STATE OF KANSAS FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

For more detailed information on state financial aid programs contact:

Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR)

Topeka, Kansas 66612-1368

(785) 296-3517

www.kansasregents.org

http://www.kasfaa.org/

The following are financial aid programs available to students who are residents of the state of Kansas.

The Kansas Ethnic Minority Scholarship Program

The Kansas Ethnic Minority Scholarship program is designed to assist financially needy, academically competitive students who are identified as members of any of the following ethnic/racial groups: African American, American Indian or Alaskan Native; Asian or Pacific Islander; or Hispanic.

Program Description:

The Kansas Ethnic Minority Scholarship program is designed to assist financially needy, academically competitive students who are identified as members of any of the following ethnic/racial groups: African American, American Indian or Alaskan Native; Asian or Pacific Islander; or Hispanic. Selection priority is given to applicants who are freshmen.

Academic Criteria:

The minimum academic requirements include one of the following:

1) ACT score of 21 or SAT score of 990
2) Cumulative GPA of 3.0
3) High school rank in upper 33%
4) Completion of Kansas Scholars Curriculum
5) Selection by National Merit Corporation in any category
6) Selection by College Board as a Hispanic Scholar

Recipients:

Students who meet minimum requirements comprise the applicant pool and selection is competitive based, generally, on completion of the Kansas Scholars Curriculum plus a competitive combination of all other criteria listed under “Academic Criteria.” Undergraduates may receive funds for four years (five years if enrolled in a designated five-year program). Recipients must attend a Kansas community college, independent college, or state university.

Deadline:

May 1

Award Amount:

Ethnic Minority scholarship recipients may receive up to $1,850 annually based on financial need as measured by Federal Methodology using data submitted on the FAFSA and the availability of State funds.

Renewals:

Renewals must complete the FAFSA and the front page only of this state application each year. To be eligible for funding, you must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA and have financial need.

The Kansas Nursing Service Scholarship

The Kansas Nursing Service Scholarship requires a commitment to practicing as an LPN or RN in a specific Kansas location. Applicants must locate a sponsor (generally a hospital or long-term care facility) to provide partial scholarship funding and provide employment upon licensure of the recipient.

Program Description:

Designed to encourage enrollment in nursing programs by Kansans committed to practicing in Kansas. Recipients sign agreements to practice nursing at specific facilities one year for each year of scholarship support.

Academic Criteria:

Minimum criteria include:

1. Acceptance to a Kansas nursing program (pre-nursing will not be funded) and, 2. Commitment by an eligible sponsor to fund up to half of the scholarship and provide full-time employment to the recipient within six (6) months after licensure.

Recipients:

Awards are made to students with the earliest receipt date of a completed nursing application. The FAFSA and the state application must be processed by the deadline date.

Deadline:

May 1

Award Amount:

Recipients who enroll in Licensed Practical Nurse programs are eligible for ,500 each year of the program. Those enrolled in Registered Nurse programs are eligible for $3,500. Sponsors pay from $1,000 to one-half of the scholarship and the State of Kansas pays the remaining amount.

Renewals:

Recipients receive a renewal service agreement and promissory note from the Board of Regents in March of each year which must be signed and returned with a signed sponsor agreement. The Federal application and the front page only of the state application must also be completed each year.

Recipient Obligation:

Scholarship recipients work for the sponsor, who provided a portion of the funds, one year for each year of scholarship support. If the recipient changes majors or decides not to work for the sponsor as a nurse, the scholarship becomes a loan (with an interest rate equal to the Federal Plus Loan + an additional 5% subject to change annually) accruing from the date scholarship funds are released by the Board of Regents office.

Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship

Knowing that there is an increased need to employ qualified teachers in hard-to-fill disciplines and underserved geographic areas of the state, this program was enacted to increase the number of licensed and fully endorsed teachers in the State of Kansas.

Check list for NEW Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship applicants:

• Complete/submit the FAFSA either online or the paper version.(Deadline April 1)

• State of Kansas Student Aid Application completed and submitted either online or the paper version and the $12.00 nonrefundable application fee submitted. (Deadline May 1)

• Submit an official copy of all academic transcripts.* (Deadline May 1)

• Submit at least one letter of recommendation; academic, or employment-related. (Deadline May 1)

• Submit a one page personal statement of your academic and teaching goals, including your personal commitment to teaching in your field or underserved area. (Deadline May 1)

• If a current teacher, submit a copy of your teaching certificate or licensure. (Deadline May 1)

Program Description:

This service obligation scholarship provides financial assistance to both students pursuing bachelor’s degree programs and currently licensed teachers pursuing endorsement in hard-to-fill disciplines or master’s degrees in hard-to-fill disciplines or either group planning to teach in an underserved geographic area.

Application Criteria:

Applicants must be:

A resident of the State of Kansas and attending a Kansas postsecondary institution; AND

a.) Accepted for admission to, or currently enrolled, in a course of instruction leading to licensure as a teacher in one of the hard-to-fill disciplines* or one of the underserved geographic areas** of Kansas; OR

b.) Currently licensed as a teacher enrolled in a course of instruction leading to endorsement in one of the hard-to-fill disciplines* or teach in one of the underserved geographic areas** in Kansas;

OR

c.) Currently licensed as a teacher and been accepted for admission, or enrolled in a course of instruction leading to a master’s degree in a field of education as a teacher in one of the hard-to-fill disciplines*, or in one ofthe underserved geographic areas** of Kansas.

Recipients:

First priority in awarding goes to junior and senior level college students (Freshmen rarely receive this award) and currently licensed teachers who meet the outlined criteria and provide an official copy of all academic transcripts and at least one academic, or employment-related (current teachers only), letter of recommendation. This is a merit-based scholarship.

The average GPA of recipients has been 3.50. The number of designees is dependent on state funding levels.

Deadline: May 1

Award Amount:

Recipients may be eligible for up to $5,396 ($2,698/semester) during 2014-15. The funding amount will be as follows:

12 + hours – $2,698/per semester 6 – 8 hours – $1,618/per semester

9 – 11 hours – $2,160/per semester 3 – 5 hours – $1,080/per semester

Renewals:

Prior year recipients must submit: the FAFSA and the State of Kansas Student Aid Application each school year to receive funding.

SERVICE OBLIGATION REQUIREMENT:

As a condition for receipt of the scholarship, the recipient shall enter into an agreement with the State of Kansas in which they will agree to:

• Complete the required course of instruction leading to licensure and full endorsement in a field of education as a teacher in your selected hard-to-fill teaching discipline or in an underserved geographic area in the State of Kansas;

• Obtain and maintain necessary licensure and endorsement as specified in the teaching agreement;

• Engage in teaching in the hard-to-fill discipline or in an underserved geographic area in the State of Kansas, within six months of licensure, in an accredited public or private elementary or secondary school on a full-time basis for a period of not less than the length of the course of instruction for which the scholarship was awarded or commence teaching on a part-time basis for a period of time that is equivalent to full-time, multiplied by the length of the course of instruction for which the scholarship was awarded.

If a recipient is unable to fulfill the service obligation they will be subject to repaying the amount of the scholarship that they received plus accrued interest at a rate which is equivalent to the interest rate applicable to loans made under the federal PLUS program at the time the agreement was first entered into plus five percentage points (current interest rate is 12.9%).

State Scholars

State Scholars are Kansas residents who receive State Scholar designation in their senior year of high school. Criteria include having taken the ACT Assessment between April of the sophomore year and December of the senior year, AND completing the Kansas Scholars Curriculum. The 7th semester cumulative GPA and curriculum data are provided by high school officials to the Board of Regents in March.

Designation is based on an index which mathematically combines the ACT Composite score and GPA. Funding by the Kansas Legislature allows State Scholars designation to go to 20-40% of high school seniors who complete the Regents Scholars Curriculum. Applicants should complete the state application. Funding priority goes to Renewals.

Program Description:

The program is designed to assist financially needy students who have received State Scholar designation as a state scholar.

Academic Criteria:

Minimum requirements include:

1. taking the ACT Assessment no later than December of the senior year;
2. completing the Kansas Scholars Curriculum;
3. having curriculum and 7th semester GPA certified on the official roster by the high school counselor, registrar, or similar official;
4. graduation from a Kansas high school. The academic profile for the previous year scholars included an average ACT of 29 and average GPA of 3.90. (Only students who receive a letter of designation are eligible).

Recipients:

Students who meet minimum requirements comprise the applicant pool with designation (selection) of State Scholars based on ranking by descending index number. The number of designees is dependent on State funding levels.

Deadline: May 1

Award Amount:

Designated State Scholars may receive up to $1,000 annually based on financial need as measured by the Federal Methodology using data submitted on the FAFSA and on the availability of State funds.

Renewals:

State Scholars must complete the Federal application and the state application each year. Funding priority goes to upper-class students. Scholars may receive funds for four undergraduate years (five years if enrolled in a designated five year program). Scholars who are not financially eligible for funding one year may be eligible in a following year and should apply for aid each year to officially learn of eligibility. Scholars must maintain a 3.0cumulative GPA and have financial need. Renewals are not notified. It is the responsibility of the State Scholar to reapply for funding each year.

Kansas Comprehensive Grants

The Kansas Comprehensive Grant is available to needy Kansas residents enrolled full-time at eighteen private colleges and universities located in Kansas, the six state universities, and Washburn University. This grant is primarily funded by the state of Kansas and may also include Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) grant money funded by the federal government. The Kansas Legislature provides limited assistance to financially needy students. To be considered you must complete and submit the FAFSA, listing one or more eligible colleges in the FAFSA. The priority receipt deadline is April 1. The funding level allows about 1 in 3 eligible students to be assisted with award amounts ranging from $200 – $3,500 at the private institutions and $100 – $1,500 at the public institutions. This grant is based on financial need.

Vocational Educational Scholarship

The Vocational Educational Scholarship is available to eligible students enrolled in approved vocational programs at community or technical colleges and some two-year programs at four-year institutions. Applicants must take the vocational exam which is offered at various sites throughout the state typically on the first Saturday in November and March. See your high school or college financial aid advisor for applications or click on the link below. There are approximately 250 scholarships of $500 each awarded to the applicants with the highest scores. Approximately 1 in 2 applicants is funded.

State Funded Graduate Programs

Recipients must be Kansas residents. Additional information is available from the Board of Regents office.

Kansas Nurse Educator Service Scholarship

Designed to encourage graduate level nursing students who agree to teach in a nurse education program at a Kansas postsecondary educational institution. The nursing programs that are currently participating are: Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State University, University of Kansas Medical Center, Washburn University and Wichita State University. Scholarship amounts vary at each institution. Recipients will teach one year for each year of assistanceafter receiving a graduate degree. Applicants must complete an application available at the Nursing Department at the institution. Priority Deadline: see the school for their deadline.

Kansas Osteopathic Medical Service Scholarship

Designed to encourage primary care physicians to establish practices in rural areas of Kansas. Recipients receive $15,000 per year for up to four years of study at nationally accredited osteopathic schools. Preference goes to first year students. Recipients return one year of practice for each year of assistance. Applicants must complete a program application and the designated financial aid application. Priority Deadline: May 1.

Kansas Optometry Service Scholarship

Designed to encourage optometrists to establish Kansas practices. Kansas helps to pay the difference between resident and nonresident tuition at eligible out-of-state institutions. Generally, recipients must return one year of practice for each year of assistance. Priority Deadline: May 1.

Kansas Dental Education Opportunities Program

Designed to encourage dentists to establish Kansas practices. Kansas helps pay the difference between resident and nonresident tuition at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Applications also available from UM-KC. Deadline: Rolling.

James B. Pearson Fellowship

< Established by former Kansas Senator Pearson to encourage graduate students from Kansas public universities to experience the global perspective gained from study abroad. Preferences given to applicants whose studies are directly related to foreign affairs. The average stipend provided is $2,456. Applications also available from graduate school offices. Deadline: April 1.

Kansas Distinguished Scholarship Program

Created to encourage Brasenose, Clevening, Fulbright, Madison, Marshall, Mellon, Rhodes, and Truman scholars from Kansas to continue graduate studies at Kansas public universities. Kansas reimburses tuition and fees to recipients subject to funding constraints.
Other student financial assistance programs available: Workforce Development Loan Program, Foster Care Tuition Waiver, and Tuition and Fee Waivers for Dependents and Spouses of Deceased Public Safety Officers, Prisoners of War, and Deceased Military Personnel. For more information about these programs, call the Kansas Board of Regents office or visit our website.

Tuition Waiver Programs

Tuition Waiver programs are available for Foster Children and Dependents of Slain Public Safety Officers.
You can apply for State of Kansas Student Aid 1 of 2 ways:
1. Complete the Online Form OR
2. Print, complete and mail the State of Kansas Student Aid Application

Foster Child Education Assistance Program

An eligible applicant must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Eligible applicant enrolls in a Kansas educational institution on or after July 1, 2012;

and

The applicant was in custody of the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services and in a foster care placement on the date such applicant reached 18 years of age; or

released from custody of the Secretary prior to age 18, after having graduated from high school or fulfilled the requirements for a GED while in foster care placement and in the custody of the Secretary or

adopted from a foster care placement on or after applicant’s 16th birthday; or

left a foster care placement subject to a guardianship under chapter 38 or 59 of the K.S.A. on or after applicant’s 16th birthday.

The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Central Office must verify the applicant’s eligibility status prior to enrollment.

REQUIREMENTS OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS:

Students who have been granted tuition waiver shall remain in good academic standing at the Kansas educational institution where the eligible applicant is enrolled and shall make satisfactory progress toward completion of the requirements of the educational program in which the eligible applicant is enrolled.

WHEN MAY ELIGIBLE STUDENTS ENROLL:

Foster Child Education Assistance Program will be possible for eligible individuals who enroll in a Kansas educational institution on or after July 1, 2006.

Dependents and Spouses of Deceased Military Personnel

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

Military personnel: A deceased individual whose dependents and spouse may be eligible for this tuition waiver is an individual who meets all of the following criteria:

(1) the person was a Kansas resident;

(2) the person was serving in active military service, which means active service in any armed service of the United States and any active state or federal service in the Kansas army or air national guard, at the time of his or her death; and

(3) the person died on or after September 11, 2001, while, and as a result of serving in military service.

Acceptable forms of documentation include: DD Form 13000 “Report of Casualty,” Form AR 600-8-1; a telegram or mailgram notification of death; news reports; and obituaries.

NOTE: Students, who can establish that they were dependents or spouses of deceased military personnel, even if the deaths preceded the effective date of the legislation, are eligible.

A dependent is defined to include a birth child, adopted child or stepchild OR any child other than the foregoing who was actuallydependent in whole or in part on the deceased individual AND who is related to the deceased individual by marriage or consanguinity. A spouse is the spouse of a deceased individual who has not remarried.

WHEN MAY ELIGIBLE STUDENTS ENROLL?

Enrollment without charge of tuition or fees will be possible for eligible individuals beginning with the fall of 2005 enrollment period. Each eligible individual may qualify for tuition and fee waiver only for a total of ten (10) semesters of undergraduate instruction or the equivalent thereof.

WHERE MAY ELIGIBLE STUDENTS ENROLL? Enrollment without charge of tuition or fees under this statute will be possible at Kansas educational institutions, which means public institutions including: technical schools and technical colleges, community colleges, Washburn University, and the state universities.