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Financial Aid & Scholarships
Financial Aid
The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This application is for students who are interested in getting grants, scholarships or loans to help pay for college. Filling out the FAFSA is essential for students going to college and need financial assistance. To learn more about the financial aid process, click the links below:
- How Financial Aid Works
- Types of Financial Aid
- Financial Aid Eligibility
- Financial Aid Estimator
- Applying for Financial Aid through the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
Students can also visit the Federal Student Aid YouTube channel to watch helpful videos on the financial aid process.
The senior class of 2026 will complete the 2026-27 FAFSA form, which opens on October 1, 2025.
Local Scholarships:
- The University of Kansas Health System Healthcare Career Scholarship - Healthcare Career Scholarship for seniors who will attend college in the fall planning to pursue a career in healthcare
- Online application - please submit your application through the Wufoo platform
- Deadline: Friday, February 28, 2026
- Application closed
- Deadline: Friday, February 28, 2026
- Online application - please submit your application through the Wufoo platform
- Rotary Club of Shawnee: The Patricia L. Stevenson Memorial Nursing Scholarship - Scholarship opportunity for a Shawnee area student committed to pursuing higher education in Nursing at any level
- Paper application - please submit application via mail, email, or hand deliver to the scholarship panel.
- Deadline: Friday, March 13, 2026
- Application closed
- Deadline: Friday, March 13, 2026
- Paper application - please submit application via mail, email, or hand deliver to the scholarship panel.
- De Soto Masonic Lodge Scholarship - Scholarship opportunity for graduating high school seniors interested in pursuing education at the next level
- Paper application - please submit completed application to Ms. Morrell in Student Services by Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
- Deadline: Tuesday, March 24, 2026
- Application closed
- Paper application - please submit completed application to Ms. Morrell in Student Services by Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
- Rotary Club of Shawnee: Community Service Scholarship - Scholarship opportunity for Shawnee resident students who have a record of outstanding community service
- Paper application - please submit application via mail or hand deliver to scholarship panel.
- Deadline: Friday, March 27, 2026
- Application closed
- Paper application - please submit application via mail or hand deliver to scholarship panel.
- Brandmeyer Scholarship of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation - Scholarship opportunity for students who have faced adversity in their lives and are seeking an opportunity to continue their educagtion
- Online application - complete application online (first create an account on the following website and apply for the scholarship after an account is created: https://gkccf.academicworks.com/opportunities/8265
- Deadline: Tuesday, March 31, 2026
- Application closed
- Online application - complete application online (first create an account on the following website and apply for the scholarship after an account is created: https://gkccf.academicworks.com/opportunities/8265
- De Soto Cat Boosters Scholarship - Scholarship for graduating seniors who plan to attend a college, university, or trade/technical school following high school graduation
- Paper application - complete application and short essay and turn into the DHS Main Office.
- Deadline: Friday, April 10, 2026
- Application closed
- De Soto Teacher's Association (DTA) Scholarship - Scholarship opportunity for USD 232 graduates interested in continuing their education after high school graduation
- Online application - complete Google form by the deadline.
- Deadline: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
- Application closed
- Mutual Savings Association Scholarship - Scholarship opportunity for seniors graduating and planning to attend an accredited U.S. college, university, or trade school
- Online application - Scholarship information and application can be found here - email essay directly to: america250@msa.bank
- Deadline: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
- Application closed
- Rise Above Scholarship - Scholarship opportunity for a senior pursuing education at the next level and who has overcome adversity
- Paper application - complete application and turn in all printed materials to Ms. Morrell in Student Services, who will pass along the applications to the scholarship committee.
- Deadline: Thursday, April 16, 2026
- Application closed
- Vision Care Associates Scholarship - Scholarship opportunity for a graduating De Soto High School senior interested in pursuing a career in healthcare
- Paper application - complete paper application and return all printed materials to Ms. Morrell in Student Services, who will take scholarship applications to Vision Care Associates.
- Deadline: Thursday, April 16, 2026
- Application closed
- J. Trenton Hughes Scholarship - Scholarship offered to two graduating seniors who are attending the University of Kansas at the start of the 2026 Fall semester
- Online application - complete Google form by the deadline.
- Deadline: Friday, April 17, 2026
- Application closed
- Online application - complete Google form by the deadline.
- McCarthy Auto Group Scholarship - scholarship offered to an undetermined number of graduating seniors pursuing postsecondary education through a college or tech/trade school
- Online application - complete Google form by the deadline.
- Deadline: Friday, April 17, 2026
- Application closed
- Online application - complete Google form by the deadline.
- De Soto Days Community Impact Scholarship - Scholarship application for a graduating DHS senior who has demonstrated a strong commitment to the community with leadership & volunteerism. Eligibility criteria linked here.
- Online application - complete online application by the deadline.
- Deadline: Monday, April 20, 2026
- Application closed
- Online application - complete online application by the deadline.
- Jess Johnson Career & Technical Education Scholarship by De Soto Rotary - Scholarship opportunity for graduating seniors interested in a career trade path
- Paper application - complete application and return all materials via email to bobzindler@icloud.com. Application linked here.
- Deadline: Thursday, April 30, 2026
- Paper application - complete application and return all materials via email to bobzindler@icloud.com. Application linked here.
- Jerry Rogers Career & Technical Education Scholarship by De Soto Rotary & Mike Rogers - Scholarship opportunity for graduating seniors interested in a career trade path through a technical certification program
- Paper application - complete application and return all materials via email to bobzindler@icloud.com. Application linked here.
- Deadline: Thursday, April 30, 2026
- Paper application - complete application and return all materials via email to bobzindler@icloud.com. Application linked here.
- De Soto Alumni/VFW Scholarship - Scholarship opportunity for graduating seniors planning to continue their education at a college, junior college, vocational, technical, or certificate program
- Paper application - complete application and mail all materials to the scholarship committee.
- Deadline: Friday, May 1, 2026
- Application closed
- Paper application - complete application and mail all materials to the scholarship committee.
- VernCo Roofing Scholarship - Scholarship opportunity to support graduating seniors entering a trade school, community college, or work force following high school graduation
- Paper application - complete application and send in via email to the scholarship committee at travis@verncoroofing.com & kyle@verncoroofing.com.
- Deadline: Friday, April 3, 2026
- Application closed
- Paper application - complete application and send in via email to the scholarship committee at travis@verncoroofing.com & kyle@verncoroofing.com.
- Casey Blake Johnson Running Scholarship - Scholarship opportunity for graduating seniors who are in the Track and Field program at DHS and furthering their education beyond high school
- Paper application - complete application (essay of 300 words or less) and turn in to Coach Sachse and Ms. Morrell (Student Services). Email or paper applications are accepted.
- Deadline: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 3:00 pm
- Application closed
- Paper application - complete application (essay of 300 words or less) and turn in to Coach Sachse and Ms. Morrell (Student Services). Email or paper applications are accepted.
Outside Scholarships
We have moved all outside scholarships to Xello! Login to your Xello account and on the left side of your screen under Quick Links, select College Planning. In the box labeled Scholarships click where it says # Matches.
Scholarships will be added to Xello throughout the school year, so check often for additional scholarships to be added.