13 Scholarships in Kansas to Make College Cheaper

Kansas may be known for its sunflower fields and friendly Midwestern spirit, but it’s also home to some great colleges — like the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University. While in-state tuition is relatively affordable, costs can still add up, especially for out-of-state students.

The good news? You don’t have to tackle those expenses alone. Scholarships can make a big difference — whether they cover a few hundred dollars or full tuition — and can help make your college dreams more affordable.

At Going Merry, we make it easy to find and apply for scholarships that fit your background, interests, and goals.

Here are 13 of the best scholarships for Kansas students in 2026.

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Scholarships in Kansas

1. Kansas Association of Broadcasters Scholarships

The KAB will make available up to $20,000 annually in scholarship awards (for tuition and books) via their Kansas Association of Broadcasters Scholarships. Applicants determined to be the best candidates will receive a scholarship award without regard to their enrollment in a four-year or two-year college.

Amount: $20,000

Provider: Kansas Association of Broadcasters

Who Can Apply: Any current college or vocational student

Requirements: (1) Kansas resident, (2) 2.5 minimum GPA, (3) major in any of the following: Communication, Journalism, Radio, Television, or Digital Communications

2. The Rudd Scholarship

The Rudd Scholarship helps make paying for college easier by paying for everything for you! After taking other grants and financial aid into account, the Rudd Scholarship will pick up the rest of the bill. This Kansas scholarship aims to promote education and keep talented individuals working within the state in order to boost business ownership, community leadership, and more. Students at Emporia State University, Wichita State University, and Fort Hays State University are eligible to apply, regardless of major.

Amount: Full Tuition over 4 years

Provider: The Rudd Foundation

Who Can Apply: High School Seniors

Requirements: (a) U.S. citizen or permanent resident, (b) Residency in Kansas, (c) Minimum GPA of 3.0, (d) Full-time student status, (e) Eligible for a Pell grant, (f) Enrollment in one of the universities listed above

3. Kansas Osteopathic Medical Service Scholarship

The Kansas Osteopathic Medical Service Scholarship is designed to encourage primary care physicians to establish practices in rural areas of Kansas. Recipients receive $20,000 per year for up to four years of study at nationally accredited osteopathic schools. Preference goes to first-year students.

Amount: $20,000

Provider: Kansas Board of Regents

Who Can Apply: Graduate or doctoral students

Requirements: (a) Resident of Kansas, (2) majoring in Medicine, (3) Committed to providing primary medical care in an underserved area in Kansas

4. Kansas Nursing Service Scholarship

This is one of the more involved scholarships on our list but a fantastic option if you’re planning to study nursing and work in Kansas after graduation. Applicants must find a sponsor who will fund anywhere from $1,000 to one half of the scholarship and the Kansas Board of Regents funds the rest. After graduation, the applicant has to commit to one year of work with their sponsor for each year that they received the scholarship. Both LPN and RN programs are eligible for the Nursing Service Scholarship, but pre-nursing programs are not.

Amount: $2,500 for LPN programs and $3,500 for RN programs

Provider: Kansas Board of Regents + Private Sponsor

Who Can Apply: High School Seniors, College Freshmen, College Sophomores, College Juniors

Requirements: (a) Acceptance into Kansas nursing program (pre-nursing not eligible), (b) Commitment from sponsor to fund at least half of scholarship, (c) Commitment to work full-time with sponsor within six months of licensure

5. Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship

Kansas shows its support for teachers by offering the Teacher Service Scholarship each year. Both students pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in teaching AND licensed teachers pursuing a Master’s degree in a hard-to-fill discipline are eligible. Students and teachers who commit to working in an underserved community within the state can also apply. Winners have to commit to one year of work in Kansas for each year that they receive the scholarship.

Amount: Up to $5,514

Provider: Kansas Board of Regents

Who Can Apply: High School Seniors, College Freshmen, College Sophomores, College Juniors, College Seniors, Graduate Students, Certified Teachers

Requirements: (a) Academic achievement, (b) Residency in Kansas, (c) Enrollment in a program that grants teaching licensure OR certified teacher pursuing a Master’s degree in a hard-to-fill discipline, (d) Commitment to teaching in Kansas for each year the scholarship is received

6. The Wolfs Family Scholarship

The Wolfs Family Scholarship honors four engineers: Karl Wolfs, his daughter, Denise Wolfs, Karl’s brother John Wolfs, and John’s daughter Lorraine Wolfs Minderman.

Amount: $1,250

Provider: SWE

Who Can Apply: Females currently enrolled in college

Requirements: (a) Residents of Kansas, (2) SWE Collegiate membership, (3) majoring in some form of Engineering

7. Kansas Initiative for New Dentists Scholarship

Even rural communities need dentists…and Kansas knows it! That’s why the Initiative for New Dentists Scholarship in Kansas can help you cut up to $25,000 per year off your tuition bill (that’s not so bad if you ask us). Recipients are required to work in a rural Kansas community for a predetermined amount of time in order to receive this award.

Amount: Up to $25,000 per year

Provider: Kansas Dental Association (KDA), Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation (KDCF), and Delta Dental of Kansas

Who Can Apply: High School Seniors, College Freshmen, College Sophomores, College Juniors

Requirements: (a) Commitment to providing dental care in a rural area as a KanCare provider, (b) Letter of interest, (c) Three Letters of Recommendation, (d) Resume, (e) Licensure or plans for licensure

8. Mary Alice Hartigan Scholarship for Nursing

The Mary Alice Hartigan Scholarship for Nursing provides financial support to individuals for healthcare education in the field of nursing and surgical services with an emphasis on surgical nursing. Created in 1999 to honor the late Mary Alice Hartigan, friends, family, and co-workers of Mrs. Hartigan partnered with Mosaic Life Care Foundation to establish this fund to serve as a tribute to her years of dedication to the profession of nursing and devotion to the field of surgical services.

Amount: Varies

Provider: Mosaic Life Care Foundation

Who Can Apply: Nursing students

Requirements: (a) Residents of Kansas, (b) minimum 2.5 GPA, (c) majoring in nursing

9. KASF Scholarship – Midwestern Regional Chapter

The Korean American Scholarship Foundation offers awards to both U.S. citizens and foreign students in any Midwestern state (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin). Any major can apply!

Amount: Varies

Provider: Korean American Scholarship Foundation

Who Can Apply: High School Sophomores, High School Juniors, High School Seniors, College Freshmen, College Sophomores, College Juniors, College Seniors, Graduate Students

Requirements: (a) Residency in a Midwestern state, (b) Minimum GPA of 3.0, (c) Financial need

10. Young Women In Public Affairs (YWPA) Scholarship

With the intention of supporting strong and successful women, the Zonta Club of Johnson County, Kansas awards a $1,000 YWPA Scholarship to an eligible candidate. Applicants should demonstrate experience with volunteerism and volunteer leadership, participation in local or student government, knowledge of Zonta International, and an interest in advocating for the organization’s mission of moving women forward all over the world.

Amount: $1,000

Provider: Zonta Club of Johnson County, Kansas

Who Can Apply: High School Seniors

Requirements: (a) Be a high school senior between 16 and 19 years of age, (b) Plan to attend an accredited college or university in the USA, (c) Residency in Johnson County, Kansas or a surrounding Kansas county

11. Kansas Career Technical Workforce Grant

A four-year education isn’t for everyone and technical careers play a major role in moving our society forward. With that in mind, the Kansas Board of Regents awards up to $1,000 per year to a candidate pursuing a technical career in a high-demand employment field. Applicants for the Technical Workforce Grant should have an interest in using their skills to better the state of Kansas.

Amount: Up to $1,000 per year

Provider: Kansas Board of Regents

Who Can Apply: High School Seniors, GED Graduates, or Home School Graduates

Requirements: (a) Residency in Kansas, (b) Enrollment in an eligible technical career program

12. Kansas Military Service Scholarship

Serving in the military is no easy task and, because of that, paying for school should be a little easier. Aspiring students who served overseas after September 11th, 2001, and received hostile fire pay can apply for the Military Service Scholarship. Applicants must be planning to attend one of the six state universities, Washburn University, a Kansas community college, or a technical school within the state.

Amount: Varies

Provider: Kansas Board of Regents

Who Can Apply: Active and/or Honorably Discharged Military Members who served after September 11th, 2001

Requirements: (a) Residency in Kansas, (b) Good academic standing, (c) Enrollment in a minimum of six hours each semester

13. KARA Scholarship

KARA, an organization that supports the plant and crop protection industry, awards scholarships through the KARA Scholarship in Kansas each year to agronomy majors at the University of Kansas. Juniors and seniors are given preference but all years can apply.

Amount: $1,500

Provider: KARA & the University of Kansas

Who Can Apply: College Sophomores, College Juniors, College SeniorsRequirements: (a) Major in agronomy, (b) Attending the University of Kansas, (c) Junior or Senior status at the time of award

Still need help with financial aid and college scholarships?

We get it. Financing college tuition can be quite a challenge. That’s why we’ve got all the resources for you. Start with this article on everything you need to know about college financial aid.

Then, submit your FAFSA form as soon as possible since this will help determine what financial aid you might qualify for. Need more info about the FAFSA? We’ve got you covered there too.

Finally, complete your checklist by creating a free Going Merry profile, to access our exclusive library of hundreds of thousands of scholarships.

At Going Merry, we make finding and applying for scholarships easy. You’ll be matched with the scholarships you’re eligible for, save your favorite scholarships, and then apply for those scholarships. Get started today. Sign up here.