Undergraduate Admissions and Aid

Costs and Aid

Here are some resources that will let you know more about the costs of college and ways that Penn State students commonly receive student aid.

Undergraduate Admissions Costs and Aid
Information on scholarships, tuition and other costs, financial aid, and eligibility for being considered a Pennsylvania resident.
Penn State Office of the Bursar
This office maintains student accounts pertaining to tuition billing, acceptance fees, charges, payments, financial aid disbursements, and refunds of excess funds, when available.
Penn State Office of Student Aid
This office handles requests for federal financial aid. On this site, you can learn about important aid-related policies, different types of assistance such as scholarships, grants, and loans that you may be eligible for, and how to apply for financial aid.

Departmental Scholarships

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) is fortunate to be able to offer merit-based scholarships to its undergraduate students.

Freshman students are eligible for merit-based Department scholarships after successful completion of their first fall semester. These students are automatically considered for scholarships in January of the freshman year and do not have to apply.

All other MatSE students must apply for Department scholarships online each year by April 15, apply here. Awardees will be selected and notified by the summer. In order to retain scholarships granted by the Department, students must be enrolled in the major and on a full-time basis. In the event that a student withdraws from the University or changes majors, his or her scholarship will terminate immediately.

Undergraduate Scholarships and Awards

AVX/Kyocera Foundation Scholarship
Patricia Ann Best Memorial Award
George W. Brindley Award
The Frances Hamilton Byers Scholarship
Charles G. and Donna H. Carson Scholarship
Michael M. and Mary Jane Coleman Undergraduate Award in the College of Earth And Mineral Science
C. Philip Cook, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Mahlon Dennis Scholarship for Excellence in Materials Science
Ruth Ann Dudenhoefer Ceramics Scholarship
DuPont Polymer Science Award
Dorothy Pate Enright Endowed Scholarship
Robert G. and Agnes M. Faber Scholarship
Glass Container Industry Research Corporation Scholarship
George Gleason Memorial Scholarship
Charles D. Greskovich Memorial Scholarship in Ceramic Science and Engineering
Harman Family Endowment in Metallurgy
Donald W. Hamer Scholarship in Electronic and Photonic Materials
Hommel Scholarship in Ceramic Science and Engineering
Drs. Weiming Huang and Zi-Kui Liu Materials Genome Scholarship
Floyd A. Hummel Jr. Scholarship
Thomas M. and Eleanor W. Krebs Scholarship in Metallurgy
Kumpf Family Award for Student Excellence
Dr. Peter B. Lake Endowed Scholarship
Langenberg Scholarship Fund in Materials Science and Engineering
Helen R. and Van H. Leichliter Metallurgy Scholarship
Robert W. Lindsay Award
Mr. and Mrs. Frank D. Lovett, Sr. Memorial Award
Norris B. McFarlane Scholarship
Rosemarie C. and Howard R. Peiffer Scholarship
Penn State Metallurgy Alumni Scholarship
Pennsylvania Ceramics Association Award
Anthony J. and Alberta L. Perrotta Scholarship
Alice A. and Howard W. Pickering Materials Science and Engineering Scholarship
Product Evaluation Systems, Inc. Scholarship
Jack D. Ramaley Undergraduate Scholarship
David W. Richerson Service Award in Materials Science and Engineering
Guy and Rae Rindone Award for Academic Excellence in Materials Science and Engineering
James F. Sarver Scholarship in Ceramic Science and Engineering
Simpson Family Scholarship in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Andrew Gregory Slachta Memorial Scholarship
Sobota Family Scholarship in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Edward S. Sproles, Jr. Scholarship Fund
Michael E. Starsinic Scholarship Fund in Polymer Science
State of the Art, Inc. Annual Scholarship
Professor Vladimir Stubican Undergraduate Scholarship in Materials Science and Engineering
The James and Mary-Ellen Tietjen Scholarship
George H. and Madeline Hager Todd Scholarship
Richard E. and Sue Alexander Tressler Centennial Scholarship in Materials Science and Engineering
William and Estelle Turney Scholarship in Ceramic Science and Engineering
James H. and Mary E. Van Ackeren Award in Ceramic Science and Engineering
Virginia S. and Philip L. Walker, Jr. Scholarship
Sam Zerfoss Memorial Scholarship Fund

Trustee Scholarships

Paul and Mai-Lan Fagan Endowed Trustee Scholarship
Mary and Anthony Fiedorek Trustee Scholarship
William and Estelle Turney Trustee Scholarship
Eric Whitney Memorial Trustee Scholarship
Paul and Ruth Ann Wood Trustee Scholarship

Matthew J. Wilson Loan Fund

Low-interest loans are available to entering first-year students as well as upperclassmen and graduate students. Students may borrow up to $1,200 per semester ($2,400 per year) through the fund. Repayment is not required until after graduation. Currently, no interest accrues until graduation. After graduation, the University assesses a 6 percent simple interest rate on these loans. The college, subject to the approval of the University Financial Aid Office, grants these loans. If you have any questions, please visit Ashlee Kochik, ank2@psu.edu, 814-863-4669 in the Office of the Dean (116 Deike Building).

Matthew J. Wilson Loan application form

Terry Mohney Emergency Assistance Fund

Emergency grants are awarded to students who encounter extraordinary events or circumstances that could negatively affect their ability to continue their studies in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Emergency grants are awarded on a case-by-case basis and can be given to a student no more than once per academic year. Limited funding is available.

Terry Mohney Emergency Assistance Fund — Eligibility and Application

Millennium Scholars

Millennium Scholars are high-achieving STEM students aiming to be leaders in their field with a commitment to increasing diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math disciplines. Millennium Scholars receive scholarship, academic, and advising support and are expected to work hard and study in a collaborative environment, conduct research with a faculty mentor, and maintain an excellent academic record.

If you believe you are ready to give what it takes to be a Millennium Scholar follow the link to learn more

Learn more about the Millennium Scholars Program

Penn State Scholarships

Penn State Scholarships are awarded to exemplary students and are highly competitive due to limited funding. Scholarships are a form of gift aid that does not need to be repaid.

External Scholarships and Awards

Various external organizations offer scholarships and awards to undergraduate MatSE students. In particular, students are highly encouraged to join Material Advantage during the first three weeks of the fall semester. Student members of Material Advantage have access to all the scholarships offered by member professional societies; links to these opportunities can be found below.

ACerS – American Ceramics Society
AIST – Association for Iron and Steel Technology
ASM – American Society for Metals and Materials
TMS – The Mineral, Metals, and Materials Society

University Fellowships

The Department has many high-achieving students. We encourage these students to explore the very competitive, high-distinction scholarships and fellowships offered through the University Fellowship Office.

Other Opportunities

Penn State offers many sources of financial aid. Visit the Office of Student Aid to understand the financial aid system and access private scholarship databases.

If you have a work-study grant, use LionPATH to see available jobs.

If you want an on-campus job but don’t have a work-study grant, visit Other Employment Opportunities to locate wage payroll positions.

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

COSTS, FINANCIAL AID, AND SCHOLARSHIPS