The Kansas board of Regents does not offer a state alternative loan program.
The state's guarantor for the FFELP and its lender of last resort was United Student Aid Funds Inc. (USA Funds), but when all federal student loans became Direct loans, their involvement ended.
Students who have funding gaps and are looking for a private loan lender, should try to find a credit union that offers college loans. Or, compare major lenders using the form at the top, right.
The Kansas Board of Regents offers some scholarship and grant programs, most of which require a separate form to be filled out- the State of Kansas Student Aid Application. Applying for these scholarships will also cost you $12. (The only Kansas financial aid that does not require the form is the Kansas Comprehensive Grant, which uses the FAFSA as the application, and the Vocational Educational Scholarship, which is applied for by taking an exam.)
The Kansas Comprehensive Grant is the main state need-based grant. You must:
be a Kansas resident
be enrolled in one of the 25 eligible Kansas schools
be an undergraduate
Awards range from $200 to $3,500 at the private colleges, and from $100 to $1,500 at the public colleges.
The Vocational Educational Scholarship is for:
approved 2-year tech programs
Kansas residents
students who take the exam (offered twice yearly, in November and March)
Awards are $500 each. There are 250 scholarships awarded each year. This is a merit-based award, going to the highest scorers on the exam.
The state offers a number of service scholarship programs which become loans if the commitment is broken:
Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship Program
available for current teachers and students pursuing degrees
priority given to teachers, seniors and juniors
awards are on a sliding scale depending on # of credit hours: from 3 credits- $1,020/per semester to 12+ credits- $2,550/per semester
recipients agree to teach for = length of time as award
if agreement is broken- loan must be repaid at the federalPLUS rate + 5% (now 12.9%)
Kansas Nursing Service Scholarship Program
for students enrolled in nursing programs
LPN students- eligible for $2,500 per year; RN students- eligible for $3,500 per year
recipients agree to nurse one year = each scholarship award
if agreement is broken- loan must be repaid at the federalPLUS rate + 5% (now 12.9%)
Osteopathic Medical Service Scholarship Program
available for Kansas medical students who intend to pursue primary care medicine- may attend medical school anywhere in the U.S.
awards are up to $25,000 per year for 4 years
recipients agree to practice primary care medicine in an underserved area of Kansas- one year = each scholarship year
if agreement is broken- loan must be repaid at the federalPLUS rate + 5% (now 12.9%)
Kansas Optometry Service Scholarship Program
award is in-state tuition price for 3 optometry schools in Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee
recipients agree to practice in Kansas one year = each scholarship award
if agreement is broken- loan must be repaid at the federalPLUS rate + 5% (now 12.9%)
Workforce Development Loan Program
for Kansas students who attend an area vocational technical school, technical college, community college, vocational school coordinated under the Kansas Board of Regents or associate degree program
award is up to $2,000 per year
recipients agree to live and work in Kansas one year = each 1/4 year of the award
if agreement is broken- loan must be repaid at the federalPLUS rate + 5% (now 12.9%)
More information about financial aid topics mentioned: