University of Arizona Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by The University of Arizona

Description
**Purpose:** The Phi Theta Kappa Tuition Scholarship is a competitive merit award for community college transfer students pursuing their first bachelor's degree at the University of Arizona.
**Scope:** These terms apply specifically to awards initially offered for the 2025–2026 academic year; recipients from earlier years must consult the terms for their original offer year.

This scholarship recognizes academic achievement in Phi Theta Kappa-affiliated community college students and supports tuition for up to four semesters (with exceptions). It is intended for students who transferred directly from community college and who meet the program’s academic and enrollment requirements. The award is administered by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) and is subject to the University’s tuition and enrollment policies.

Key takeaways:
- Competitive merit scholarship for community college transfer students.
- Applies to awards offered for Fall 2025 or Spring 2026; earlier cohorts follow older terms.
- Administered and reviewed by OSFA under University tuition rules.

Award Value
**Amounts by residency:** The scholarship amount differs by residency status and campus type.
**Payment structure:** Award totals are stated per academic year and are normally split evenly between fall and spring.

- Arizona residents: $5,000 per academic year.
- Non-Arizona residents: $12,000 per academic year.
- Distance Campus (both Arizona and non-Arizona residents): $3,000 per academic year.
The award is expressed as an academic-year total and is generally divided evenly between the two primary semesters.

Key takeaways:
- Different flat rates for in-state, out-of-state, and distance campus students.
- Annual amount typically split between fall and spring.
- Final semester tuition adjustments can change the disbursed amount.

Selection Criteria
**Primary eligibility conditions:** Selection requires direct transfer from community college, specified GPA, unit completion, and Phi Theta Kappa membership evidence.
**Exclusions:** Any post–high school enrollment at a four-year institution disqualifies applicants.

Applicants must have attended only community college(s) after high school (no four-year enrollment), hold a minimum combined cumulative post-secondary GPA of 3.50, and have completed at least 36 community college units at the time of admission to Arizona. Phi Theta Kappa membership must be indicated on the community college transcript; if not, applicants should submit their PTK certificate to admissions@arizona.edu.

Key takeaways:
- Only students with exclusively community college attendance after high school are eligible.
- Minimum 3.50 combined cumulative college GPA required.
- At least 36 community college units completed and PTK designation or certificate required.

Eligibility (Administrative Requirements)
**Legal and degree status:** Eligibility includes citizenship/immigration and degree-intent conditions.
**Start term requirement:** The award must be used beginning the offered start term.

To qualify administratively, applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, demonstrate lawful immigration status, or be qualifying non-citizen Arizona high school graduates receiving in-state tuition via Proposition 308. Recipients must be pursuing their first bachelor’s degree and must begin using the award in the term it was offered (Fall 2025 or Spring 2026).

Key takeaways:
- Citizenship or qualifying immigration/residency status required.
- Must be pursuing a first bachelor’s degree.
- Award must be activated in the offered term.

Availability and Duration
**Standard duration:** The award covers two consecutive academic years (four semesters: fall and spring only).
**Exceptions and special uses:** Distance programs, microcampus students, accelerated degrees, and graduate/ professional use have specific rules.

The scholarship is not available for Arizona Online programs and is not for Microcampus students. Main Campus and Distance Campus students (including domestic students with international credentials) may receive the award for up to four consecutive semesters. Students who finish their bachelor’s degree early may use remaining semester(s) toward graduate tuition immediately after undergraduate completion if admitted and enrolled in a qualifying graduate program; PharmD and certain professional program exceptions may apply. Students in the 5-year Bachelor of Architecture program receive three consecutive years (six semesters) under renewal rules.

Key takeaways:
- Standard: fall and spring only, two academic years (four semesters).
- Not for Arizona Online or Microcampus students; special rules for Distance Campus.
- Early graduates may possibly apply remaining semesters to graduate or certain professional programs; B.Arch students receive six semesters.

Application and Timeline
**Application method:** The Arizona Transfer Admission Application for Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 serves as the scholarship application.
**Admission window:** Applicants must submit the transfer application for the term they intend to enroll to be considered.

No separate scholarship form is required; completing the university’s transfer admission application by the term’s deadlines serves as the scholarship application. Students admitted for Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 are reviewed under these 2025–2026 terms. Deadlines and admissions timelines follow standard University of Arizona transfer admission schedules.

Key takeaways:
- Scholarship application is the standard transfer admission application.
- Use the application for the term you intend to start (Fall 2025 or Spring 2026).
- Follow the University transfer admission deadlines for consideration.

Renewal Criteria
**Performance and unit requirements:** Renewal depends on University of Arizona cumulative GPA and Arizona unit completion during each award year.
**Enrollment expectations:** Students must maintain specified enrollment patterns and meet unit thresholds by academic-year end.

To renew after Year 1 (for Fall admits), students must achieve a minimum 3.00 cumulative University of Arizona GPA and complete 30 Arizona units by the conclusion of the first academic year. Renewal for subsequent semesters requires meeting incremental unit thresholds (Year 1: 15 units for spring admits; Year 2: 45 cumulative units overall) and maintaining full-time enrollment expectations (usually 12+ units during fall and spring). Qualifying units include Arizona winter and summer courses, passing pass/fail units, and qualifying repeated courses; non-qualifying units include failed, incomplete, consortium, audit, study abroad summer, test credit (AP/CLEP), transfer units, and others specified by OSFA.

Key takeaways:
- Minimum 3.00 cumulative UA GPA required for renewal.
- Specific Arizona unit totals required by each renewal milestone (e.g., 30 or 45 units).
- Certain unit types count toward renewal; many transfer/test/failed/non-credit units do not.

How the Award Is Applied
**Disbursement timing:** Funds are applied to the Bursar student account once full-time enrollment is confirmed.
**Covered costs:** The scholarship covers undergraduate tuition charged through the Bursar only.

Awards are posted to the student’s Bursar account approximately ten days before classes begin after enrollment of at least 12 units per term (unless a verified final-semester exception applies). The scholarship does not cover fees, surcharges, differential tuition, room and board, books, or other non-tuition charges. Academic-year amounts are normally split evenly across fall and spring; students who graduate mid-year or enroll less than full-time in a final semester will receive pro-rated adjustments.

Key takeaways:
- Disbursed to Bursar account ~10 days before classes when full-time enrollment confirmed.
- Applies only to undergraduate tuition posted through the Bursar.
- Award amount may be adjusted for final-semester or part-time situations.

Multiple Awards and Tuition Programs
**Combination limits:** This scholarship cannot be combined with several named tuition awards or certain benefits.
**Adjustments:** The award will be adjusted to prevent exceeding 100% of base tuition when combined with other reductions.

The Phi Theta Kappa Tuition Scholarship cannot be combined with other tuition awards such as the All-Arizona Academic Team Tuition Award, Transfer Tuition Scholarship, Arizona Tuition Award, Wildcat Tuition Award, certain departmental awards, ROTC tuition awards, or the GI Bill; eligibility exclusions also apply for students in WUE or the High School 150% Resident Tuition Rate. Qualified Tuition Reduction (QTR) or other tuition waivers will reduce this award as needed so total tuition coverage does not exceed base tuition. For detailed tuition-rate interactions, students should consult the Bursar’s website.

Key takeaways:
- Not combinable with many named tuition scholarships and some federal/departmental benefits.
- WUE participants and those under the 150% resident tuition rate are ineligible.
- The award will be reduced if other tuition reductions apply to prevent over-awarding.

Residency Change
**Reevaluation process:** Changing residency during the award period prompts a merit reevaluation.
**Limitations:** Certain residency outcomes may disqualify the award.

If a recipient’s residency status changes during the four semesters of eligibility and they still meet renewal criteria, OSFA will reevaluate the student for merit awards aligned with the incoming cohort’s standards. Students should notify OSFA when residency changes to request reassessment. Note that non-resident students who later qualify only for a 150% resident tuition rate (e.g., by Arizona high school graduation or GED) do not qualify for this scholarship.

Key takeaways:
- Notify OSFA promptly if residency status changes for reevaluation.
- Reevaluation compares the student to the current cohort’s merit standards.
- Earning only a 150% resident rate does not make a student eligible.

Reinstatement and Appeals
**Automatic and conditional reviews:** OSFA performs summer reviews for students who miss renewal benchmarks but are enrolled in summer courses.
**Appeal outcomes:** Approved appeals may partially restore funding; reinstatement follows strict conditions and deadlines.

Students who miss renewal criteria by spring but are enrolled in summer will be automatically reviewed after summer grades post. If renewal is not achieved by academic-year end, reinstatement is possible after the student raises their UA GPA to at least 3.00 and makes up missing Arizona units. Mid-year reinstatement requires being on track with an average of 15 Arizona units per fall/spring award semester. Reinstated awards are returned at 100% of the original tuition amount for the following eligible term(s) but a single semester award cannot exceed 50% of the original annual offer. Reinstatement eligibility is limited to two consecutive years (four semesters). Scholarship appeals may be submitted with documentation; an approved appeal makes the student eligible for 80% of the original award for the academic year following non-renewal. Students must contact OSFA by the last day of the semester they request reinstatement; priority deadline is 30 days before semester start to help avoid late fees.

Key takeaways:
- Summer enrollment can prompt automatic post-summer review for reinstatement.
- Reinstatement requires meeting GPA and unit shortfalls; strict unit/track conditions apply.
- Appeals may grant 80% of the original award; contact OSFA early (priority = 30 days before semester).

History of the Award
**Effective term notice:** These terms and conditions are specific to awards offered for the 2025–2026 academic year.
**Previous offers:** Recipients whose awards were offered in earlier academic years must consult the archived terms for their cohort.

The University periodically updates scholarship terms; this document governs only awards initially offered for Fall 2025 or Spring 2026. Policy, amounts, and renewal rules may differ across cohorts, so prior recipients should reference the Scholarship selection menu for the correct historical terms.

Key takeaways:
- This document governs 2025–2026 Phi Theta Kappa Tuition Scholarship offers only.
- Earlier award recipients must review the terms tied to their original offer year.
- University scholarship terms are cohort-specific and subject to change.