Federal Financial Aid Information

STATE OF DELAWARE FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

The following are financial aid programs available to students who are residents of the state of Delaware.  For more detailed information on state financial aid programs contact:

            Delaware Higher Education Commission (DHEC)
            Carvel State Office Building
            820 North French Street
            Wilmington, DE 19801
            Phone: (302) 577-3240
            Toll-free: (800) 292-7935
            Fax: (302) 577-6765

            www.doe.state.de.us/high-ed/

Scholarship Incentive Program (ScIP)

Educational Benefits for Children of Deceased Veterans and Others

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicant must have been a resident of the state of Delaware for three or more consecutive years prior to the date of application.

If the applicant's parent is a member of the armed forces, the parent must have been a resident of Delaware at the time of death or declaration of missing in action or prisoner of war status.

Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

Applicant must be between the ages of 16 and 24.

Applicant must be the child of one of the following: 1) member of the armed forces whose cause of death was service-related; 2) member of the armed forces who is being held or was held as a prisoner of war; 3) member of the armed forces who is officially declared missing in action; 4) state police officer whose cause of death was service-related; or 5) state employee of the Department of Transportation routinely employed in job-related activities upon the state highway system whose cause of death was job-related.

Award: Award will not exceed tuition and fees per academic year at:

 - A Delaware public college, or

 - A Delaware private college, if applicant’s program of study is unavailable at a Delaware public college

 - An out-of-state public or private college, if there is no institution in Delaware offering the program of study.

The award will be prorated for eligible students who choose to attend an institution that is out of this sequence.  Award is limited to four years.

Deadline:
The application, is due at least four weeks before classes begin.

Governor's Workforce Development Grants

The maximum Governor's Workforce Development Grant for one academic year (July 1 through June 30) is $2,000 for part-time undergraduate study (11 credits or less) at in-state tuition rates.

Schools accepting Governor's Workforce Development Grants are limited to Delaware-based institutions indicating agreement with the following payment schedule:

 The following colleges accept Governor's Workforce Development Grants:

• Delaware College of Art and Design
• Delaware State University
• Delaware Technical and Community College (all campuses)
• Goldey-Beacom College
• University of Delaware
• Wesley College
• Widener University (Delaware Campus)
• Wilmington College (all campuses)

Eligibility requirements:
You must be 18 or older; a resident of Delaware; a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen; and meet the following enrollment, employment, and income requirements.

Enrollment:

• You must attend a participating college in Delaware as an undergraduate on a part-time basis (11 credits or less).
• If you have taken courses for credit during the past 12 months, you must submit a copy of your most recent transcript or grade report. Academic progress is monitored and may impact eligibility.

Employment:

• You must be employed by a company in Delaware that contributes to the Blue Collar Training Fund Program. Employees of government agencies, hospitals, and nonprofit agencies are not eligible.
• Any part-time or temporary employment at an eligible company qualifies.
• If employed full-time, you must work for an eligible small business with 100 or fewer employees.

Income:

• Your individual annual income must not exceed $35,861 , or
• If you have dependents, your individual annual income must not exceed:

Restrictions:

• Full-time students are not eligible for a grant for interim winter sessions or summer sessions.
• Grants for summer sessions are dependent upon funding.
• Students who receive any other scholarships or grants for their educational expenses are not eligible.
• Renewal of grants is dependent upon the availability of funds and your academic progress.
• Graduate-level coursework does not qualify.

Deadline:
All application materials must be received by the end of the free drop/add period each term. Grants are nonrenewable. A separate application is required for each term.

Applications:
 You can apply online for spring semester 2008 beginning December 3, 2007.

B. Bradford Barnes Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility requirements:
Legal residents of Delaware
U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens
High school seniors who rank in upper quarter of class
Combined score of 1800 on the SAT
Enroll full-time at the University of Delaware

Award:
Full tuition, fees, room, board, and books at the University of Delaware
Renewable for up to three additional years with a cumulative GPA of 3.0
One award/year

Deadline:
The deadline to apply for the 2008-09 academic year is 4:30 p.m. on February 8, 2008.
Award recipients will be notified by March 7, 2008, and must accept by April 25, 2008.

To apply:
Students may apply online in December 2007

Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility requirements::
Legal residents of Delaware
U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens
High school seniors who rank in upper half of class
Combined score of 1350 on the SAT
Enroll full-time at the University of Delaware or Delaware State University
Major in the humanities or social sciences. Preference will be given to political science majors.

Eligible majors:

Award:

Full tuition, fees, room, board, and books at the University of Delaware or Delaware State University
Renewable for up to three additional years with a cumulative GPA of 3.0
One award/year/school

Deadline:

The deadline to apply for the 2008-09 academic year is 4:30 p.m. on March 14, 2008.
Award recipients will be notified by May 16, 2008, and must accept by June 13, 2008.

To apply:

Students may apply online in December 2007.

Herman M. Holloway, Sr. Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility requirements:
 
Legal residents of Delaware
U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens
High school seniors who rank in upper half of class
Combined score of at least 1350 on the SAT
Enroll full-time at Delaware State University
Must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to the application deadline

Award:
Full tuition, fees, room, board, and books for study at Delaware State University.
Renewable for up to three additional years with a cumulative GPA of 3.0
One award/year

To apply:
Students may apply online in December 2007.

Robert C. Byrd Scholarship

Eligibility requirements:

Legal residents of Delaware
U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens
High school seniors who rank in upper quarter of class or GED recipients with a minimum score of 300
Combined score of at least 1800 on the SAT
Enrolled at least half-time at a nonprofit, regionally accredited institution.

Restrictions: Program is dependent upon federal funding.

Award:
$1,500/year
Approximately 20 awards/year
Renewable for up to three additional years with satisfactory academic progress

Deadline:

The deadline to apply for the 2008-09 academic year is 4:30 p.m. on March 28, 2008.
Award recipients will be notified by May 16, 2008, and must accept by June 13, 2008.

To apply:

Students may apply online in December 2007.

Diamond State Scholarship

Eligibility requirements:

Legal residents of Delaware
U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens
High school seniors who rank in upper quarter of class
Combined score of at least 1800 on the SAT
Enrolled as a full-time student in a degree program at a nonprofit, regionally accredited institution
 
Award:

$1,250/year.
Renewable for up to three additional years with a cumulative GPA of 3.0
Approximately 50 awards/year
 
Deadline:

The deadline to apply for the 2008-09 academic year is 4:30 p.m. on March 28, 2008.
Award recipients will be notified by May 16, 2008, and must accept by June 13, 2008.
 
To apply:

Students may apply online in December 2007.

Delaware Nursing Incentive Program

Eligibility Requirements:

     Legal resident of Delaware
     U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens
     Full-time students enrolled in an accredited program leading to certification as a RN or LPN.
     High school seniors must rank in upper half of class with at least a 2.5 cumulative, unweighted GPA.
     Undergraduates must meet academic requirements.
     Current state employees do not have to be Delaware residents and may be considered for part-time enrollment.
     RNs with five or more years of state service may enroll in a BSN program on a full- or part-time basis

Award:

Loan not to exceed cost of tuition, fees, and other direct educational expenses. Renewable for up to three additional years with a cumulative GPA of 2.75. Loan forgiveness provisions for employment at a state-owned hospital or clinic.

Deadline:

The deadline to apply is March 28.  

Students may apply online in December 2007.

Christa McAuliffe Incentive Program

Eligibility requirements:

• Legal residents of Delaware
• U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens
• Full-time students enrolled at a Delaware college in an undergraduate program leading to teacher certification
• High school seniors must rank in upper half of class and have a combined score of 1570 on the SAT
• Undergraduates must have at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA.
• Awards may be provided for programs of study not available in Delaware or prorated for part-time students in a qualifying program.
• Preference is given to applicants planning to teach in a critical need area as defined by the Delaware Department of Education.

Award:

• Loan not to exceed cost of tuition, fees, and other direct educational expenses.
• Renewable for up to three additional years with a cumulative GPA of 2.75
• Loan forgiveness provision at a rate of one year of teaching in a Delaware public school for one year of loan.

Deadline:

• The deadline to apply for the 2008-09 academic year is 4:30 p.m. on March 28, 2008. Award recipients will be announced by June 13, 2008.

To apply:

• Students may apply online in December 2007.

Critical Need Scholarship

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicants must be full-time employees of a Delaware public or charter school who teach on a valid Emergency Certificate in a critical need area as defined by the Delaware Department of Education.
• Districts may reimburse teachers for all or part of tuition and registration fees paid for up to three credits/term (fall and spring) of coursework that will enable them to achieve Standard Certification.
• Recipients must complete course with a 2.0 GPA or higher on 4.0 scale.
• Delaware residency is not required.
• Recipients can attend any regionally accredited college.

Award:

Tuition for up to three credits in the fall and spring semesters. If demand exceeds available funding, awards will be prorated.

Deadline:

January 25, 2008, for fall 2007 semester
June 13, 2008, for spring 2008 semester

Application:

Teachers must apply through the school district or charter school where they are employed. School districts and charter schools must submit a Critical Need Reimbursement Form with required documentation for each applicant. See District and Charter School Responsibilities for instructions.

Optometric Institutional Aid Program

Eligibility requirements:

• Legal residents of Delaware
• U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens
• Full-time students enrolled in a program preparing them for licensure as an optometrist in Delaware.

Award:

• Loan not to exceed cost of tuition, fees, and other direct educational expenses
• Renewable for one additional year
• Loan forgiveness provisions at a rate of one year of employment as an optometrist for one year of loan

Deadline:

• The deadline to apply for the 2007-08 academic year is 4:30 p.m. on March 28, 2008. Award recipients will be announced by June 13, 2008.

To apply:

• Students may apply online in December 2007.

Librarian and Archivist Incentive Program

Eligibility Requirements:

• Legal residents of Delaware
• U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens
• Full- or part-time students in an ALA-accredited master's degree program of library and information science
• Academic record, community service, and financial need are considered.
• Preference is given to employees of public libraries or and archives.

Restriction:

• Loan not to exceed cost of tuition, fees, and other direct educational expenses
• Renewable for one additional year
• Loan forgiveness provision at a rate of two years of employment as a librarian or archivist in a public library, public school library, or state agency for one year of loan

Deadline:

• The deadline to apply for the 2008-09 academic year is 4:30 p.m. on March 28, 2008. Award recipients will be announced by June 13, 2008.

To apply:

• Students may apply online in December 2007.

Speech/Language Pathologist Incentive Program

Eligibility requirements

• Legal residents of Delaware
• U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens
• Full-time students in a graduate program to prepare them for a speech/language pathologist license
• Employees of Delaware public schools may be considered for part-time enrollment.
• Academic record, community service, and financial need are considered.

Award:

• Loan not to exceed cost of tuition, fees, and other direct educational expenses
• Renewable for one additional year
• Loan forgiveness provision at a rate of two years of employment as a licensed speech pathologist in a Delaware public school or by a Delaware Division of Management Services contracted provider of a program serving infants and toddlers.

Deadline:

• The deadline to apply for the 2008-09 academic year is 4:30 p.m. on March 28, 2008.
• Must file FAFSA prior to application deadline.
• Award recipients will be announced by June 13, 2008.

To apply:

• Students may apply online in December 2007.

Agenda for Delaware Women Trailblazer Scholarship

Eligibility requirements:

• Applicants must be women who are legal residents of Delaware and U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens.
• Applicants must enroll in a public or private nonprofit college in Delaware as an undergraduate student in the 2008-09 academic year.
• Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
• Applicants must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit a copy of their Student Aid Report (SAR) with their application

Criteria:

• Based 50% on financial need
• Based 50% on community and school activities, vision, participation, and leadership

Award:

• Two awards of $2,500 for one year.
• Recipients may reapply annually.

Deadline:

• 4:30 p.m. on April 11, 2008, to submit scholarship application
• March 28, 2008 to file FAFSA with federal processor

Application:

• Students can apply online for the 2008-09 academic year beginning December 10, 2007. Paper applications will be available upon request beginning January 3, 2008.

Delaware Engineering Society Scholarships

Eligibility Requirements

• Open to all Delaware high school seniors who will enroll in an ABET-accredited college engineering program (in-state or out-of-state) in fall 2008.
• Other requirements may apply.

Award

• DES Joe J. Welker, Jr. Memorial Scholarship: $1,000 minimum
• DES/University of Delaware Scholarship: $2,000/year, renewable for 4 years (must apply to University of Delaware by January 1, 2008)
• Other awards may be available

Deadline:

• The deadline to apply for the 2008-09 academic year is December 3, 2007.

Contact:

High school guidance counselors are sent applications in late September, or applications may be downloaded from www.desonline.us.

Delaware Open Cross Country Championship Scholarship