Outside Scholarship Information

Outside Scholarship Information


The “Scholarship Hunting Season” starts early — so plan ahead!

Many applications open as early as October, and most deadlines fall during the fall and winter quarters. Keep in mind that the scholarships you apply for now will typically help fund next year’s tuition and expenses.

We’ve gathered these links to trusted outside scholarship opportunities as a courtesy for Central Washington University students. Please note: CWU is not responsible for any interactions or agreements made between you and these outside organizations. Always apply thoughtfully and at your own discretion.

How to find Outside Private Donor Scholarships

Start here: Federal Student Aid Scholarship Guide

You can also try these websites for outside scholarship search support and basic information on different types of scholarships (if you are going to use any of these search engines be sure to set up a separate email account; you might get spam from these sources):

For help with writing an essay, getting letters of recommendation, and completing the scholarship process, visit Scholarship Junkies. On this site students will find help and support, but also a great list of outside scholarships and donors.

  • Register your student profile at WashBoard, a non-profit scholarship matching service for Washington state students or students attending schools in Washington state
  • Tap into the power of your community--various local organizations offer scholarships. Many of these organizations don't have the resources to widely advertise their funding opportunities, so it pays to do a little research beyond the Web

What to do if you've earned an Outside Private Donor Scholarship:

  1. Fax, mail, or deliver a copy of your award letter to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. We will add the scholarship to your financial aid package and send your donor proof of your enrollment at Central.
  2. Instruct your donor to make out the scholarship check like this:
  3. Instruct your donor to send the funds to:
  4. If your donor requires you to submit your grades/transcripts, you may request official or unofficial transcripts through the Office of The Registrar.

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