Who Is Eligible

The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis provides approximately 500 students each year with grants and renewable interest-free loans for postsecondary education.

Applicants are selected based on academic potential, personal character, and significant financial need. Students with a Student Aid Index (SAI) over $17,500 must have significant and extenuating circumstances to be considered. There are no age restrictions.

Recipients may enroll in technical, bachelor’s, or associate degree programs at accredited, nonprofit postsecondary institutions anywhere in the United States (though some grant programs have restrictions). They may pursue any field of study except the ministry. Limited funds are available for students pursuing graduate degrees if they were funded by the Foundation for an undergraduate degree.

To qualify for annual loan and grant renewals, students must demonstrate continuing financial need and satisfactory academic progress toward receiving their degrees.

The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis does not discriminate based on race, religion, creed, national origin, gender, age, color, sexual orientation, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.

Additional eligibility requirements

  • Applicants for The Scholarship Foundation’s grant and interest-free loan programs must be permanent residents of the program’s eligible service area (more than two years) or graduate from an eligible high school. Geographic eligibility varies by program and students applying should carefully read eligibility criteria. For more information: https://sfstl.org/financial-aid/student-loans-and-grants/.
  • Applicants must have earned a high school diploma with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0. Alternatively, applicants may have successfully completed the General Education Development (GED) tests to obtain a high school equivalency certificate.
  • Individuals with a history of educational loan default or bankruptcy are asked to submit a statement of explanation. The Scholarship Foundation will take an applicant’s exceptional circumstances into consideration.
  • Students who have already obtained a bachelor’s degree are not eligible to apply.