Managing/Reporting External Scholarship and Awards

Greek statue on campus.

 

An external scholarship is any scholarship awarded from non-governmental sources outside the University- such as a scholarship provided by a private sector company, philanthropist or foundation. 

 

There are many scholarship resources beyond what you will find here at USA. External Scholarships are awarded by employers, individuals, companies, high schools, religious groups, and professional associations independently of the University of South Alabama. The criteria for external opportunities differs from scholarship to scholarship, but can include academic performance, financial need, religious affiliation, minority status, heritage, community affiliations, or other unique criteria important to the sponsoring individual or organization. 

In addition, there are a variety of free national search engines to assist you in identifying additional funding resources. Be advised that some external sites do sell your application information - but you can opt out. Each individual site will provide specific information on how to opt out. And, while some sites may attempt to charge you a fee, there are plenty of online services that do not charge. Stay alert to possible scams - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

 

▼   How to Report External Scholarships / Awards

Congratulations on being selected as the recipient of an external award! It is important to report external scholarships as early as possible to the University. Reporting your awards will allow our staff to coordinate with your donor to expedite your award and its placement on your account.

To notify our office, simply complete the online External Scholarship/Resource Form,  provide any correspondence from the external donor that accompanied your award, and we will take it from there! Be sure to submit a separate form for each external scholarship/award.

Please Note: If your external scholarship is renewable for future years, you will need to report it to our office each year.

▼   Where to Mail External Scholarships / Awards

The Office of Scholarship Services cannot credit an external scholarship award to a student's account until the funds have been received.
External scholarship checks should be mailed to the following address:

Office of Scholarship Services
390 Student Center Circle
Meisler Hall, Suite 1225
Mobile, AL 36688

  • External scholarship checks should be made payable to the University of South Alabama.
  • The student's Jag Number, donor's contact information, and the award terms should also be included with the scholarship check.
▼   Where to Look for Additional External Resources

Students are strongly encouraged to research the availability of private scholarships and awards. A great place to start is right at home - local civic groups, parent/guardian employers, local religious organizations, professional organizations, clubs, and local businesses are all places that offer aid to students. Additionally, you can visit the external scholarship and search engine links provided on our website. These sites will provide information on external scholarship opportunities, search engines and scholarship websites, as well as tips and tools for how to optimize your search.

A-Z External Scholarship Directory External Search Engines


Additionally, the USA Honors College maintains a database, and administers preliminary application assistance, for several nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships. Students interested in these programs must contact the appropriate advisor at least nine months in advance of the posted deadline, and preferably much earlier than that. Visit the Nationally Competitive Scholarships and Fellowships webpage today!

 

Please be advised that the USA Office of Scholarship Services is impartial to the views and opinions of the scholarships featured. The listing will be continuously updated, and new scholarships will be posted when they become available. Eligibility requirements and application deadlines may change without our knowledge. We advise students to thoroughly research prior to submitting scholarship applications. Any student using the Internet to apply for scholarships should be aware of possible risks.

▼   University Verifications

An outside agency may require multiple University verifications in order to process, or renew an award. For Financial Aid or Need Based information you can send the request to our office via email at scholarships@southalabama.edu.

For Transcript and Enrollment information, the University uses an online reporting system through the National Clearinghouse that can be accessed through your PAWS account. Please visit the Office of the Registrar for more information.

 

Please remember that USA does not endorse any of these websites or search engines, and is not responsible for content on those sites. These resources are simply being provided as a courtesy to our students.