Scholarships for Public Policy Students

Pursuing a graduate degree, especially one geared towards policy and politics, is an exciting next step that many undergraduate students may already consider. However, for college students with outstanding loans from their undergraduate program, the tuition expenses associated with a graduate degree can deter those aspiring to work in public service.

Fortunately, several financial aid opportunities are available to public policy graduate students, including scholarship funding to help offset the cost of public affair degrees.

Can Graduate Students Get Scholarships?

Yes, graduate students are eligible for scholarships just like undergraduate students. In fact, several different scholarship opportunities exist solely for those who wish to attend graduate school.

Merit-based scholarships can come from various sources, including universities, private companies, nonprofit organizations, and professional associations. Scholarships for graduate students might be more specific than those available to undergraduate students, often targeting particular fields of study or research areas. For example, you might find scholarships that are specifically for public policy candidates and others that are specifically for law school candidates.

In addition to merit-based scholarships, there are also need-based options and scholarships designed for students from underrepresented groups or those pursuing research in high-need areas.

Eligibility for Merit-Based Scholarships

Merit-based scholarships reward students for their achievements, which could be academic, athletic, artistic, or related to community service. Common requirements for merit-based scholarships include:

• Academic Excellence: Many merit-based scholarships require a minimum cumulative grade point average or minimum GMAT or GRE scores.
• Field of Study: Some scholarships are specifically for students pursuing certain public service fields, such as international affairs or urban economics.
• Leadership and Service: Many organizations love to support students who make a difference in their communities.
• Residency or Citizenship Requirements: Some scholarships are open only to residents of certain areas or citizens of certain countries.

Eligibility for Need-Based Scholarships

Need-based scholarships help graduate students who might not have the financial means to cover their educational expenses. Here are some typical eligibility requirements for these types of scholarships:

• Financial Need: Applicants typically need to demonstrate financial need through documents like the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in the US, which calculates your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
• Income and Assets: The scholarship committee will look at your income, assets, and sometimes even debts to determine your need.
• Academic Requirements: While the primary focus is on need, many need-based scholarships still have academic standards you'll need to meet or maintain.
• Residency or Citizenship: Some scholarships are designed for residents of specific countries, states, or even cities. Citizenship requirements can also apply, especially for scholarships funded by government resources.
• Special Circumstances: Some scholarships might target students with specific backgrounds or life circumstances, such as being a first-generation college student, having a disability, or coming from a military family.

Where to Find Public Policy Scholarships

The first and easiest place to find scholarships is to check the financial aid office of the university you plan to attend. Pepperdine School of Public Policy offers many different aid packages for eligible applicants, including a combination of grants, scholarships, student loans, and federal work-study programs.

Pepperdine offers merit-based internal scholarships through endowed funds, supporters and alumni gifts, and University general funds allocation for graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence.

Several external scholarships are also available to students pursuing a degree in public policy from Pepperdine University.

Public Policy Scholarship Opportunities at Pepperdine University

• Laszlo and Milka Ambrus Endowed Scholarship: for students pursuing a degree at the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• William S. and Gay Banowsky Endowed Scholarship: provides grants to students pursuing a MPP degree at the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• Robert J. Barbera Endowed Scholarship: offered to graduate students at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• John J. and Rebecca M. Barton Scholarship: provides scholarships to gifted and talented students who offer promise for leadership in our country or its supporting institutions.
• Bob and Amy Clark Endowed Scholarship: for students pursuing a public policy degree and who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• Conservative Leader Endowed Scholarship Fund: offered to students with financial need pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• Dr. Frank W. and Mrs. Sherry R. Cornell Endowed Scholarship: offered to students with financial need who are pursuing a MPP degree at Pepperdine University, with preference given to Catholic students.
• David and Sally Davenport Endowed Scholarship: for students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• DC Endowed Internship Support Fund: provides support for eligible students at the School of Public Policy to fulfill their summer internship requirements.
• Sally H. Edwards Endowed Scholarship Fund: provides support for students, with a preference given to those students from Hawaii.
• Lynn and Foster Friess Endowed Scholarship: offered to qualified School of Public Policy students who have evidenced leadership based on the principles embedded in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.
• Fritz Endowed Scholarship in Public Policy: supports students pursuing a Master of Public Policy degree, with preference given to those pursuing an International Relations and National Security specialization.
• Linda M. Gage AWP Endowed Scholarship: offered to Church of Christ students with financial need who are pursuing a degree at Pepperdine University and are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• Robert and Deborah Dudley Scholarship for the School of Public Policy: offered to qualified students pursung a master's degree and eventual career in public policy who demonstrate need.
• Bertha and John Garabedian Foundation Endowed Scholarship: provides assistance to qualified public policy students from Fresno, Kings, Madera, or Tulare counties in California.
• Bruce Herschensohn Endowed Scholarship: supports students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• Endowed Jewish Scholarship: provides assistance to Jewish students in good academic standing who are pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy.
• Peter and Veronica Johnson Endowed Scholarship: provides support to students with financial need who are highly qualified applicants to the School of Public Policy.
• Russell and Colene Johnson Endowed Scholarship: offers support for students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• Thomas P. Kemp Endowed Scholarship: assists students at the School of Public Policy.
• Lieberman/Wexler Foundation Scholarship: for students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• Maldonado Family Endowed Fund: to be used at the discretion of the dean of the School of Public Policy to fund merit scholarships, student internships, faculty research, fellowships, and other programs and initiatives of strategic importance to the School of Public Policy in the fields of intelligence, national and homeland security, criminal justice, and enforcement.
• Ted V. McAllister Endowed Scholarship: for students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• Jack McManus Endowed Scholarship: for students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• William and Nancy Mortensen Endowed Minority Scholarship: provides scholarship assistance to minority students in good academic standing.
• Mike E. O'Neal Endowed Scholarship Fund: created to aid deserving School of Public Policy students.
• Jason and Olena Pates Endowed Scholarship: for students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• Pete and Gina Peterson Endowed Scholarship: established for students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• Walter and Nancy Poser Endowed Scholarship: offered to students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• Allen and Marilyn Puckett Endowed Scholarship: established to provide support for students at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• Andrew F. and Deanna D. Puzder Scholars Program: provides support for students at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• S. A. Enlightenment Scholarship: offers scholarship support for students from predominantly Muslim countries.
• Harry E. and Izzelle C. Shafer Scholarship Fund: established to provide scholarships to gifted and talented students who offer great promise for leadership in our country.
• Marilyn Dunton Simpson Endowed Scholarship: provides support for students at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• Smethills Family Endowed Scholarship: offered to students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• Maurice H. Stans Endowed Scholarship Fund: provides support for African- American students or anyone born or adopted into the designated lineal ancestry who is not a minor.
• Stans Family Foundation Endowed Scholarship: preference is given to students who hold a license as a certified public accountant and/or hold a degree in accounting or a related field who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• Terralynn and Earl Swift Endowed Scholarship: assists students interested in studying how people from diverse cultures might discover common values in the context of global interdependency.
• Flora L. Thornton Endowed Scholarship: a merit-based academic scholarship for students at the School of Public Policy with demonstrated leadership potential who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
• Tocqueville Scholars Program Endowed Scholarship: for students at the School of Public Policy who have been referred to the program through a P4 partner organization and possess an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.7.
• Lydell Ward Endowed Scholarship: awarded to qualified female students pursuing a Master in Public Policy degree.
• Michael and Cheryl Warder Endowed Scholarship Fund: for students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University and who are either current members of any of the six United States Armed Forces or honorably discharged from one of them.
• J. McDonald and Judy Williams School of Public Policy Scholarship: offers assistance to deserving School of Public Policy students who are members of the Church of Christ.
  
  

Guidelines for Public Policy Scholarships at Pepperdine University

To be considered for public policy scholarship funds, students must indicate a desire for scholarship consideration on the School of Public Policy admissions application. Awards are made throughout the admission cycle as admission decisions are made.

Other Forms of Financial Support for Public Policy Graduate School

Federal Loans

Federal loans are provided by the government and are designed to help cover the cost of higher education for both undergraduate and graduate students. For graduate students, the most common type is the Direct Unsubsidized Loan, where the student is responsible for all the interest, but the rates are typically lower than private loans and come with flexible repayment options. There's also the Graduate PLUS loan, which can cover up to the full cost of attendance minus other financial aid received, though it requires a credit check.

Federal Work-Study

This program provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial needs, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The jobs are often related to the student’s course of study or are community service positions.

Private Loans

Private student loans are offered by banks, credit unions, and other private institutions to cover education costs not covered by federal loans. Interest rates, terms, and repayment options for private loans can vary widely and are typically based on your credit score and that of any cosigner. They can sometimes fill a gap in funding, but they usually come with higher interest rates and less favorable terms than federal loans. (Note: private loans are not eligible for public service forgiveness programs like some federal loans may be.)

International Student Aid

Many universities offer scholarships, grants, and assistantships specifically for international students. Private loans are available through some lenders that cater to international students, often requiring a cosigner who is a citizen of the country.

Start Your Graduate School Journey at Pepperdine University School of Public Policy

If you are an aspiring graduate student interested in the Master of Public Policy program at Pepperdine University, reach out to the financial aid office to find out about scholarship programs you may be eligible for.