Skip to content

Kansas State University · Kansas

Kansas State Merit Aid

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.

Verified Jun 20268 days ago· CC
Merit tiers169 automatic on stats
Last verifiedJun 2026Analyst CC

Rules that bite at Kansas State

The trip wires we'd flag in a custom playbook. Each is derived from Kansas State's own published policy, not generic advice.

  • renewalUniversity Scholar Award (Kansas resident): renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out

    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. A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.

  • displacementNo published displacement order

    Kansas State's policy doesn't specify whether outside scholarships hit loans, grants, or only the COA ceiling. Get a written aid-office answer before chasing private awards.

Common merit-aid mistakes at Kansas State

  1. Those named dollar awards are for KANSAS RESIDENTS. Out-of-state students instead receive the Wildcat Nonresident Award — a percentage discount on the nonresident portion of tuition (50%-100% by GPA), which K-State expresses as an estimated dollar value based on 30 credit hours, not a fixed scholarship.

  2. The amounts ($17,694/year, etc.) are ESTIMATES based on 30 credit hours and current nonresident tuition. The actual benefit is a percentage discount on the nonresident tuition surcharge, so the dollar value moves with your credit load and with tuition rates.

  3. Awards are based on the academic info K-State has received by April 1 of your senior year. Send an updated transcript (through first semester senior year) and official ACT/SAT (best score) by April 1 — info sent after April 1 cannot raise your award for a fall start.

  4. K-State is test-optional for scholarships: GPA alone determines eligibility, and there is a no-test column / the entirely GPA-based Wildcat Nonresident Award. Submitting a strong test score can move you to a higher resident-grid cell, but it is never required.

  5. The resident grid awards and Wildcat Nonresident Award are automatic with admission by the priority date. The big-ticket Presidential ($80,000) and Vanier ($80,000) awards are COMPETITIVE — they require a separate supplemental application by Dec. 15 and a committee/interview, and only two Presidential Scholarships are given per year.

  6. K-State's 2025-2026 Manhattan estimate is $12,694 tuition & mandatory fees for a Kansas resident, but the full on-campus cost of attendance is $30,552 (resident) / $48,246 (non-resident) once housing/food, books, transportation, and personal costs are included.

Who this school is for

Students with a strong unweighted-or-weighted GPA (roughly 3.25+) who want a predictable, automatic, test-optional merit award at a major public land-grant university — especially out-of-state students, who can knock 50-100% off the nonresident portion of tuition on GPA alone.

Tuition / cost of attendance: Approximately $30,552 for 2025-2026. Source

Institutional merit aid tiers

Every tier below is sourced to the school’s own published financial aid pages. Renewal terms apply only if the student maintains the stated GPA.

$5,500/year ($22,000 total)

University Scholar Award (Kansas resident)

AutomaticRenewable
GPA
3.85+ best GPA (weighted or unweighted)
SAT
1330+
ACT
29+ (1330+ SAT) for this column; lower test bands map to other awards
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Kansas resident, incoming freshman; only ONE general university award may be earned. Test-optional — GPA alone determines eligibility.

Renewal terms

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.

Notes

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.

Source

$4,000/year ($16,000 total)

Royal Purple Scholarship (Kansas resident)

AutomaticRenewable
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
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Kansas resident, incoming freshman; one award only.

Renewal terms

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.

Notes

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.

Source

$2,500/year ($10,000 total)

Wildcat Traditions Scholarship (Kansas resident)

AutomaticRenewable
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
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Kansas resident, incoming freshman; one award only.

Renewal terms

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.

Notes

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.

Source

$1,500/year ($6,000 total)

Limestone Award (Kansas resident)

AutomaticRenewable
GPA
3.25+ best GPA with no test score / ACT <=21 / SAT <=1090 (the test-optional column)
SAT
<=1090 or no score
ACT
<=21 or no score
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Kansas resident, incoming freshman; one award only. This is the column students with no ACT/SAT land in at GPA 3.50-3.84+.

Renewal terms

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.

Notes

The Limestone Award is the award for Kansas residents with a 3.50+ GPA and no test score (or ACT <=21 / SAT <=1090).

Source

$1,000/year ($4,000 total)

1863 Landmark Award (Kansas resident)

AutomaticRenewable
GPA
3.25-3.49 best GPA (all test columns)
SAT
any (all columns)
ACT
any (all columns)
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Kansas resident, incoming freshman; one award only. Floor of the Kansas resident grid.

Renewal terms

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.

Notes

Entry tier of the Kansas resident grid; a 3.25-3.49 GPA earns the 1863 Landmark Award regardless of test score.

Source

$17,694/year ($70,776 total)

Wildcat Nonresident Award — 100% tier (out-of-state, 3.90+ GPA)

AutomaticRenewable
GPA
3.90+ best GPA (weighted or unweighted), measured through sixth semester
SAT
Not used
ACT
Not used — no ACT/SAT needed
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Non-Kansas resident; domestic or international degree-seeking Manhattan or Salina campus student enrolling in at least 12 credit hours fall and spring. Award is a 100% discount on the nonresident portion of tuition (equals in-state tuition). Estimate based on 30 credit hours/year.

Renewal terms

Renewable for up to three additional years (four years, eight semesters total). Maintain a minimum K-State cumulative 3.0 GPA, continuous full-time enrollment, and 24 K-State credit hours per academic year.

Notes

Primary out-of-state merit pathway. GPA-only (test-blind). At 3.90+ the discount is 100% of the nonresident tuition surcharge, making the student pay in-state tuition; K-State estimates that discount at $17,694/year. The dollar figure is an ESTIMATE based on 30 credit hours and current tuition, not a fixed scholarship.

Source

$14,155/year ($56,620 total)

Wildcat Nonresident Award — 80% tier (out-of-state, 3.75-3.89 GPA)

AutomaticRenewable
GPA
3.75-3.89 best GPA (weighted or unweighted), through sixth semester
SAT
Not used
ACT
Not used
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Non-Kansas resident freshman; 80% discount on the nonresident portion of tuition. Estimate based on 30 credit hours/year.

Renewal terms

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.

Notes

Second nonresident tier; 80% off the nonresident tuition surcharge, estimated at $14,155/year.

Source

$10,616/year ($42,464 total)

Wildcat Nonresident Award — 60% tier (out-of-state, 3.50-3.74 GPA)

AutomaticRenewable
GPA
3.50-3.74 best GPA (weighted or unweighted), through sixth semester
SAT
Not used
ACT
Not used
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Non-Kansas resident freshman; 60% discount on the nonresident portion of tuition. Estimate based on 30 credit hours/year.

Renewal terms

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.

Notes

Third nonresident tier; 60% off the nonresident tuition surcharge, estimated at $10,616/year.

Source

$8,847/year ($35,388 total)

Wildcat Nonresident Award — 50% tier (out-of-state, 3.25-3.49 GPA)

AutomaticRenewable
GPA
3.25-3.49 best GPA (weighted or unweighted), through sixth semester
SAT
Not used
ACT
Not used
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Non-Kansas resident freshman; 50% discount on the nonresident portion of tuition. Estimate based on 30 credit hours/year.

Renewal terms

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.

Notes

Entry nonresident tier; 50% off the nonresident tuition surcharge, estimated at $8,847/year.

Source

$80,000 total

Presidential Scholarship (competitive)

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

Competitive — committee selection / selective interview. Recognizes outstanding academics and student leadership. Only two Presidential Scholarships awarded each year. Supplemental application due 5 p.m. Dec. 15, 2025.

Renewal terms

Renewable for up to four years total.

Notes

K-State's largest and most selective award. NOT automatic — requires the competitive supplemental application (apply2.ksu.edu portal) by Dec. 15.

Source

$80,000 total

Vanier Family Business Administration Best of Kansas Scholarship (competitive)

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

Competitive College of Business award; outstanding academics and student leadership. Supplemental application due Dec. 15, 2025.

Renewal terms

Renewable for up to four years total.

Notes

Largest and most selective College of Business award; awarded each year. Competitive, not automatic.

Source

$6,000 per year

Robert E. Campbell Scholarship (competitive, University Honors Program)

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

Competitive; for select high-achieving students in the University Honors Program (UHP). Campbell Scholars live in Honors housing (Strong Complex) their first year. Supplemental application due Dec. 15, 2025.

Renewal terms

Renewable for up to four years total ($3,000 per semester).

Notes

Honors-program award; requires UHP participation and the competitive application.

Source

$10,000 per year

Robert E. Campbell Scholarship — Engineering Scholar (competitive)

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

Competitive; for engineering students with outstanding academics and leadership. Must meet all Campbell Scholar requirements, including University Honors Program participation. Supplemental application due Dec. 15, 2025.

Renewal terms

Renewable for up to four years total ($5,000 per semester), including the Robert E. Campbell Scholarship and the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering supplement.

Notes

Engineering version of the Campbell award; combines the base Campbell Scholarship with a Carl R. Ice College of Engineering supplement.

Source

$20,000 total

Edgerley-Franklin Leadership Scholarship (competitive)

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

Competitive; recipients join the Leadership Scholars Program with academic and social experiences. Supplemental application due Dec. 15, 2025.

Renewal terms

Renewable for up to four years total.

Notes

Leadership-focused competitive award; not your typical scholarship competition (includes a cohort program).

Source

$5,000…$5,000 (non-renewable, freshman year)

Nancy Landon Kassebaum Scholarship (competitive)

Application
View requirements
Eligibility

Competitive; recognizes students aspiring to careers in public service. Up to five students receive this award annually. Supplemental application due Dec. 15, 2025.

Notes

One-time freshman-year award for public-service-minded students; recipients can work with the prestigious-scholarships director on Truman and other national awards.

Source

$4,000…$4,000 (1st) / $2,500 (2nd) / $2,000 (3rd), non-renewable

Civic Leadership Scholarship (competitive)

Application
View requirements
Eligibility

Competitive; rewards high school seniors with a demonstrated commitment to serving their community, school, or place of worship. Supplemental application due Dec. 15, 2025.

Notes

Placed award (1st/2nd/3rd); one-time freshman-year award for service and community-impact projects.

Source

Outside scholarship 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.

The Kansas Resident Awards page and the filter page both state: 'You may only earn one general university scholarship or award.' That limit is WITHIN the general university grid; it does not say competitive or KSN awards cannot be added. The official outside-scholarship displacement behavior (whether an external award reduces K-State institutional aid or only need-based/self-help aid) was not located on the reviewed pages.

Source

Lesser-known scholarships at Kansas State

Named awards that don’t always surface on the main financial aid page. Each one has its own eligibility rules.

Amount$2,000/year ($6,000 total)EligibilityIn-state transfer with cumulative college GPA 3.5+.

Automatic on admission for in-state transfers meeting the GPA; apply by the Dec. 1 (spring) or May 1 (summer/fall) priority date. Renewable up to two additional years.

Source

Amount$1,000/year ($3,000 total)EligibilityIn-state transfer with cumulative college GPA 3.0-3.49.

Automatic on admission for qualifying in-state transfers; renewable up to two additional years.

Source

Amount$1,000 one-time, non-renewableEligibilityTransfer students with cumulative college GPA 3.5+ who are a PTK member during the last semester before attending K-State and designate PTK on the admission application.

Automatically considered when PTK membership is designated on the application.

Source

Amount100% / 75% / 50% nonresident-tuition discount (est. $17,694 / $13,270 / $8,847 per year)EligibilityNon-Kansas-resident transfer students by cumulative college GPA: 3.90+ = 100%, 3.50-3.89 = 75%, 3.25-3.49 = 50%.

Test-blind; GPA-only nonresident-tuition discount for out-of-state transfers. Renewable up to two additional years.

Source

AmountVariesEligibilityAdmitted students complete a KSN profile (freshmen by Feb. 1; transfers/international by March 15 / KSN states March 15) to be matched to college, departmental, alumni/legacy, and other awards.

Separate from general university and competitive awards; many require the KSN profile and some need supplemental applications.

Source

AmountVaries (limited number)EligibilityStudents whose parent, step-parent, grandparent, or legal guardian is a K-State graduate; preference for those with a family member who is an Alumni Association member.

Awarded by the university scholarship committee; applied for via KSN after admission. Funded through the K-State License Plate Program.

Source

Kansas State merit aid FAQ

  • Do I have to apply separately for K-State merit scholarships?

    No, not for the automatic awards. Your application for admission doubles as your general university scholarship/award application. Apply by the priority application date, provide your GPA (and test scores if you have them), and if you meet the grid your award is ensured. Only the competitive awards (Presidential, Vanier, Campbell, Edgerley-Franklin, Kassebaum, Civic Leadership) require a separate supplemental application, due Dec. 15, 2025.

  • What's the deadline?

    Apply for admission by the priority application date for your entry term for full scholarship consideration. To be considered for a higher award (upgrade), K-State must have your updated transcript and official ACT/SAT by April 1 of your senior year. Competitive scholarship applications are due 5 p.m. Dec. 15, 2025. KSN profiles are due Feb. 1 (freshmen) for full consideration.

  • Are K-State merit awards test-optional?

    Yes. GPA (weighted or unweighted) determines eligibility; there is a no-test-score column in the resident grid, and the out-of-state Wildcat Nonresident Award uses GPA only with no ACT/SAT. A strong test score can move a Kansas resident to a higher grid cell, but it is never required.

  • How do I renew my K-State scholarship?

    For incoming freshmen, renewable general university awards (and the Wildcat Nonresident Award) renew for up to three additional years (four years / eight semesters total) if you maintain a minimum K-State cumulative 3.0 GPA, continuous full-time enrollment each fall/spring, and 24 K-State credit hours per academic year. Five-year College of Architecture, Planning & Design programs can renew longer.

  • Can I combine (stack) K-State scholarships?

    You may earn only ONE general university scholarship or award (the resident grid award or the Wildcat Nonresident Award). Competitive awards and KSN college/departmental awards are separate tracks not covered by that one-award limit. K-State's published pages do not state how third-party outside scholarships affect your institutional aid — confirm with the aid office.

How Kansas State compares across our verified dataset

  • 199 of 751 verified schools in our dataset use unclear or unpublished displacement.

    Kansas State is in a recognizable cluster (199 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.

  • 199 of 751 verified schools publish no clear displacement order.

    Kansas State is one of them. The right move is the aid-office email script below, not a guess.

  • 669 of 751 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    Kansas State is one of them. The cohort minority (82 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

Sources used on this page

Every claim is checked against Kansas State’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

Compare with similar schools

Keep exploring Kansas State merit aid