Transfer Scholarship Opportunities
Upfront Scholarship Program
Southwestern offers a comprehensive program of scholarships and awards to transfer students with strong academic preparation. Please note: Your application for admission will also serve as your application for scholarships. Students must be enrolled full-time at Southwestern to receive merit scholarships.
Scholarship Deadline
Applications must be submitted prior to July 1 for fall semester enrollment and November 15 for spring semester enrollment.
Finch Scholarships
Southwestern’s Finch Scholarships are awarded in the following amounts annually, depending on a recalculation of your cumulative GPA in transferable, non-developmental coursework:
- $25,000 – 3.7 to 4.0 cumulative GPA
- $22,000 – 3.4 to 3.6 cumulative GPA
- $18,000 – 3.0 to 3.3 cumulative GPA
- $14,000 – Up to 2.9 cumulative GPA
PTK or NSCS Add-On Scholarship
Southwestern provides additional scholarship support for Phi Theta Kappa or National Society of Collegiate Scholars membership. This scholarship is awarded annually and can only be added to the Finch Scholarship:
- $5,000 – Phi Theta Kappa or National Society of Collegiate Scholars membership
Please note: This scholarship cannot be used for high school students taking dual-credit classes and enrolling as first-year students.
Hyer Scholarship
Transfer students in their first year of college (with 30 hours* or fewer) who submitted a freshman application to Southwestern and were offered admission the previous semester or year, are eligible to have their freshman scholarship reinstated if the amount is greater than the Finch Scholarship. Please note: Brown, Garey, and Dixon Scholarships cannot be reinstated. This scholarship cannot be combined with the PTK/NSCS Scholarship.
*Excludes dual credit, concurrent enrollment, early college, and courses taken the summer immediately after high school graduation.
Legacy Scholarship
Legacy students (defined as children or grandchildren of Southwestern alumni, or siblings of alumni or current students) enrolling at Southwestern will be eligible for an annual scholarship of $1,000.
Sarofim Fine Arts Scholarships
- Music, Theatre, and Art Scholarships
Students choosing to major in the fine and performing arts are eligible for awards in vocal and instrumental music, theatre (acting or design) and studio art. Sarofim scholarships often will have the additional criteria of an audition or portfolio submission. Awards are renewable annually. Contact Southwestern University’s Sarofim School of Fine Arts at 512-863-1504 or visit our Fine Arts Scholarship page for specific audition/portfolio dates and requirements.
Students auditioning for fine arts awards should have their application for admission complete by March 1 in order to meet fine art deadlines.
Veteran Benefits
Southwestern welcomes the opportunity to partner with the Veterans Administration to administer the following benefits to support veterans and veteran dependents who wish to attend as full-time students. Visit Southwestern’s Veterans page for qualification details.
Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
You may be eligible if you served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001, or were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability after serving 30 continuous days following September 10, 2001.
- Assistance with tuition and fees
- A Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH/MHA)
- Money for books and supplies (up to $1,000 per school year).
[The Department of Veterans Affairs asks that the following notice appear after use of the term “GI Bill”: GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.
Yellow Ribbon Program
The Yellow Ribbon program allows degree-granting private colleges and universities in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the tuition and fee amounts payable under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31)
For post-secondary training at a college, vocational, technical or business school.
Dependent’s Educational Assistance/DEA (Chapter 35)
The Dependent’s Educational Assistance (DEA) Program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents and survivors of certain veterans.
Need-Based Financial Aid
When it comes to financial aid, everyone’s situation is different, and Southwestern takes that into account. We partner with students and their families to navigate the financial aid process and help explore every possible financing option available.
To apply for financial aid, please submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the appropriate deadline. Be sure to select Southwestern by entering our school code: 003620.
FINANCIAL AID DEADLINES: Fall Semester - July 1; Spring Semester - November 15
Types of Assistance
Beyond merit scholarships, Southwestern offers a variety of assistance options. Amounts will vary based on an individual’s demonstrated need. FAFSA submission is required.
- Need-Based Grants: Southwestern, State (TEG) and Federal (Pell/SEOG)
- Low-Interest Loans: Federal (Stafford/PLUS) and Private Loans
- Work-Study: Southwestern and Federal
- Payment Plan: Balances can be paid out in monthly installments
Scholarship and Financial Aid Policies
Scholarship GPA evaluations are based on a minimum of 12 transferable credits. Amounts awarded based on availability of funds. Southwestern admission staff will recalculate a GPA when a student has attended multiple institutions. Developmental courses are excluded when factoring overall GPA. All scholarships and financial aid require admission to be awarded. The total amount of Southwestern merit or need-based scholarships, awards, or grants cannot exceed the cost of tuition. Once awarded, a minimum Southwestern GPA is required to retain scholarships and financial aid from semester to semester.