Simmons Distinguished Scholar Award 2027

The Simmons Distinguished Scholar Award 2027 is a four-year undergraduate scholarship for exceptional first-year applicants to Simmons University in Boston, including international students. It covers full tuition, room and board for four years. Applicants must submit both their Simmons admission application and the separate scholarship essay by 1 December 2026. Simmons does not publish a deadline time or time zone, so applicants should submit early.

Host
Simmons University

Study level
Undergraduate

Funding
Full tuition, room and board

Deadline
1 December 2026

Simmons Distinguished Scholar Award 2027 covering full tuition, room and board — Original ScholarshipHubNow editorial illustration for the Simmons Distinguished Scholar Award 2027; not an actual campus photograph.

What does the Simmons Distinguished Scholar Award cover?

The official award page states that recipients receive full tuition, room and board for four years. This makes it one of Simmons University’s most substantial undergraduate awards.

Applicants should budget carefully for costs that the official scholarship page does not expressly list, such as books, personal expenses, travel, health insurance or other university charges. Those items should not be assumed to be covered unless Simmons confirms them in an individual award offer.

Who can apply?

The award is open to first-year applicants, including international students. Candidates should demonstrate strong academic achievement, leadership and a record of making a difference in their communities.

Simmons describes its undergraduate college as a women-centered learning community. Its published admission guidance welcomes applicants who were assigned female at birth, applicants who consistently live and identify as women, and nonbinary applicants who feel they belong in a women’s undergraduate community. Prospective students should read the current official eligibility language before applying.

Academic and English-language requirements

Simmons uses a test-optional admission policy, so SAT or ACT scores are not generally required. International applicants must nevertheless meet the English-language requirement unless they qualify for an exemption, including applicants whose two most recent years of secondary education were completed at an English-medium school without ESL or ELL coursework.

The university currently lists the following minimum English scores: TOEFL iBT 83, TOEFL Essentials 8, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo English Test 115, PTE Academic 55, Kaplan iBT 83, SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 550, or ACT English 21. Always verify the accepted tests and exemption rules on Simmons’ official page before submitting.

Required application documents

Completed Common Application for first-year admission
Official or school-submitted secondary-school transcript
One teacher recommendation
One school counselor recommendation
Common Application personal essay
English-proficiency evidence, if required
Optional SAT or ACT scores, if the applicant chooses to submit them
The separate Simmons Distinguished Scholar Award essay

Simmons states that applying for first-year admission is free. International documents not issued in English should follow the university’s current translation and credential instructions.

Scholarship essay requirement

The separate award application requires a formal essay of 300–500 words addressing the applicant’s leadership style. A strong response should explain how the applicant leads, provide a specific example, and connect that experience to the contribution they hope to make at Simmons and beyond.

Write in your own voice, answer the exact prompt shown on the current application, and leave time for careful editing. Do not reuse a generic personal statement without adapting it to the scholarship question.

How to apply

Review Simmons’ first-year and international undergraduate admission requirements.
Create a Common Application account and add Simmons University.
Complete the admission form, essay and required school-document requests.
Prepare the separate 300–500-word Distinguished Scholar Award essay.
Submit the admission application and scholarship materials by 1 December 2026.
Monitor the applicant portal and email for missing documents and selection updates.

Apply Now / Official Award Page

Selection timeline

Simmons says finalists are normally notified by the end of January. Finalist interviews take place in February, and recipients are notified by 1 March. These stages can change, so applicants should rely on messages from the university for their own cycle.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Simmons Distinguished Scholar Award fully funded?

It covers full tuition, room and board for four years. Because the official page does not list every possible cost, applicants should not assume that travel, books, insurance, personal expenses or all fees are included.

Can international students apply?

Yes. The official award page lists international first-year applicants as eligible, subject to Simmons’ undergraduate admission and English-proficiency requirements.

Is this the former Kotzen Scholarship?

The current official name is the Simmons Distinguished Scholar Award. Older third-party pages may still use the former Kotzen name, but applicants should use the current title and official instructions.

Is there an application fee?

Simmons states that applying for first-year admission is free.

Are SAT or ACT scores required?

No. Simmons is test optional, although applicants may submit scores if they believe the results strengthen their application. English-proficiency evidence may still be required for international applicants.

What is the exact deadline time?

The official page lists 1 December but does not specify a cutoff time or time zone. Submit well before the date to avoid technical or time-zone problems.