At SC, we value strength of character and academic purpose, and this focus has led the college to offer five full-tuition awards for first-year students annually.
All of these five full-tuition scholarships are competitive awards. We suggest each qualified student consider applying for one of these scholarships. Finalists will receive invitations to participate in the competition. The competition consists of various small group activities with faculty/staff members of the respective academic division. Each finalist who attends the competition on campus will receive a renewable $1,000 scholarship. Five finalists will be selected, based on the outcome of the competition day and additional qualifications, to receive full-tuition scholarships.
Click the arrow to expand on the scholarship below to see details, requirements, and applications.
Fall Full-Tuition Competition
Application Deadline: November 1
Competition Day: November 15
Southwestern College accounting alumni for the past five years are currently employed in public accounting, private accounting, education, and working on graduate degrees. Furthermore, twelve percent of our accounting graduates from the past five years have obtained CPA licensure and another fifteen percent are working toward that goal.
Southwestern College is launching our Accounting Full-Tuition Scholarship Competition. Qualified applicants will be invited to campus to interview with faculty for a chance to win a full-tuition scholarship.
Full-Tuition Requirements
3.5 or greater cumulative high school GPA
To be considered, you must also submit your application for admission and supporting materials to SC by November 1, 2025.
Schedule
Saturday, November 15, 2025
8:30 am Check-In
8:45 am Welcome by President Frombgen
9:00 am Business/Accounting Faculty Introduction & Speed Interview Instructions
9:30 am Small Group Speed Interviews (with current Accounting and DECA students)
11:00 am DECA/Accounting Videos & Faculty Q&A
11:15 am Reflection Survey & Group Activity
11:45 am Campus Tour (optional)
The 2026 Full-Tuition Scholarship in Accounting application will open on October 1, 2025.
All materials need to be submitted by Saturday, November 1, 2025.
Southwestern College has a rich tradition of educating students in the natural sciences and we are proud to relaunch the Mastin Natural Science Full Tuition Scholarship. Open to students in the natural science division. Majors include, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Health Science and Mathematics. Selected semi-finalist students will be expected to come to campus to participate in an in-person, interactive interview activity.
Full-Tuition Requirements
3.7 or greater cumulative high school GPA
26 or higher ACT composite score (or equivalent SAT)
To be considered, you must also submit your application for admission and supporting materials to SC by November 1, 2025.
Semi-Finalist Schedule
Saturday, November 15, 2025
8:30 am Check-In
8:45 am Welcome by President Frombgen
9:00 am Natural Science Faculty Introduction
9:30 am Small Group Video (Reel format)
10:30 am Video Review/Presentation(combined with Nursing)
11:15 am Reflection Survey
11:45 am Campus Tour(optional)
Finalist Interviews
Five finalists will be selected to individually participate in a virtual interview with Natural Science faculty via Teams for a chance to win a full-tuition scholarship. Finalists will be notified by the end of day on Monday, November 17, 2025. Interviews will be scheduled to take place during the Wednesday, November 19-Friday, November 21.
The 2026 Full-Tuition Scholarship in Natural Science application will open on October 1, 2025.
All materials need to be submitted by Saturday, November 1, 2025.
At Southwestern, we believe nursing is more than a career—it’s a calling. Students in our program benefit from the opportunity to develop their skills in a close-knit environment where personalized attention is our promise.
Southwestern College is launching the Nursing full-tuition scholarship competition. Qualified students will be invited to campus to participate in the semi-finals. Finalists will participate in interviews the following week.
Selected students will attend the semi-finalist on-campus scholarship event on November 15th from 9 am - 11:45 am.
Full-Tuition Requirements
3.7 or greater cumulative high school GPA
26 or higher ACT composite score (or equivalent SAT)
To be considered, you must also submit your application for admission and supporting materials to SC by November 1, 2025.
Semi-Finalist Schedule
Saturday, November 15, 2025
8:30 am Check-In
8:45 am Welcome by President Frombgen
9:00 am Nursing Faculty Introduction
9:30 am Small Group Video Activity(Reel format)
10:30 am Video Review/Presentation(combined with Natural Science)
11:15 am Reflection Survey
11:45 am Tour of the William Newton Hospital Simulation Center and/or Campus Tour(optional)
Finalist Interviews
Five finalists will be selected to individually participate in a virtual interview with Nursing faculty via Teams for a chance to win a full-tuition scholarship. Finalists will be notified by the end of day on Monday, November 17, 2025. Interviews will be scheduled to take place on Wednesday, November 19, Thursday, November 20 or Friday, November 21.
The 2026 Full-Tuition Scholarship in Nursing application will open on October 1, 2025.
All materials need to be submitted by Saturday, November 1, 2025.
Spring Full-Tuition Competition
Application Deadline: January 15
Competition Day: January 19
Since 1885, Southwestern College has been educating teachers. With alumni scattered all over the United States and internationally, SC educator preparation programs equip educators to be the very best in their fields. If you have a passion for teaching and want to lead and serve in the classroom and beyond, the Education full tuition scholarship competition is for you!
Southwestern College is launching our Education Full Tuition Scholarship Competition. Qualified students will be invited to participate in an essay and activity as part of the semi-finals and finalists will receive invitations to interview with faculty for a chance to win full tuition for four years.
Full-Tuition Requirements
3.0 or greater cumulative high school GPA
20 or higher ACT composite score (or equivalent SAT)
To be considered, you must also submit your application for admission and supporting materials to SC by January 15, 2026.
The 2026 Full-Tuition Scholarship in Education application will open on December 1, 2025.
All materials need to be submitted by January 15, 2026.
Southwestern College is a place where all students, regardless of major, can experience a wide range of performing arts opportunities and offerings and we are proud to launch our new Performing Arts Full Tuition Scholarship Competition. Qualified students will be invited to campus to participate in the semi-finals, completing an essay and group activity. Finalists will participate in interviews with Performing Arts Directors for a chance to win full tuition for four years.
Full-Tuition Requirements
3.5 or greater cumulative high school GPA
24 or higher ACT composite score (or equivalent SAT)
Submission of audition/portfolio (upload with application)
To be considered, you must also submit your application for admission and supporting materials to SC by January 15, 2026.
The 2026 Full-Tuition Scholarship in Performing Arts application will open on December 1, 2025.
All materials need to be submitted by January 15, 2026.
Academic Scholarships
Every first-year full-time student receives financial assistance from SC.
Domestic students entering Southwestern directly from high school in Fall 2023 averaged more than $31,000 in combined grants, scholarships, need-based loans, and need-based work study.
2024-2025 Academic Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of a student’s academic record and optional ACT or SAT score. Amounts vary and are available to incoming Southwestern students attending main campus courses. Southwest-ern scholarships are renewable for up to 10 semesters provided the student maintains a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. Accepted students may receive one academic scholarship and one activity/athletic scholarship.
Southwestern College Academic Scholarship awards will be determined at the time of admission. The following represents academic awards available to first-time freshman students. Southwestern College uses the unweighted GPA for consideration of admission and scholarship.
FRESHMEN ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
2.6 – 2.99 GPA
3.0 – 3.49 GPA
3.5 + GPA
18 – 20 ACT
$6,000
Jinx
$8,000
Founders
$10,000
Heritage
21 – 24 ACT
$8,000
Founders
$10,000
Heritage
$11,000
Dean
25 – 29 ACT
$10,000
Heritage
$11,000
Dean
$12,000
Provost
30 + ACT
$10,000
Dean
$12,000
Provost
$13,000
Presidential
2.6 – 2.99 GPA
3.0 + GPA
WITHOUT TEST
$6,000
$8,000
Southwestern College Academic Scholarship awards will be determined at the time of admit (acceptance). The average athletic/activity scholarship is $8,000 per year. Actual activity scholarship may vary.
TRANSFER ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
GPA
Scholarship
3.3 – 4.0
$12,000 Provost
3.0 – 3.29
$10,000 Heritage
2.5 – 2.99
$8,000 Founders
2.0 – 2.49
$6,000 Jinx
Southwestern College Academic Scholarship awards will be determined at the time of admit (acceptance). The average athletic/activity scholarship is $8,000 per year. Actual activity scholarship may vary.
* The amounts listed in the freshman grid are based on living on campus. Should a student decide to live off-campus, the scholarship will be reduced by 40%. {1} Need-based funds will be added to the student’s base amount where appropriate. {2} Best composite ACT is used. Last test date to improve test score for financial aid is June. {3} Students may receive one athletic/activity scholarship in addition to their academic scholarship. {4} Should a student receive a scholarship from their church community, the amount of the scholarship will be matched by Southwestern up to $500 per semester ($1,000 per year). To receive the match, church funds must be received by September 1 of the fall semester (application required). {5} Southwestern scholarships are renewable provided the student maintains a 2.0 cumulative GPA. {6} Once the financial aid award is set for the year, it is guaranteed for each year thereafter, provided the student meets financial aid deadlines, the renewal GPA, and continues living on campus.
Southwestern College Stackable Grants
Stackable Grants can be used in addition to other scholarships. Grants include Legacy Moundbuilders (parent or grandparent Alumni), or Cowley/Sumner County residents both worth $1,000 per year.
$1,000 Cowley/Sumner County Residents
$1,000 Alumni/Legacy Moundbuilders
Activity Scholarships
Scholarships are available to students participating in designated Southwestern College activity programs. Scholarships vary in amount and often require an audition, interview, or tryout with the college’s activity director or coach. Students may participate in multiple activities, but they may receive only one activity/athletic scholarship. The scholarships are renewable provided the student continues to participate in the activity and maintains a cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
Developed through the contributions of giving alumni and friends, the SC grant option is made available to a select amount of students each year that have demon-strated need. The amounts vary, but are made available to students when they have been admitted and filed their FAFSA. Students are notified of this award through their official award letter.
Roy L. Smith Church Matching Scholarship
A scholarship matching program up to $1,000 offered to students enrolled in main campus, undergraduate programs who receive scholarships from churches of any denomination. Funds to be matched must be received by the Office of Financial Aid by September 1 of each year.
Dollars for Scholars
Southwestern College partners in the Triple Your Dollars program through the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation’s Dollars for Scholars program. Eligible students that complete the UMHEF application (UMHEF.org) and receive a $1,000 from their Methodist church, will receive a matching donation from UMHEF. Once that match is received at SC, we apply the Roy L. Smith Church Matching Scholarship of $1,000 to those amounts, helping the student triple their dollars. Funds made available by UMHEF are limited each year, so students should apply early to gain first consideration. Learn more at www.umhef.org/scholarships/umdfs.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
First-time transfer students who are members of Phi Theta Kappa are eligible to receive a $4,000.00 renewable scholarship. Students must notify the Office of Admission and provide proof of membership to receive this award, prior to receiving a financial aid estimate or financial aid offer letter. High School seniors with dual credit enrollment are not eligible for PTK scholarships. Transfer PTK students admitted into the Honors program may receive either the PTK scholarship or the Honors scholarship.
Tuition Exchange
Children of full-time employees at private colleges and universities that participate in tuition exchange programs are eligible for substantial tuition benefits at Southwestern College. Southwestern College participates in two tuition exchange programs: www.tuitionexchange.org and www.cic.org. Eligible individuals should identify themselves with the Southwestern College Office of Admission and apply for the benefit through the tuition exchange officer at the parent’s place of employment.
Military Benefits
Military education benefits are available for students currently serving on Active Duty, for veterans who have served on Active Duty, and for their spouses and children. Learn more »
Outside Scholarships and Opportunities
There are a host of scholarships and grants that exist outside of Federal, State, and Institutional aid. Many sites are devoted to linking students to these opportunities. Here are a few links to consider as you build your financial plan for college:
