First-Time College Student

We offer a variety of automatic and competitive scholarships for students enrolling in college for the first time at UMKC, many of which are renewable throughout your entire academic career.

Automatic Scholarships

All first-time college students who apply to UMKC by Jan. 15 for the Fall semester or Nov. 15 for the Spring semester are considered for UMKC automatic scholarships, with the exception of students in the schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry and Law.

If you qualify for more than one automatic scholarship, you will receive the award with the highest amount per academic year, with the excepton of the District High School Scholarship and Roo Advantage, which can be combined with the award with the highest amount per academic year for which you qualify. Students enrolling in the schools of Medicine and Pharmacy and student athletes are not eligible for the Roo Advantage scholarship.The Metro Kansas City High School Award cannot be combined with any other automatic scholarship.

Automatic scholarship qualifications

If you qualify for more than one automatic scholarship, you will receive the one with the highest amount per academic year

Automatic scholarship Amount per academic year Eligibility qualifications
Curator's Scholar Award $5,000
  • 28 or higher ACT score or 3.75 high school core GPA minimum
  • Missouri resident
Academic Excellence Award $5,000
  • 28 or higher ACT score or 3.75 high school core GPA minimum
  • Kansas resident
Chancellor's Award $3,500
  • 25 or higher ACT score or 3.5 high school core GPA minimum
  • Missouri or Kansas resident
Provost's Award $2,500
  • 22 or higher ACT score or 3.0 high school core GPA minimum
  • Missouri or Kansas resident
Metro Kansas City High School Award $1,000 - cannot be combined with another automatic scholarship
  • Graduated from Kansas City, Missouri, or Kansas City, Kansas, high school
  • Missouri or Kansas resident

Scholarships that can be combined with the other automatic scholarship in your aid package

Automatic scholarship Amount per academic year Eligibility qualifications
District High School Scholarship $1,500 in addition to the automatic award with the highest amount per academic year for which you qualify
  • Graduated from Kansas City Public School District or North Kansas City Schools
  • Missouri resident
Roo Advantage Covers gap between scholarships and grants and remaining tuition and fees
  • Eligible for Pell Grant (complete the FAFSA by April 1)
  • Resident of Missouri or Kansas

Competitive Scholarships

You must complete the competitive scholarship application to be considered for any competitive scholarships. The application period for most competitive scholarships is Oct. 1 through March 1.

Because funding for some competitive scholarships is limited, it's important to apply as early as possible.

Competitive scholarships are awarded by how well you fit the criteria for the scholarship. Therefore, some awards require additional application materials.

Bloch Scholars awards are available to all admitted students entering a standard undergraduate program — not just those enrolled at Bloch School of Management.

Competitive scholarship instructions


Competitive scholarship  Amount per academic year Eligibility qualifications
Trustees' Scholars Tuition and fees, housing, meal plan or stipend and books
  • 3.5 high school core GPA minimum, 30 or higher ACT score or top 5% class ranking
  • Apply by Dec. 1
Henry W. Bloch Scholars Program Tuition and fees
  • Resident of one of five qualifying Kansas City-area counties
  • Financial need
  • Ineligible for traditional scholarships
  • Apply by April 1
Marion H. Bloch Scholars Program Tuition and fees
  • Resident of one of five qualifying Kansas City-area counties
  • 3.6 high school core GPA minimum or 3.75 high school GPA minimum
  • 25 or higher ACT score
  • Apply by Feb. 5
KC Scholars Up to $10,000
  • Resident of one of six qualifying Kansas City-area counties
  • 2.5 cumulative high school GPA minimum, 16 or higher ACT score or 800 or higher SAT score
  • $12,000 or less FAFSA Student Aid Index
  • Deadline varies
Professional Career Escalators Scholarship Choice between $1,500 toward tuition or $2,500 toward on-campus housing

Scholarship Spotlight

Emergency Resources

We provide a variety of lifelines to students experiencing emergency or crisis situations. These resources help students when unexpected financial obstacles threaten to interrupt them from completing their academic requirements.

  • UMKC Emergency Fund
  • Short-term emergency loans
  • Food and housing assistance
  • Help with financial literacy

Emergency resources

three people stand in front of shelves filled with canned and boxed goods at the Kangaroo Pantry

More Scholarship Opportunities

Some academic units offer scholarships to their students

Awards from private sources such as banks, institutions and organizations

Awards for eligible Missouri residents

Not a resident of Missouri?

Don't Forget to File Your FAFSA

File your FAFSA anytime between Dec. 31 and the Feb. 1 priority deadline.

UMKC FAFSA Code: 002518

How to file your FAFSA