Kean University has several opportunities for incoming freshmen to earn scholarships, resulting in less financial stress during their undergraduate career. These scholarships can be both merit and need based depending on varying requirements for the different scholarships.
The available scholarships are divided into different categories, with one being freshmen merit scholarships. Every applicant applying for admission to Kean University is considered for this category. One does not need to worry about filling out a separate application for the merit scholarships, as the application for admission is used.
The freshmen merit scholarships are available for recent high school graduates primarily admitted as full-time students. They are based on courses taken, academic rigor, class rank and high school unweighted grade point average (GPA), however it is not limited to these factors. These scholarships are renewable for up to four years of consecutive undergraduate study.
It is important to note that students that receive these scholarships must maintain a 3.0 GPA as well as full-time enrollment to maintain eligibility. Also, these awards cannot be combined.
The seven levels of merit scholarships and the maximum award over four years are as follows:
William Livingston Full Scholarship: up to $50,000
Kean Scholar: up to $20,000
Trustee Scholar: up to $14,000
Presidential Scholar: up to $10,000
Academic Scholar: up to $6,000
Climb Higher Scholarship: up to $4,000
Early Action Award: offered to accepted applicants that complete their application as well as submit all required documents by Jan. 1 for the following Fall semester.
Another category of scholarships for freshmen are the Kean Foundation Scholarships. Incoming freshmen are eligible to apply to these via an online application. This application is available between Oct. 1 and March 1 for the following fall semester.
It should be noted that priority will be given to applications submitted before Feb. 1, so be sure to get a head start. Also, one does not need to apply for these scholarships individually, rather the one application will allow you to be in the running for all of the scholarships available. To fill out an application, be sure to visit the website.
The Kean Foundation Scholarships for incoming freshmen include:
Ronald and Susan L. Applbaum Scholarship Endowment: Awarded to incoming freshmen in the upper tenth percentile in their high school graduating class. Recipients must be from New Jersey and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Dr. Reynold E. and Mary B. Burch Endowed Scholarship: Awarded to unmarried recent high school graduates that are enrolled in health-related courses, demonstrate financial need and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Jarred Crowley Annual Memorial Scholarship: Given to high school graduates from Hamilton High School West or prospective criminal justice majors from New Jersey. Recipients must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Richard Cudina “78 Endowed Scholarship: Given in honor of Cudina, a Kean alumnus that was killed on 9/11.
Jane D’Onofrio Endowed and Annual Scholarships: Recipients must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, a minimum 200 SAT score as well as demonstrate financial need. The preference for this scholarship are business majors.
Anne Evans Estabrook Endowed Scholarship: Awarded to excellent students in the areas of academics and community service or achievement that maintain a 3.0 GPA.
First Generation Annual Scholarship: Recipients must be a first generation college student with a financial need and a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Frank Anderson Memorial Design Scholarship: Recipients must have a minimum 3.25 GPA, portfolio of their work, are proficient in the field of graphic design and have a financial need.
Ken and Anne Estabrook Endowed Scholarship: Given to students that are enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in science and technology education program. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA from high school, 1200 SAT score and maintain a 3.2 GPA for annual renewal.
Arthur Geilfuss Endowed Scholarship: Recipients must be enrolled in the College of Business and Public Administration, have a minimum 3.4 GPA and 1000 SAT score.
Emma Geilfuss Endowed Scholarship: Recipients must be enrolled in the College of Business and Public Administration, have a minimum 3.4 GPA and 1000 SAT score.
Mabel G. Holmes Endowed Scholarship: Awarded to students from Elizabeth High School in New Jersey that ranked in the upper third percentile of the high school class, as well as have financial need.
Joe and Josie Gonnella Annual Scholarship in Design for Incoming Freshmen: Awarded to students studying graphic design: interactive, print, screen that have a financial need, a minimum 3.0 GPA and submit a portfolio.
Kean University Foundation Endowed and Annual Scholarships: Given to excellent students in the areas of academics and community service that have a 3.0 GPA, have financial need and plan to reside on campus.
Kean University Scholarship for Campus Residency: Recipients can be freshmen or sophomore students that have a minimum 3.2 GPA, have financial need and reside on campus.
Divina Malanga Endowed Memorial Scholarship: Recipients are females from Elizabeth High School in New Jersey that are ranked in the upper third of their high school class and have financial need.
Edward and Dolly Miltner Endowed Scholarship: Given to students from Bergen County that have a minimum 3.0 GPA and have financial need. The preference for this scholarship are education majors.
Novartis Upward Bound Annual Scholarship: Given to graduates of the Upward Bound program with a minimum 2.75 GPA.
Robert Busch Annual Scholarship in Design for Incoming Freshmen. Recipients must be majoring in design. There is one scholarship awarded for the following majors: advertising design, graphic design, industrial design and interior design. Students must submit a portfolio, have a financial need and a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Senior Class Annual Scholarship: Recipients for this scholarship are typically students that are not eligible for traditional financial aid as well as participate in an array of extracurricular and civic activities. Students must have a minimum 3.5 GPA.
Damarys Vazquez Endowed and Annual Memorial Scholarships: Recipients for this scholarship are females studying early childhood education from Elizabeth, New Jersey.
James Volpe Memorial Annual Scholarship: Given to students that reside on campus and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Ruth Keeler Gannon Endowed Scholarship: Given to students that show academic excellence and commitment to the community.
Charles and Vera Green Leadership Scholarship: Awarded to students that have a financial need. The preference for this scholarship are disabled military veterans and military family members.
Additionally, there are Distinguished Freshman Scholarships. For example, there is the New Jersey Center for Science, Technology and Mathematics (NJSTM) Scholarship which is for incoming freshmen that matriculate into a five-year combined bachelors/masters degree honors program. This is renewable every academic year as long as the student upholds a minimum 3.0 GPA and full-time enrollment at Kean.
Similarly, there is the Michael Graves College of Architecture and Design Scholarship in which a few students are selected for full in-state tuition that are studying architecture or design. This is renewable every academic year as long as the student upholds a minimum 3.0 GPA and full-time enrollment at Kean.
There is also the School of Fine Arts Scholarship where full in-state tuition is awarded to select students studying fine arts, music or theatre. This can also be renewed every year if the student maintains full-time enrollment and a 3.0 GPA. Applicants that are eligible must reach out to the faculty of interest and submit a Foundation Scholarship Application, as well as provide a portfolio or audition.
To learn more about these Distinguished Freshman Scholarships, be sure to check out the Scholarship for Incoming Freshmen webpage.
Furthermore, there is the Centennial Fund Scholarship and Garden State Equity Scholarship in which a limited number of renewable scholarships are given out based on academics and financial need.
The Out-Of-State On-Campus Residency Scholarship is awarded to select students that are not from New Jersey and choose to live on campus. The amount is $16,000 over four years, resulting in $4,000 annually. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, submit a FAFSA and complete a Campus Housing Application.
Also, ninth to eleventh graders in high school can begin earning micro-scholarships from Kean through RaiseMe. This will allow students to have less financial stress when they are beginning college.
For more information on any of the scholarships or other information regarding financial aid, be sure to contact finaid@kean.edu.
