Arizona's Dorrance Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Dorrance Family

Overview

The Dorrance Scholarship is a need-based program that supports Arizona first-generation college students with financial aid, academic support, and enrichment experiences designed to improve college access and persistence. The award emphasizes more than tuition assistance: recipients gain resources and real-world opportunities intended to prepare them for success in college and beyond. The program aims to build a college-going culture across Arizona families by removing financial barriers and providing sustained support during the transition to higher education.

Description: A need-based scholarship focused on Arizona students who will be the first in their family to earn a four-year degree. It combines financial support with academic resources and experiential learning to increase college persistence.

• Targets first-generation Arizona high school seniors with demonstrated financial need.
• Provides financial aid plus academic and experiential support.
• Designed to improve college enrollment and retention outcomes.

How to apply

The application process has three sequential phases: an initial online submission, a Phase II application for semi-finalists, and an in-person interview for finalists. Each phase has specific requirements and deadlines, and applicants must submit verification documents and a FAFSA Submission Summary as part of Phase I. Final recipients are selected after interviews and are announced by the end of April each year.

Application Timeline:

1. Phase I: Submit the online application, verification documents, and the FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) by the February deadline at 4:59 p.m. (Arizona Standard Time).
2. Phase II: Semi-finalists are notified in February; Phase II materials—including writing samples and two letters of recommendation—are due by the March deadline at 4:59 p.m. (Arizona Standard Time).
3. Phase III: Finalists are invited to an in-person interview in April. Scholarship recipients are announced by April 30 each year.

• Follow the three-phase schedule and meet each deadline precisely (all listed at 4:59 p.m. AZST).
• Phase I requires FAFSA documentation (FSS) and verification documents.
• Phase II requires writing samples and two recommendation letters; Phase III includes an in-person interview.

Are You Eligible?

The scholarship seeks motivated Arizona students who will be the first in their family to complete a four-year college degree and who plan to attend one of the participating state campuses. Eligibility criteria include residency, academic performance, standardized test scores, demonstrated financial need, and agreement to live on campus for the first two years. Applicants must be graduating high school seniors from public, private, charter, or home school programs.

Eligibility:

• Be an Arizona resident
• Be a current graduating high school senior (public, private, charter, or home school)
• Be a first-generation college student (neither parent, stepparent, nor legal guardian holds a four-year degree from any country)
• Have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA (weighted or unweighted)
• Have a minimum test score of 1110 SAT, 22 ACT, or 72 CLT
• Demonstrate financial need
• Plan to attend ASU Tempe, NAU Flagstaff, or UA Tucson
• Agree to live in on-campus housing during your first two years

• Must be an Arizona resident and graduating high school senior.
• Requires first-generation status and demonstrated financial need.
• Minimum academic and test-score thresholds apply; campus and housing commitments required.