Scholarship Opportunities

Find and apply for the scholarships that can help you with the cost of books, tuition, and other academic expenses.

Annual Scholarships

The School of Journalism offers scholarships made possible through the generosity of donors, investors, and alumni. To apply, simply follow the steps below. Please be sure to have a current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file before completing the online application. 

  1. Log in to Scholarship Universe with your UA Net ID and Password.
  2. Answer all the "Profile Questions" under the "Profile" tab. This will help you match with eligible scholarships.
  3. Look in the "Scholarship" tab and your "Eligible" folder. UA scholarships are blue and non-UA scholarships are orange. You may be eligible for other UA scholarships, so make sure you know which ones are from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
  4. Scroll down to the "Apply Here" section to apply.
  5. Follow the application instructions.
  6. Click "Submit Application Now" at the bottom and all the scholarships will be moved to your APPLIED folder.

Apply For Scholarships Now

School of Journalism Scholarships

Arizona Daily Star Scholarship

Established in 2006 by the Tucson newspaper to aid students in pursuing a degree in journalism. Recipients must have graduated from an Arizona high school, be pursuing a career in journalism, demonstrate financial need, be enrolled full time and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. Must be enrolled in at least one course for the fall semester after the scholarship is announced.

Edith S. Auslander Scholarship

Edith S. Auslander was a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Hall of Fame, school alumni, and a former assistant to the UA president. Must be an Arizona resident, U.S. citizen, a journalism major, have financial need, GPA of 2.5 or better, and must “have a heart.”

John R. Barnett Scholarship

Family and friends of John R. Barnett and the Dow Jones corporation established this scholarship in 1976. Awarded each semester to one of the editors of The Tombstone Epitaph, a community newspaper published by students.

John G. Carlton Memorial Scholarship 

Named for a longtime journalism teacher at Tucson’s Catalina High School who helped launch the careers of hundreds of journalists, including many UA alums.

Concerned Media Professionals Scholarships

Recipients are picked by Concerned Media Professionals to foster diversity in the media. Recipients must be from a diverse community and have financial need. Be a journalism major, completed or currently enrolled in a beginning news writing course, Arizona resident, minimum GPA 2.25.

Bernice Cosulich Scholarship

Honors Bernice Cosulich, a feature writer and political reporter for 25 years at the Arizona Daily Star, and an expert on Arizona history. Recipients should be worthy and deserving Arizona residents majoring in journalism.

D.C. “Darn Cat” Scholarship

Named for UA grads Mildred and Gordon Gordon, the famed writing team who wrote the "That Darn Cat" books. They wrote 20 novels that sold 16 million copies worldwide, and they also wrote for the Tucson Citizen. For deserving journalism majors in any phase of media, not necessarily based on grades. Multiple awards may be given.

Steve Emerine Endowed Scholarship

Named for Steve Emerine, a Tucson journalist, politician, consultant, and former UAJ faculty member. For full-time journalism majors, either graduate students or undergraduates, with an interest in public affairs reporting and/or media relations.

Richard Gilman Scholarship

Named for the UAJ alumnus and former Boston Globe publisher. Must be a journalism major entering the first or second semester of her/his junior year and have two more years left at the UA. If the student remains in good academic standing, the scholarship will be renewed for his/her senior year. This is a two-year scholarship. Highest consideration will be given to an academically gifted student whose published work (print or online) or classroom writing shows promise in the field of journalism. Financial need is not a consideration. Graduate students are not eligible.

Hank Hubbard Memorial Scholarship

Named for Hank Hubbard, a longtime TV news journalist. For journalism majors with a special interest in investigative journalism in print or TV. Also may go to a student serving an internship with a local TV station. A student must be working toward completing a degree. The scholarship should be presented to a student who demonstrates and reflects the similar positive character, professionalism, and integrity that exemplifies Hank Hubbard.

Peggy Daum Judge Scholarship

Peggy Daum Judge was the food editor of the Milwaukee Journal and a 1954 school grad. For outstanding undergraduate or graduate journalism students.

Ruth A. and Donovan M. Kramer Sr. Scholarship

Established by Ruth and Donovan Kramer Sr., owners of the Casa Grande Dispatch. For full-time undergraduate or graduate students majoring in journalism with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and interest in political science or marketing, and an understanding of the importance of newspapers.

Sara and Harold Love Scholarship

Established by Robert Love in memory of Sara Love. Supports an undergraduate journalism major working on the Tombstone Epitaph, a minimum GPA of 2.5.

Douglas D. Martin Scholarship

Named for the founder of the UA Journalism Department, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and author. For students demonstrating academic excellence and financial need.

Nancy and Bob Maynard Diversity in Journalism Scholarship

The scholarship honors the late pioneering journalists Robert C. Maynard and his wife, Nancy, who had close ties to the school through the Editing Program for Minority Journalists. The scholarship will help bolster the careers of more aspiring journalists of color — and students interested in examining issues related to African Americans and/or supporting the success of the school's African American students.

William Milburn Memorial Scholarship

Benefits undergraduate or graduate students who demonstrate financial need and have average or above-average scholastic standing. Given every three years.

Lois Renouf Nelson Memorial Scholarship

For an upper-division female student. Should demonstrate financial need, academic achievement, and commitment to nonfiction writing, editing, or other journalism. To be awarded to students completing their junior year, to help with their senior year.

ODD Environmental & Multimedia Scholarship

The Olesen Davis de Dios (ODD) scholarship recognizes the efforts of Director Carol Schwalbe in creating and building out the science journalism program. Given to a student interested in science reporting using longform multimedia storytelling.

Sandra Ann Kelly Ramirez Memorial Scholarship

Named for the wife of UA journalism graduate Sam Ramirez and benefits indigenous students with good academic standing preparing for a career in news media. Sandra understood the importance of a free press.

Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Scholarship

Applicants must be a full-time undergraduate or graduate student majoring in journalism with a broadcast emphasis and a minimum 3.0 GPA. Student must reside in the regional area represented by NATAS (Tucson, Phoenix, Sierra Vista, Prescott or Yuma, Arizona; El Centro, California; Albuquerque or Santa Fe, New Mexico; Salt Lake City, Utah; Casper or Riverton, Wyoming). 

Jon Ruby Scholarship

Named for the former vice president and general manager of KVOA-TV for 28 years. Overall GPA of at least 2.0, interest in a career in broadcast journalism. 

Society of Professional Journalists Scholarship

Given by the Society of Professional Journalists, the oldest, largest and most broad-based journalism organization in the United States. Supports upper-division journalism undergraduate majors. Recipients must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and have demonstrated exceptional ability in some phase of news gathering, reporting, production and/or management.  Recipients must be residents of Arizona. No need required. 

Frank O. Sotomayor Scholarship

Named for a 1966 graduate of the School of Journalism and editor at the Los Angeles Times to benefit a student who believes in public service journalism. It also can benefit a student who attended the Donald W. Carson Diversity Workshop for Arizona High School Students.

Lois Whisler Scholarship

Benefits students with financial need and excellent grades.

 

Travel Scholarships (including conferences and research trips)

Ralph and Jan Carpenter Travel Scholarship Fund

Named for two UA grads who met and fell in love at the UA and were lifelong travelers. Assists students traveling to conferences and other professional development activities, usually with $500 travel grants. You can apply at any time of the year.

Don Carson Journalism Fund

Created by Professor Donald W. Carson, a former director of the school and founder of Concerned Media Professionals who died in 2018. Provides travel expenses for journalism students to attend professional conferences and special events, particularly related to diversity (e.g., National Association of Hispanic Journalists conference). It can be used for other purposes to assist students, as well, such as the school's annual high school journalism workshop.

Shirley D. Curson Education Plus International Travel Scholarship

Funded by Shirley D. Curson, who believed in travel to enhance one's education. Selection is made by the school director from applications submitted by students at any time of year. Preference is given to graduate students in the Study Abroad Program or traveling globally for journalism projects. Worthy undergraduates also will be considered. The intent is to provide a significant grant for one student, rather than spreading it out among several with smaller scholarships. For students who have demonstrated the potential for global journalism. Financial need is not a criterion.

Jacqueline E. Sharkey Watchdog Journalism Fund

Named after Jacqueline E. Sharkey, longtime professor, and director of the UA School of Journalism, who retired in 2013 and valued in-depth, investigative reporting and the importance of journalism in a democracy. Provides funds toward journalism activities at the school, such as travel expenses for students on reporting projects, copy fees for public records, or publication of student work. It cannot be used for any non-journalism uses (e.g., public relations).

Jane Swicegood Student Exploration Grant: Any full-time undergraduate or graduate student majoring in journalism can apply for $1,000 in funding to help broaden the scope of their professional portfolios. Examples of projects include, but are not limited to, investigative reports, longform narratives, podcasts, photo projects, documentaries or anything else that gets students into the field and engaged in the community or beyond.The funding can be applied to equipment, travel, research and so forth. Winners must register for at least one (1) unit of independent study or take a class with a journalism professor during the semester(s) the award is made.

Click here to apply for travel scholarships. [Travel scholarships are offered year-round]

 

Specialty Aid and Fellowships

Jane Swicegood Student Exploration Grant

Funded by UA alumna Jane Swicegood to help aspiring journalists broaden the scope of their professional portfolio. The funding helps defray the expenses for compelling journalistic projects at both local and offsite locations. Examples of projects include investigative reports, longform narratives, podcasts, photo projects, documentaries or anything else that gets students into the field and engaged in the community or beyond.

Mark Finley Gold Pen Award in Journalism

The Mark Finley Gold Pen Award in Journalism is awarded to the top three students each semester writing the best news story on deadline in Jour 205 classes. Students are nominated to take part in the competition by their Jour 205 instructors.

Drew Gyorke Photojournalism Award

Named after Drew Gyorke, a promising photojournalist UA junior who died in a car accident on May 2013. Awarded to the top three students each semester shooting the best photographs in the Jour 203 photojournalism class.

Don Bolles Fellowship

Provides expenses, housing and stipend for a student to live in Phoenix spring semester to cover the Legislature for school media. Competitive and honor awarded since 1977. Named after Don Bolles, the Arizona Republic investigative reporter who was killed in a car bombing in 1976. Funded through a donation by UA 1982 alumna Joni Hirsch Blackman and the Armin and Esther Hirsch Foundation.