Scholarships at Wichita State University

The Harry Gore Memorial Scholarship awards three $64,000 four-year scholarships annually to incoming Wichita State freshmen who demonstrate outstanding leadership potential. Established in 1952 and awarded since 1954, Gore Scholars are selected through the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational competition open to all majors. Applicants must be high school seniors admitted to WSU, submit competition materials by November 8, and meet academic thresholds including a 3.5 GPA, ACT 27, SAT 1260, or top 10 percent class rank. Winners are notified in January and are expected to grow through campus leadership involvement during their undergraduate years at Wichita State.

The Ross Tidemann Scholarship provides $50,000 over four years to one incoming Barton School business major with demonstrated financial need, selected through the Allen, Gibbs and Houlik L.C. Scholarship Competition. Applicants must complete the FAFSA or include a financial-need statement in their AGH application, and work experience noted on the activities chart is considered. High school seniors declare a business major, meet AGH academic thresholds, and compete on campus in November. The award honors Wichita business leader Ross Tidemann and supports freshmen entering the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University.

The Fran Jabara Scholarship awards two $36,400 four-year scholarships to incoming entrepreneurship majors competing in the Allen, Gibbs and Houlik L.C. Scholarship Competition at Wichita State's Barton School. High school seniors must declare an entrepreneurship major within business, apply for admission by November 1, and submit AGH materials by November 8 while meeting academic eligibility thresholds. Winners are selected at the on-campus November competition. The Jabara Scholarship supports freshmen dedicated to entrepreneurship studies at the W. Frank Barton School of Business and recognizes achievement through the AGH competition process.

The Mark and Stacy Parkinson Scholarship awards up to $34,000 over four years to a first-generation student who graduates from a Kansas high school and competes in the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational at Wichita State. The award is geared toward students whose parents did not complete a four-year college degree. Applicants must submit WSU admission materials by November 1 and competition materials by November 8, and meet GPA or test-score eligibility for DSI. Recipients are notified in February and must attend the on-campus competition. The scholarship supports incoming freshmen from Kansas pursuing any undergraduate major at Wichita State.

The Lenora McGregor Academic Scholarship awards up to $26,000 over four years to one incoming freshman in the Cohen Honors College who demonstrates academic excellence and intellectual curiosity. Applicants must be high school seniors, submit WSU admission materials by December 15, and complete the Cohen Honors College online application by January 10, checking the box to be considered for this scholarship. Honors College admission requires an essay and resume. Recipients enroll as honors students in any major at Wichita State. The McGregor award is one of the Cohen Honors College's premier scholarships for high-achieving first-year Shockers.

DSI Semifinalist Scholarships provide $4,000 to multiple Distinguished Scholarship Invitational participants named semifinalists who do not receive larger DSI awards. The scholarships are open to all majors and awarded through the same November competition cycle as other DSI prizes. High school seniors must apply for WSU admission by November 1, submit competition materials by November 8, and meet minimum GPA or test-score thresholds. Semifinalists are notified in December. Recipients must attend the on-campus competition in person. This award gives additional merit recognition to strong DSI competitors entering Wichita State as first-time freshmen.

The James and Catherine Buck Scholarship supports Fine Arts students at Wichita State who demonstrate financial need, maintain a GPA between 2.5 and 3.5, enroll full time in at least 12 credit hours, and work at least eight hours off campus per week. Eligible students apply through Wichita State's ScholarshipUniverse portal once they meet the financial-need and GPA requirements; students who do not qualify will not see the application option. The award is part of the College of Fine Arts scholarship portfolio alongside talent-based awards for art, music, and performing arts majors. Recipients must continue meeting enrollment, employment, and academic criteria to retain funding.