Who Is Eligible

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

Applicants are selected based on three qualifications:

  • Academic potential
  • Personal character
  • Significant financial need. Students with a Student Aid Index (SAI) over $17,500 must have significant and extenuating circumstances to be considered.

Students 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). There are no age 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. Students who have already obtained a bachelor’s degree are not eligible to apply.

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 should refer to the scholarship description for specific residency requirements. When not specified, applicants must be permanent residents of The Scholarship Foundation’s eligible service areas* for more than two years. Visit our Grants & Loans page for more information.
  • Applicants must have earned a high school diploma with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or have successfully completed the General Education Development (GED) tests to obtain a high school equivalency certificate.

*Metro area includes St. Louis City, the Missouri counties of St. Louis, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, or Warren, and the Illinois counties of Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, or St. Clair.

Individuals with a history of educational loan default or bankruptcy are asked to submit a statement of explanation. Exceptional circumstances will be taken into consideration.