The Hathaway Scholarship provides free money for every eligible Wyoming high school graduate, homeschool graduate, or High School Equivalency Certificate (HSEC) recipient to attend a Wyoming college.
Based on a combination of your high school GPA, ACT scoreAmerican College Test (ACT)One of the two national standardized college entrance examinations used in the US. The other is the SAT. The ACT is widely used in the West and Midwest. Most universities require either the ACT or the SAT as part of an application for admission. Learn more about American College Test (ACT) (opens in a new tab), and completion of Hathaway Success Curriculum (PDF) (opens in a new tab) courses, you’ll qualify for one of four merit-basedMerit-basedFinancial aid that is merit-based depends on your academic, artistic or athletic merit or some other criteria, and does not depend on the existence of financial need. Merit-based awards use your grades, test scores, hobbies and special talents to determine your eligibility for scholarships. Learn more about Merit-based (opens in a new tab) tiers of the Hathaway Scholarship:
You can use your Hathaway Scholarship to pursue a certificate, associate’s degreeAssociate’s DegreeThe degree granted by two-year colleges (such as the community colleges in Wyoming)., bachelor’s degreeBachelor’s DegreeThe undergraduate degree granted by four-year colleges and universities (such as University of Wyoming)., or even graduate school!
Get Even More Free Money
If you qualify for a Hathaway Scholarship, make sure you complete the FAFSAFree Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)The standard form students must complete to apply for federal and state need-based assistance/aid programs and, in some circumstances, campus-based assistance/aid. Learn more about Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (opens in a new tab) to calculate your unmet needUnmet NeedThe gap between a Wyoming college’s total cost of attendance and the financial aid a student receives (including Hathaway). Students with unmet need of $2,000 or more may qualify for the Hathaway need-based supplement.: The gap between your chosen college’s total cost of attendanceCost of Attendance (COA)Also known as the cost of education or “budget.” The total amount it should cost the student to go to school, including tuition and fees, room and board, allowances for books and supplies, transportation, and personal and incidental expenses. Loan fees, if applicable, may also be included in the COA. Child care and expenses for disabilities may also be included at the discretion of the financial aid administrator. Schools establish different standard budget amounts for students living on-campus and off-campus, married and unmarried students and in-state and out-of-state students. Learn more about Cost of Attendance (COA) (opens in a new tab) and the actual financial aidFinancial AidMoney provided to the student and the family to help them pay for the student’s education or which is conditioned on the student’s attendance at an educational institution. Major forms of financial aid include gift aid (grants and scholarships) and self-help aid (loans and work). Learn more about Financial Aid (opens in a new tab) you receive.
If that number is more than $2,000, the need-basedNeed-BasedFinancial aid that is need-based depends on your financial situation. Most government sources of financial aid are need-based. Learn more about Need-Based (opens in a new tab) supplement to the Hathaway Scholarship can cover up to 25% of your annual unmet need, or 100% if you’re an Honors Scholarship recipient!
History Of The Hathaway Scholarship
“We must all work together to build a better Wyoming.”
Stanley Hathaway • Wyoming’s 27th Governor, 1967-1975
In 1974, Governor Stanley Hathaway created Wyoming’s Permanent Mineral Trust Fund to capture a portion of severance taxes and royalties generated from the state’s oil, coal, and gas production.
In 2005, Wyoming lawmakers used a $400 million permanent endowment from that trust fund to create a new scholarship fund—named in honor of former Governor Hathaway for his many accomplishments and contributions throughout his lifetime.
To date, Hathaway Scholarship funds have helped thousands of Wyoming students achieve their dream of pursuing education at colleges throughout the state… and created a better Wyoming in the process.