UM Scholarships

The University of Michigan provides excellent financial aid resources for their students. Admission to the university serves as the application for the majority of UM scholarships including university-wide and department specific scholarships, as long as students have completed their FAFSA. The student’s high school grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, recommendation letters from teachers and counselors, and admissions essays all serve as part of this review process.While many scholarships are available based on a mix of demonstrated financial need and merit, there are some that are available specifically based on merit, and which will cover either a large portion or all of an incoming student’s tuition and fees. This article will introduce those scholarships.

Available to first-time freshmen coming from high school, University of Michigan Freshmen Merit Scholarships are awarded automatically based on your cumulative high school grade point averages as well as ACT and/or SAT test scores at the time of your application for admission. There are three different merit-based scholarships that have different requisites and different award amounts:

1. The Distinguished Merit Scholarship provides $7,000 annually towards tuition and fees over four years. First-time applicants must have at least a 3.25GPA and 31-36 ACT and/or 1390-1600 SAT score.
2. The Signature Merit Scholarship provides $5,000 annually towards tuition and fees over four years. First-time applicants must have at least a 3.25GPA and 27-30 ACT and/or 1260-1380 SAT score.
3. The Honorable Merit Scholarship provides $3,000 annually towards tuition and fees over four years. First-time applicants must have at least a 3.25GPA and 24-26 ACT and/or 1160-1250 SAT score.

All students who receive scholarships must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.75 and a full-time academic schedule to renew their scholarship each year.

Although there is not an independent application forthe University of Michigan Freshman Merit Scholarships, they are awarded in a unique manner. The University of Michiganawards these scholarships to a total of 10 attendees of the University of Michigan-Flint Scholarship Competition. This Competition is held annually and is by invitation only. Invitations will be issued to incoming freshmen who completed their applications on time and who meet the criteria for consideration for one or more of the awards. Because of the limited number of awards, applicants meeting Honors Program qualifications (3.7+ GPA and 27+ ACT/1260+ SAT) are more likely to receive an invitation.