Temple is Philadelphia’s public research university: about 21,000 undergrads on a campus along North Broad Street, and an admissions office that says yes to most applicants (86% last fall). More than three out of four applicants skip test scores entirely, and that doesn’t cost them a thing on the scholarship side. The catch is the money itself. Temple’s merit is real but capped, it only touches tuition, and the biggest awards are aimed squarely at Philadelphia families. If you live outside the city, plan on merit plus an honest conversation about housing costs.
Cecil B. Moore (N. Philly) • Temple Promise (Philly) • Lambert (PA Honors)
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Temple (Read This First)
Test-optional really means test-optional here. Students who skip the SAT/ACT are still considered for every academic scholarship and for Honors. Don’t send a weak score just because you think you have to.
There’s no scholarship chart. Temple doesn’t publish GPA or test cutoffs. The applicant pool sets the amounts, and the number shows up with the admission decision. Finish the application by Feb 1; late applicants only get what’s left.
Merit pays tuition only. Temple budgets about $19,636 a year for housing and food, and merit can’t touch it. All tuition-only aid combined is capped at the tuition bill.
Deposit by May 1 or lose it. A deposit made after May 1 cancels the merit scholarship.
The year-two GPA checkpoint. Merit is guaranteed for four semesters. After that, President’s and Provost’s tiers need a 3.25 cumulative GPA to renew; everyone else needs a 3.00.
Philadelphia families have a Nov 1 deadline. Cecil B. Moore, the North Philadelphia Neighborhood Scholarship and Lenfest all consider students who submit the Common App by Nov 1.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Temple University is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 23–30; SAT: 1030–1310.
Average net price? About $29,641/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No broad regional reciprocity path.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Temple University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Temple University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly
$800 to $2,100 more than the in-state total below.$1,100 to $2,900 more than the out-of-state total below.
In-State: billed cost per year
$41,110
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$21,474
Housing & meals (typical)
$19,636
Total billed cost
$41,110
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$57,334
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$37,698
Housing & meals (typical)
$19,636
Total billed cost
$57,334
That is $16,224 more per year than Pennsylvania residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $29,641 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
Heads Up: Your Student’s Major Changes the Bill
The table above uses Temple’s College of Liberal Arts rate, which is the base price. Some schools charge more. For 2026-27, Temple’s own budget shows tuition and fees at the Fox School of Business running $26,322 for Pennsylvania residents and $46,866 for non-residents, compared with $21,474 and $37,698 in Liberal Arts. Before you compare award letters, run your student’s actual major through Temple’s tuition calculator.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Temple University
Why does out-of-state cost so much more?
Pennsylvania subsidizes tuition for its own residents, so non-residents pay about $16,000 more a year in base tuition. Pennsylvania isn’t part of a regional tuition exchange, and Temple doesn’t offer a broad out-of-state waiver. The main thing that narrows the gap is merit: non-residents are considered for $10,000 to $20,000 a year, roughly double the in-state range.
Can Temple’s merit scholarship help with housing and food?
No. Temple’s academic merit is tuition-only. Temple budgets $14,084 for housing and $5,552 for food, and that part of the bill has to be covered by need-based aid, savings or loans. The need-based Temple University Grant is the exception on campus: it isn’t tuition-restricted, so it can go toward housing. To be considered, file the FAFSA by Feb 1.
Is there any way for an out-of-state student to pay in-state tuition?
Not through an exchange program. Residency for tuition purposes is set by Temple’s Bursar’s Office and generally means living in Pennsylvania for reasons other than school. For most out-of-state families, the realistic plan is merit plus need-based aid, not reclassification.
What does Temple Promise cover for Philadelphia families?
For Philadelphia residents with family income of $65,000 or less who qualify for the PA State Grant, Temple covers whatever tuition and mandatory fees remain after other grants. Net tuition drops to $0. Housing, food and course fees are not included, so even a Promise family should budget for living costs.
How much of a family’s financial need does Temple usually meet?
On average, about 64%. In Temple’s own reporting for first-year students, only 258 of 3,576 students with need had their full need met. In plain English, most families should expect a gap between the aid offer and the bill, and should plan for it before May 1.
What does the average family actually pay?
The most recent federal net price is about $29,641 a year for first-year students who received grants or scholarships. That figure blends Pennsylvania residents, non-residents, commuters and students living on campus, so your number could land well above or below it.
Will costs go up after freshman year?
Probably. Temple sets tuition every July, and its financial aid office suggests planning for about a 3% increase each year. Merit scholarships stay the same dollar amount, so the gap you pay grows a little each year.
Nov 1: Common App deadline for the North Philadelphia awards (Cecil B. Moore, Neighborhood Scholarship, Lenfest). It’s also Temple’s Early Action date, which gets your decision and merit offer sooner.
Feb 1: Complete application for automatic merit, and FAFSA priority deadline for the Temple University Grant, Temple Promise and most need-based awards.
Winter to early spring: Merit offers arrive with admission decisions.
May 1: Enrollment deposit due or the merit scholarship is cancelled. Also the PA State Grant FAFSA deadline.
Parent rule of thumb: if you live in Philadelphia, your real deadline is Nov 1. Everyone else, treat Feb 1 as the finish line for both the application and the FAFSA.
Automatic Merit Scholarships: Temple University
Every first-year applicant who finishes the Temple application by February 1 is automatically considered. There’s no separate form. Pennsylvania residents are considered for $3,000 to $10,000 a year; out-of-state and international students for $10,000 to $20,000. Temple doesn’t publish a GPA or test chart, and applying test-optional doesn’t hurt your chances.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyservice
Grow PA Scholarship Grant
📅 Deadline: PHEAA application; 2026-27 window ran to Jan 7, 2027; next window not announced ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Pennsylvania resident, at least half time in one of 460-plus eligible in-demand programs, no bachelor's degree yet; no income test; separate PHEAA application; signs a promissory note
✚
Stacking & Combining
Up to $5,000 a year for up to four years in an in-demand major, with a string attached: finish the degree and work in Pennsylvania in an in-demand field for as many years as you received the grant, or it converts to a loan. Stacks with the State Grant and college aid. First-come by application date.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Temple University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent PA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students in nursing, education, engineering, trades, and the other listed fields who are sure they will stay in Pennsylvania after graduation. For anyone who might move, this is a loan with a nice name; the conversion is automatic and comes with interest.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyneed based
Ready to Succeed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate application; FAFSA and State Grant Form early ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 3 yrs)
$500–$2,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPAPennsylvania resident; 2.5 cumulative GPA and 24 completed credits, so it starts sophomore year; family income under the state cap (PHEAA lists $200,000; some college pages still show $175,000); nominated by participating colleges from the FAFSA and State Grant Form, in order of completion date
✚
Stacking & Combining
A merit-plus-need award that kicks in after freshman year: with the PA State Grant it tops out at $2,500 a year full time, $1,250 part time, minimum $500. For middle-income families above the State Grant range this is often the only state money. Stacks with college aid. First-come by FAFSA date.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Temple University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent PA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Sophomores and up with a 2.5 whose families earn too much for the State Grant but under the cap, and who filed early. It is nominated by the college, not applied for, so the families who never hear about it are the ones who assumed state aid was only for low income.
State AidAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Pennsylvania State Grant (PHEAA)
📅 Deadline: May 1 ✓ Renews
$6,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with Temple merit and other grants. It is counted before Temple Promise fills any remaining tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
Pennsylvania's need-based grant for state residents. The statewide maximum for 2026-27 is $6,000, and the actual amount depends on need. Families apply through the FAFSA, and first-time applicants may also need to complete the State Grant Form in PHEAA's GrantUs account. The state deadline is May 1, but Temple's own grants want the FAFSA by February 1, so file early. Qualifying for this grant is also a requirement for Temple Promise.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Pennsylvania residents with financial need who file the FAFSA on time.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
⚠ Automatic tuition scholarship for admitted Pennsylvania residents; no separate application.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with need-based aid such as the Pell Grant, PA State Grant, Temple University Grant and Temple Promise. The one limit: all tuition-only money combined (Temple merit, ROTC tuition awards, tuition remission) cannot go past the actual tuition bill. Guaranteed for four semesters, then renews with a 3.25 cumulative GPA for President's and Provost's tiers or 3.00 for all others.
💡
Strategic Detail
If your student is a Pennsylvania resident and finishes the Temple application by February 1, they are automatically considered for a merit scholarship between $3,000 and $10,000 a year. Temple does not publish a GPA or test-score chart; the amount depends on the size and strength of that year's applicant pool, and the offer arrives with the admission decision. Temple's top merit tiers are called President's and Provost's. The award pays tuition only, and the enrollment deposit must be in by May 1 to keep it.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most admitted Pennsylvania students with solid grades land somewhere in this range. Test-optional applicants are considered exactly the same way.
⚠ Automatic tuition scholarship for admitted non-Pennsylvania and international students; no separate application.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with need-based aid, but all tuition-only money combined cannot go past the actual tuition bill. Guaranteed for four semesters, then renews with a 3.25 cumulative GPA for President's and Provost's tiers or 3.00 for all others.
💡
Strategic Detail
Students from outside Pennsylvania, including international students, are automatically considered for $10,000 to $20,000 a year when they finish the Temple application by February 1. That is roughly double the in-state range, and it is how Temple narrows the out-of-state price gap, since Pennsylvania has no tuition exchange or waiver program. There is no published GPA or test chart; the applicant pool sets the amount. Tuition only, and the enrollment deposit must be in by May 1 to keep it.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted out-of-state and international students with strong academics. Test-optional applicants are considered the same way.
Data last verified Oct 2, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: These awards pay tuition only and run for up to eight consecutive full-time semesters. They’re guaranteed for the first four semesters, then renew each year with a 3.25 cumulative GPA (President’s and Provost’s tiers) or a 3.00 (all other tiers).
Automatic Merit FAQs (Temple University)
What GPA or test score does my student need for a Temple scholarship?
Temple doesn’t say. There’s no published grid; the size and strength of each year’s applicant pool decides who gets what. For context, Temple’s most recent reporting shows first-years with no financial need who received merit averaged about $11,562.
Can my student apply test-optional and still get merit?
Yes. Temple says test-optional applicants are automatically considered for academic scholarships and for Honors. More than 75% of recent applicants applied without scores.
What’s the deadline?
A complete application by Feb 1. Students who apply later may still be considered, but only if money is left.
I’ve seen Temple merit described as going “up to full tuition.” Is that true?
Some older Temple materials describe it that way. The current ranges from Temple’s financial aid office top out at $10,000 for Pennsylvania residents and $20,000 for everyone else. Plan around the published range.
How does renewal work?
Merit is guaranteed for the first four full-time semesters (12 to 18 credits each). After that, students need a 3.25 cumulative GPA for President’s and Provost’s awards or a 3.00 for all others. A student who falls short can take summer classes at Temple to bring the GPA back up and request reinstatement.
Can merit stack with other aid?
Yes, with one limit. It stacks with the Pell Grant, the PA State Grant, Temple University Grant and Temple Promise, but all tuition-only aid combined (merit, ROTC tuition awards, tuition remission) can’t go past the tuition bill.
Is there anything we have to do after the offer arrives?
Pay the enrollment deposit by May 1. A deposit after May 1 cancels the scholarship.
Temple doesn’t run a big essay-and-interview scholarship weekend the way some flagships do. Nearly all of its merit comes straight off the admission application. The one truly competitive, selection-based full-tuition program is Cecil B. Moore Scholars, and it’s reserved for North Philadelphia students. If your student is hoping for a national full-ride competition, Temple isn’t built that way.
Full TuitionAutomaticgeographicneed based
Cecil B. Moore Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Nov 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition
✔ Stackable
⚠ Full-tuition cohort scholarship for North Philadelphia public and charter school students in eight ZIP codes.
👥 ~20-25 scholars per year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers Pennsylvania base tuition. Pell, the PA State Grant and other need-based aid can still help with housing, food and fees.
💡
Strategic Detail
This is Temple's most selective full-tuition program, and it is only for North Philadelphia. Students who live in ZIP codes 19121, 19122, 19123, 19125, 19130, 19132, 19133 or 19140 and attend a Philadelphia public or charter high school are considered by submitting the Common App by November 1 (fee waiver available) and the FAFSA by February 1. Up to 50 seniors take a free Temple course in the spring of senior year, and 20 to 25 of them become Cecil B. Moore Scholars, attend a summer bridge program, and receive a scholarship equal to Pennsylvania base tuition.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: North Philadelphia public and charter school seniors who do well in the senior-year Temple course and show financial need on the FAFSA.
Data last verified Oct 2, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
✅ How Temple Aid Stacks
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
Parent Translation
Academic Merit
N/A
One award per student, tuition only.
Other tuition-only aid (ROTC, tuition remission, Lambert)
Up to a ceiling
All tuition-only money combined can’t go past the tuition bill. Two big tuition awards don’t add up to a refund.
Temple University Grant
Yes
Need-based and not tuition-restricted, so it can help with housing. FAFSA by Feb 1.
Temple Promise
Fills in after
Last-dollar: it pays whatever tuition and fees remain after everything else.
Neighborhood, Lenfest, Neubauer
Yes
Named awards that layer on top and can lower your actual out-of-pocket.
Outside scholarships
Usually
Must be reported to Temple and can reduce the Temple University Grant. Ask how it will be applied before you assume it’s extra.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
Does Temple offer a full-ride scholarship?
Outside of athletics and ROTC, we couldn’t find a general full-ride program. The full-tuition paths are Cecil B. Moore (North Philadelphia), Temple Promise (Philadelphia families earning $65,000 or less) and Lambert (Pennsylvania residents in Honors). None of them cover housing.
What is the President’s Scholar Award?
President’s and Provost’s are the names of Temple’s top merit tiers. They’re awarded automatically with admission, with no separate application, and they renew with a 3.25 GPA after the first two years. Temple no longer publishes a separate amount for them beyond the overall merit ranges.
How are Cecil B. Moore Scholars chosen?
Students in ZIP codes 19121, 19122, 19123, 19125, 19130, 19132, 19133 and 19140 who attend a Philadelphia public or charter school submit the Common App by Nov 1. Up to 50 seniors take a free Temple course in the spring, and 20 to 25 of them are chosen as Scholars. They also attend a summer bridge program before freshman year.
Is Temple a QuestBridge partner?
No. Temple isn’t on QuestBridge’s list of college partners, so the QuestBridge Match doesn’t apply here.
Can a big competitive award be added on top of merit?
Only up to the tuition bill. Temple caps all tuition-only aid at actual tuition, so a full-tuition award usually makes merit redundant. Need-based grants that aren’t tuition-restricted can still help with housing and food.
🧠 Parent Strategy: Check Your ZIP Code and Your Job
Temple’s most generous awards are tied to where you live, which school your student attends, or where a parent works. Run down this list before you assume merit is all there is:
Live in Philadelphia? Look at Temple Promise (income of $65,000 or less).
Live in 19121, 19122, 19123, 19125, 19130, 19132, 19133 or 19140? Submit the Common App by Nov 1 for Cecil B. Moore and the $5,000 Neighborhood Scholarship.
Mastery Charter or Heights Philadelphia student? Lenfest pays $10,000 to $15,000 a year. Same Nov 1 rule.
Parent in Philly police, fire or SEPTA Transit Police? The new Neubauer Scholarship pays up to $10,000 a year.
Everyone: File the FAFSA by Feb 1. The Temple University Grant runs out on a first-come basis.
Parent translation: none of these need a separate application, but almost all of them need the right paperwork in on the right date.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These are the awards most families never hear about. Some go automatically to the right students; others reward research, band or advocacy once your student is on campus. Most can stack with merit.
Full TuitionAutomaticgeographicneed based
Temple Promise (Philadelphia Last-Dollar Grant)
📅 Deadline: Feb 1 ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition
✔ Stackable
⚠ Philadelphia residents with family income of $65,000 or less; covers remaining tuition and mandatory fees.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Last-dollar: it applies after Pell, the PA State Grant, Temple merit and other grants. If other aid already covers tuition and fees, the Promise grant may not show on the offer even though the student qualifies.
💡
Strategic Detail
Temple Promise is for Philadelphia residents. If a student has a permanent Philadelphia address, qualifies for in-state tuition and the PA State Grant, graduates high school in June, enrolls full time at Main or Ambler campus, and the family's adjusted gross income is $65,000 or less with need on the FAFSA, Temple pays whatever tuition and mandatory fees are left after other grants and scholarships. Net tuition becomes $0. It does not cover housing, food or course fees.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Philadelphia first-year students from families earning $65,000 or less who file the FAFSA on time.
Automaticgeographicneed based
North Philadelphia Neighborhood Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ $5,000 a year for first-years in eight North Philadelphia ZIP codes with financial need.
First-year students living in ZIP codes 19121, 19122, 19123, 19125, 19130, 19132, 19133 or 19140 with financial need on the FAFSA.
✚
Stacking & Combining
This is not tuition-restricted merit money, so it layers on top of Temple merit and need-based grants and can lower what a family actually pays.
💡
Strategic Detail
Temple sits in North Philadelphia and sets aside $5,000 a year for first-year students who live in eight nearby ZIP codes: 19121, 19122, 19123, 19125, 19130, 19132, 19133 and 19140. Students are considered automatically when they submit the Common App by November 1 and the FAFSA by February 1 and show financial need. Renewable for up to eight full-time semesters with an on-time FAFSA each year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-year students living in the eligible North Philadelphia ZIP codes who apply by Nov 1 and show need on the FAFSA.
Automaticpipelineneed based
Brook J. Lenfest Endowed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 1 ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
$10,000–$15,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ $10,000 to $15,000 a year for Mastery Charter and Heights Philadelphia students with financial need.
Restricted to admitted first-year students from Heights Philadelphia and Mastery Charter Schools partnerships; must demonstrate financial need via FAFSA.
✚
Stacking & Combining
A named endowed award that layers on top of Temple merit and need-based aid rather than replacing it.
💡
Strategic Detail
If your student attends a Mastery Charter school or is part of Heights Philadelphia, this is one of the most generous named awards at Temple: $10,000 to $15,000 a year. Students are reviewed automatically after submitting the Common App by November 1 and the FAFSA by February 1. Recipients meet with a Lenfest advisor every semester and must keep a 2.50 GPA, file the FAFSA by February 1 each year, and show continued need.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted first-years from Mastery Charter Schools or Heights Philadelphia who apply by Nov 1 and show need on the FAFSA.
Automaticfamily employmentneed based
Neubauer Family Foundation Philadelphia Police & Firefighter Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Feb 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Up to $10,000 a year for children of Philadelphia police, firefighters and SEPTA Transit Police with need.
👥 ~Up to 10 first-years per year (2026-27 through 2028-29) winners/yrParent or guardian employed by the Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia Fire Department or SEPTA Transit Police; demonstrated financial need.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Layers on top of Temple merit and need-based aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
New for 2026-27. If a parent or guardian works for the Philadelphia Police Department, the Philadelphia Fire Department or SEPTA Transit Police, Temple may select your student as a Neubauer Scholar: up to $10,000 a year, renewable for four years while in good academic standing. Temple can pick up to 10 first-years a year through 2028-29. The only paperwork is the Common App and the FAFSA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-year students with a parent or guardian in the Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia Fire Department or SEPTA Transit Police who show financial need.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlyneed based
Temple University Grant
📅 Deadline: Feb 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradFull-time (12+ credits) undergraduates pursuing a first bachelor's degree with need on the FAFSA, filed by Feb 1; satisfactory academic progress required.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with merit, Pell and the PA State Grant, but it can be reduced if outside scholarships or other aid are reported after the offer goes out.
💡
Strategic Detail
This is Temple's own need-based grant, and it matters because unlike merit it is not limited to tuition, so it can help with housing, food and other costs. It goes to full-time students working on a first bachelor's degree who file the FAFSA by February 1 and show need. Funds are limited and awarded first-come, first-served, so a late FAFSA can mean a smaller grant or none. The amount can change each year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Full-time students with financial need who file the FAFSA early, by the Feb 1 priority deadline.
Automatic
Broad Street Finish Line Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Feb 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$500–$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with merit and other need-based aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
A need-based award of $500 to $5,000 a year meant to help students finish on time with less debt. Preference goes to first-generation students and to students from Philadelphia, but everyone is considered, including international students. Domestic students need a FAFSA on file by February 1 showing need. Admissions picks recipients.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-generation students with financial need, especially from Philadelphia, who file the FAFSA by Feb 1.
App Requiredpipelineneed based
Maguire Scholarship
📅 Deadline: March 1 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Up to five first-years a year; separate application, need-based, partner high schools preferred.
🏫 3.0+ GPA👥 ~Up to 5 per entering class winners/yrPreference for Maguire partner high schools; minimum 3.0 HS GPA; Student Aid Index of 0–25,000; separate Maguire Scholars application required.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Works alongside other need-based aid; the student's $5,000 yearly share comes from work, savings or loans.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the Maguire Scholars application with a recommendation from a community service or activity supervisor by March 1, file the FAFSA by Feb 1 with Temple's code 003371, and be admitted to Temple.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
The Maguire Foundation funds up to five students in each incoming Temple class. Preference goes to graduates of Maguire partner high schools in the Philadelphia area. Students need at least a 3.0 high school GPA, a Student Aid Index between 0 and 25,000, and a separate Maguire Scholars application with a recommendation letter by March 1. The detail families miss: recipients are expected to contribute $5,000 a year toward tuition, room and board themselves.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Philadelphia-area students, usually from Maguire partner high schools, with a 3.0+ GPA, high financial need and steady community service.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Diamond Research Scholars
📅 Deadline: February (2026 deadline was Feb 18) Non-Renewable
$4,000
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Counts as financial aid. If aid already reaches the cost of attendance, the stipend reduces loans instead of being paid out.
📄
How to Apply
Find a full-time faculty mentor, submit the online application with a proposal and personal statement in February, attend the Undergraduate Research Institute, and complete the project over summer and fall.
Selection criteria: Research plan, GPA, mentor input.
💡
Strategic Detail
A $4,000 summer stipend for a ten-week research or creative project with a faculty mentor, finished in the fall as an independent study. Open to rising sophomores, juniors and seniors with a 3.25 GPA. Students find their own mentor and apply in February. Fine print: to receive the full $4,000 as cash, the student needs at least $4,000 of unmet need; otherwise the stipend lowers their loans instead.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who line up a faculty mentor early and submit a clear, specific project proposal.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
CARAS Research, Creative & Travel Grants
📅 Deadline: Oct 15 (winter/spring projects); Mar 15 (summer/fall projects); travel rolling Non-Renewable
$4,000
✔ Stackable
👥 ~About 50 per year (20 project, 30 travel) winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Counts as financial aid; if aid already reaches the cost of attendance, it lowers loans instead.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through TUportal by Oct 15 or Mar 15 with a proposal, budget and faculty endorsement. Travel grants require a conference acceptance and should be submitted at least four weeks before travel. One award per academic year.
Selection criteria: Proposal quality.
💡
Strategic Detail
Creative Arts, Research and Scholarship grants pay up to $4,000 for a project supervised by a full-time Temple faculty member, plus separate travel grants of up to $1,000 to present work at a conference. About 50 awards a year. As with Diamond, the full amount is paid as cash only if the student has enough unmet need.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Undergraduates with a defined project, a full-time faculty mentor and a realistic budget.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlymajor
Klein College GO Study Away Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Semester before travel Non-Renewable
$250–$5,000
✔ Stackable
⚠ Study away funding for Klein College of Media and Communication students.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with merit, need-based and departmental aid.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Klein GO portal at the same time as the study away program application; check the portal for deadlines.
💡
Strategic Detail
Klein College runs its own study away scholarships for media and communication students heading to programs in places like London, Los Angeles or Dublin. Awards run from $250 to $5,000, and 60% of the money is reserved for students with financial need. One GO scholarship application puts a student in the running for several named awards.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Klein students with financial need who apply early, at the same time as their GO program application.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Diamond Band Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Contact the athletic bands office before the season ✓ Renews
$500–$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with other scholarships and aid unless the award letter says otherwise.
📄
How to Apply
Contact the director of athletic bands at Boyer College of Music and Dance to join a band and be considered.
💡
Strategic Detail
Students in any Temple major can join one of Temple's four bands, including the Diamond Marching Band, and be considered for $500 to $2,000 based on participation and musicianship. The Boyer College of Music and Dance selects recipients.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Band members in any major who show up, play well and stay active all season.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
MarcDavid LGBTQ Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies (check Dean of Students page) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks unless the award letter says otherwise.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Dean of Students application with one essay (500 words or less) and a resume.
💡
Strategic Detail
A Dean of Students scholarship for an undergraduate who has been active in LGBTQ leadership or advocacy, inside or outside Temple. Financial need is a preference, but leadership and advocacy matter most. The application is one 500-word essay and a resume. Temple does not currently post the amount, so check the Dean of Students page when the cycle opens.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Undergraduates with a track record of LGBTQ advocacy and leadership, backed by a specific essay.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
School and College Scholarships (ScholarshipUniverse)
📅 Deadline: Varies by school (many in spring) ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Usually stacks up to the cost of attendance, but outside and departmental awards must be reported to SFS and can reduce the need-based Temple University Grant.
📄
How to Apply
Log into ScholarshipUniverse with Temple AccessNet credentials, complete the profile questions, and apply to matched scholarships.
💡
Strategic Detail
Beyond the big university awards, each Temple school and college (Fox, Tyler, Klein, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Boyer and others) awards its own scholarships. Incoming students are automatically considered for school scholarships open to new students. Once admitted, students can log into ScholarshipUniverse, answer every profile question, and apply to the Temple and outside scholarships it matches.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who fill out the full ScholarshipUniverse profile and apply every year, not just once.
Full RideApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Army/Air Force/NROTC
📅 Deadline: ROTC program deadlines (fall/winter entry) ✓ Renews
Full Ride
tuition, fees, housing, stipend
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacked with need merit only up to tuition/cost rules.
📄
How to Apply
Apply via ROTC program (Army, Air Force, Navy); meet service, academic, and fitness requirements for contract.
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers from tuition only (some) to full residence and stipend (others), per branch and contract.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Cadets in good academic standing, contracted for service and enrolled full-time.
Data last verified Oct 2, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
After Admission: Log Into ScholarshipUniverse
Once admitted, students can log into Temple’s ScholarshipUniverse with their AccessNet username. It matches them to school, college and outside scholarships based on a profile they fill out. The more questions your student answers, the more matches they get, so have them do the full profile and check back every year.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
We don’t live in Philadelphia. Is there anything here for us?
Yes. The Temple University Grant (need-based, and it can cover housing), the Broad Street Finish Line Scholarship (open to all students, with preference for first-generation), Diamond Research Scholars, CARAS grants, the Diamond Band Scholarship and school-level awards are open to students from anywhere.
Do Diamond Research and CARAS grants pay cash?
Only if your student has enough unmet financial need. If their aid already reaches the full cost of attendance, the award lowers their loans instead. That’s still worth having, but it isn’t spending money.
Will an outside scholarship reduce our Temple aid?
It can. Temple requires students to report outside awards, and the need-based Temple University Grant may be reduced as a result. Ask Student Financial Services how an outside award will be applied before you count on it as extra money.
What’s the catch with the Maguire Scholarship?
Recipients are expected to put in $5,000 a year of their own (from work, savings or loans), and only up to five students per class are chosen. It also needs a separate application with a recommendation letter by March 1.
Can current Temple students still find money?
Yes. CARAS, Diamond Research, Klein GO, MarcDavid and most school scholarships are for students already on campus. ScholarshipUniverse is the best place to find them.
Temple’s Honors Program, about 2,100 students strong, is becoming the Jane Creamer Sullivan and Thomas J. Sullivan Honors College thanks to one of the largest gifts in Temple’s history. The college officially launches in fall 2027, which means a high school senior applying now would be part of its first class. The good news for families: there’s no separate Honors application. Every admitted first-year is reviewed automatically.
Recent admit averages: 3.95 GPA, 1420 SAT, 32 ACT. Tests are not required or preferred.
How it works: Honors reviews students after they’re admitted to Temple, starting in mid-December, and notifies them through the applicant portal.
Late bloomers: Current Temple students and transfers can apply to join later.
Honors Scholarships & Funding
Full TuitionAutomaticgeographichonors
Lambert Foundation Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Temple Honors admission and general application timelines apply ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition
✔ Stackable
⚠ Full-tuition award for Pennsylvania residents in Temple Honors; no application.
Must be a Pennsylvania resident admitted to the Temple Honors Program.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Full tuition. Because Temple caps tuition-only aid at the tuition bill, other tuition-only scholarships will not add on top. Need-based aid that is not tuition-restricted can still help with housing and food.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Lambert Foundation has supported Temple Honors students since 1995. Lambert Scholars receive full undergraduate tuition (up to 18 credits a semester, fall and spring) and must be Pennsylvania residents in the Honors program. There is no application; the foundation selects students based on its own criteria.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Pennsylvania residents admitted to Temple Honors who fit the foundation's criteria.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlyhonorsmajor
Sonkin-Weisman Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Selection tied to Honors admission cycles; no separate deadline published ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$6,000
✔ Stackable
⚠ Invitation-only; adds $6,000 in funded experiences for top College of Liberal Arts students.
🎓 All UndergradRestricted to Temple Honors students in the College of Liberal Arts (CLA); invitation-only.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Added on top of any other Temple aid; it funds experiences, not tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
An invitation-only program for a small group of top College of Liberal Arts students. Scholars receive an extra $6,000 over their degree through guaranteed spots in three of four funded experiences: an internship stipend, an undergraduate research award, study abroad, and a community leadership scholarship. It also comes with mentoring from academic leaders and alumni.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
A small group of high-achieving Liberal Arts students chosen by invitation; there is nothing to apply for.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyhonors
Honors Student Grant Program (Microgrants)
📅 Deadline: Varies by grant or scholarship cycle (semester-based) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Project microgrants for active Temple Honors students.
🎓 All UndergradMust be an active member of the Temple Honors Program.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Small project funding layered on top of other aid.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Honors Student Grant Program form on the Honors website.
💡
Strategic Detail
Current Honors students can apply for microgrants that pay for co-curricular projects outside the classroom, like research costs, conference travel or a community project. Temple has also said that every Honors student will receive a Discovery Grant for at least one high-impact experience (research, internship, civic engagement or study abroad) as the Sullivan Honors College launches.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Active Honors students with a specific, well-planned project.
App Required⚠ Junior Onlyhonorsmajor
Adam Grickis Memorial Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies by cycle within Honors and Klein College timelines Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Memorial scholarship for junior Honors Film and Media Arts majors.
🎓 JuniorMust be an Honors student and Film and Media Arts major in junior year.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with other Honors and merit awards.
📄
How to Apply
Junior Honors Film and Media Arts students apply through Honors and Klein College processes during the year of eligibility.
💡
Strategic Detail
A memorial scholarship for junior Honors students majoring in Film and Media Arts, endowed by Adam Grickis's parents. The amount is not published, so check with Honors and the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts during junior year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Junior Honors students in Film and Media Arts.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Onlymajor
Departmental Honors Programs
📅 Deadline: Departmental deadlines (typically the semester before thesis/capstone work begins) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Department and school honors tracks; separate from university Honors.
🎓 UpperclassmenRequirements vary by school and department; typically restricted to upperclassmen pursuing a major-specific honors thesis or capstone.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Recognition and project support layered on top of existing aid, not tuition replacement.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the department when its honors track opens; each school runs its own cycle.
💡
Strategic Detail
Some Temple schools run their own honors tracks, including Fox, Engineering, History and Psychology, usually built around a thesis or capstone in junior and senior year. These are separate from university Honors, and any funding or stipend depends on the department.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Juniors and seniors doing major-specific honors research with a faculty mentor.
Data last verified Oct 2, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Award details reflect what Temple publishes now. As the Sullivan Honors College launches, expect new funding to be announced.
Pennsylvania Families, Read This: The Lambert Foundation Scholarship covers full undergraduate tuition (up to 18 credits a semester) for Pennsylvania residents in Temple Honors. There’s no application; the foundation picks recipients from Honors students. If your student is a strong in-state applicant, this is the biggest reason to care about getting into Honors.
What Honors Money Looks Like in Practice
Discovery Grant: Temple says every Honors student will get funding for at least one high-impact experience: research, an internship, civic engagement or study abroad.
Microgrants: Honors students can apply for small grants for projects outside the classroom.
Sonkin-Weisman Scholars: An invitation-only $6,000 package of funded experiences for top Liberal Arts students.
School honors tracks: Fox, Engineering, History and Psychology run their own thesis-based honors options.
Sullivan Honors College FAQs (Temple University)
Does my student need a separate Honors application?
No. All admitted first-years are reviewed for Honors automatically. If you have questions or want to request a review, Honors has an inquiry form on its admissions page.
Can a test-optional applicant get into Honors?
Yes. Temple says test scores aren’t required or preferred for Honors, and test-optional students are considered the same way.
Does Honors admission come with a scholarship?
Not automatically. Merit is awarded separately through admission. Pennsylvania residents in Honors may be selected for the full-tuition Lambert Scholarship, and Temple plans a Discovery Grant for every Honors student.
What’s actually different about Honors?
Smaller seminar-style classes, a first-year seminar, an Honors living-learning community, Honors advising and a senior project. Temple is building the new college around using Philadelphia and its campuses in Rome and Japan as classrooms.
Is it worth it if we’re from out of state?
Academically, yes. Financially, the biggest Honors award (Lambert) is for Pennsylvania residents only, so out-of-state families should treat Honors as an academic upgrade rather than a money play.
Temple is Philadelphia’s largest public research university and one of only 21 universities in the country that hold both the top R1 research rating and the “Opportunity College” designation for moving students up economically. That combination tells you a lot. This is a big research school that still sees educating first-generation and working-class students as its core job. Business is the biggest draw by far, but media, the arts and health careers are where Temple has a real identity.
Nationally Known Program: Fox School of Business: About one in five Temple bachelor’s degrees is in business, more than any other field. Fox runs its own honors track and is a well-worn path into Philadelphia’s finance, accounting and marketing jobs. Just know that Fox tuition runs higher than the base rate, so budget for it.
Media and Communication: The Klein College of Media and Communication is one of Temple’s signature schools, with study away programs in places like London and Los Angeles and a list of Pulitzer-winning alumni it proudly keeps.
Health and Pre-Med: Health professions make up about 11% of degrees. Students headed to medical school have Temple’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine right in North Philadelphia, plus dedicated pre-health advising.
The Arts: Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Boyer College of Music and Dance, and the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts together award about 8% of degrees. Some majors require a portfolio or audition.
Computer and Information Science: Another 8% of degrees, one of the fastest-growing areas on campus.
Fellowship Track Record: Temple has been a top producer of Fulbright scholars five times since 2018 and produced six Goldwater Scholars in the last two years. Its Rhodes Scholar came out of the Honors Program.
Temple also has a well-known law school, the Beasley School of Law, though it’s for graduate students. Undergrads interested in law can look at the Temple Law Scholars program.
🔗 Official Temple University Links
Use Temple’s official pages below to double-check scholarship amounts, deadlines and costs before you make decisions. Temple updates these every year, and they are the final word.
Big picture? Temple is a city school with a city school’s priorities. If you live in Philadelphia, especially in the North Philly neighborhoods around campus, Temple has put real money on the table for you: Temple Promise, Cecil B. Moore, the Neighborhood Scholarship and Lenfest can take tuition close to zero. If you live anywhere else, Temple is still a solid deal, just a different kind. Merit is automatic and test-optional, out-of-state students get roughly double the in-state range, and Honors is open to everyone without a separate application.
The part to plan for is everything merit doesn’t touch. Housing and food run about $19,636 a year, Temple meets about two-thirds of need on average, and the deadlines are earlier than they look. Get the FAFSA in by Feb 1, send the deposit by May 1, and keep the GPA above 3.0 (or 3.25 for the top tiers) after sophomore year. Do those three things and Temple’s offer holds up for all four years.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.
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Written by Leo Dimilo
I started CollegeReadyParent while working through college costs for my own kid, and quickly figured out that the number a school advertises and the number a family actually pays are two very different things. Since then I’ve gone school by school pulling apart award letters, scholarship pages, and cost sheets to find what families are supposed to just know. This site is the version of that research I wish someone had handed me. More about Leo →
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