Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship Opportunities
Scholarships through Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa offers members opportunities to apply for over $90 million in scholarship opportunities from Phi Theta Kappa, partnering senior colleges, universities and foundations – a benefit unmatched by other honor societies.
How to Apply
Use your login credentials to access the scholarship information on the Phi Theta Kappa website at www.ptk.org. The common application process allows members to apply for multiple scholarship opportunities with just one application.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships Website Page: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/how-our-scholarships-work/
Fall Scholarship Application: Deadline - December 2, 2025
All scholarships administered on the Fall Common Application are for use by students who are almost finished with their associate’s degree coursework and intend to enter the work force or intend to transfer to an accredited four-year college to complete a bachelor’s degree for the following upcoming academic year. When you begin an online application, you will first be required to take and pass an eligibility quiz which will help you determine your eligibility for the fall scholarships.
Fall Scholarships
Hites Transfer Scholarship
Must be a Phi Theta Kappa member
Transfer full-time to a senior institution in the next fall term
Demonstrate outstanding academic achievement
10 scholarships of $7,500 each
Total awards of $75,000
Commemorative medallions
Additional Information: Hites Transfer Scholarship
Guistwhite Scholarship
Must be a Phi Theta Kappa member
Transfer to a senior institution in the next fall term
Demonstrate outstanding Phi Theta Kappa participation
15 scholarships of $5,000 each
Total awards of $75,000
Commemorative medallions
Additional Information: Guistwhite Scholarship
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All-USA Academic Team Scholarship
Open to non-members
Be nominated by your college's designated nominator
Demonstrate outstanding academic achievement
Demonstrate significant campus and community engagement
20 scholarships of $5,000 each
Total awards of $100,000
Commemorative medallions
Additional Information: All-USA Academic Team Scholarship
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Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholarship
Open to non-members
Be nominated by your college's designated nominator
Demonstrate outstanding academic achievement
Demonstrate significant campus and/or community leadership and service
50 Gold Scholar Awards of $1,500
50 Silver Scholar Awards of $1,250
50 Bronze Scholar Awards of $1,000
Total awards of $187,500
Commemorative medallions
Additional Information: Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholarship
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New Century Transfer Pathway Scholarship
Open to non-members
Be nominated by your college's designated nominator
Be a top-scoring student from one of the 50 United States, Canada or other sovereign nation where at least one Phi Theta Kappa chapter resides
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$2250 award
Additional Information: New Century Pathway Scholarship
New Century Workforce Pathway Scholarship
Open to non-members
Be nominated by your college's designated nominator
Be a top-scoring student from one of the 50 United States, Canada or other sovereign nation where at least one Phi Theta Kappa chapter resides
Enter the workforce upon two-year college credential completion
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$1500 award
Additional Information: New Century Pathway Scholarship
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Spring Scholarship Application: Deadline – June 16, 2025
All scholarships administered on the Spring Common Application are for use by students who are relatively new community college students and plan to attend the community college for associate’s degree coursework for the upcoming academic year. When you begin an online application, you will first be required to take and pass an eligibility quiz which will help you determine your eligibility for the spring scholarships.
Spring Scholarships
Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship
Must be a Phi Theta Kappa member
Minimum 3.5 GPA
Must have completed 12-36 semester hours
Must be currently enrolled in a two-year associate degree program
200 scholarships of $1,000 each
25 scholarship earmarked for military
7 Global Leaders of Promise Scholars awarded
Total awards of $207,000
Additional Information: Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship
Oberndorf Lifeline to Completion Scholarship: Deadline: December 31, 2025
Must be a Phi Theta Kappa member
Must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
Must graduate within 18 months from the time of application
15 scholarships of $1,500 each
Total awards of $22,500
Additional Information: Oberndorf Lifeline to Completion Scholarship
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Richard L. Resurreccion Public Safety Scholarship
Open to non-members
Minimum 3.5 GPA
Open to Criminal Justice, Fire Science, Fire Technology, Emergency Medical Services, Public Safety Administration, Emergency Management, Homeland Security associate degree majors
Two scholarships of $1,250 each
Total awards of $2,500
Additional Information: Richard L. Resurreccion Public Safety Scholarship
South Carolina Members Only Scholarship
Christopher A. Calhoun Transfer Scholarship
Must be a U.S. citizen and Phi Theta Kappa member
Must be nominated by the student's college
Must be currently enrolled at a South Carolina two-year college or a two-plus-two college program
Must enroll in a four-year college baccalaureate degree program in South Carolina for the next fall semester
Must be eligible and apply for the All-USA Community College Academic Team
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One $1,000 scholarship awarded annually
Recognition at the All-South Carolina Academic Team event
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Additional Information: Christopher A. Calhoun Transfer Scholarship
Carolinas Region (Members Only) Scholarship
The Joan Keller Servant Leader Scholarship
The Alpha-Omega Carolinas Regional Alumni Association sponsors and awards the Joan Keller Scholarship each year. The scholarship was initiated by the Carolinas Regional Alumni Association in honor of Joan Keller for her many years of servant leadership to the Carolinas Region as the Regional Coordinator. The purpose of the Joan Keller Scholarship initiative is to provide active Phi Theta Kappa scholars who have demonstrated servant leadership on campus and/or in the community with financial resources to help defray educational expenses while enrolled in a two-year institution.
Conditions of Eligibility:
A student must be a Phi Theta Kappa member in good standing and currently enrolled at a two-year college in North Carolina or South Carolina with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 at the time of application.
Part-time students, full-time students and international students are eligible to apply.
Students must have been (1) formally inducted into Phi Theta Kappa and (2) are active members (as defined by their chapter’s constitution).
Students must be enrolled at a two-year college in North Carolina or South Carolina for the academic year posted in the scholarship guidelines taking a minimum of six credits per semester; thus, totaling a minimum of 12 academic credits within an ongoing degree program during the scholarship period. Courses for non-credit or audit grade status do not qualify in the total credits earned and attempted.
The student making application must have demonstrated servant leadership on campus and/or in the community.
The John Sharpe Fellowship Scholarship
​The purpose of the “Papa” John Sharpe Scholarship is to provide active Phi Theta Kappa members who have demonstrated scholarly fellowship on campus and/or in the community to help educational expenses while enrolled in a two-year institution.
Conditions of Eligibility:
Applicant must be an active Phi Theta Kappa member in good standing and enrolled in the current Academic Year at a two-year college in North Carolina, South Carolina, or Bermuda:
1. A cumulative GPA of 3.25 at the time of application.
2. Part-time students, full-time students and international students are eligible
3. Taking a minimum of six credits per semester; thus, totaling a minimum of 12 academic credits within an ongoing program of study during the scholarship period. Courses for non-credit or audit grade status do NOT qualify in the total credits earned and attempted.
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Carolinas Region Transfer Excellence Scholarship: Deadline June 6, 2025
​The purpose of the Transfer Excellence Scholarship is to support active Phi Theta Kappa scholars with financial resources to help cover transfer expenses for enrollment in a four-year institution during the fall academic semester of 2025.
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Conditions of Eligibility:
Applicant must be a Phi Theta Kappa member in good standing and currently enrolled at a two-year college in North Carolina, South Carolina, or Bermuda with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 at the time of application.
➢ Part-time students, full-time students and international students are eligible to apply.
➢ Applicants (1) must have joined Phi Theta Kappa and (2) must be an active member (as defined by their chapter’s Constitution) at the time of application.
➢ Applicants must be admitted into a four-year institution and provide proof of enrollment upon entrance in fall semester 2025 for funds to be dispersed.
Other Scholarships
Ewing Citation Scholarship Award
Must be a Phi Theta Kappa member
Must be a community college student at the time the manuscript is submitted
Awarded to the author of the manuscript judged to be the most outstanding of those submitted to the Nota Bene literary anthology
1 award of $1,000
Additional Information: Nota Bene Literary Competition
Fulbright U.S. Student Program (Apply directly to the Foundation for consideration)
Application opens in March, due in October
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Offers U.S. citizens research, study and teaching opportunities for graduating college seniors, graduate students, young professionals, scientists and artists for one academic year
Number of awards and award amounts vary
Link to Fulbright U.S. Student Program: http://us.fulbrightonline.org/about/fulbright-us-student-program
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (Apply directly to the Fund for consideration)
Application due in March
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Must be of Hispanic heritage
Must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
Must enroll full-time at an accredited four-year college during the fall following scholarship application
Award amounts vary from $500 to $5,000
Link to scholarship information: http://hsf.net/
Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship (Apply directly to the Foundation for consideration)
Spring & Summer Programs: application opens in August, due in October
Summer & Fall Programs: application opens in January, due in March
Offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students to pursue study or internship programs abroad
Award amounts vary from $5,000-$8,000
2,500+ awards given annually
Link to Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship: https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/
Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships (Apply directly to the Foundation for consideration)
Applications due in October
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Provides funding for tuition, room and board, books and other required fees
Maximum $40,000 available per student, per year
Link to Jack Kent Cooke Foundation: http://www.jkcf.org/scholarship-programs/undergraduate-transfer/
The Jeannette Rankin Foundation (Apply directly to the Foundation for consideration)
Application typically due in March
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Must be a woman age 35 or older receiving low income
Must enroll at an accredited community college or four-year college
Must be used for associate, technical and vocational programs
Provides funding for college and living expenses
$2,000 award
May be renewed up to 5 years
Link to Jeanette Rankin Foundation: http://www.rankinfoundation.org/
​​The Dr. Adam James Pre-Medical Student Scholarship
Must be currently enrolled in a two-year associate degree program
Must have completed 45 semester hours by December
Minimum 3.5 GPA
Must be enrolled in a pre-med (or related) program
Must intend to enroll in medical school
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$1500 award
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Additional Information: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/dr-adam-james-pre-medical-student-scholarship/
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American Medical Student Association Scholarship (AMSA)
Must be a Phi Theta Kappa member
Must be currently enrolled in a two-year associate degree program
Must have completed 45 semester hours by December
Minimum 3.5 GPA
Must be enrolled in a pre-med (or related) program
Transfer full-time to a senior institution
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Additional Information: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/american-medical-student-association-scholarship/
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Gordon Graham Leadership & Ethics in Criminal Justice Scholarship
Must be currently enrolled in a two-year associate degree program
Enroll at least part-time to a two-year or four-year institution the following spring semester
Must have completed 45 semester hours by December
Minimum 3.5 GPA
Majors in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Homeland Security, Criminology, Law, or a closely related field
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$1250 award
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Additional Information: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/gordon-graham-leadership-and-ethics-in-criminal-justice-scholarship/
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Chime Workforce Scholarship
Must be currently enrolled in a two-year certificate or associate degree program
Must have completed 6 credit hours by January
Minimum 3.0 GPA
Continue enrollment in a two-year certificate or associate degree program
Plan to enter the workforce no later than June 2026
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$1000 award
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Additional Information: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/chime-workforce-scholarship/
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Kevin and Rosa Byrne Family Scholarship
Must be currently enrolled in a two-year associate degree program
Must have completed 12-36 credit hours by January
Have not received an associate or bachelor's degree from any college
Must enroll in a two-year college the following fall semester
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$1000 award
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Additional Information: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/kevin-and-rosa-byrne-family-scholarship/
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Ronny J. Coleman Fire and Emergency Services Leader of the Future Scholarship
Open to non-members
Must be currently enrolled in a two-year associate degree program
Enroll at least part-time to a two-year or four-year institution the following spring semester
Must have completed 45 semester hours by December
Minimum 3.5 GPA
Major in Fire Science, Fire Technology, Emergency Medical Services, Fire & Emergency Services Administration, Community Risk Reduction, Fire Engineering, Fire Prevention, Public Safety Education, or a closely related field
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$1250 award
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Additional Information: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/ronny-j-coleman-fire-and-emergency-services-leader-of-the-future-scholarship/
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TEK Productions Scholarship
Must be currently enrolled in a two-year associate degree program
Must have completed 12 semester hours by December
Minimum 3.5 GPA
Major in Production, Event Management, Theater, Performing Arts, Graphic Design, Video Editing, Stage Management, Sound Design, or a closely related field
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$500 award
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Additional Information: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/tek-productions-scholarship/
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Transfer Scholarships
More than $37 million in transfer scholarship opportunities available to members
Available at over 800 senior institutions
Scholarships are administered by each senior institution
806 scholarships
For details visit PTK CONNECT (login required)
Scholarship Resources