Geography Scholarships

Stay the Course and Win Awards

The study of Geography goes well beyond the scope of physical positions of cities and states. Geography encompasses a vast array of disciplines that consider not only physical location, but social implications, cartography and mapping, the environment and other closely related subjects. Geography helps you appreciate the world as a whole better. To get a full understanding, you must study the human as well as physical geography, including culture, history, religion, language and more.

Graduates of a Geography program can work in a wide range of fields, and covering many scientific disciplines. The U.S. government employs many types of geographers, for everything from meteorology and GPS navigation, to military intelligence and disaster relief . Work is also available in the public or private sector and engaged in careers that are closely related to the field of study, such as urban planning, surveyor, conservation, exploration or geographic information systems (GIS).

Scholarship Programs

Western Michigan State University provides a number of scholarships, grants and awards designed for Geography students. Under graduate scholarships are $500 -$1500. Graduate scholarships and awards are also avaialable. The Geography program at WMU offers concentrations in travel, urban planning and conservation science.

California State University-Northridge prides itself on its Geography department and in order to attract as many students as possible and offset the costs of the program, CSUN also sponsors a handful of attractive scholarships:

• Community college transfer students may apply for the Michael Tamburro Scholarship, which pays all normal university fees to fulltime, undergraduate geography majors. Eligible applicants must have an above average aptitude for geography. Extracurricular involvement in related organizations or activities is helpful. It was created especially to aid those students who apply geography to the wider community and world.
• The Ross Scholarship goes to Geography students who are committed to their chosen field. Awards are $250.
• The Shoshana Sokol Award gives $250 to a Geography student, undergraduate or graduate, to defray textbook costs.
• The Geography Student Scholarships are a need-based award. $250 is intended to offer a modest assistance to undergraduate or graduate students who need the money.
• The Robert and Karen Newcomb Graduate Fellowships are given to the most outstanding graduate student in the degree.

Oklahoma State University’s Department of Geography

provides a comprehensive multi-disciplinary approach to the study of Geography. Department majors have the chance to specialize in urban planning, cartography and a host of other concentrations. OSU provides the following scholarships for Geography students:

• Robert C. Fite Scholarship goes to a freshman whose efforts surpass their peers.
• John F. Rooney, Jr. Scholarship is specifically designed for juniors in the Geography major.
• Robert E. Norris Memorial Scholarship is the department’s graduate level award.

Humboldt State University offers the following scholarships for its Geography students:

• The John L. Harper Scholarship was established in memory of an esteemed faculty member in 2001. Faculty chooses the most outstanding geography student for the annual award.
• Herring Geography Scholarships are more need-based than merit-based and provide up to $1,000 ($500/semester). 
• The Dr. Joseph Leeper Geography Scholarship has been created to honor the service of Dr. Joseph Leeper to the Department of Geography and Humboldt State University. The amount of the scholarship is $1,000 ($500/semester).

Scholarships available from the Department of Geography at the University of Montana include:

• Harold Bockemuehl Scholarship is designed for undergraduate or graduate students whose concentration is in Cartography and GIS.
• The Kain/McKay Scholarship is awarded yearly to an outstanding Geography undergraduate. The award is given in the form of a credit that is applied to the student’s tuition.
• The Geography Faculty Award is awarded in the Spring Semester to an outstanding graduating senior. The monetary value of this award is a token sum contributed by members of the Geography Faculty.
• Geography Teaching Assistantships are given to outstanding grad students who are willing to trade teaching and faculty support for generous funding. Assistants earn up to $9,000 and includes a tuition fee waiver.