Scholarships for Graduate Students

The deadline for scholarship application materials for most institutional scholarships is April 1 by 5 p.m. (MST) . Some scholarships may have different deadlines and those dates will be specified within the description. Also, see scholarship descriptions for detailed information on qualifications and requirements.

All Naropa scholarships are open to international students unless stated otherwise.

Applicants for all scholarships listed in this section must:

1. Apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA, as discussed below) or International Student Application if applicable by the March 1 deadline.
2. Have a completed admissions application on file for one of the university's degree programs.

Submit scholarship application materials according the requirements listed below for the specific scholarship to which you are applying.

For any scholarship that requires additional materials, please do the following:

1. Email application materials to finaid@naropa.edu
2. Include your full name and student i.d. number or the last four digits of social security number on all application materials.
3. Please send all materials as a single attachment in the email (letters of recommendation may be sent seperately).

Scholarship awards range from $500 to $4,500/year, with a few individual scholarship awards being as high as $15,000/year.

Naropa Honor Scholarship
Naropa Scholarships for Entering Students are awarded to a limited number of entering, full-time students from all programs. Students must demonstrate outstanding academic merit, and financial need.

Naropa Presidential Scholarship
Naropa Scholarships for Entering Students are awarded to a limited number of entering, full-time students from all programs. Students must demonstrate exceptional academic merit, and financial need.

NEW The Leslie Scalapino Award
The Leslie Scalapino Award will be offered each year to one MFA Writing and Poetics or MFA Creative Writing student attending the Summer Writing Program

NEW The Summer Writing Program Scholarship in memory of kari edwards
Beginning Summer 2012, The Summer Writing Program Scholarship in memory of kari edwards will be offered each year to one credit or non-credit student accepted into Naropa University’s Summer Writing Program.

The American Art Therapy Association Conference Scholarship
Naropa University is pleased to announce the creation of the American Art Therapy Association Conference Scholarship.

The Ted Berrigan Scholarship
Awarded each year to one or more returning MFA Writing and Poetics students for work in poetry.

The Martha Bonzi Scholarship
Awarded to one entering MA student in the Religious Studies Department per year. The award is renewable.

Robert Creeley Scholarship
Awarded each year to one or more returning or entering MFA Creative Writing and Writing and Poetics students for work in any genre.

The W.E.B DuBois Scholarship
Awarded to one incoming or returning, graduate or undergraduate, student who can demonstrate experience in or working with populations of color. The scholarship is available only to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The award is not renewable, although students may reapply for subsequent years.

Louise Fabbro Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to one or more Contemplative Psychotherapy students in their third year of study. Application deadline is April 1 for the following school year.

Aimee Grunburger Award
Awarded to one graduate or undergraduate Writing and Poetics student or noncredit Summer Writing Program student who demonstrates excellence in the field of poetry. Applicants must be able to demonstrate their personal, artistic, and professional commitment to furthering respect for the lives and voices of women.

Zora Neale Hurston Scholarship
Awarded to selected students for one session of the Summer Writing Program. Applicants must be able to demonstrate experience in or working with populations of color. Open to students attending SWP for BA or MFA credit, or noncredit.

Martin Janowitz Scholarship
Awarded annually to an undergraduate in Environmental Studies or to a graduate student in Environmental Leadership.

The Charles B. Edison Jinpa Scholarship
Awarded to one or two returning full-time graduate or undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and who can demonstrate experience in working with underrepresented populations. The award is not renewable, although students may reapply subsequent years.

The Jack Kerouac Scholarship
Awarded each year to one or more returning MFA Writing and Poetics students for prose or cross-genre work.

The Frederick P. Lenz Foundation Merit Scholarship
The purpose of the Frederick P. Lenz Foundation Merit Scholarship, made possible by a grant from the Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism, is to attract the best and brightest students to Naropa University, and to support the studies of those who will go on to make significant contributions to American Buddhism.

Bernie Marek Scholarship for Art Therapy Students
Awarded to one or two incoming Art Therapy student who exhibits academic and artistic ability and who exhibits financial need. Selection will be based upon evaluation of the student’s admission application.

Monastic Scholarship
The Monastic Scholarship is awarded to one students, who is an ordained monk or nun of any religious order. The award amount may cover up to full tuition and fees and is renewable. No living expenses will be covered so all applicants will need to have a means to cover those expenses.

Oso Tinker Wilderness Therapy Scholarship
The scholarship is available to one or two Wilderness Therapy students entering the second year of the program. Awards will be based on departmental recommendations combined with evidence of financial need. Eligible, nominated students will be invited to apply.

Owen Weber-Weinstein Scholarship
Awarded to two incoming or returning students in Wilderness Therapy or Religious Studies. Although preference is given to students in the above two programs, other students who have completed an independent study or religious pilgrimage that will enhance their field of study, or are planning to do so, may also apply.

The Lucien Wulsin Scholarship in the Performing Arts
Awarded to one incoming or returning MFA in Theater or undergraduate BFA student. The scholarship is available only to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The award is not renewable, although students may reapply for subsequent years.