Q & A
How many new scholarships can be awarded?
Up to 1,500 U.S. Hagan Scholarships can be awarded for the 2027-2028 academic year.
How many colleges and universities have been attended by Hagan Scholars?
Hagan Scholars have attended 848 colleges and universities located in 50 states and the District of Columbia, and have studied abroad in 64 countries. Hagan International Scholars from 27 countries have attended 57 U.S. colleges and universities.
How much is the Hagan Scholarship worth?
1. Undergraduate Scholarship: Up to $60,000 over 8 consecutive semesters.
2. Graduate Scholarship: Up to $30,000 over 4 consecutive semesters, limited to tuition, required fees, and required books and supplies.
3. Free Workshops to learn important life skills.
Other Benefits:
4. First Year: $1,000 to purchase essential items for college (receipts totaling at least $750 required).
5. Second Year: $10,000 HSF Schwab Account to manage.
6. Third Year: $15,000 HSF Schwab Account to manage. Up to $8,000 to Study/Travel abroad.
7. Fourth Year: $20,000 HSF Schwab Account to manage.
8. After Graduation: Each recipient will receive all gains in their managed HSF Schwab Account, up to $10,000.
Can I attend the college or university of my choice?
Yes. Hagan Scholars can attend 1,317 colleges and universities. Refer to the Eligible Institutions link for more information.
Can a Hagan Scholarship be used to attend Graduate School?
Yes. After the Award Year Class’s spring semester disbursements are processed, recipients who have graduated or will graduate while in the Hagan Scholarship Program, have achieved a 3.75 CGPA, and have earned 100 or more credit hours are notified and given a link to the Hagan Graduate Scholarship Application. Each eligible recipient has one opportunity to apply, and the deadline is June 15. Recipients must enroll as a full-time graduate or professional student in the upcoming fall semester.
If I graduate early or earn 140 credit hours in less than four years will I lose my Hagan Scholarship?
No. Recipients graduating early and not continuing their college education, and recipients who have earned 140 credit hours in less than four years based on their Official Grade Transcript will not lose their Hagan Scholarship, only additional semester disbursements. All other benefits and responsibilities remain intact until the recipient’s Award Year Class graduates college. Continuing benefits include: Study Abroad, managing the HSF Schwab Account, Workshops, Graduation Recognition and Awards.
What are my chances of graduating college while in the Hagan Scholarship Program?
About Fifty Percent. Most scholarships are lost due to a failure to earn the required number of credit hours or a failure to achieve the minimum GPA or CGPA requirements. Not completing the 240 hour work requirement does not cause loss of the scholarship, but the recipient will not be eligible for that year’s fall semester disbursement. Good Time Management Skills, Learning How to Prioritize Responsibilities, Learning How to Say No, and Good Study Habits are essential in order to keep the Hagan Scholarship and to maintain a balanced life.
Can the Hagan Scholarship be used to Study Abroad?
Yes. Third year recipients of a Hagan Scholarship can Study/Travel abroad during the winter intersession, the second semester in college, during spring break or the following summer.
Are Schwab Scholar Account Awards Taxable?
Yes. Gains from managing the HSF Schwab Brokerage Account are taxable income in the year received. HSF does not withhold taxes. A completed IRS Form W-9 is required before gains are disbursed, and HSF issues a Form 1099-MISC to each recipient who receives gains.
Can the Hagan Scholarship be used to fund Online courses?
Yes. However, recipients must earn at least one-half of all mandatory GPA credit hours from seated face-to-face on-campus or hybrid courses.
Is this a need-based or merit-based scholarship?
BOTH. Applicants must authenticate genuine financial need in order to attend college. Recipients are selected based upon academic ability, achievement in and out of school, personal goals and future promise.
What is Household Income?
“Household Income” is the parents’ adjusted gross household income reported for federal income tax purposes for the prior calendar year, including all members of a household living under the same roof, excluding applicant or recipient income.
I have a conflict, can I be excused from fulfilling a scholarship requirement?
No. To be fair to all recipients, HSF will not make exceptions to the scholarship criteria. If there is a conflict, the recipient must decide which is more important, the scholarship or the conflict.
Can I take a gap semester or gap year?
No. Recipients must remain continuously enrolled. A deferment of one semester may be approved if requested and approved before it takes effect. A gap semester or gap year will result in loss of the scholarship.
Will the Hagan Scholarship help pay personal expenses?
Yes, for undergraduate recipients. The Total Cost of Attendance includes the school’s published personal and transportation costs. Graduate disbursements are limited to tuition, required fees, and required books and supplies.
Can the Hagan Scholarship be used to attend a community college?
No. Recipients must attend an institution on the Eligible Colleges and Universities list. Community colleges, junior colleges, and online institutions are not eligible.
How is the dollar amount of each scholarship determined?
Scholarship disbursements are determined each semester. The Hagan Scholarship is a last dollar scholarship: each disbursement equals the Total Cost of Attendance less Total Free Financial Aid and one-half of the recipient’s FAFSA SAI. Review the Scholarship Particulars. Recipients living at home or with family are not eligible for room and board disbursements.
Can I decline offered scholarships, awards, and grants to increase the Hagan Scholarship?
No. Any such action will result in loss of the Hagan Scholarship.
Can the scholarship award amount be adjusted?
Yes. The scholarship award amount will be adjusted each semester to offset the expiration or loss of other scholarships, awards, grants, and waivers and changes in the recipient’s SAI.
When are scholarship disbursements made?
Disbursements are made after receiving and processing Submittal information. Fall semester disbursements are typically mailed to the institution by November 1 and spring semester disbursements by April 1.
How do I maintain my eligibility for the scholarship?
Recipients must remain current with all scholarship responsibilities, including HSF Schwab Accounts, Study Abroad if applicable, and Workshop Responsibilities.
How does HSF communicate?
Only by email, and only with recipients, not parents or others. Every email to HSF must have a subject line with the HSFID, Last Name, a comma, First Name, a hyphen, and the subject matter. Example: 8765 Smith, John – Transcript
When can I apply for a scholarship?
Students in the high school graduating class can apply after September 1 or after January 15.
Can I provide additional information after submitting my Scholarship Application?
No. All information must be submitted with the Scholarship Application, including Letters of Recommendation.
Can I add classes after my scholarship funds have been disbursed?
Yes. However, additional costs must be paid by the recipient.
Can I transfer my scholarship to another school?
Yes. A scholarship recipient may transfer to another eligible college or university. First year recipients can change schools until commencement of the fall semester.
What happens if I fail to comply with Recipient Responsibilities?
Failure to comply with Recipient Responsibilities will result in loss of the scholarship and the loss of any gains in the HSF Schwab Account. Not completing the 240 hour work requirement results only in the loss of that year’s fall semester disbursement.
Why have workshops?
The mandatory workshops are intended to help recipients obtain a practical understanding of important life skills not typically covered in the school curriculum.
Why are recipients required to work?
The Grantor worked during high school and college and believes each scholarship recipient will personally benefit by contributing to the cost of his or her education. All recipients, including graduate recipients, must work 240 hours from January 1 to September 1 each year to be eligible for the fall semester disbursement.
Can work study be used to satisfy the work requirement?
Yes. All regularly scheduled work performed under supervision for compensation can be included when determining hours worked, including paid internships.
Can home schooled students apply for a scholarship?
No.
Why so particular about the Application Process?
1. To minimize administrative costs.
2. To see how well each applicant follows instructions.
Is there an application or processing fee?
There is no application or processing fee.
Complete scholarship terms are in the Scholarship Particulars.