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Are you a high school student planning to attend a university or college but unsure about how to pay the tuition fees? Hagan Scholarship Foundation has the perfect solution for you! In fact, the foundation is awarding scholarships to deserving students to help them attend their dream colleges debt-free.
This financial aid is suited for high school students, especially those who come from low-income families. By winning your own award, you will gain many perks that will serve you well throughout your college years. Read on to find out what it takes to get a Hagan Scholarship.
What is A Hagan Scholarship?
The Hagan Scholarship by the Hagan Scholarship Foundation is a need- and merit-based scholarship for American high school students planning to attend post-secondary institutions. To date, the program has helped nearly 3,000 students nationwide pursue their degrees at their coveted universities and colleges.
The Hagan Scholarship is made possible through the philanthropy of Dan Hagan, a hardworking self-made entrepreneur. Hagan experienced first-hand the challenges of financing his education since he was in high school. His perseverance eventually led him to graduate from the University of Columbia without the use of a single penny of student loan.
Coming from a rough youth, Hagan realized the importance of financial aid for students who were not as privileged as he was. As such, the businessman established the Hagan Scholarship Foundation to help students attend colleges without having to worry about breaking the bank.
It is a renewable scholarship, meaning that former recipients can apply for more funding provided they meet additional requirements. The scholarship is renewable even until the Hagan Scholars are enrolled in graduate schools. Best of all is that the Hagan Scholarship is open to all students regardless of their sex, religion, race, sexual orientation, and more.
How Do You Know If You Are Eligible?
To become a Hagan Scholar, you basically have to be a goal-driven individual who perseveres under any circumstances. Additionally, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Attend a traditional public high school located in the U.S. that is governed by a school district. Click here for a complete list of public high schools approved by the Hagan Scholarship Foundation.
- Have achieved a 3.5 in Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)
- Enroll at an eligible four-year college or university the first semester following high school graduation. Click here for a complete list of colleges and universities approved by the Hagan Scholarship Foundation.
- Maintain a four year or less graduation schedule in college
- Work 240 hours each year, from January 1 until commencement of the fall semester in college. Employment must be regularly scheduled work performed under supervision for compensation.
- Have less than $85,000 in Gross Household Income as reported in the 2021 Federal Income Tax Purposes. “Household Income” is defined as the total gross income received by all members of a household living under the same roof.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and provide the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC does not have to be paid; it is used only to determine the disbursement amount.
- Apply for federal and state grants, if eligible
- Not have a felony conviction
How Much Money Can You Get from This Scholarship?
The Hagan Scholarship provides up to $6,000 per semester that recipients can use towards their tuition fees. In addition, first-year Hagan Scholars will receive $1,000 to purchase education-related necessities, such as computers, clothing, textbooks, and more.
In their second year, the Hagan Scholarship Foundation will provide selected students with $1,000 to open their Personal Brokerage Account. Moreover, they are allowed to manage $15,000 as an opportunity to learn hands-on everything about investing. Profits made from this scheme are taxable.
There is also up to $8,000 to fund study abroad in the third year. Yet, this benefit is available only to those who maintain a 3.5 CGPA.
Suppose you earned your bachelor’s degree in less than four years. In that case, the rest of the funds you earned can cover your graduate school expenses. However, for this to happen, note that you must graduate with a GPA of at least 3.75. Next, you will receive $6,000 per semester for four semesters, provided you are a full-time graduate student.
What Information Do I Need to Apply?
Besides submitting an online form, you will also need to provide these supplementary documents:
- Confirmation of Eligibility from your high school guidance counselor
- Color photo
- Official copy of your high school transcript
- Personal essay. You must write a personal essay consisting of six paragraphs. The paragraphs must have the following titles and be in the following order: your interests, extracurricular activities, work experience or reason why no work experience, personal and family circumstance, reasons for wanting to attend college, and personal goals.
- List of leadership positions, academic honors, other achievements, and family circumstances
- Four-year plan
- Letter of recommendation
How Do I Apply for This Scholarship?
For first-time applicants, create an account here using a personal email address and password. Returning applicants can enter their email and password to access or update their profile. Be sure to provide a valid email address for at least one year.
Follow all instructions to complete your application. In case you come across a field where no answer can be provided, write NA. In uploading the supplementary documents, download this Application Attachment PDF and fill it out. Then, print and scan it before re-uploading it to the website.
Finally, put your signature and click the “Submit” button to submit your application. You can modify it before the deadline.
When Is This Scholarship Due?
Complete and submit your application to the Hagan Scholarship Foundation website on or before January 15, 2023. For any questions regarding this program, send your inquiries to scholarships@hsfmo.org.
What’s Next?
Looking for more scholarships for low-income college students? Check out our guide to FEWS Scholarship and the Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship.
