Scholarships

• Yes, there are many private scholarships provided by external, independent sources such as private companies, organizations, banks, or credit unions. 
  • When applying for private scholarships be sure to check the specific application processes, deadlines, and requirements for each one. See Private Scholarships for more information. 
  • Apply as early as possible, as many scholarships have deadlines at the beginning of the year. 

Avoiding Scams 

• The Department of Education has provided some basic guidelines and tips for students who are applying for scholarships, as well as information on how to avoid scams. 

Applying Private Scholarships to Student Charges 

• Once you receive a scholarship offer, request that the awarding agency send a check payable to "BYU-Idaho" to the address below. 
• Make sure they include your name, I-number, and a letter detailing the term(s) the scholarship covers. 
• The letter should also specify any eligibility requirements, such as minimum credit enrollment or GPA. 

Scholarship mailing address:   

• Once BYU-Idaho receives your scholarship, it generally takes between 10-14 days for the scholarship to show up on your student portal. 

I am an Online Student. What options are there for me? 

• Private Scholarships are available for both campus and online students. See Private Scholarships for more information 

My scholarship was sent to BYU-Idaho but I'm transferring to another school. What should I do? 

• Let us know immediately that you are transferring schools by sending an email to outsidescholarships@byui.edu. T 
• Contact your scholarship agency and let them know you are transferring to a different school.  
• Usually, the agency will issue a new check for the other school once we have returned your scholarship. 

What if I was offered a private scholarship and am serving a full-time mission? 

• BYU-Idaho does not hold scholarships funds while students are serving missions.  
• Contact your agency and let them know you will be serving a mission; usually they can hold your scholarship until you return. 
• If the funds were already sent to BYU-Idaho, email outsidescholarships@byui.edu to let us know so the scholarship can be returned to the offering agency. 

What happens to my private scholarship if I defer or withdraw? 

• If you were eligible for the scholarship at the time it was released to your student account, and you are now withdrawing from school, you can usually keep the funds.  
• However, if your scholarship agency requests to have the money returned, you will need to return the funds to your student account so we can then return the scholarship to your scholarship agency. For additional questions, email outsidescholarships@byui.edu 

I dropped a few credits, what will happen to my private scholarship? 

• If your scholarship agency had specified a minimum number of credits you have to be enrolled in, they may request to have the money returned.  
• But if you meet all the requirements to receive the scholarship the day the funds released to you, then you can keep the funds. 

Can my scholarship split between two semesters? 

• BYU-Idaho will split a NON-BYUI scholarship if the scholarship agency specifies the funds need to be split, or if the agency states the funds need to be offered to the "Academic Year." 

Can I use full scholarship in one semester OR move it to a different semester? 

• To apply your scholarship to one semester or move funds to another, the agency must email outsidescholarships@byui.edu with approval. 
• We can’t make changes without written authorization. 
• Once approved, it takes 2–3 business days for the updates to show on your financial aid portal. 

Why was my scholarship returned? 

• Your scholarship may have been returned for any of the following reasons: 
  • You did not meet the eligibility requirements specified by your scholarship agency, such as being enrolled in a minimum number of credits or maintaining a minimum GPA. 
  • Your scholarship agency contacted our office requesting the funds be returned. 
  • You are going to serve a mission and will therefore not attend the semester(s) for which your scholarship was offered. 

• We will NOT hold Private scholarships intended for future school years. Please communicate with your scholarship agency and arrange for your scholarship to be sent to the school no earlier than a few months before the start of term(s) for which the funds are intended. 

 What if the agency needs information from BYU-Idaho? 

• If the agency sent a form, please complete your section of the form that authorizes the Financial Aid Office to release your information (if applicable). Then email the form to outsidescholarships@byui.edu 

What if the agency said they sent the money to the school, but I don't see a scholarship offered in my financial aid portal? 

• Please verify that the scholarship agency sent the check to the mailing address above with your correct name and I-number listed. Then, find out what date it was mailed. (Scholarship check can take up to 14 days to process once received.) 
• If it has been more than 14 days since the check should have been received, contact the Cashier's Office to see if they have your scholarship and are preparing it for processing. 
• If the Cashier's Office has not received the check, it may be lost in the mail. You should request the agency cancel the lost check and send a new one. 

How come I have a scholarship on my student portal, but I haven't received the money yet? 

• Private scholarships DO NOT release to your student account before the start of the term. They are usually released within the first couple weeks of the semester. If your scholarship is not released within this time, it may be due to one or both of the following: 
• You are not enrolled in enough credits to be eligible to receive the scholarship funds. 
• You are not meeting other eligibility requirements set by your scholarship agency. 

I received an Idaho Opportunity Scholarship, but I don’t see it in my financial aid portal?  

• The Idaho Opportunity Scholarship shows in your financial aid portal as “State Grant/Scholarship”