Most of the value is financial.
What membership unlocks when you transfer, and what Bellevue College already offers you regardless.
Three routes
Competitive
Awarded on merit and academic achievement. Some can cover full tuition at a transfer institution.
Need‑based
For members with high demonstrated financial need, assessed through FAFSA data.
Transfer partners
More than 800 institutions offer awards specifically to members, often automatically on transfer.
Approximate award levels
Amounts change year to year. Always confirm directly with the institution’s admissions or financial aid office.
| Institution | Award |
|---|---|
| Antioch University | $3,000 |
| Seattle Pacific University | $2,000 |
| Bastyr University | $1,500 |
| Seattle University | $1,500 |
| Whitworth University | $1,500 |
| Western Washington University | $1,000–2,000 |
| University of Puget Sound | $1,000 |
| Pacific Lutheran University | $1,000 |
| Saint Martin’s University | $1,000 |
Available to every student, membership or not
Anything the chapter eventually runs — study groups, workshops, peer mentoring — is meant to complement these, not replace them.
Beyond scholarships
Chapters participate in the Society’s Five Star Chapter Plan, which recognizes progress across recruiting, professional development coursework, regional engagement, a college project, and an Honors in Action project. Regional engagement runs through the Greater Northwest Region, whose fall conference gives officers a place to present chapter work.
Chapter participation in regional events depends on having an appointed advisor and an active chapter, which is what we are working toward now.
Transfer scholarships, explained
The headline number — 800+ institutions — is less useful than knowing which of the three routes applies to you.
Competitive
Awarded on merit and academic achievement, assessed against other applicants across the Society. Some cover full tuition at a transfer institution. These have real deadlines and require a genuine application.
Need-based
For members with high demonstrated financial need, assessed from FAFSA data. Worth applying for even if you assume you will not qualify.
Transfer partner
Offered by four‑year institutions specifically to Phi Theta Kappa members. Often applied automatically on transfer, and where an application is required it is usually far less competitive than the general pool.
Current programs and deadlines are listed at ptk.org/scholarships. Membership has to be active at the time you apply, which is another reason the advisor appointment matters.
The Greater Northwest Region
Chapters belong to a region, and regional engagement is one of the five categories the Society scores. Ours is the Greater Northwest Region.
- Fall Conference
- November 21, at Portland Community College. Officers attend and present chapter work.
- Scholar Dash
- A 5K run fundraiser run at the regional level, which has raised around $47,000 historically.
- Local events
- Events the chapter hosts for Bellevue College count toward the same category.
Chapter participation in regional events depends on having an appointed advisor and an active chapter.
Coursework open to members
The Society runs its own coursework, and completing it is one of the five scored categories rather than an optional extra.
- PTK Edge
- Professional development courses for members and officers.
- Leadership Development Studies
- The Society’s leadership curriculum, available to members rather than officers only.
- Advisor Edge
- The equivalent professional development course for chapter advisors.