Incoming Freshman Merit Scholarships 2024-2025
Application Requirements
Students admitted by March 1, 2024 are considered for the following GVSU merit scholarships.
Initial scholarship eligibility is reviewed and determined at the time of admission. Additional consideration for scholarship and/or grant assistance will be determined in mid-January and will be sent out by the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships. All applicants are strongly encouraged to file a FAFSA for maximum consideration for grant and scholarship aid. Final scholarship decisions are made by July 31.
Presidential Scholarship
Annual Award: Michigan Resident: $11,000 Non-Michigan Resident: $11,000 plus the difference between full-time Michigan resident tuition and non-resident tuition
- Must have a 3.8 or higher high school cumulative grade point average and composite ACT score of 32 or higher or score of 1430 or higher on the new SAT combined score on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math
- Additional amounts of $2,000 are awarded to students who are National Merit Finalists
- Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress at Grand Valley
- Requires full-time enrollment
- Renewable for three additional consecutive years
- Cannot be combined with Laker, Award for Excellence, or Faculty
- Total award value: Michigan Resident: $44,000 Non-Michigan Resident: approximately $67,000
Faculty Scholarship
Annual Award: Michigan Resident: $8,000 Non-Michigan Resident: $8,000 plus the difference between full-time Michigan resident tuition and non-resident tuition
- Must have a 3.6 or higher high school cumulative grade point average and composite ACT score of 30 or higher or score of 1370 or higher on the new SAT combined score on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math
- Additional amounts of $2,000 are awarded to students who are National Merit Finalists
- Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress at Grand Valley
- Requires full-time enrollment
- Renewable for three additional consecutive years
- Cannot be combined with Laker, Award for Excellence, or Presidential Scholarship
- Total award value: Michigan Resident: $32,000 Non-Michigan Resident: approximately $55,000
Award for Excellence Scholarship
Annual Award: Michigan Resident: $3,500 Non-Michigan Resident: $3,500 plus the difference between full-time Michigan resident tuition and non-resident tuition
- Must have a 3.5 or higher high school cumulative grade point average
- Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress at Grand Valley
- Requires full-time enrollment
- Renewable for three additional consecutive years
- Cannot be combined with Laker, Faculty, or Presidential Scholarship
- Total award value: Michigan Resident: $14,000 Non-Michigan Resident: approximately $36,912
Laker Scholarship
Annual Award: Michigan Resident: $1,000 Non-Michigan Resident: $1,000 plus the difference between full-time Michigan resident tuition and non-resident tuition
- Must have a 3.3 or higher high school cumulative grade point average
- Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress at Grand Valley
- Requires full-time enrollment
- Renewable for three additional consecutive years
- Cannot be combined with Award for Excellence, Faculty, or Presidential Scholarship
- Total award value: Michigan Resident: $4,000 Non-Michigan Resident: approximately $26,912
Urban Schools Scholarship
Annual Award: Michigan Resident: $3,000 Non-Michigan Resident: $3,000 plus the difference between full-time Michigan resident tuition and non-resident tuition
- Awarded at application review specifically to students from select urban high schools. Click here for a list of qualifying schools.
- Must have a 3.0 or higher high school cumulative grade point average
- Cannot be combined with the Early Awareness Scholarship or a Native American Tuition Grant
- Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress at Grand Valley
- Requires full-time enrollment
- Students receiving this scholarship are also encouraged to participate in one of the structured student success programs on campus
- Renewable for three additional consecutive years
- Total award value: Michigan Resident: $12,000 Non-Michigan Resident: approximately $35,000
Early Awareness Scholarship
Annual Award: Michigan Resident: $3,000 Non-Michigan Resident: $3,000 plus the difference between full-time Michigan resident tuition and non-resident tuition
- Recipients of this scholarship will have at least two years of participation in one of the following programs:
- The Detroit Compact
- Wade H. McCree, Jr. Incentive Scholarship
- Introspect Youth Services, Inc.
- Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc.
- TRiO Upward Bound
- TRiO Talent Search
- GEAR UP
- Midnight Golf Program
- Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars
- Must have a cumulative 3.0 or higher high school cumulative grade point average
- Cannot be combined with the Urban Schools Scholarship or a Native American Tuition Grant
- Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress at Grand Valley
- Requires full-time enrollment
- Students receiving this scholarship are also encouraged to participate in one of the structured student success programs on campus
- Renewable for three additional consecutive years
- Total award value: Michigan Resident: $12,000 Non-Michigan Resident: approximately $35,000
GV Charter Schools Alumni Scholarship
Annual Award: $1,000
- Awarded at application review specifically to students that have graduated from a GVSU Charter High School
- Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress at Grand Valley
- Requires full-time enrollment
- Students receiving this scholarship are also encouraged to participate in one of the structured student success programs on campus
- Renewable for three additional consecutive years
- Total award value: $4,000
Lakers Go Abroad! Scholarship
Award Amount: $2,000
- To apply, go to www.gvsu.edu/myscholarships
- Scholarship requires full-time enrollment and GVSU must be first institution attending after high school
- This is a one-time only award
- Awardees are still eligible for additional study abroad scholarships
- To access scholarships after enrollment, awardee must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress at Grand Valley
- Scholarship must be used within four years after initial enrollment at GVSU, and may only be used on a GVSU-approved, for-credit study abroad program
Additional GVSU Scholarship Opportunities
Scholarship Policies & Disclosures
*If you are awarded more than one scholarship listed here that covers the difference between resident and non-resident tuition, you will only receive this differential for one scholarship per year.
*If you are awarded a scholarship that covers the difference between resident and non-resident tuition, this differential will only apply to the fall and winter semesters.
*Renewal eligibility for each additional year is determined at the conclusion of the winter semester.
*Students are only eligible for these scholarships during the fall and winter semesters as an undergraduate student pursuing their first Bachelor's degree. For programs and majors that require a nontraditional academic year, please contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships.
*Student's annual award amount must be split between the fall and winter semesters. The full annual amount cannot be received in one semester.
*Grand Valley must be the first institution attended following high school graduation.