The starting point
Every admitted K-State freshman who applies by the priority date is automatically considered, with no separate form, for a guaranteed GPA-based merit award — up to $5,500/year ($22,000) for Kansas residents and a separate nonresident-tuition discount worth up to $17,694/year ($70,776) for out-of-state students.
More than one award path. Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.
Awards to discuss
First 3 of 16 recorded awards, in chapter display order. This is a selection, not a ranking. Read the full chapter for all awards. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.
University Scholar Award (Kansas resident)
$5,500/year ($22,000 total) · Published award terms
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
GPA: 3.85+ best GPA (weighted or unweighted) · SAT: 1330+ · ACT: 29+ (1330+ SAT) for this column; lower test bands map to other awards
Eligibility: Kansas resident, incoming freshman; only ONE general university award may be earned. Test-optional — GPA alone determines eligibility.
Renewal: Renewable for up to three additional years (four years, eight semesters total). Maintain a minimum K-State cumulative GPA of 3.0, continuous full-time enrollment each fall/spring, and 24 K-State credit hours per academic year.
Other terms: Top Kansas-resident general university award. Awarded automatically with admission if you apply by the priority date and meet the GPA/test cell. The published grid pairs GPA bands with ACT/SAT bands; 3.85+ with 29+ ACT/1330+ SAT earns this award.
https://www.k-state.edu/sfa/scholarships-aid/scholarships/future-students/kansas-resident-awards/
Royal Purple Scholarship (Kansas resident)
$4,000/year ($16,000 total) · Published award terms
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
GPA: 3.85+ with 25-28 ACT/1200-1320 SAT, OR 3.70-3.84 with 29+ ACT/1330+ SAT (or 25-28 ACT/1200-1320 SAT) · SAT: 1200-1320 or 1330+ · ACT: 25-28 or 29+ depending on GPA band
Eligibility: Kansas resident, incoming freshman; one award only.
Renewal: Renewable up to three additional years (four years, eight semesters total) with a minimum K-State cumulative 3.0 GPA, continuous full-time enrollment, and 24 K-State credit hours per year.
Other terms: Second tier in the Kansas resident grid; reachable from either a 3.85+ GPA with a mid test band or a 3.70-3.84 GPA.
https://www.k-state.edu/sfa/scholarships-aid/scholarships/future-students/kansas-resident-awards/
Wildcat Traditions Scholarship (Kansas resident)
$2,500/year ($10,000 total) · Published award terms
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
GPA: 3.50-3.69 best GPA (any of the listed test bands), or 3.70-3.84/3.85+ at the 22-24 ACT/1100-1190 SAT band · SAT: 1100-1190 and up · ACT: 22-24 and up depending on GPA band
Eligibility: Kansas resident, incoming freshman; one award only.
Renewal: Renewable up to three additional years (four years, eight semesters total) with a minimum K-State cumulative 3.0 GPA, continuous full-time enrollment, and 24 K-State credit hours per year.
Other terms: Mid-tier Kansas resident award; the 3.50-3.69 GPA row earns Wildcat Traditions across the 22-24, 25-28, and 29+ test columns.
https://www.k-state.edu/sfa/scholarships-aid/scholarships/future-students/kansas-resident-awards/
Ask before you decide
- Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
- What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
- How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?
Recorded stacking policy: K-State states a student may earn only ONE general university scholarship or award (the GPA-based resident grid award OR the Wildcat Nonresident Award). Competitive awards (Presidential, Vanier, Campbell, Edgerley-Franklin, Kassebaum, Civic Leadership) and KSN college/departmental awards are separate tracks and are not constrained by the 'one general university award' rule on the pages reviewed. No published rule was found on these pages describing how outside (third-party) scholarships displace institutional aid.
Our unanswered questions / Family notes
