Scholarship Universe FAQ

Why am I seeing scholarships appear for me that I don’t think I qualify for?

The system is reliant on the information in your profile. Please revisit your previous answers to ensure they are correct and up to date. If there is an error in the scholarship, please let Financial Aid & Scholarships know. We are continuously adjusting the matching questions and scholarship criteria as we identify any conflicts. You should apply to any scholarships you are matched to in order to maximize your chances of being awarded.

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When will scholarships be awarded & how will I be notified?

Scholarships are awarded on an ongoing basis throughout the year. When you are awarded a scholarship, a notification email is sent to your WSU student email, instructing you to accept the scholarship in Scholarship Universe and to submit a thank-you letter, if the scholarship requires it.

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Why have I not been informed if I did or did not get a scholarship?

As new funding becomes available, the university continues to award additional scholarships. After each semester begins, scholarships may be canceled for students who do not meet enrollment or GPA requirements, and those funds are then reallocated to other eligible students. We do not notify you if you are not awarded a scholarship since we continuously award scholarships as funds are available. There is still an opportunity for you to get that scholarship if the student awarded it ends up not getting it.

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When will the money I was awarded for scholarships be applied to my account?

Financial aid and scholarships may be released up to 10 days before the start of the semester. However, for continuing students, funds cannot be disbursed until Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) has been reviewed and applied to their records. For fall and summer semesters, disbursements for continuing students typically occur 1 to 2 days before the tuition due date.

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When should I start applying for scholarships?

You should update your Scholarship Universe profile answers every November for the following year’s fall semester, especially if you have had any major life events such as having a child or getting married. Faculty and staff begin awarding scholarships in February, so it's important to check for matched scholarships regularly starting Feb. 1 and throughout the fall semester and apply for as many as you match with to maximize your chances. Scholarships are awarded year-round as funding becomes available.

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How long before the semester starts will I find out if I’ve been awarded a scholarship?

New freshman and continuing academic scholarships are awarded based on the admission date, beginning in mid-December for the following fall semester. Faculty and staff begin awarding scholarships in February. Activity scholarships are awarded in May, and need-based scholarships begin awarding in May as well—but only after a valid, verified FAFSA has been received. The FAFSA (almost always) opens on Oct. 1 for the following fall semester, and April 1 is the priority deadline to submit it to Weber State University to ensure federal aid is ready for fall. FAFSA’s received in July and August still need to be verified and therefore, need-based scholarship processing continues through September and October. If you meet all the priority deadlines, you will have a solid understanding of what you get for scholarships before school starts, with the continued possibility of receiving more money if already awarded scholarships are canceled for some reason.

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What if I’m awarded a scholarship but I’ve already paid my tuition bill?

Residual financial aid and scholarship funds are returned to students in the following ways:

• If a tuition bill was paid with a credit card, the refund is first applied back to that credit card used to pay the tuition bill.
• Any remaining funds are then processed as follows:
  • Students enrolled in eRefund will receive the residual funds via direct deposit, typically within 48 hours of disbursement, depending on bank processing times.
  • All other students will be mailed residual funds by check to the mailing address within 3 days of the funds being applied to their accounts.

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Do I have to pay my tuition bill if I’m unsure of the award status of scholarships I’ve applied for?

To avoid late fees, tuition must be paid by the deadline. However, if a student has accepted pending financial aid and scholarships that cover the full bill, no late fee will be assessed. If the pending aid does not cover the entire balance, a late fee will apply unless the remaining balance is paid by the tuition deadline.

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When do scholarships for 26-27 open and when is the deadline?

1. The 2026-2027 Scholarship Universe Application opened on Oct. 1. Students can begin answering questions and applying to scholarships anytime after Oct. 1. The majority of scholarships will be added by Feb. 1. More Scholarships may be added after Feb. 1, if additional funding becomes available.
2. Students are encouraged to update their profile answers each year.
3. Students should log into Scholarship Universe every week or so to see if new scholarships have been added to their Scholarship Matches.
4. Most scholarships don’t have a deadline, although there are some that do. Click into a given scholarship and then click on VIEW to see the particulars about a scholarship, such as application deadlines and how a scholarship can be used.
5. Students who APPLY to all of the scholarships that they match to, increase their chances of receiving scholarships. A majority of scholarships are awarded based on the date the application was submitted, so apply early and check into Scholarship Universe often!

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What if I accidentally applied to a 2025-2026 Scholarship, but I’m not attending until Fall 2026?

The year found in the scholarship name directly corresponds to the academic year that a particular scholarship can be awarded. If you realize you have applied to the wrong year, you need to go in and additionally complete the application for the correct academic year.

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Do donors actually read the thank-you letter I submit in Scholarship Universe?

Yes! All thank-you letters are sent directly to the donors or their representatives. These letters show donors how their contributions are making a difference and help them connect with the impact of their generosity. Be sure to submit your thank-you letter promptly and share how the scholarship has helped you.

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Do I need to fill out a FAFSA for scholarships?

Some scholarships require a completed FAFSA, while others do not. All need-based scholarships require a completed FAFSA. FAFSA is the tool used to determine financial need. Most students benefit from completing the FAFSA each year.

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I can’t find a specific scholarship I’m looking for. Why?

Use the search bar at the top of the screen to locate specific scholarships. If you don’t see the scholarship available, it may be because:

• You have unanswered questions (indicated by blank fields).
• Your current answers don’t match the scholarship’s eligibility criteria (indicated by a red "X").

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How often should I log into Scholarship Universe?

Log in at least once a week. New scholarships, both internal and external, are added regularly, so checking frequently helps ensure you don’t miss any opportunities.

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Why did I get an email saying a deadline for an outside scholarship is approaching?

You previously viewed an external scholarship in Scholarship Universe but didn’t indicate whether you applied. The system sends a reminder to help you keep track of deadlines. You can log in anytime to update your application status.

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Why did I get an email saying my questions may be out of date?

If it's been a while since you updated your answers or if a new award year has begun, the system will automatically remind you to review and update your information. You can manage these notifications by adjusting your email preferences in the settings.