Simmons University Kotzen Scholarship 2026 in USA (Fully Funded)

The Simmons Distinguished Scholar Award, also referred to as the Kotzen Scholarship, is a highly competitive merit-based scholarship offered by Simmons University in the United States. It is designed to recognize exceptional international students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievements, a strong commitment to their community, and a passion for creating positive change. The scholarship supports undergraduate studies for the academic session of 2026-2027, with a duration of four years until degree completion.

This is a fully funded scholarship that covers full tuition fees, mandatory university fees (excluding health insurance), and room and board for all four years of the undergraduate program. Additionally, recipients will receive an extra $3,000 to support academic pursuits such as research or study abroad opportunities.

To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must be international students from any part of the world, including Ethiopia. Candidates must be applying for an undergraduate (Bachelors) degree program. A minimum GPA of 3.50 is required, along with a strong academic record that includes college preparatory, Advanced Placement (AP), honors, or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. English proficiency is mandatory for non-native English speakers. While standardized test scores are optional, applicants with an ACT score of 28 or higher, or an SAT score of 1300 or higher (new SAT) or 1250 or higher (old SAT – Critical Reading + Math), are encouraged to submit them. Applicants should also demonstrate significant community involvement and a commitment to positive social change.

The primary requirement for the application is a formal essay of no more than 300-500 words. The essay prompt asks you to describe your leadership style, providing specific examples of experiences that have shaped you as a leader and the kind of leader you aspire to be at Simmons. Each page of your essay document must include your full name and date of birth. The essay should be submitted in PDF or Word Doc format.

To apply for the Simmons Distinguished Scholar Award, you must submit your formal essay through the Common Application or directly via email to Simmons University. If submitting by email, the subject line must be "Simmons Distinguished Scholar Award application". In addition to the essay, you must also complete and submit your general admission application to Simmons University. All application materials, including the essay and admission application, must be submitted by the deadline.

The application deadline for this scholarship is December 1, 2026. Finalists for scholarship consideration will be notified by the end of January 2027 and will be required to complete an interview in February 2027. Scholarship recipients will be officially notified by March 1, 2027.