UCO: International Scholarships and Financial Assistance

The University of Central Oklahoma is committed to providing affordable tuition to our students and their families from all over the world. UCO recognizes and rewards student achievements by offering scholarships and awards on the basis of academic merit, talent in the fine arts or athletics. Other awards are based upon financial need. Students may qualify for both types of awards.

For students from Nigeria, Ghana, Malaysia, Vietnam and Ivory Coast, email international@uco.edu to learn more about additional scholarship promotions for which you may be eligible.

Each year, approximately $700,000 in scholarships is awarded to international students.

Apply early for a better chance of being awarded one of UCO’s more competitive scholarships. Scholarships with an * require a cover letter.

Scholarships for Incoming International Students

Undergraduate Freshman Admission Scholarships

President’s Leadership Council (PLC)

Amount: Total four years: $45,500 ($11,375 per year)
Priority Deadline: May 1 (Fall)
Qualifications: Incoming freshman with a minimum 3.0 GPA, demonstrated involvement with at least one student organization.
Application: PLC and LOT Scholarship Application

Leaders of Tomorrow Council (LOT)

Amount: Total four years: $33,000 ($8,250 per year)
Priority Deadline: May 1 (Fall)
Qualifications: Incoming freshman with a minimum 2.75 GPA, demonstrated involvement with at least one student organization and demonstrated community service.
Application: PLC and LOT Scholarship Application

Freshman Distinguished Global Scholar

Amount: Total two years - up to $8,000 ($4,000 per year)
Priority Deadline: Nov. 1 (Spring) May 31 (Fall)
Qualifications: Incoming freshmen with minimum 3.50 GPA or SAT 1300 or ACT28
Renewal: Renewable with 3.25 cumulative GPA or higher
No application is required, non-stackable with PLC or LOT.

Freshman Merit Global Scholar

Amount: Total two years - up to $6,000 ($3,000 per year)
Priority Deadline: Nov. 1 (Spring) May 31 (Fall)
Qualifications: Incoming freshmen with minimum 3.25 GPA or SAT 1250 or ACT26
Renewal: Renewable with 3.00 cumulative GPA or higher
No application is required, non-stackable with PLC or LOT.

Freshman Honor Global Scholar

Amount: Total two years - up to $4,000 ($2,000 per year)
Priority Deadline: Nov. 1 (Spring) May 31 (Fall)
Qualifications: Incoming freshmen with minimum 3.00 GPA or SAT 1200 or ACT24
Renewal: Renewable with 3.00 cumulative GPA or higher
No application is required, non-stackable with PLC or LOT.

Legacy Non-Resident Waiver

Amount: Up to 12 credit hours of nonresident tuition per fall/spring semester
Priority Deadline: Ongoing
Qualifications: Student whose parent or grandparent graduated from UCO or Central State University.
Non-stackable with the other PLC, LOT or any OGA scholarships listed above
Application: Legacy Non-Resident Tuition Waiver Application Form

Undergraduate Transfer Admission Scholarships

PRESIDENT’S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL (PLC)

Amount: Total four years: $45,500 ($11,375 per year)
Priority Deadline: May 1 (Fall)
Qualifications: Incoming transfer student with a minimum 3.0 GPA, demonstrated involvement with at least one student organization, the applicant has not earned any college or post-high school credit hours.
Application: PLC and LOT Scholarship Application

LEADERS OF TOMORROW COUNCIL (LOT)

Amount: Total four years: $33,000 ($8,250 per year)
Priority Deadline: May 1 (Fall)
Qualifications: Incoming transfer student with a minimum 2.75 GPA, demonstrated involvement with at least one student organization, and demonstrated community service, the applicant has not earned any college or post-high school credit hours.
Application: PLC and LOT Scholarship Application

Transfer Distinguished Global Scholar

Amount: Total two years - up to $8,000 ($4,000 per year)
Priority Deadline: Nov. 1 (Spring) May 31 (Fall)
Qualifications: Minimum 3.25+ cumulative transfer GPA, full time student enrollment at UCO is required
Renewal: Renewable with 3.00 GPA or higher, no application required
Non-stackable with Transfer Leadership Scholarship.

Transfer Merit Global Scholar

Amount: Total two years - up to $6,000 ($3,000 per year)
Priority Deadline: Nov. 1 (Spring) May 31 (Fall)
Qualifications: Minimum 3.00+ cumulative transfer GPA, full time student enrollment at UCO is required
Renewal: Renewable with 3.00 GPA or higher, no application required
Non-stackable with Transfer Leadership Scholarship.

Transfer Honor Global Scholar

Amount: Total two years - up to $4,000 ($2,000 per year)
Priority Deadline: Nov. 1 (Spring) May 31 (Fall)
Qualifications: Minimum 2.75+ cumulative transfer GPA, full time student enrollment at UCO is required
Renewal: Renewable with 2.75 GPA or higher, no application required
Non-stackable with Transfer Leadership Scholarship.

Legacy Non-Resident Waiver

Amount: Up to 12 credit hours of nonresident tuition per fall/spring semester
Priority Deadline: Ongoing

Graduate Admission Scholarships

Distinguished Graduate Scholar

Amount: Total two years - up to $6,000 ($3,000 per year)
Priority Deadline: Nov. 1 (Spring) May 31 (Fall)
Qualifications: 3.50 or higher Bachelor’s Degree cumulative GPA
Renewal: 3.25 GPA or higher, full time student enrollment at UCO is required
No application required
Scholarship credits will be credited from the 2nd to 4th semester.

Graduate Merit Global Scholar

Amount: Total two years - up to $4,000 ($2,000 per year)
Priority Deadline: Nov. 1 (Spring) May 31 (Fall)
Qualifications: Minimum 3.25 or higher Bachelor’s Degree cumulative GPA
Renewal: 3.00 GPA or higher, full time student enrollment at UCO is required
No application required
Scholarship credits will be credited from the 2nd to 4th semester.

University Graduate Scholar

Amount: Total two years - up to $2,000 ($1,000 per year)
Priority Deadline: Nov. 1 (Spring) May 31 (Fall)
Qualifications: Minimum 3.00 or higher Bachelor’s Degree cumulative GPA
Renewal: 3.00 GPA or higher, full time student enrollment at UCO is required
No application required
Scholarship credits will be credited from the 2nd to 4th semester

Legacy Non-Resident Waiver

Amount: Up to 12 credit hours of nonresident tuition per fall/spring semester
Priority Deadline: Ongoing
Qualifications: Student whose parent or grandparent graduated from UCO or Central State University.
Non-stackable with the other Global Scholar or Award Scholarships
Students previously awarded for Bachelor’s degree will no longer be eligible
Application: Legacy Non-Resident Tuition Waiver Application Form

Sports Club Scholarships

The below scholarships apply to both international undergraduate and graduate students that wish to be actively involved in sports activities. To apply for any of these scholarships complete the application form.

For funding related to other sports, contact the head coach directly to learn about scholarship availability.

Scholarships for Current International Students

Involvement and Leadership Scholarships*

(Begin at the start of the second semester)

Active participant of an International House student organization or program (such as Broncho Buddies, CRISP or SPICE) during the previous semester ($250) (Limited to 100 students annually) **
Serve as an elected officer in the International Student Council Executive Board ($1000 per year)
Serve as an executive director of a Global Leadership Ambassador committee ($800 per year)
Serve as an elected president in one of the International Student Council country/region organizations ($1000 per year)
Serve as President or Treasurer of the International Student Council Executive Team ($2,000 per year)
International Pageant Scholarship (Up to $1600 per year)

Involvement and Leadership Scholarship Conditions

*Active participation and attendance in International House programs are required.

*All Involvement and Leadership scholarships are non-stackable with other International House scholarships.

*All international students will have an opportunity at the beginning of each semester to attend a seminar to learn more on how to get involved in each of the International House organizations and programs.

**Numbers may be increased or decreased depending on budget allocations.

Departmental Scholarships

*In most cases, scholarships are stackable, but may not exceed the cost of tuition.

Outside Scholarships

Disclaimer: We encourage UCO students and applicants to explore all the options that are available. Note that UCO does not endorse or affiliate with any of the third-party agencies or organizations listed. Be mindful of scams, make sure to verify who you are providing your personal information to and never pay for a scholarship search.

Non-UCO Scholarship Database

Non-UCO Scholarship Search Tools

Tuition Waivers

Adult Education and Safety Science
Donna Nigh Advanced Professional & Special Services
Psychology

Employment

International students may work on campus up to 20 hours per week earning up to Learn more about on-campus employment.

Research assistantships are available to both undergraduate and graduate students. They may offer higher pay than other jobs, as well as positively reflect on your resume.

To view the list of positions that currently are available, visit the employment portal and select students. You can also find additional campus job offerings through our dining services (part time only in Edmond, Oklahoma).

Payment Plan

All first-time entering students (degree-seeking students) must provide a tuition deposit of $9,000 to UCO upon arrival and prior to enrollment as listed in the Statement of Understanding.
Any deposit amount not used during the first semester will apply towards the outstanding balance in the subsequent semester.
After the completion of the first semester, students may enroll in a payment plan. That allows paying the balance in smaller amounts broken down over time into three to five individual payments.

Housing

A 35% discount will be available to new residents who live in the Quad - International House or West Hall and can be extended for multiple semesters. Learn more about housing for international students.

UCO Foundation Scholarships

Search the UCO Scholarship Portal

Look through all, but one tip is to search through the database by keywords (e.g. - “international”). Here are some examples of scholarships currently in the database which specifically mention international students:

David and Kay Bickham Endowed Scholarship
Jafar Farzaneh Endowed Scholarship for International Student
Pugh Family Pioneer Endowed Scholarship for Geography
Ruki Ravikumar Endowed Scholarship for the Arts and Design
Sandra Mackey Endowed Scholarship
The UCO Reading Clinic Endowed Scholarship in Honor of Dr. Mary Monfort
Amy Reynolds-Reed Endowed Scholarship for Dance
Etc, etc, etc.