Decoding Rose-Hulman's Full Ride Scholarship Opportunities

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, renowned for its academic rigor and focus on STEM fields, offers various scholarships and grants to help students finance their education. Understanding the requirements and application processes for these opportunities is crucial for prospective students seeking financial assistance. This article breaks down the different types of scholarships and grants available at Rose-Hulman, providing a comprehensive guide to navigating the financial aid landscape.

Understanding the Financial Aid Process

The journey to securing financial aid at Rose-Hulman begins with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is a confidential assessment of a family's ability to contribute to a student's college education and establishes the Student Aid Index (SAI). If your parents are divorced or separated, you and the parent who provides the most financial support will fill out the FAFSA. The Federal Processor uses your FAFSA data and federally mandated formulas to calculate your SAI, which includes both parent and student income, assets, and family size. Note that a student who is deemed independent does not necessarily qualify for more financial aid.

The Financial Aid Office (FAO) then determines a budget for the cost of attendance, encompassing tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and personal expenses. Using federal and state guidelines, the FAO assesses eligibility for federal, state, and institutional aid programs, prioritizing grants followed by student loans or federal work-study. Scholarships from external sources are also considered. While the FAO strives to meet students' financial needs, there are limits to the amount of financial aid available, and full coverage of costs may not always be possible. The financial aid award lists the total estimated cost of attendance, including both direct and indirect costs, using actual costs for full-time tuition, standard room and board, and school fees.

It's important to remember that the FAFSA uses financial information from the prior, prior year. Any changes to your financial situation should be communicated to the FAO. Your financial aid award may be adjusted if your financial need changes, you receive funding from other sources, or the data on your FAFSA changes.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Rose-Hulman automatically considers all admitted students for merit-based scholarships. The Rose-Hulman Merit Scholarship is awarded based on a combination of academic and non-academic factors. Academic measures and non-academic measures typically center around extracurricular activities, leadership, and community service. Depending on institutional funding, this scholarship is renewable with no GPA requirement.

If you scored exceptionally high on the PSAT/NMSQT, you may have been named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. Rose-Hulman offers scholarship money to National Merit Scholarship Finalists, although terms may vary. These scholarships, awarded by Rose-Hulman, corporations, and the National Merit Foundation, are $2,000 per year. Once a student has taken the PSAT, the student is automatically considered for National Merit Scholarships.

Need-Based Grants

Rose-Hulman need-based aid is determined by the FAFSA that is filed every year starting in October.

The federal government funds two grant programs: the Federal Pell Grant and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG). Students must complete a FAFSA to be considered for these awards. The amount of Pell Grant is based on your SAI. This federal grant is for undergraduates working toward their first bachelor’s degree. Please note Pell Grant pays based upon student’s actual enrollment. For less than full time enrollment the Pell Grant will pay based upon the credit hours a student is enrollment. For full time enrollment (12 hours and above), students will receive the same amount.

Indiana residents who file a FAFSA are automatically considered for the Indiana Higher Education, Freedom of Choice, and Twenty-first Century grants. The federal processor must receive the FAFSA before the March 10 deadline to be considered for Indiana state aid. The student and parent must reside in the state of Indiana and must file FAFSA before April 15th to be considered for these grants. Eligibility for these awards is dependent on financial need.

Named Scholarships

Rose-Hulman Named Scholarships are limited in number and have specific restrictions placed on them by the donor. All students who meet eligibility requirements for these awards will automatically be considered. In most cases, the Rose-Hulman Financial Aid Committee will award these scholarships based on the information provided in the student's admission file.

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Specific named scholarships include:

Bakota Family Scholarship: This one-year scholarship is awarded to a student majoring in electrical, mechanical, or chemical engineering who will be a sophomore during the upcoming academic year. The student must also have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 and have a full-time job during the summer between their freshman and sophomore years. The deadline for submitting your essay is August 30th.
Conru Scholarship: This scholarship is available to freshmen who have demonstrated inventive, innovative, and/or entrepreneurial behavior during high school. The Conru Scholarship will total $10,000 over four years, contingent upon maintaining good academic standing. To apply for the Conru Scholarship, complete an online application by February 1. Only admitted students are eligible to apply. The application is located on the applicant portal under the admit tab.
FIRST Robotics Scholarship: In support of the FIRST mission, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is offering three merit-based scholarships, each for $10,000, to high school seniors who have participated on a FIRST team during their school career. This scholarship may be applied to any undergraduate course of study at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. The scholarship is renewable up to a total of $40,000 over four years, contingent upon maintaining good academic standing. Each recipient must meet the regular academic requirements for admission to the Institute. All online applications must be submitted by February 1st. Only admitted students are eligible to apply. The application is located on the applicant portal under the admit tab.
Ingram Scholarship: The Ingram Scholarship is a scholarship available to a freshman student who have participated in Girl Scouts. If you have been involved in Girl Scouts and would like to apply for this scholarship, please complete an application by February 1. Only admitted students are eligible to apply. The application is located on the applicant portal under the admit tab.
ROSE-BUD Scholarship: The ROSE-BUD scholarship is open to incoming freshmen majoring in Computer Science, Computer, Electrical, or Software Engineering. The goal of the Rose-BUD program is to broaden the participation of academically talented students majoring in electrical and computer engineering. The program is part of National Science Foundation's efforts to encourage more students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Eligible students are freshmen or transfer students with a demonstrated financial need who have been accepted to Rose-Hulman. The maximum ROSE-BUD scholarship is $10,000 per academic year and the amount awarded will be based on the Rose-BUD application in conjunction with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the RHIT admission application. ROSE-BUD Scholars will retain their scholarships as long as they maintain a GPA of at least 2.75, remain enrolled full-time in one of the selected majors, and participate in the required activities. As a ROSE-BUD scholar, you will have the opportunity to interact with professionals and upper-classmen through networking and mentoring.
Trueb Scholarship: The Trueb Scholarship is a scholarship available to freshmen who have participated in Boy Scouts. If you have been involved in Boy Scouts and would like to apply for this scholarship, please complete an application by February 1. Only admitted students are eligible to apply.

ROTC Scholarships

ROTC scholarships from the Army and the Air Force can be used at Rose-Hulman. Awards cover a percentage of tuition, an allotment for books, and a monthly stipend during the academic year to cover miscellaneous expenses. Winners of four-year ROTC scholarships receive the cost of room/board, if possible, from Rose-Hulman. Deadlines for ROTC scholarship applications are typically in December.

External Scholarships

Students can use outside scholarships to supplement their financial aid package at Rose-Hulman. These are awards offered by private and non-profit organizations separate from the college. Local scholarships are typically good at any college the student chooses to attend. Individuals who are Rose-Hulman caliber students are usually very competitive for these awards. Check with your high school counselor for more information about these opportunities. Indiana residents should be sure to talk to their counselors about the Lilly Scholars program, a full tuition opportunity available by competition in each county of the state.

Loans and Work-Study

Loans are handled independently of Rose-Hulman. The university provides a list of common loan sources to help students investigate this financial aid option. Graduates of Rose-Hulman take out a median of $25,000 in federal student loans. This is $11,500 more than the national median. As you make decisions about your college loans, be sure to inform yourself on the advantages and disadvantages of each loan option.

Federal Work-Study provides jobs for students with financial needs, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. Students may choose to accept or decline the award.

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Additional Financial Considerations

Coalition Application: Rose-Hulman is a Coalition Member College, which means they have completed a vigorous vetting process from the Coalition for College to ensure that they “provide substantial support to lower-income, under-resourced and/or first-generation students; offer responsible student financial aid; and demonstrate a commitment to student graduation.” You can apply to Rose-Hulman via the Coalition Application, which makes it easy to obtain application fee waivers if you qualify.
Laptop Purchase: The laptop is a required (one-time) purchase for all new incoming students. Rose-Hulman selects a model each year so that everyone has the same laptop. Laptops must be paid for at the time the order is placed in June.
Midwest Student Exchange: Rose-Hulman is in a state that participates in the Midwest Student Exchange. That means that if you are a resident of Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, or Wisconsin, you may qualify for discounted tuition at Rose-Hulman. This program applies to both private and public institutions, although the discount at private institutions is lower.
Bucks for Books: If you don't have enough credit in your account to cover your books and supplies, Rose-Hulman offers a program called Bucks for Books, which allows you to pay off your books and supplies by the end of the quarter in which you used Bucks for Books. To sign up for Bucks for Books, visit the campus bookstore!

Application and Enrollment

Students must apply by February 1 to enroll at Rose-Hulman during the fall semester. Remember that college applications involve many pieces, including essays, a transcript, and letters of recommendation.

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is test-optional, which means that applicants are permitted, but not required, to submit their standardized test scores. If you choose not to submit your scores, admissions officers will weigh your grades, extracurriculars, essays, and interviews more heavily.

Your financial aid will arrive in your student account ten days before classes begin.

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