Grants & Loans

Grant Programs

The Scholarship Foundation partners with community organizations, foundations, and corporations to aid students seeking college degrees with scholarships and grants. These are renewable awards that do not have to be repaid. Students are selected based on criteria specified by the donor, such as field of study, place of residence, participation in a specific youth program, and/or college the student is attending. Students can apply directly for many of these opportunities. To learn more about the Foundation’s grant programs, please click any of the links below to access Scholarship Central or contact us.

All grants are awarded within the policies for eligibility and selection set by the board of directors of The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis. For more information about eligibility or how to apply to our Financial Aid programs, please explore the other pages under this section of the website or contact us.

The Interest-Free Loan Program

Providing interest-free loans for postsecondary education to students on the basis of financial need has been the core function of The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis since its creation over 100 years ago.

Each academic year, the Foundation provides qualifying students from the St. Louis metropolitan region with interest-free, fee-free loans for higher education. Interest-free loans are available to students attending accredited, nonprofit postsecondary institutions. All fields of study, with the exception of the ministry, are eligible. Some funds within the Interest-Free Loan Program are earmarked for specific fields of study such as the Deedee Becker Loan Fund for nursing students. Over the last five years, students have received nearly $22 million in interest-free loans and grants for postsecondary education from The Scholarship Foundation.

Emergency Assistance

If you are a student experiencing economic hardship, members of our Student Advising Team are available to listen, make recommendations, and assist in identifying resources that may be available. Limited funds may be available to current Scholarship Foundation students for critical needs such as food, housing, utilities, transportation, and other basic needs. Please contact our student advisors to learn more.

The Three A's

The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis opens doors to higher education in three primary ways:

Awarding

Scholarship grants and interest-free loans are guaranteed to students awarded with the gap-closing funds necessary to afford higher education, putting graduation with minimal debt within reach for those who otherwise might not attend.

Advising

Our full-time advisors work with thousands of local students, parents, and community members seeking guidance on how to navigate a rapidly changing higher education landscape.

Advocacy

Founded upon the conviction that an educated society is essential to democracy, the Foundation is committed to policy and systems change that increase college access and affordability. Students accepted into the Foundation’s paid policy fellowship gain real-world experience creating policy and affecting change on college campuses and in the legislature.