Complete Your Application Early!
Your application for admission will be used as your scholarship application.
December 1: File the FAFSA
File the FAFSA for the 2025-26 academic year: fafsa.gov
December 1: Early Scholarship Consideration
Get all set early! Receive first consideration for all scholarships, including limited full-tuition awards.
February 1: Priority Deadline
Apply by Feb. 1 for priority consideration of scholarships
May 1: Final Deadline
Scholarships awarded while funds last
Learn if you qualify for Free Tuition!
Do you live in Scioto, Lawrence, Adams, Pike, Jackson or Ross Counties in Ohio – or Greenup, Boyd or Lewis Counties in Kentucky? You could be eligible for Free Tuition at Shawnee State! Students who qualify for federal Pell Grants, have a high school GPA of 3.0 and ACT score of at least 18 are eligible.
Visit shawnee.edu/free-tuition to learn more.
Scholarships or “Merit-Based” Aid
Scholarships are based on your academic achievements and do not have to be repaid. Apply for admission to Shawnee State University and send us your transcripts and ACT or SAT scores for consideration for scholarship awards.
Learn more about Scholarships (PDF)
Complete 3 easy steps to be considered for one of our merit-based scholarships:
- Apply for admission to Shawnee State. Your application for admission will be used as your scholarship application.
- Send your ACT/SAT score* to our Office of Admission.
- Send your current high school transcript with grade point average to our Office of Admission.
Need help or have questions? Call (740) 351-4778 to get started.
*What if I can’t take the ACT or SAT this year?
For the 25-26 Academic Year, Shawnee State is “Test-Recommended” which clears the path for students to enroll.
Our goal is to make sure the availability of ACT and SAT is not a barrier to you getting started on your college degree.
Learn about Test-Recommended options
Merit Scholarships
Shawnee Scholar Award
(Full-tuition scholarship for four years)
Valued at full-tuition for four years, this scholarship will be awarded to selected outstanding students. If you have an ACT score of 30 and higher or SAT (combined reading/ math) score of 1320+ and a high school grade point average of at least 3.8/4.0 scale you will be considered for this prestigious award. Your SSU application and submission of student work must be received by the February 1, 2025 Priority Deadline to be considered for this award.
Send us a sample of your best work. This can be anything that demonstrates your interests, talents, and skill level as an incoming freshman. Your submission can be a poem you wrote, an essay, painting, drawing, video of a performance, math equation you solved — anything that makes you proud and represents you as a student. Along with your submission, send us a note about why you chose your particular sample
All submissions should be sent to the Financial Aid Office by email at fin_aid@shawnee.edu or by mail at Shawnee State University, Attn: Financial Aid Office, 940 Second Street, Portsmouth OH 45662.
Shawnee Achievement Award
($3,500-$5,500 per year
$14,000-$22,000 for four years)
If you have an ACT score of 27 or higher or SAT (combined reading/math) score of 1260 or higher, you could qualify for a $3500-$5500 Shawnee Achievement Award.
Shawnee Excellence Award
($3,000-$4,500 per year
$12,000-$18,000 for four years)
If you have an ACT score of 25–26 or SAT (combined reading/math) score of 1200–1250, you could qualify for a $3,000-$4,500 Shawnee Excellence Award.
Shawnee Success Award
($2,500-$4,000 per year
$10,000-$16,000 for four years)
If you have an ACT score of 23–24 or higher or SAT (combined reading/math) score of 1130–1190, you could qualify for a $2,500-$4,000 Shawnee Success Award.
Blue & Gray Award
($2,000-$3,500 per year
$8,000-$14,000 for four years)
If you have an ACT score of 21–22 or SAT (combined reading/math) score of 1060–1120, you could qualify for a $2,000-$3,500 Blue and Gray Award.
Merit Awards at a Glance
It’s easier than you may think to qualify for a Scholarship Award at Shawnee State University.
To see what you may have already qualified for, match your high school GPA to your ACT/SAT scores in the table below.
| ACT 27+ or SAT 1260+ |
ACT 25-26 or SAT 1200-1250 |
ACT 23-24 or SAT 1130-1190 |
ACT 21-22 or SAT 1060-1120 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPA 3.8+ | $5,500/year | $4,500/year | $4,000/year | $3,500/year |
| GPA 3.6+ | $4,500/year | $4,000/year | $3,500/year | $3,000/year |
| GPA 3.4+ | $4,000/year | $3,500/year | $3,000/year | $2,500/year |
| GPA 3.2+ | $3,500/year | $3,000/year | $2,500/year | $2,000/year |
Students who score below an 18 ACT in English, Math or Reading are not eligible for the merit-based scholarship program.
Will I be considered for scholarships if I take the Accuplacer Placement Test instead of submitting ACT/SAT scores?
Yes. If you submit an ACT or SAT score, you will be considered for scholarships within our existing Merit-Based Scholarship Matrix. If you take the Accuplacer Placement Test instead, you will be considered for scholarships using the Accuplacer Placement Scholarship Matrix below.
Please complete your application and submit all transcripts and test scores for scholarship consideration.
*Note: You must also provide evidence of "rigorous course of study" including:
- Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus or Calculus, or CCP/AP credit in Statistics, Algebra, or Calculus
- College Prep, Honors, AP, or CCP credit in English,
- At least two credits in or a combination of two credits in Biology, Chemistry or Physics
To see what you may qualify for, match your high school GPA to your Accuplacer Placement Test scores in the table below.
| High School GPA | AAF 276+ WP 7+ READ 241+ |
AAF 263-275 WP 5+ READ 241+ |
QRAS 253+ WP 5+ READ 241+ |
QRAS 241-252 WP 5+ READ 241+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPA 4.0+ | $5,000 | $4,000 | $3,000 | $2,000 |
| GPA 3.8+ | $4,500 | $3,500 | $2,500 | $1,750 |
| GPA 3.6+ | $4,000 | $3,000 | $2,000 | $1,500 |
| GPA 3.4+ | $3,500 | $2,500 | $1,500 | $1,250 |
| GPA 3.2+ | $3,000 | $2,000 | $1,250 | $1,000 |
- AAF = Advanced Algebra and Functions
- QRAS = Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics
- WP = WritePlacer
- READ = Reading Placement
Our goal is to make sure the availability of ACT and SAT is not a barrier to you getting started on your college degree.
Learn about Test-Recommended options
Renewal Requirements
Your scholarship is renewable every year for four years. Maintain a 3.0 GPA and earn 27 credit hours per academic year in order to automatically renew your scholarship each academic year.
Additional Scholarship Opportunities
SSU Honors Scholarship
Full-tuition scholarship for 15 Scioto County graduating seniors. To qualify, students must be awarded the distinction of valedictorian or salutatorian for their high school, submit a 1-page essay, and agree to participate in the SSU Honors Program. Application is now live, which will provide an opportunity for students to submit their application and accompanying essay. The South Central Ohio ESC (Educational Service Center) will choose 15 winners from the applicant pool to receive the award. Applicants will be assessed by the academic rigor of their high school curriculum and the quality of their short essay.
Apply for SSU Honors Scholarship
Scioto County Metro Housing Rate
Any incoming first-time freshman who reside in Scioto County can live in Shawnee State University’s campus housing at a 50% reduction in cost of housing and meal plan.
Paws Up Scholarship
Non-Merit/Non-Pell Award
Shawnee State University currently provides merit-based awards to incoming first-time freshman who score a 21 on the ACT Composite (1060 SAT) and possess at least a 3.2 grade point average. These awards can range from $2,000 to $5,500 annually. We also provide a Pell-Eligible Free Tuition program for students who qualify for a Pell Grant and possess an 18 on their ACT Composite.
Missing from these awards are students who fall just shy of a merit award, while concurrently not qualifying for a Pell Grant. SSU will award scholarships of $1,500/per year for four years to students who possess a 2.75 cumulative GPA and an 18 ACT Composite, but do not qualify for a Pell Grant.
Go Far Scholarship
If you are a student who lives in campus housing with demonstrated financial need and at least an 18 ACT composite score, you may be eligible for this scholarship.
There are a limited number of these awards, so apply early to guarantee full consideration.
Transfer Scholarships
($1,500-$3,500 per year)
If you began your education at another university or community college, finish your degree at Shawnee State University. Students with an associate’s degree receive an additional $1,000.
| GPA | Transfer Scholarship |
|---|---|
| 2.85–3.49 | $1,500 |
| 3.50–3.79 | $2,500 |
| 3.8 and above | $3,500 |
SSU Legacy Scholarship*
($500 per year/$2,000 for four years)
If your parent or grandparent graduated from Shawnee State University and you have earned a high school grade point average of at least a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, you may be eligible for a legacy scholarship.
This scholarship is stackable with other merit and athletic scholarships. A separate application is required. Call (740) 351-4AID if you have questions.