Applying for scholarships can be a hassle for the busy college student. From the stresses of classes to the difficulty of starting one’s career, there are a thousand factors that demand a student’s attention.
Unsurprisingly, then, it is often hard to clear one’s mind and schedule and spend hours on a seemingly endless labyrinth of scholarship applications. Luckily, Kean makes the process both streamlined and easy by providing multiple categories of aid for many different types of students.
At a brunch hosted by the Office of Scholarship Services on December 2, specialists showed one way that students can apply for aid: the Kean Foundation Scholarships. With one simple application, you can be eligible for a wide variety of donor-funded awards that support a range of majors, backgrounds, and financial situations.
Academic Specialist Chelsea Gray, a Kean alumna twice over, sees firsthand how much students juggle. That’s why she emphasizes the simplicity of the Foundation Scholarship system.
Submitting the form is painless on the Kean University Foundation Scholarships website. One simple application opens the doors for numerous scholarships allocated based on major, GPA, level of involvement, background, and more.
“You just need at least a 2.5 or 3.9 GPA,” Gray said, “and you qualify for the scholarship.”
The application, which is for the 2026-2027 school year, opened on December 1, 2025. The priority deadline to apply is March 1st, 2026, with the final deadline on June 30th.
Associate Director for Scholarship Services Yurisa Santos calls it “a big pool of scholarships,” with over 180 spanning every corner of campus life. But she warns that “We have a lot of students that start, but end up not submitting [the application], and that takes you out of the running.” She advised students, “Advocate for yourself. We’re all here to help you.”
For sophomore Julie Martinez-Landa, a Communications Media and Film major from Union, NJ, scholarships wouldn’t just be a nice addition to the college experience, they’re the reason she can sit down and actually focus on her studies.
“If I’m focusing on my finances, then my classes are failing,” she said with a small smile. “[Scholarships] give me a better chance to sit down and only worry about my homework and my lectures.”
Her sister, Jolie Martinze-Landa, a graduate student majoring in Fine Arts, once assumed scholarships were too complicated and out of reach. Learning how accessible they are from the specialists at the event changed everything.
“I always thought there was a lot of extra stuff you needed to do,” she said. “[But] they’re surprisingly easy.”
As Julie and Jolie’s story shows, academic performance can often be impacted deeply by financial situations. When one rises, the other often falls. With the Kean Foundation Scholarships’ easy application, Jolie explained, “Now I can worry about my studies, me existing, and worrying about my family.”
Sophomore Isaiah Jackson, a Criminal Justice major from Jersey City, NJ, hasn’t applied for many scholarships yet, but he already understands their value.
“Not being in a financial hole would ease my mind,” he said. “Especially knowing that, you have loans and you haven’t paid them off yet... It allows you to work harder and be more focused.”
Freshman Tyler Hill, a Molecular Biology major from Sayreville, NJ, echoed that sentiment. “It’s very affordable here,” he said. “You’re able to talk to people easily, and there’s a tight-knit community here.”
Scholarships represent opportunity for Hill, and a chance to build connections and pursue his STEM goals. “It helps me be more relaxed,” he said. “If I have good grades, that means better opportunities and scholarships.”
The Kean Foundation Scholarship application allows students freedom from choosing between paying bills and pursuing their education. It provides ease of access, peace of mind, and an opportunity to enjoy college life.
