Meeting Today’s Challenges

A college degree continues to be one of the most powerful tools for personal growth, economic opportunity, and community impact. Yet for many students, rising costs create significant barriers to pursuing and completing their education.

According to the College Board, published tuition and fees at public four-year colleges are now more than three times higher than they were in the early 1980s, even after adjusting for inflation.

Between 1980 and 2020, the average price of tuition, fees, and room and board for an undergraduate degree has skyrocketed 169%. Financial aid programs have struggled to keep pace, and even the largest federal grant program, the Pell Grant, covers a smaller share of college costs than it once did.

Scholarships help students get to college. But they do more. They help students thrive, graduate and make an impact in their communities.

By reducing financial burdens, scholarships allow students to focus on their education, explore meaningful opportunities, graduate with less debt, and prepare for lives of leadership and service.

In the end, access to education can literally change the course of one’s life.

At the Phillips University Legacy Foundation, we believe that access to education can change the course of a life. By investing in talented, motivated students today, we help create opportunities that will benefit families, communities, and future generations.

Investing in Future Stories

Thanks to the generosity of alumni, donors, and friends, the Phillips University Legacy Foundation provides renewable annual scholarships of up to $10,000 per year to outstanding undergraduate students.

Phillips Scholars are selected not only for their academic achievement, but also for their leadership, character, service, and potential to make a meaningful difference in the world. We invest in students who have already demonstrated a commitment to their communities and who aspire to lead with purpose in their future professions and civic lives.

In addition to general scholarships, the Foundation offers endowed and honorary scholarships that celebrate the lives and legacies of beloved alumni, friends, faculty, and family members. These scholarships honor the past while helping prepare the next generation of leaders for the future.

Every scholarship represents more than financial assistance.

It is an investment in a future teacher, healthcare professional, minister, entrepreneur, scientist, nonprofit leader, or community advocate.

Through the support of generous donors, students gain opportunities that can shape the trajectory of their lives and extend far beyond graduation.  As one Phillips Scholar shared:

“Thanks to my scholarship, I’m not just studying; I’m investing in my future. I’m so grateful for every opportunity being a Phillips Scholar brings.”

Scholarships are the beginning of the Phillips Scholar experience.

Combined with leadership development, meaningful service opportunities, strong peer connections, and a lifelong community of support, they help students discover their potential, strengthen their leadership, and create lasting impact wherever life takes them.