If you started school but didn’t have the chance to earn your degree, we can help you finish what you started. Work, family, finances or other responsibilities don’t have to deter you from earning your degree. That’s why University of Phoenix created the Finish Strong Scholarship.
Each year we award 16 full-tuition undergraduate or master's degree scholarships to deserving and motivated students to give them the opportunity to finish what they started and complete their degree.
The Finish Strong Scholarship can provide the financial support to help you pay for school. Our convenient online and on-campus degree programs offer the flexibility to accommodate your busy lifestyle and schedule. Scholarship recipients may choose to attend University of Phoenix online or at any of our campus locations. So, don’t let anything stop you from earning your degree, find out if you’re eligible for a Finish Strong Scholarship.
Candidates for the scholarship must demonstrate the following to be considered:
Applicants who reside in the United States must meet one of the following requirements: be a legal resident of the United States; have been granted permanent residency; have a valid visa that does not prohibit educational studies; have been granted temporary protected status along with approved Notice of Action issued by Citizen Immigration Services and verified through CIS Form g-845; or have been granted asylum along with the approved Notice of Action issued by the Citizen Immigration Services.
Applicant must have started but not completed his/her undergraduate or masters degree program at any accredited college and/or university. Applicant must have completed at least 9 credits or one semester towards the degree in which they were enrolled.
Applicant has not been enrolled or attended classes at the college and/or university that they were initially enrolled in within the past one year.
Applicant must not be currently receiving or will be receiving once enrolled 100% tuition reimbursement from any source(s).
Applicant must not be currently enrolled or in the process of enrolling at any University of Phoenix campus or in any online program at any time prior to the scholarship award date. Applicant must not have been enrolled in any university, including University of Phoenix, within the past year from the first date scholarship applications are accepted. Applicants who enroll after submitting an application or before the scholarship award date are not eligible to be a recipient of this scholarship.
Applicant must not be an employee or a direct family member (spouse, partner, parent/grandparent, child/grandchild) of an employee of Apollo Group, Inc., University of Phoenix, Western International University, Institute for Professional Development or any other subsidiary of Apollo Group, Inc.
In order for the University to verify applicant’s prior educational history as part of the applicant’s eligibility criteria, applicant must agree to sign a release, which shall direct the applicant’s former university to release applicant’s degree program, number of credits completed and/or number of credits remaining to the University.
Applicant must be eligible to agree and must agree to the Apollo Group, Inc. Consent and Release Form which shall release the information contained in this application for marketing purposes, including but not limited to, the use of applicant’s first name and the essays submitted (in whole or in part) on national television, radio and/or in any other known medium regardless of whether or not the scholarship is awarded to applicant.
Submit a completed essay. High importance will be placed on the applicant’s desire to advance in their education, with an emphasis on furthering their careers and/or their impact in their community. Extraordinary essays may be selected to be read on national television, radio, Monday Night Football and/or in any other known medium but in no way indicates an award or acceptance of this scholarship.
Submit a complete, signed application, together with all supporting documentation by the deadline date listed under the Selection Process section. The completion of the application form does not create an obligation to award a scholarship to applicant.
Selection Process
The Scholarship Committee consisting of representatives from University of Phoenix and third party members, as University of Phoenix deems appropriate, will select the recipient of this scholarship. University of Phoenix retains the right to final decision making.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit a complete and signed application and all the supporting documentation in one package, which must be received on or before the deadline date as set forth below. The Scholarship Committee accepts no responsibility for incomplete applications, applications not in proper form, lost applications, or any other submission in exception to the above instructions.
The decision of the Scholarship Committee is final and not subject to a review process.
Scholarship selection shall be made without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or disability.
The scholarship award will be based on the Committee’s scores of the overall quality of the application and the scholarship essay. The higher the average score, the higher the probability of selection.
Applicant acknowledges and agrees that the use or nonuse of applicant’s information, including but not limited to, applicant’s name or essay content (in whole or in part) for marketing purposes, on national television, radio and/or in any known medium, and in no way indicates that applicant shall or will be awarded this scholarship. Applicant shall not be entitled to any reliance on the use or nonuse of applicant’s information by the University for marketing purposes.
By applying for a University of Phoenix scholarship and/or accepting the scholarship award, the applicant/recipient agrees to the following terms and conditions for the distribution of scholarship funds.
All application submissions shall become the property of Apollo Group, Inc. and University of Phoenix regardless if applicant is awarded the scholarship. In addition, applicant agrees to execute an Apollo Consent and Release Form. Applicant acknowledges and agrees that regardless of whether or not applicant is awarded the scholarship Apollo Group, Inc. and the University of Phoenix, Inc. may but are not obligated to use the information contained in the application for marketing purposes, including but not limited to, applicant’s name and essay content (in whole or in part) on national television, radio, or during Monday Night Football and/or in any other known medium; provided, however, that Apollo Group, Inc. and the University of Phoenix, Inc. are in no way obligated to use such information and may refrain from doing so in its sole discretion.
Upon the award of the scholarship and applicant’s acceptance, Apollo Group, Inc. and/or University of Phoenix shall have the right to use but not the obligation to republish the submitted application and any of its contents to reference and acknowledge applicant’s/recipient’s name and authorship of the application for any purpose, whatsoever, including but not limited to, announcing the recipient’s name and the award on national television, radio and/or on Monday Night Football.
All application submissions shall become the property of Apollo Group, Inc. and University of Phoenix regardless if applicant is awarded the scholarship. In addition, applicant agrees to cooperate with the Apollo Group, Inc. and/or University in executing a consent and release form if requested.
Upon the award of the scholarship and applicant’s acceptance, Apollo Group, Inc. and/or University of Phoenix shall have the right to use and republish submitted application and any of its contents to reference and acknowledge applicant’s/recipient’s name and authorship of the application for any purpose, whatsoever. In addition, applicant/recipient agrees to cooperate with the Apollo Group, Inc. and/or University of Phoenix in executing a consent and release form if requested.
Scholarship award is a non-cash credit to recipient’s University account in the amount stated by the scholarship. No check or other cash monies will be disbursed at any time. No exceptions.
Scholarship may be applied to tuition and fees only; education supplies and living expenses are not included.
If applicant’s/recipient’s a current student he/she is not receiving or not enrolled will not receive a total of 100% tuition reimbursement from any source(s).
Applicant/recipient must meet all University of Phoenix admissions requirements for selected program and campus. Information regarding admissions is available in the University of Phoenix Catalog. Scholarship may only be used toward degrees that are specified on the scholarship application; doctoral degrees are not covered by the scholarship. No exceptions.
Applicant/recipient must enroll at University of Phoenix no later than thirty (30) days following the scholarship award date, unless otherwise determined by the Scholarship Committee and/or University officials in their sole discretion. Applicants who enroll during the scholarship process or before the award date are not eligible for the scholarship, and any such enrollment in violation of these scholarship terms and conditions will result in the termination of the scholarship award.
Applicant/recipient must stay in attendance as a full time student with no more than a twenty-nine (29) day break.
Applicant/recipient must maintain the minimum grade point average for the selected degree program, make satisfactory progress towards completing selected degree program (satisfactory progress is measured as successfully completing a minimum of 16 credits during each 24 attempted credits), and complete selected degree program within the maximum time frame allowed according to federal regulations (The maximum time frame allowed is based on the required number of credits for graduation from the degree program, less any transfer or assessed credits, times 150%).
Should recipient withdraw from or otherwise fail to complete a course for which registered and for which the Scholarship or a portion of the Scholarship has been used to pay, any refund due shall be only applied to recipient’s University Account as a non-cash credit. In no event will any cash refund be given at any time. No exceptions.
If recipient wishes to re-take a course, recipient must pay the entire cost of the course. No scholarship award will be given on a re-taken course. A “re-take” of a course means scholarship recipient has completed the course to a point of earning a letter grade of A–F and has been scheduled to repeat the same course.
Recipient will relinquish all unused scholarship credits should recipient fail to meet the above terms and conditions for any reason. Determinations of failure to meet the stated terms will be made by the Scholarship Committee and/or University officials in their sole discretion. Any unused portion of the Scholarship will be returned to the University and is non-transferable. This scholarship does not apply towards doctoral degree programs.
These terms and conditions are in addition to any other terms and conditions set forth in any other part of this document. Any necessary determination or clarification as to the interpretation or to the application of a particular term shall be made by the Scholarship Committee and/or University officials in their sole discretion. Furthermore, the University reserves the right in its sole discretion to make any changes or modifications to the scholarship, including but not limited to, the criteria, the selection process, the deadline dates, and the terms and conditions.
Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the scholarship will result in termination of the scholarship.
In the event that any provision of the terms and conditions of this Scholarship shall be held void, voidable, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
Applicant/Recipient represents that all of the information reported on the University of Phoenix Finish Strong Scholarship application is true and correct. Applicant/Recipient acknowledges and agrees that the submission of inaccurate, incomplete or false information may result in the termination of my application and/or the scholarship award.
Apollo Group, Inc. Consent and Release Form
For valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, I hereby grant to Apollo Group, Inc., its subsidiaries( including but not limited to the University of Phoenix, Inc.), agents and others working for it on its behalf or at its direction and their respective licensees, successors, and assigns (herein collectively called the “Licensed Parties”) the absolute right and permission to use, record, publish, broadcast, and copyright, in whole or in part, in all countries in the world, all the information contained on the Finish Strong Scholarship Application (including my name, educational history, affiliations and the essays submitted with the application), my voice, biographical information, endorsement/testimonial, picture and likeness, or any material based upon or derived there from, or to refrain from so doing, in any manner or media whatsoever, including but not limited to, national television, radio and Monday Night Football without geographical or other limitation, for any educational, advertising , marketing or promotional purpose.
I further agree that any such use, recording, publication, or broadcast of my voice, endorsement/testimonial, picture or likeness of me, and any material based upon or derived there from, in any manner or media, is owned by Licensed Parties. If I should receive any print, negative, or other copy, I shall not authorize its use by anyone else.
I represent and warrant that I own all intellectual property rights (including but not limited to copyright and trademark rights) in the information contained in the Finish Strong Scholarship application, in any picture(s) or material(s) that I submit to the Licensed Parties and that no other third party releases are necessary. In the event I submit information or a picture(s) or other material(s) owned by a third party to the Licensed Parties, I shall provide all necessary third-party releases to the Licensed Parties. Said third-party releases shall grant to the Licensed Parties all rights set forth in this agreement. The Licensed Parties shall have the right in its sole discretion to deny any publication of said picture or materials. Furthermore, I acknowledge that any picture or materials submitted are not guaranteed for use by the Licensed Parties.
I shall have no right of approval, no claim to additional compensation, and no claim (including without limitation, claims based upon invasion of privacy, defamation, or right of publicity) arising out of any use, alteration, distortion, or illusionary effect, or use in any composite form.
I agree that this release does not in any way conflict with any existing commitment on my part. I have not heretofore authorized (which authority is still in effect), nor will I authorize or permit without the Licensed Parties express written permission the use of the information contained in the Finish Strong Scholarship application, my voice, biographical information, endorsement/testimonial, picture, or likeness in connection with the advertising or promotion of any other educational service if such authorization or permission is in conflict or inconsistent with the terms of this Consent and Release Form.
If I have given any endorsement/testimonial, it represents my current honest opinions, findings, or experience. To the extent that I suggest I have used the educational services of a particular entity, I have in fact so used them. To the extent that I suggest I express a preference over other similar educational services, I do in fact prefer them. I agree to immediately notify you of any change in my expressed views or preferences, or if I cease to be able to endorse.
I agree to defend and hold the Licensed Parties harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, suits, losses, liabilities, judgments, costs, expenses (including without limitation court costs, litigation expenses, and reasonable attorneys’ fees), and causes of action of any kind against the Licensed Parties as a result of any material breach of any representation made herein in this Consent and Release Form and/or resulting from any intellectual property violation including but not limited to any copyright infringement or alleged copyright infringement regarding pictures and materials that I have provided to the Licensed Parties.
