Impact Scholarship

Current high school seniors who are FAFSA-eligible and plan to enroll in Fall 2027 as first-year students are eligible for the Allegheny Impact Scholarship. 

Impact Scholars enroll and remain full-time, degree-seeking students, reside in on-campus housing, and purchase a meal plan for eight semesters of study. Students interested in studying away can qualify if they participate in a fall or spring semester Allegheny-sponsored program.

Although there is no minimum GPA for consideration, the scholarship is typically awarded to students with an unweighted cumulative high school GPA of 3.6 or higher at the time of application.

Academic achievement is one part of the selection process. The Scholarship Committee also considers the information provided through the Impact Scholarship Application, the Application for Admission, and the interview.

The Allegheny Impact Scholarship covers 100% of tuition for eight semesters of undergraduate study. Students remain responsible for required fees, housing, food, and other applicable costs, keeping in mind that students with demonstrated financial need may receive additional assistance.

You can submit your Impact Scholarship Application before an Application for Admission, but for full consideration, you must submit all required materials for the Application for Admission prior to your preferred Impact Scholarship deadline — November 1 or February 1.

Yes. Students selected as finalists who advance in the competition complete an on-campus interview with an Allegheny faculty or staff member during the Nov. 14 or Feb. 21 competition events.

Students choose one competition date; candidates are not permitted to apply or compete in more than one competition date.

There is no option for a virtual interview. Travel assistance may be available for those who qualify.

Students may apply for other scholarship opportunities. If awarded the Impact Scholarship, all Allegheny-funded scholarships and grants are replaced by the Impact Scholarship and become honorary.

No Allegheny institutional aid will exceed the full cost of tuition, and institutional grants, scholarships and Resident Advisor awards may not cause total grant and scholarship assistance to exceed a student’s billable costs.

Students can apply for both opportunities, but students selected for the Impact Scholarship cannot be selected for the Bonner Scholarship cohort program.

No. International and transfer candidates are not eligible for the Impact Scholarship, but both types of applicants are considered for other scholarships and need-based aid opportunities. 

The Impact Scholarship competition is open to eligible first-year students who are U.S. citizens and/or FAFSA-eligible.

The full-tuition scholarship is renewed annually (up to eight semesters) by maintaining good academic standing annually as determined by the Academic Awards and Standards Committee. Impact Scholars must reside on-campus, purchase a meal plan, and enroll as a full-time student for eight semesters of study.