Non-Resident Tuition Scholarships

SWOSU will provide a nonresident tuition scholarship (NRS) to a full-time student enrolling at SWOSU for the first-time. 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 12 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 Scholarship Committee chair.

First-Time Freshmen

1. First-time SWOSU students must meet one of the following requirements to receive an NRS:
2. The student must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible nonresident (ENR)* based on state law, who meets regular admission requirements. A transfer student must have a retention college GPA of at least 2.00.
3. 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. A Legacy Scholarship is valid for the first year of attendance. After the first year, the student must meet continuance requirements.
4. 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:
   • Regularly scheduled performing organizations of the university’s Departments of Music and/or Arts, Communication & Theatre
   • Intercollegiate athletics
   • Intercollegiate forensics/debate/College Bowl
   • Elected cheerleader/Pom Squad
   • Elected officer of SWOSU’s Student Government Association
   • New Student Orientation leader
   • President’s Leadership Class
   • Collegiate Activities Board

Note: The Scholarship Committee may designate other activities to qualify in this category.

Newly admitted international students receive no NRS except for those qualifying under 1B or 1C requirements

*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.

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 each academic year 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.

A student may become active in an activity that qualifies them for an 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 scholarship counselor so that the appropriate credit can be given to that student.

When an undergraduate and/or professional student receives an initial NRS under 1A, 1B, or 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 percent waiver
2.49 or less	Zero percent waiver

 

Stopped Attendance

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.

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 by e-mail to the student’s account of the decision made.

Tuition Waivers

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.

Graduate Students

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 an NRS. Summer nonresident tuition scholarships are available.

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 percent waived
2.49 or lower	Zero percent waived

 

College of Pharmacy

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 percent waived
2.49 or lower	Zero percent waived

 

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

Zero-Level Courses

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.

Sayre Remote Location

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.

Fifth-Year Athletes

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. The Athletic Department will generate the student list and send it to the Office of Student Financial Services each semester for the next semester’s award.

Students who have been admitted to academic degree programs in which coursework is offered exclusively in an online format are entitled to a nonresident tuition waiver following the same guidelines as an undergraduate.

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