Hagan Scholarship Foundation
Before you spend hours on this
Will this scholarship actually lower your cost?
Not always. Many colleges reduce your financial-aid package when you win an outside scholarship — sometimes dollar-for-dollar — so the money can end up saving the school instead of you. It's called scholarship displacement. Two free tools tell you where you actually stand:
General guidance, not financial advice — your school's financial aid office is the only authority on how they treat outside awards. Always confirm with them before deciding.
Best fit for
Rural or small-town students with 3.5+ GPA from families earning $50K-$100K who would otherwise need loans.
What they actually look for
Hagan specifically targets the 'donut hole' — middle-income families who don't qualify for Pell but can't afford college either. Rural + small-town applicants get extra weight. Service hours matter more than test scores.
What you'll need
- 3.5+ unweighted GPA
- FAFSA with parent income documentation (sweet spot: $50K-$100K AGI)
- Personal statement essay + 2 short essays
- Two recommendation letters
- Transcript through junior year
When to start
Mid-junior year. Deadline early March of senior year. Award stacks across all 4 years ($15K/yr).
Watch out for
If your parent AGI is below ~$35K, you're better off targeting Pell-stackable programs — Hagan often doesn't favor extreme low-income applicants.