College of Arts & Science
Scholarships & Awards
99% percent of Baker students on the Baldwin City campus receive financial aid in the form of scholarships and grants that total thousands of dollars per student.
Helping You BU
We strive to provide financial assistance to as many students as possible. Early action is important. Applications will be accepted until funds are exhausted.
Office of Financial Aid
P.O. Box 65
Baldwin City, KS 66006-0065
Hours
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
To be awarded an academic scholarship, freshmen and new transfer students must be admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences or a School of Education undergraduate program.
If you have not applied for admission, you may apply online.
After you are admitted to Baker, we’ll use the information on file to determine your academic scholarship eligibility. For need-based aid, you should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When your FAFSA results arrive, we’ll prepare your individual financial aid letter, which details all known sources of financial aid. Learn more about need-based programs.
Freshman Competition Awards
Competition for Harter, Presidential, and Dean awards is held annually. The Lake and Howard scholarships are awarded in alternating years.
Edward Lin Harter & Sylvia Lloyd Harter Scholarship
Full tuition for four years, provided you maintain a minimum GPA. Eligible students will be notified in their acceptance packet.
Ada Hopkins Lake Endowed Scholarship
Full tuition, fees, on-campus housing, meals, and books for four years, provided you maintain a minimum GPA. Students eligible for this need-based award will be notified in their acceptance packet.
Presidential & Dean Scholarships
These scholarships are awarded based on participation in Academic Scholarship Competition Day and are in addition to other scholarships awarded by Baker University. Eligible students will be notified in their acceptance packet.
Joanne M. Howard, PhD, Endowed Scholarship
Awarded to a female student pursuing a career in medicine (MD, DO, PA), pharmacy, professor of sciences, medical research, or pharmaceutical research. It is renewed annually if the student maintains a 3.5 cumulative GPA and continues to meet the other criteria. Eligible students will be notified in their acceptance packet.
First-Year Merit Awards
| Scholarship/Award | Amount | Renewal Cum. GPA |
| Highest Honors | $18,000 | 3.15 |
| Honors | $17,000 | 3.00 |
| Baker Scholar | $16,000 | 2.75 |
| Academic Merit | $15,000 | 2.50 |
| Wildcat | $14,000 | 2.25 |
Former Concurrent Credit Student | $64,000 over four years
Students enrolled in the Baker University concurrent credit program who earn a C or better are eligible for a $64,000 scholarship over a four-year, degree-seeking enrollment period. Not paired with an athletic or academic scholarship.
Transfer Awards
Eligibility for these scholarships is based on a cumulative transfer GPA determined by the Baker University registrar at the time of enrollment.
BSN Students: If you will attend classes at the School of Nursing in Topeka, find your scholarship and financial aid information here.
| Scholarship/Award | Amount | Req. GPA | Renewal Cum. GPA |
| Honors | $17,000 | 3.8-4.0 | 3.00 |
| Baker Scholar | $16,000 | 3.3-3.79 | 2.75 |
| Academic Merit | $15,000 | 2.6-3.29 | 2.50 |
| Wildcat | $14,000 | 2.2-2.59 | 2.25 |
| Phi Theta Kappa *Must be a member |
Additional $1,000 | 3.25 | — |
Talent-Based Awards
Students who exhibit special talent in the following areas may be eligible for a scholarship. Award amounts vary according to funding, the number of applicants, and the student’s contribution to the activity. Recipients must be accepted for admission to Baker University. Applications for a talent-based scholarship received by March 1 receive priority consideration.
Check each scholarship page for a link to the scholarship application and instructions for submitting additional materials.
Studio Art
Baker University offers scholarships to students who plan to be involved in the visual arts. In addition to the scholarship application, students must submit a portfolio of their work.
Journalism, Digital Media, Broadcasting
Baker University offers talent-based scholarships to students who plan to be involved in the Baker Orange online campus newspaper, Baker Orange video, or Baker Orange radio, our online campus radio station. Samples of work in mass media or high school classes are required in addition to the scholarship application.
Creative Writing
Baker University offers talent-based scholarships to students who plan to be involved in the Department of English and contribute to Watershed, our creative writing journal. Writing samples are required in addition to the scholarship application.
Vocal & Instrumental Music
Baker offers scholarships to music majors and nonmusic majors for their participation in Baker University music ensembles and activities. Students have the option of submitting a URL for a prerecorded audition (we recommend that the URL link to an unlisted YouTube recording or playlist or a file-sharing folder like DropBox or Google Drive), requesting a virtual audition time (for a real-time audition over Zoom), or auditioning for us in person on one of our designated audition dates.
Theatre
Baker offers scholarships to theatre minors and others who want to participate in Baker University theatre productions and activities. Students are encouraged to audition as early as their junior year to secure a financial award. Students have the option to supply a URL for a video audition or request an in-person audition.
Athletic Awards
Scholarships for our student-athletes are packaged differently than for students who do not participate in varsity athletics. Athletic awarding is done on a case-by-case basis. All prospective athletes must complete a FAFSA. Coaches will visit with prospective players about the aid they are eligible to receive.
The Athletic Department offers scholarship awards that recognize academic and athletic talent. In addition to these offers, the Bishop Quayle Award and an award from the Harter Scholarship Competition can be added. Federal, state, and outside aid can provide additional assistance.
Additional Baker Scholarships & Grants
Some of the following awards may be added to an academic scholarship; however, the total amount of Baker-funded scholarships and grants cannot exceed the cost of tuition for the upcoming year. Not all scholarships are paired with athletic scholarship funds. Please see each award for details.
Recipients must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative Baker GPA plus earn a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester to renew any of the following awards.
Cultural Diversity Scholarship | Need based
To qualify for this award, at least one parent must be Native American or Native Alaskan, Asian or Pacific Islander, African-American, or Hispanic. The student must also be a U.S. citizen and planning to enroll as a full-time student at Baker. Data is gathered through self-reporting on the application for admission. The FAFSA is required annually. It is not paired with an athletic scholarship.
Gold Award Girl Scout | $1,000
The Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. Gold Award Girl Scouts should notify their admissions counselor of their award or indicate it on their application for admissions under extracurricular activities, achievements, and awards. The award is included in a student’s Grant in Aid offer and is renewable for up to nine semesters. It is not paired with an athletic scholarship.
Joanne M. Howard, PhD, Endowed Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to a woman pursuing a career in medicine or medical research and continues until graduation as long as the recipient continues to meet the criteria:
- Meets FASFA financial-need requirement
- Has a 3.5 cumulative GPA at the time of application and maintains it until graduation
- Is of good character
- Is considering a career in medicine (MD, DO, PA), pharmacy, professor of sciences, medical research, or pharmaceutical research
Noyce Scholarship & ASTRA Program | $11,000
The Noyce Scholarship and ASTRA Program trains excellent STEM teachers. Through a grant from the National Science Foundation, Noyce Scholars will be awarded a scholarship of $11,000 during their junior and senior years as they tackle a demanding course load that culminates in a double major in education and either biology, chemistry, or mathematics. Learn More
First Generation | $1,000
This award is available to incoming freshmen and transfer students who are the first in their family to attend college or university. It is not paired with an athletic scholarship.
Out-of-State Grant | $1,000 per year
This award is available to incoming freshmen and transfer students with residency outside of Kansas. It is not paired with an athletic scholarship.
Baker Grant | Need based
This need-based award is available to incoming freshmen and transfer students. Need is defined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It is not paired with an athletic scholarship.
Bishop Quayle Award | $300 per semester, maximum award of $600 per year
Baker will match your church’s contribution from an established scholarship fund. You should be an active participant in a church, which does not have to be United Methodist. Print the application and take it to your church for completion.
Alumni Legacy | $1,000 per year
Children and grandchildren of Baker graduates are eligible. Included within athletic scholarship award.
Alumni Referral | $1,000 over four years
Referrals from alumni must be received before the student is admitted for admission. Included within athletic scholarship award.
Tuition Remission or Exchange
Dependents of full-time employees of Baker or eligible tuition exchange schools are required to complete the FAFSA annually by March 15. Tuition assistance will be a combination of state and federal grants and institutional dollars.
Outside Scholarships Available From Other Donors
United Methodist Scholarship
United Methodist students qualify for a variety of additional financial aid support. The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, an agency of the United Methodist Church, offers many loan and scholarship opportunities. Scholarships are also available from the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation.
Outside Scholarship Newsletter
Our financial aid team has compiled a robust list of scholarship opportunities. We know that every little bit helps, so please take a look and see if you qualify.
Outside Scholarship Newsletter
Learn more about scholarship and college savings options for low- to moderate-income students living in the greater Kansas City area.
The Office of Financial Aid is the only office at Baker University authorized to offer financial aid to students.
Only awards originating from this office will constitute a commitment on behalf of Baker University. Recommendations for awards can be made by faculty or staff on campus, and these are taken into consideration before the aid offer is sent. Financial aid is disbursed through the Business Office at the beginning of each semester. Employment checks for campus work are disbursed monthly.