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Scholarships + Financial Aid

University Theatre scholarships + awards for students

University Theatre scholarships reward academic and artistic merit and reduce financial need for many students, including undergraduate, graduate, incoming, and continuing.

Our scholarships are competitive and are only available to students who have been admitted to and declared a major in Theatre. They supplement other YSU scholarships and awards you receive as well as any additional financial aid.

To be considered for as many YSU, YSU Foundation, and college scholarships as possible, you should also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 
 

 

Every year, we award superb artistry with talent-based scholarships! Applicants to the B.F.A. in Theatre (Acting) and the B.F.A. in Musical Theatre are automatically considered for talent-based scholarships and assistantships via their audition and other application materials, if those are required. Theatre scholarships are awarded based on your academic achievements as well as theatrical talent and level of accomplishment as demonstrated in your audition. Students admitted to the B.F.A. in Theatre (Design Tech) will be evaluated for scholarship consideration based on academic merit, as an audition is not required.

 

  • Applicants are not required to submit a separate talent-based scholarship application.
 

Frequently asked questions

Dr. Chester and Marilyn Amedia Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 2022 by Dr. Chester (Chet) and Marilyn (Mara) Amedia, a 1970 Youngstown State University graduate, to encourage students to gain a broad-based appreciation of science and the arts. Mara studied English and Art and graduated with a B.S. in Education. She and Chet were active in theater and met on-stage while he attended YSU in 1967-68. They were married in 1970 and returned to Youngstown after spending 11 years at medical school and in the U.S. Army, respectively. After returning, Chet was active in medical education, and Mara was involved in participating and promoting both the fine and performing arts. An eligible student for this scholarship will be an undergraduate enrolled in a major in STEM or CCCA with a minimum 3.3 GPA. This scholarship is open to both full-time and part-time applicants.

Dr. Robert L. Tornello Endowed Scholarship in Theater Performance

The Dr. Robert L. Tornello Endowed Scholarship in Theater Performance is awarded to a student who is working towards their Bachelor of Fine and Performing Arts degree with an emphasis in theater performance. Selection is made by a scholarship selection committee of the theater department in conjunction with the YSU Foundation.

Fine and Performing Arts Dean's Scholarship

The Fine and Performing Arts Dean's Scholarship will be given each year to three outstanding seniors.

Gina Tenney Memorial Scholarship

The Gina Tenney Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a sophomore YSU student majoring in fine arts or the humanities. The recipient must demonstrate involvement in extracurricular activities. A minimum 3.4 GPA is a requirement.

Lena M. Ferrara Memorial Scholarship

This endowment was established in 2020 in honor and memory of Lena M. Ferrara by her daughters, Regina Moore and Patricia Ferrara. The purpose of this endowment is to provide scholarship assistance to students in University Theatre in the Cliffe College of Creative Arts at Youngstown State University. Lena loved the beauty and creativity of dance and musical theatre, and she shared that love with her daughters. In her honor, Regina and Patricia wish to support and acknowledge students who are passionate and excited about pursuing careers in musical theatre, especially costume theatre. An eligible student for this scholarship must be majoring in theatre, musical theatre, or theatre studies with a 2.5 GPA or higher. Preference will be given to a student with a focus on costume design and construction.

Molly and Sam Galano Creativity Scholarship

This scholarship was established by Molly & Sam Galano and friends of University Theatre to recognize and support a student(s) who is creating new work and majoring in theatre. This student must also be enrolled full-time with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

R. Donald and Lois L. Elser Memorial Scholarship

The R. Donald and Lois L. Elser Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a student enrolled in the Cliffe College of Creative Arts (current student or incoming freshman). Recipient must be a graduate of South Range High School.

Reaching for Tomorrow's Stars

Endowed in 2011 by one current and two former deans (Dr. Bryan W. DePoy, Mr. Joe Edwards, and Dr. George E. McCloud) of the Cliffe College of Creative Arts at YSU, this scholarship is designed to recruit future and retain present students in the college’s disciplines. Students receiving the scholarship must achieve success benchmarks by progressing through their degrees by 25% at the end of their first year, 50% by the end of their second year, 75% by the end of their third year, and be registered for required courses to complete their degrees by their fourth year. Exceptions can only be granted by the Dean of the college. Graduate students are also eligible for the scholarship. Students must be admitted in good standing to their respective programs and admitted on a non-conditional basis to the university without the need of remedial classes. Students must reapply each year for transcript review.

Theater Grant-in-Aid Scholarship

The Theater Grant-in-Aid Scholarship is available to full-time students who agree to major in theatre with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and have demonstrated ability. Participation in the theatre production program is required.

Theatre scholarships are awarded based on your academic achievements as well as theatrical talent and level of accomplishment as demonstrated in your audition. All students admitted to the B.F.A. in Theatre (Acting) and the B.F.A. in Musical Theatre are automatically considered for a Theatre Talent Scholarship. These artist merit scholarships are awarded on the basis of your current strengths and potential for growth. Students admitted to the B.F.A in Theatre (Design Tech) will be evaluated for scholarship consideration based on academic merit.

You should expect an admission decision from us no later than two weeks after your audition.
Domestic Undergraduate Orientation Registration information may be found here.
International Orientation Registration information may be found here.
 
If you have questions, please contact the Cliffe College Coordinator of Admissions + Recruitment.

Scholarship decisions will be sent out in the spring. We encourage you to respond as soon as you’re ready to secure your aid. For detailed instructions on how to review and accept your offer, please refer to this PDF guide.

If you change your major to one outside of University Theatre, then you will no longer be considered for our school’s scholarships. If you change your major to a different one within University Theatre, you will still be considered for our scholarships. For further details on major requirements and eligibility, refer to each individual scholarship.

Students admitted to YSU may defer enrollment for up to one year. If a student completes the deferral process by the deadline, eligibility for our incoming, first year scholarships will carry forward. Once you complete the form and enroll in full-time coursework for the new enrollment semester, your original scholarship offer should appear on your account that same semester. Please keep us notified if you decide to defer.

Scholarships are posted to your YSU Financial Aid Account. For information about how scholarships may affect your financial aid package—and for all other questions regarding financial aid—please contact the YSU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

 

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University Theatre scholarship policies

YSU University Theatre talent scholarships are talent-based, and applicants are automatically considered for these scholarships at the time of audition. The Director of the department, in consultation with faculty, determines theatre talent-based financial awards on institutional need and recommendations from the faculty.

Scholarship requirements

Recipients of theatre scholarships must be enrolled full-time at University Theatre. Full-time enrollment requires a minimum of 12 credit hours, including 2 credit hours of ensemble.

Current recipients of theatre scholarships who are admitted to a new theatre degree will be reconsidered for aid in the context of the applicant pool for that year.

All scholarships are subject to adjustment based upon a change in residency status. For example, a non-Ohio resident who becomes an Ohio resident will have his/her award adjusted proportionally to reflect the reduced cost of attendance for Ohio residents.

Students in an undergraduate degree program are eligible to receive theatre scholarships for a maximum of 8 semesters. Summer sessions are not included in this limit.

To receive University Theatre scholarships, recipients must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the end of the second semester of study and maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA each semester thereafter.

Recipients must make satisfactory degree progress, as determined by the Director of the department. Probation in any semester will lead to discontinuation of theatre scholarships beginning in the next semester of enrollment.

 

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CLIFFE COLLEGE OF CREATIVE ARTS | FACULTY INTRANET