minimum 2.5 high school GPA, based on the University’s review of the undergraduate application for admission. Candidates must also submit a FAFSA and complete a Campus Housing Application.

These scholarships are renewable for up to four years (eight consecutive semesters) of undergraduate study, as long as recipients maintain a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA, full-time enrollment and campus residency.

*Those who identify as international students could be subject to applicable state or federal tax laws pertaining to this award. 

The Climb to Success Scholarship is both academic and need-based and is awarded to select incoming freshman who meet specific criteria. To read more about this scholarship, please visit the Climb to Success Scholarship webpage for more information.

Kean offers new transfer students offers merit awards for the first year of study for fall entry students.  Completed admissions application will qualify students for consideration.  

TRANSFER MERIT SCHOLARSHIP 

The Transfer Merit Scholarship is a $1,000 one-time scholarship is awarded based on academic performance from applicant's prior institution of higher education, with 3.0 cumulative GPA and either an associate's degree or comparable coursework totaling a minimum of 60 credits, as determined by the Office of Admissions. 

This scholarship is contingent on full-time (minimum of 12 credits) enrollment and does not apply to students who have already earned a bachelor's degree. 

In addition, the transfer merit scholarship award has no cash value and we reserve the right to reduce the scholarship amount if the total of all federal, state, and other grant/scholarship awards exceed direct costs defined as tuition, university fees, room and board, if applicable. 

PHI THETA KAPPA (PTK) SCHOLARSHIP

The PTK Scholarship is a one-time award offered for the first year of study for fall start term students.  For students starting in the spring start term, the PTK Scholarship is only awarded in the spring.  To qualify, candidates are required to provide the Office of Transfer Admissions proof of organizational membership as well as final official transcripts that indicate degree conferral. 

NOTE: If you are in your final semester, you will be tentatively awarded the PTK Scholarship until Admissions receives your final official transcript with your degree conferred.  

Know that there are two tiers for the PTK Scholarship based on full or part time study.  Students pursuing full time study (minimum of 12 credits) receive a total annual amount of $2000 ($1000 towards each semester, fall and spring)  Students studying part time receive a total annual award of $1000 ($500 towards each semester, fall and spring).