Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship

Southwestern Oklahoma State University will provide a nonresident tuition scholarship (NRS) to a full-time student enrolling at SWOSU for the first-time if she/he meets one of the requirements below. Nonresident scholarships are awarded for one academic year (fall semester through summer semester). See the continuance requirement for information on continuing the scholarship past this first academic year. In addition to the requirements below, each student must meet regular standards for admission to the university. For purposes of this policy a full-time student is one who is enrolled in a minimum of twelve hours during a regular semester. Summer scholarships are available. All grade point averages listed below are based on the 4.0 system. Tuition waivers may be approved on a case by case basis by the University Vice President.

1. First-time SWOSU students must meet one of the following requirements to receive a NRS:
   1. The student must be a United States citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible nonresident (ENR)* based on state law, who meets regular admission requirements. A first-time freshman must qualify under SWOSU’s regular admission standards. A transfer student must have a retention college GPA of at least 2.00.
   2. One of the student’s parents, grandparents, or legal guardians holds a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from SWOSU. To be eligible, the student must complete a “Legacy Verification” form available in the Academic Records’s Office or the legacy section of the freshman scholarship form.
   3. The student has been (1) selected for membership in, (2) agrees to participate in, and (3) if offered for university credit, enrolls in one of the following university activities:
      1. Regularly scheduled performing organizations of the university’s Department of Music and Department of Communication & Theatre
      2. Intercollegiate athletics
      3. Intercollegiate forensics/debate/College Bowl
      4. Elected cheerleader/Pom Pon Squad
      5. Elected officer of SGA
      6. Orientation Leader
      7. President’s Leadership class
      8. Collegiate Activities Board
         
         Note: The Scholarship Committee may designate other activities to qualify in this category.
2. Newly admitted international students receive no NRS except for those qualifying under 1B or 1C . *An ENR must attend and graduate from an Oklahoma high school and present a signed and notarized affidavit form “Affidavit of Intent” (available in the Academic Records’s Office) to receive resident tuition.
3. A student who receives a nonresident tuition scholarship for activities (as described in 1C) must be admitted to the university and be certified by sponsors of activities approved for participation in the nonresident tuition scholarship program. These students must maintain a 2.00 SWOSU grade point average and complete 24 hours to continue the nonresident tuition scholarship. These student lists shall be emailed to the Scholarship Committee Chair’s office for review and forwarded to the Office of Student Financial Services by August 1.
4. A student may become active in an activity that qualifies them for a NRS after the beginning of the semester. In that case, the NRS can be retroactive to that present semester. Notification must be given by the organization sponsor to the Financial Aid office so that the appropriate credit can be given to that student.
5. When an undergraduate and/or professional student receives an initial NRS under 1A or 1B the NRS will be continued for the next academic year if the following requirements are met:
   1. Student must complete 24 hours per academic year (fall+spring+summer). If the student enters SWOSU during the spring semester, 12 hours must be completed. When a first time student enters SWOSU during the summer semester she/he is excluded from continuance requirements until she/he completes the first academic year.
   2. The following scale will be used to determine the percentage of NRS the student will receive:
      

      Retention SWOSU GPA	Percent Nonresident Tuition Waived
      2.5-4.0	100%
      2.5 or less	0 %

6. An undergraduate student may lose the nonresident tuition scholarship because she/he stopped attending SWOSU, did not complete 24 hours the previous year, the SWOSU retention grade point average dropped below minimum standards required, or they became ineligible to stay in an activity as documented by the activity sponsor. It may be reinstated when the student returns and completes an academic year of 24 hours with an approved retention SWOSU GPA, or participating in an approved activity as documented by the activity sponsor. The nonresident tuition scholarship may be reinstated mid-year if the student raises her/his GPA to the minimum standard, completes full-time enrollment, is enrolled full-time for the semester requested, and files a written appeal request with the Scholarship Committee Chair.
7. Scholarship appeals must be made in writing to the Chair of the Scholarship Committee (c/o Director of Student Financial Services). A sub-committee will meet at the discretion of the committee chair to discuss these appeals. Students will be notified in writing of the decision made.
8. Departments that offer scholarships cannot waive in-state tuition for non-resident students. OSRHE policy denies waiver of in-state tuition for non-resident students.
9. Certain special requirements apply to graduate students only. All students admitted to the Graduate School at SWOSU and in good standing are eligible for a nonresident tuition scholarship. Graduate students are not subject to minimum enrollment requirement (24 hours during the academic year), but must maintain the designated retention SWOSU GPA to continue eligibility for a NRS. Summer nonresident tuition scholarships are available to graduate students without attending as a full-time student the previous spring. The Office of Student Financial Services will check student GPAs annually in August to determine eligibility for NRS continuance.
   

   Retention SWOSU GPA	Percent Nonresident Tuition Waived
   2.5-4.0	100%
   2.5 or lower	0 %

10. When a student continuing to the professional level of the College of Pharmacy receives an initial NRS under 1A or 1B, the NRS will be continued for subsequent academic years if the following requirements are met:
    1. Student must complete 24 hours per academic year (fall + spring+ summer). If the student enters SWOSU during the spring semester, 12 hours must be completed.
    2. The following scale will be used to determine the percentage of NRS the student will receive:
       

       Retention SWOSU GPA	Percent Nonresident Tuition Waived
       2.5-4.0	100%
       2.5 or lower	0%

       
       
       NOTE: The Office of Student Financial Services will check completed hours and student GPAs annually in August to determine eligibility for NRS continuance.
       
       
    3. Zero level courses will be graded Satisfactory “S” or Unsatisfactory “U”. These zero level courses do not count toward graduation and are not figured into the retention grade point average. The zero level courses will count toward financial aid, scholarships, veteran’s benefits and athletic ability.
    4. Certain requirements apply to students attending classes on the Sayre Remote Location. The Dean of the Sayre remote location awards out-of-state nonresident scholarships. Once an award is made by the Dean, the student may retain that award provided she/he maintains satisfactory academic progress on the Sayre remote location. For the award to be maintained for a student continuing to the Weatherford campus, the student must be admitted under the transfer requirement of a retention college GPA of at least 2.0. The student continues to receive the NRS under requirement #5.
    5. Fifth year Scholarships may be available for student athletes when she/he completes eligibility for their respective sport and continues enrollment to complete their academic degree. Students must be within 30 hours of degree completion with at least a 2.0 GPA after the first semester of the award, and each subsequent semester, and with a retention GPA of 2.5. The Athletic Department will generate the student list and send it to Student Financial Services office each semester for the next semester’s award.

The Office of Student Financial Services will check completed hours and student GPAs
annually in August to determine eligibility for NRS continuance.