The Tulane STAR Award
The Stellar Tulane Academic Recognition (STAR) Award at Tulane seeks to recognize currently enrolled full-time Newcomb-Tulane College students. This award is open to undergraduate first-year, sophomore, and junior students who have demonstrated stellar academic performance since their matriculation at Tulane and who will continue to enroll as a full-time Newcomb-Tulane undergraduate student in the subsequent academic year.
These rising "stars" are invited to apply for this competitive award. In recent years, depending on funding, we have been able to offer between 2 and 50 STAR Awards ranging in value from $2,500 to $5,000. All awards will be offered towards a student’s subsequent academic year of attendance, and will be continued annually for the remainder of a student’s undergraduate career assuming that all STAR Award retention criteria are successfully met.
The Cowen Scholars
Established in honor of Tulane President Emeritus Scott Cowen, the Cowen Scholars Program provides meaningful scholarship support to a cohort of currently enrolled full-time Newcomb-Tulane College students. This scholarship and program is open to undergraduate first-year, sophomore, and junior students who will continue to enroll as a full-time Newcomb-Tulane undergraduate student in the subsequent academic year. Through their commitment to civic engagement and success at Tulane and throughout their lives, Cowen Scholars carry forward President Emeritus Scott Cowen’s legacy of extraordinary leadership, resilience, and service.
Students with a commitment to civic engagement and leadership at Tulane are invited to become a Cowen Scholar. In recent years, depending on funding, we have been able to offer between 15 and 30 Cowen Scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each. All awards will be offered towards a student’s subsequent academic year of attendance and will be continued annually for the remainder of a student’s undergraduate career assuming that all Cowen Scholarship retention criteria are successfully met.
Application Procedure
Here are the details concerning the application process, which opens each spring from January 1st through April 1st:
- The application process consists of writing a brief essay (250-500 words) on the following topic: Describe what you have valued most of your Tulane education to date and how you plan on contributing to the Tulane community during the remainder of your undergraduate career? The application, along with your ESSAY and RESUME must be submitted by April 1. Applications without essays and resumes will not be considered.
- Only currently enrolled full-time undergraduate first-year, sophomore, and junior students who have completed at least one semester of full-time enrollment at Tulane will be considered. The scholarship is for fall and spring semesters and is not applicable to summer semesters or graduate programs.
- Students who wish to apply should have a 3.60 cumulative GPA and preference will be given to students who have not previously been awarded a Tulane merit scholarship.
- The selection committee will review all applicants and announce all decisions by April 30th each spring.
- Scholarship applicants are strongly encouraged to have filed for financial aid consideration during the current academic year by completing a College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile AND the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if you are a U.S. citizen or eligible resident. While financial need is not a requirement to receive a scholarship, preference is given to those applicants who have completed an application for financial assistance.
- Since these scholarships are made available through the generosity of donors (e.g. Tulane alumni, foundations, etc.), selected recipients will be asked to assist with stewardship activities (e.g. writing thank you notes, meeting with donors, etc.). If you are unable to commit to this expectation, you should not submit this application.
- Late or incomplete applications will NOT be considered.
- The scholarship application may be found on this web page during the application period, which opens January 1 and closes April 1.
General Retention/Renewal Conditions
These scholarships can be renewed for fall and spring semesters of enrollment provided the student maintains a 2.70 cumulative grade point average and continuous enrollment in a full-time Newcomb-Tulane undergraduate program, up to the point that financial aid does not exceed the financial aid cost of attendance; however, students guilty of violations of the Code of Student Conduct or Code of Academic Conduct will forfeit all remaining portions of the scholarship that they have been offered.
Seniors in their final semester who enroll less than full-time may still receive the award, but the amount will be reduced, prorated by the amount of the tuition and mandatory fee reduction.
Other students who enroll in or drop to less than full-time in their fall semester will have their scholarship reduced, prorated by their tuition and mandatory fee reduction, if any. They will be allowed to retain their scholarship for the spring semester provided they enroll full-time, but may lose eligibility for all following years since the scholarship guidelines require that students maintain continuous full-time enrollment. Students who enroll in or drop to less than full-time in the spring semester will have their scholarship reduced, prorated by their tuition and mandatory fee reduction, if any, but may lose eligibility for the scholarship in future semesters.
Students who take an approved leave of absence may regain their scholarship upon their return provided they continue to meet all academic and enrollment conditions and submit documentation verifying the approved leave of absence. Acceptable documentation is either a copy of their college's approved leave of absence form or a letter from their academic dean's office confirming the terms and length of the student's approved leave of absence.
