Scholarships

Supporting the pursuit of higher education

The ZTA Scholarship Program remains at the heart of the ZTA Foundation’s mission. Thanks to contributions from Zeta Tau Alpha alumnae chapters, collegiate chapters, members and friends, the Foundation gave more than $1.4 million in scholarships to over 450 undergraduate and graduate members for the 2024-2025 academic year. This brings the total amount awarded in the past two years to more than $2.5 million. See a full list of the 2024-2025 scholarship recipients.

As educational costs rise, the number of scholarship applicants increases. The Foundation Scholarship Committee reviews applications and ranks applicants based on leadership in Zeta Tau Alpha; academic achievement (minimum GPA 3.0); involvement in chapter, campus and community activities; and financial need.

Explore the rest of this page to learn more about the scholarship application process and what scholarships are available.

The 2025-2026 scholarship application is now open.

How to apply for a ZTA Foundation Scholarship

Applications are open from December-March each year. Follow these five simple steps to apply.

You must:

  • Be a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity in good standing

  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

  • Be a current sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student with plans to continue full-time education for the entirety of the 2025-2026 academic year

Scan it so that it can be submitted in the online form.

  • You need one recommendation from a ZTA National Officer/alumnae officer/advisor or professor or employer.

  • Send your recommendation request through the online application. Recommendations will only be accepted online.

Access the online application here.

  • Double-check that all of your materials are in.

    — Your transcript
    — Completed application
    — At least one recommendation

  • Don’t wait until the last minute to do this! Every piece of the application has to be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PST on Feb. 28.

Questions about the application process? Please contact the Foundation by email or by phone at (317) 872-0540.

Applications are reviewed by the Scholarship Committee and all applicants, whether or not they received a scholarship, will be notified no later than July.

Founders Grants

Nine grants at a minimum of $12,500 each are given annually to those pursuing a post-baccalaureate degree. These grants are funded through a combination of endowed monies and funds from the General Scholarship Fund.

Recognition Scholarships

These scholarships are established by a minimum contribution of $2,000 from a sponsoring group and $500 from the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation, for a total of at least $2,500. These scholarships can be designated for specific chapters, provinces or areas and can be named in honor or in memory of a special Zeta.

Download the Recognition Scholarship Commitment form.

Achievement Scholarships

Awarded to both undergraduates and graduate students, the money for these scholarships comes from annual contributions to the General Scholarship Fund.

Service Scholarships

Awarded to those studying special education, social work or other health-related professions, the money for these scholarships comes from the Service Fund.

Endowed Scholarships

Endowed scholarships are set up by an individual and/or chapter and are generally given in honor or in memory of a special Zeta. These scholarship amounts are based on the yearly interest generated by these funds, which vary in amount.

ZTA Foundation Scholarship FAQs

Please contact the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation via email (scholarships@zetataualpha.org) or by phone ((317) 872–0540).

As long as your cumulative GPA is 3.0 or over, you are eligible to apply.

Only applicants who are going to be enrolled full time for the 2025-2026 school year are eligible to apply.

We suggest you find a new person to submit your recommendation. You can log into your SmarterSelect account and edit your application to select a new recommender. Remember, the deadline for recommendations is Feb. 28. Late recommendations will not be accepted. Please plan ahead.

That determination is decided by your university/college.

No. All scholarship applications and materials must be completed through the SmarterSelect online scholarship application process.

When your recommendations have been submitted, you will receive an automatic email message from SmarterSelect. You can also check the status of your recommendations by logging into your SmarterSelect account.

You can log into your SmarterSelect account to check the status of your application any time before the deadline of Feb. 28. If you make updates to an already submitted application, please ensure you resubmit the application.

First contact SmarterSelect customer service. If they are unable to resolve your issue, please contact the ZTA Foundation.

The deadline for applications is Feb. 28. After that time, the online application system is closed and we can no longer accept scholarship applications for the upcoming school year. We encourage you to apply next academic year.

Yes, you can apply. When starting the application, you should choose that you are pursuing a graduate degree.

Yes, you can apply. When starting the application, you should choose the graduate degree option.

The Foundation Scholarship Committee will review applications in the summer, and all applicants, whether or not they received a scholarship, will be notified in late July via email. Please ensure your email is up to date in your Sisters Only account.

To be eligible for a ZTA Foundation scholarship, you must be a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity in good standing. You must be attending college full-time for the fall AND spring semesters/quarters of the year for which you are applying. If you are an undergraduate student, you must be a junior or higher during the academic year for which you are applying. You must also have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

The Foundation Scholarship Committee reviews applications and ranks applicants based on leadership in Zeta Tau Alpha; academic achievement (minimum GPA 3.0); active participation in chapter, campus and community activities; and financial need.

Fund a scholarship

Learn how to fund a ZTA Scholarship

Learn more