These scholarships are for current O’Neill School students who will be continuing their program the next 2025-26 academic year. If you have any questions regarding O’Neill scholarship awards contact oneilsch@iu.edu.
*The O’Neill Awards Committee has the right to change all award amounts and number of awards at its discretion. Award amounts and award numbers may vary from the current listing.
Available Scholarships
Annual scholarship to support an undergraduate junior or senior in the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs who demonstrates a strong interest in a career in the public sector (federal, state, or local government careers are acceptable).
Eligibility:
- Undergraduate junior or senior in the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs who demonstrates a strong interest in a career in the public sector (federal, state, or local government careers are acceptable) - Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale - Financial need - FASFA required - Special consideration will be given to underrepresented populations, including but not limited to financially challenged students, and/or students with diverse cultural experiences - First preference for a student who is the first in their family to attend college, a second preference for a student who is from a historically underrepresented group (racial, ethnic or national origin), a third preference for a student with a commitment to social justice and leadership, and a fourth preference for a student in the Hutton Honors College.
To support scholarships for undergraduate students in the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs who have financial need and are engaged in and have demonstrated leadership roles in campus student activities.
Eligibility:
- Undergraduate student in the O?Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs - Financial Need - FASFA required - Engaged in and have demonstrated leadership roles in campus student activities
For undergraduate students in the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs who have a minimum GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have financial need, and have demonstrated commitment to public policies, citizen participation in public affairs, and personal actions directed toward protection of the global environment such as participation in Sierra Club Student organizations, high school youth environmental organizations, or community-based environmental organizations.
Eligibility:
- Undergraduate students in the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs - Minimum GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale - Financial need - FASFA required - Demonstrated commitment to public policies, citizen participation in public affairs, and personal actions directed toward protection of the global environment such as participation in Sierra Club Student organizations, high school youth environmental organizations, or community-based environmental organizations.
Established to honor the memory of David P. Charlesworth, a distinguished graduate of O'Neill who loved life and helping others. The scholarship assists students who are working to put themselves through school.
Eligibility:
- Undergraduate student - Employed at least 20 hours per week. Must attach documentation to provide proof of employment. A check stub or official letter from student's employer will be required.
Jesse Devitte Endowed Scholarship/Fellowship Fund
Eligibility:
- O'Neill undergraduate or graduate student - Student must be a parent - Student must have demonstrated financial need
This award was established by the donor to honor her grandparents Donald ("Bill") B and Anna Josephine Routt.
Eligibility:
- O'Neill undergraduate or graduate student - Preference for a student who is an Indiana resident - Demonstrated both merit and financial need - Majoring in Law and Public Policy, Public Financial Management, Public Management and Leadership, Community and Economic Development, or Public Management with a focus on a career in Indiana state government
Scholarships for undergraduate sophomore, junior, or senior students pursuing degrees related to Healthcare Management & Policy in the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Eligibility:
- Undergraduate sophomore, junior or senior student in the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs - Must be pursuing degree related to Healthcare Management & Policy
Established by the Izaak Walton League of America?Indiana Division to encourage students in the field of conservation. The scholarship supports undergraduate public affairs (BSPA) students with a concentration in environmental management or Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (BSES) students.
Eligibility:
- Undergraduate student with junior standing or higher in the upcoming academic year - Indiana resident - Major in environmental science - Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA - Consideration will be given to qualifying members, members? children or grandchildren
Established as a tribute to Senator Bob Dole, friend and mentor of O'Neill alumnus Jesse Devitte. The scholarship honors Dole, who was disabled during World War II, by supporting a student with a physical disability.
Eligibility:
- Preference for O'Neill School student with a physical disability - Special consideration will be given to underrepresented populations, including but not limited to financially challenged students, and/or students with diverse cultural experiences
Supports graduate and undergraduate students; recommended with demonstrated academic success, public and community service, and extracurricular activities.
Eligibility:
- Current O'Neill School undergraduate or graduate student; recommended with demonstrated academic success, public and community service, and extracurricular activities.
The donors believe that a diverse student body enhances the education of all students. This award was established to support undergraduate and graduate SPEA students from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, including first generation college students, international students, and students from underrepresented minorities.
Eligibility:
- O'Neill undergraduate or graduate student from Bloomington or Indianapolis campus - First generation college student, international student, and/or student from underrepresented minorities
Scholarships for undergraduate or graduate students in the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs who have demonstrated financial need.
Eligibility:
- Undergraduate or graduate students in the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs who have demonstrated financial need - International students will be eligible to receive the scholarship - Special consideration will be given to underrepresented populations, including but not limited to financially challenged students, and/or students with diverse cultural experiences - Preference for first generation Hispanic female students, and, where possible, with any connections to Colombia
Established in memory of Scott Chilcote, a B.S. Environmental Management graduate and joint MPA-MSES student, whose dedication to O'Neill and joy of life continue to serve as an inspiration to all who knew him.
Eligibility:
- Undergraduate or MSES or joint MPA-MSES students in O'Neill School - Demonstrated leadership potential - Dedication to the environment, O'Neill, and Indiana University - Strong preference given to nontraditional and/or working students
How to apply for scholarships
Applications for the 2025-26 academic year are due any time between Thursday, January 2, 2025 and Friday, January 31, 2025 at 5 p.m.
These are full-year awards. If you will be on campus only for the fall semester of the 2025-26 academic year, you are welcome to apply. You will be notified if you have received a scholarship by mid-March.
Application process
Regardless of how many scholarships you are applying for, you only need to complete “Part I: Personal and Academic Information” of the Online Application Form once.
Your profile will automatically be saved when you select “continue” at the bottom of the screen, after completing Part I.
At this point, you will be directed to “Part II: Individual Scholarship Application.”
You must submit a separate essay for each scholarship for which you hope to be considered and should tailor your essays toward the scholarship in question.
You must explain how you meet the criteria and why you should be considered for the scholarship for which you are applying.
You can access the essay portion of the application as many times as you chose and will not be timed out. However, you cannot save your work and return to the essay later.
You should write your essay(s) in a word processing program and then copy and paste your work into the online form.
You must submit the names of two O’Neill faculty members who can serve as references. No reference letters are needed, only the names of the O’Neill faculty. O’Neill faculty includes anyone who has taught you in a O’Neill course.
Per university guidelines, O’Neill uses FASFA information from the current academic year (2024–25) to determine eligibility for scholarships that list financial need as a criteria.
For more information on how FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for need-based awards, visitStudent Central.
The receipt of a scholarship may result in the reduction or repayment of need-based financial assistance previously awarded to the student by Indiana University.
In accordance with federal regulations, the Office of Student Financial Assistance is required to monitor whether a student’s total financial assistance remains within their financial need-based eligibility.
Similar practices are followed with some institutional need-based grants. Whenever possible, self-help awards (loans and Federal Work-Study) are reduced before federal or institutional gift-aid.
*The O’Neill Awards Committee has the right to change all award amounts and number of awards at its discretion. Award amounts and award numbers may vary from the current listing.
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