The beginning of a new year is traditionally the time when many Polish American institutions, societies and clubs announce their annually offered scholarships. The scholarships are for undergraduate college students, high school seniors as well as for graduate students.
In this article you will find a list of scholarships available locally and nationally, with short descriptions, and links to information about eligibility, requirements, deadlines, and application forms.
Please note that some deadlines to apply are as early as February 17 (The Kosciuszko Foundation Tuition Scholarship.)
Before you look at the list, please read this advice:
Start the application process EARLY, as you will be asked to provide (usually) two letters of recommendation, often an essay or a personal statement, and an official transcript of your grades (and more). Putting this documentation together might take some time. Especially for the letters of recommendation you need time to identify the people and ask them IN ADVANCE to write the letters.
Read the requirements carefully and follow the instructions.
APPLY! If you don’t apply for a scholarship, FOR SURE you won’t get it! And usually once you get one scholarship, it is easier to get another one.
Do not get discouraged; if you don’t get the scholarship, apply again the next year (if you are eligible.)
Good luck!!! Powodzenia!
LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR RESIDENTS OF MICHIGAN
1. Polish American Congress, MI Division
PAC offers up to nine scholarships for college students studying different areas. The amounts awarded vary from year to year (and depend on the funds available each year). The awards are paid to the institution (the college student attends). Documented involvement in Polish American activities as well as community service and financial need are required.
Eligibility: college full-time students, second year and up.
Deadline to apply: April 1
Information available at:
(Although the information for 2025 was not yet updated, the scholarship form and the requirements for 2025 remain the same.)
2. Friends of Polish Art
FPA offers five Frank Filipek Scholarships (for studies in: law, medicine, architecture, engineering, science, and the liberal arts except for the fine arts) and two Mitchell Fine Arts Scholarships (for studies in fine arts and other forms of creative expression as well as history, literature, religion, philosophy and Polish Studies). In 2025, each scholarship is in the amount of $2,000 and is given to the individual. 2025 might be the last year FPA is going to award the Frank Filipek Scholarships, as the funds are about to run out.
Eligibility: high school seniors and undergraduate students of Polish descent and/or students with a demonstratable connection to the Polish community.
Deadline to apply: April 25, 2025
Information available at:
3. The American Polish Cultural Society
Depending on available funds and the number of applications, the APCS offers scholarships to young people with demonstrated connections to the Polish American community. The number of scholarships, as well as amounts awarded, vary. Last year APCS’s scholarships were $2,000 each.
Eligibility: high school seniors and undergraduate students, with parents or guardians with membership in the American Polish Cultural Society, or who themselves are members of APCS (two full years prior to applying).
Deadline to apply: May 15, 2025
More information and the application:
(The information and requirements for 2025 will be updated after February 10. Please check the website for the updates. DO NOT USE the 2024 application form; wait for the 2025 form.)
4. Polish Century Club
Offers scholarships only to children of their members.
Information about the Polish Century Club is available at: https://www.polishcenturyclub.com/
NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS
THE AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR POLISH CULTURE (ACPC) SCHOLARSHIPS
1. ACPC Scholarships for 2025 Summer Study in Poland
The scholarship is available to high school seniors, and college and university undergraduate and graduate students of Polish heritage. Students may choose to participate in Polish language, history, culture, or current affairs courses, seminars, conferences, or workshops of their choosing. The amount of $2,000 to be used toward transportation, program, and living costs.
The deadline to apply: April 15, 2025
Detailed information, and the application form available at:
2. Leonard Skowronski Polish Studies Scholarship
The American Council for Polish Culture (ACPC)offers two, $3,000 each scholarships to students pursuing Polish Studies.
Eligibility: students pursuing some Polish studies (major may be in other fields) at universities in the United States who have completed at least two years of college or university work at an accredited institution. The scholarships are awarded for the fall term.
Deadline to apply: April 5, 2025
Detailed information, and application form available at:
https://polishcultureacpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Leonard-Skowronski-Polish-Studies-Scholarship-2024.pdf
3. The Eye of the Eagle Scholarship (for a student pursuing a career in journalism and/or mass media)
One scholarship of $5000.00 will be awarded annually to an undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a career in journalism and/or mass media.
Eligibility: The award is based solely on professional and academic merit with an appreciation for issues that affect Polish Americans.
Deadline to apply: June 30, 2025
Detailed information, and application form available at:
4. Pulaski Scholarships for Advanced Studies (graduate students only)
Eligibility: Applicant must be a classified graduate student enrolled at an accredited university in the United States and must have completed at least one year of studies at the graduate level.
Amount: $5,000 (may change)
Deadline to apply: March 16, 2025
Detailed information, and the application form available at:
KOSCIUSZKO FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS
1. Kosciuszko Foundation Tuition Scholarships
Eligibility: American students of Polish descent at undergraduate and graduate level studies at colleges and universities in the United States. Scholarships are up to $12,000. Funding is only for full-time studies in the United States and English Schools of Medicine in Poland.
Deadline to apply: February 17, 2025
Detailed information, and the application form available at:
2. For more scholarship and grant opportunities with the Kosciuszko Foundation
such as: Exchange Program to Poland (Year Abroad Scholarships and Study and Research in Poland Grants), Exchange Program to USA, and Summer Studies Abroad, please visit:
Deadline to apply: March 3, 2025
POLISH ROMAN CATHOLIC UNION OF AMERICA (PRCUA) SCHOLARSHIPS
PRCUA offers two types of scholarships, (a) PRCUA Educational Scholarships (non-members may apply) and (b) PRCUA Fraternal Scholarships (for members only)
All awards are made payable to the institution, not to the individual.
1. PRCUA Educational Scholarships
Scholarships totaling $25,000 will be awarded with the purpose of providing financial assistance to students to earn undergraduate, graduate or professional degrees based on the number of applications submitted.
Eligibility: PRCUA membership not required. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled full-time in undergraduate study or students enrolled in graduate or professional degree program.
Deadline to apply: June 1, 2025
2. PRCUA Fraternal Scholarships
PRCUA Fraternal Scholarships are for eligible PRCUA members and are awarded with the purpose of providing financial assistance to students to earn undergraduate, graduate or professional degrees. Fraternal Scholarships totaling $25,000 will be awarded.
Eligibility: eligible PRCUA members. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled full-time in undergraduate study, or students enrolled in graduate or professional degree program.
Deadline to apply: June 1, 2025
Detailed information, and application forms available at:
