Scholarships and Financial Aid

Students at the SCE Donor Lunch

Nine of the ten highest-paid college degrees are in engineering and computer science, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, but first you have to pay for college. That may not be as hard as you think, thanks to the enormous opportunities offered by UMKC, SCE and independent groups.

More than 90 percent of UMKC freshmen and 85 percent of transfer students receive some combination of scholarships, grants, loans and work-study jobs. The School of Computing and Engineering alone offers more than $150,000 in departmental scholarships! UMKC offers in-state tuition to all Kansas residents and the Heartland rate for residents from other areas in the Midwest.

  • UMKC Financial Aid and Scholarships

    Learn about financial aid available for undergraduate and graduate students, including scholarships, loans, grants and work-study. Visit the UMKC Financial Aid and Scholarships page to complete your FAFSA, the first step in receiving financial support, and apply for university-wide scholarships.

  • SCE Scholarships

    The School of Computing and Engineering alone offers more than 70 scholarships each year that are reserved just for our students. These scholarships are funded by technology and engineering businesses, alumni, faculty, staff and friends who designate their gifts to support your education. View these scholarships and directions on how to apply below.

  • External Scholarships

    UMKC and SCE financial aid offices are merely a start for scholarship help. Hundreds of scholarship opportunities are available through external organizations. We do our best to maintain a running list of scholarships available from companies and nonprofits specifically for students in computing and engineering. Visit our online database and use the filter tools to sort for scholarships specific to your degree program.

NEW STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

New incoming freshmen can apply for New Student Scholarships by completing the process outlined below. This application is due January 15 and is updated each Fall for the upcoming entrance term. Incoming students must submit this application to be considered for SCE scholarships.

Incoming freshmen should also visit the UMKC Financial Aid and Scholarships website to apply for university level scholarships and other forms of financial support.

SCE scholarships are awarded to students as all academic levels. As you progress as a student, several more upper level scholarships will become available. Scholarships are awarded annually. Half of the award is applied in the Fall and the remainder is applied in Spring. SCE scholarships do not apply to summer enrollment.

All information listed above is subject to change as scholarship funds become available.

Application Process

All incoming freshmen students must complete and submit the application to be considered for SCE scholarships.

  1. Complete the New Student Scholarship Application (available late September).
    • Essay describing your educational and career goals, how a scholarship will benefit you and why you should be selected.
    • Resume highlighting extracurricular activities, leadership positions held, work, or volunteer experience.
    • A letter of recommendation may be required (see scholarship application for more details).
  2. Email or mail completed scholarship application, essay, resume and letter of recommendation (if required) to the SCE Scholarship office by January 15.
  3. Some scholarships require an interview. Students will be notified if they are selected for an interview.

TRANSFER STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Transfer students are eligible to apply for university scholarships and SCE scholarships once they become a current student. They can apply using the current student directions below for the first March 1 eligible deadline. UMKC offers some automatic Transfer Student scholarships which are offered based on your application.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

International students can visit the INTERNATIONAL section of our site to find resources regarding tuition and scholarships.

CURRENT STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

We award more than 70 scholarships each year.  All undergraduate scholarship recipients must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours per semester for the duration of the award.

Current and returning SCE students are eligible for both SCE and UMKC scholarships. To apply for scholarships for the  next academic year, you must complete the University’s online application  by March 1.

Before you apply:

  • New students should visit the NEW STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP section of our site for more information.
  • All students currently receiving RENEWABLE scholarships from the School of Computing & Engineering MUST complete the online application to receive the scholarship in the next year.
  • Any current SCE student who wants to be considered for scholarships for the next school year MUST complete the online application.
  • The application requests a letter of recommendation to complete the scholarship application. To apply ONLY for SCE scholarships, students do not need to include a letter of recommendation; however, to be considered for UMKC scholarships, students must submit a letter of recommendation.

Things to know:

  • The application site closes on MARCH 1. No late applications will be accepted.
  • Questions about the online application should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at 816-235-1154.
  • Questions about the scholarships available in the School of Computing and Engineering should be directed to DST Student Services Center at 816-235-2399 or sce@umkc.edu.
  • Scholarships are awarded annually. Half of the award is applied in the fall semester and the remainder is applied in the spring semester. SCE scholarships do not apply to summer enrollment.