Admissions scholarships require students to submit an application for admission by December 15 and have a completed application file by February 1. Students who submit their application after December 15 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Fall 2024 Admissions Scholarships
| Name | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Early Applicant Scholarship | Scholarship awarded to students who submit an application for admission on or before October 31, 2023, and have a complete application file on or before February 1, 2024. Applicable to first-year (freshman) students applying for Fall 2024. |
| Best of Class Scholarship | Awarded to Minnesota residents who rank #1 or #2 in their high school class with a 3.9+ GPA. |
| UMD Scholarship | Awarded to students based on the primary factors used in the admissions review process. |
| UMD Scholarship (RaiseMe) | 3.2+ core GPA and completed RaiseMe portfolio by December 15. The scholarship award is dependent upon the RaiseMe portfolio. |
| Transfer Scholarship | If you have attended another College or University post-high school graduation (or equivalent), you are considered a transfer student and can find scholarship information here. |
| International Student Scholarship | If you are an international student (i.e., students who are not U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or refugees and who are on temporary visas), you can find your scholarship information here. |
More details about scholarships can be found in the FAQ section below. If you have additional questions, please contact your Admissions Counselor.
Standardized Tests
UMD offers a variety of scholarships that are awarded based on academic achievement in the classroom. Although UMD is test-optional for admission, if you have taken a standardized test (ACT/SAT), we recommend submitting those scores to be considered for all scholarship opportunities. Standardized tests must be taken no later than December 31 (of your senior year), and official scores received by our office no later than February 1.
RaiseMe Scholarship
RaiseMe is a micro-scholarship platform rewarding 9-12th grade students for their high school achievements. UMD assigns a micro-scholarship for a variety of achievements. The idea is to award scholarship dollars for the factors and habits that will prepare you for success at UMD. You are not required to provide UMD with a standardized test score to be eligible for a RaiseMe scholarship award. The sole requirement is that you have a 3.2 core (Math, Science, English, Social Studies, and Foreign Language) high school GPA.
To be eligible, students must apply for admission, have a complete RaiseMe profile, and follow UMD on RaiseMe by December 15 of their senior year. Eligibility is contingent on a student's acceptance and enrollment to UMD.
Promise Program Scholarships
The Promise Programs are part of the University of Minnesota's commitment to making a U of M education possible for Minnesota residents on all five campuses. With these programs, eligible Minnesota resident undergraduates meeting family-level criteria who enroll at UMD will be guaranteed funds to support their college goals.
North Star Promise Scholarship Program
The North Star Promise Scholarship Program (beginning in Fall 2024) will create a tuition and fee-free pathway for eligible Minnesota residents as a "last-dollar" program by covering the balance of tuition and fees remaining after other scholarships, grants, stipends and tuition waivers have been applied.
Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Scholarship is awarded to non-resident, non-reciprocity, non-Midwest students who have a parent or grandparent who graduated from UMD. To be eligible, students must apply for admission by December 15 of their senior year. Eligibility is contingent on a student's acceptance and enrollment to UMD.
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Scholarship FAQs
Information is current as of fall 2023 and applies to students beginning their enrollment at UMD for the spring and fall 2024 semesters.
Q: Am I considered an incoming freshman or transfer student?
A: Incoming freshmen or first-year students have completed or will complete a high school diploma or obtain a GED. Students must have no previous college work or have only completed college credits while enrolled in high school.
Transfer students have attempted at least one college credit of baccalaureate-level coursework following high school graduation or equivalent.
Q: How am I eligible for scholarship consideration?
A: Students must apply for admission by the priority application deadline of December 15 and have a completed application file by February 1 to be eligible for all scholarship consideration.
Students considering a spring semester start must apply for admission by the priority application deadline of October 15 and have a completed application file by December 15.
Q: How is an application file complete?
A: Students must have a complete application file by February 1. This includes the application for admission, the application fee (or waiver), and transcript(s). To be considered for all scholarships, we encourage the submission of a standardized test (ACT/SAT). Standardized tests must be taken no later than December 31 (of your senior year) and received by our office no later than February 1.
Q: Does UMD require ACT/SAT scores for scholarship consideration?
A: Although we are test-optional for admission, there are merit scholarships that have a test score requirement. If you plan on taking the ACT, we recommend that you send us your scores for all scholarship consideration (you can still apply as test-optional, and we will not use test scores as part of your admissions review).
Q: What exactly are the RaiseMe criteria, and how does it work?
A: To be eligible for RaiseMe, you must be a U.S. Citizen, complete 15 high school credits, and have a 3.2 core GPA (RaiseMe defines core GPA as being in the core academic subjects of math, science, English, social studies, and foreign language). Students must follow UMD on RaiseMe and complete a RaiseMe portfolio before the UMD priority deadline of December 15. Only students applying for the fall semester are eligible for RaiseMe.
Q: Is it worth my time to create a RaiseMe portfolio?
A: Yes. Most students begin a RaiseMe portfolio while they are sophomores or juniors in high school. In addition to your GPA and classroom achievements, RaiseMe takes into account your extracurricular and community involvement.
Q: What if my high school doesn't rank? Am I still eligible to receive the Best of Class Scholarship?
A: Students who attend Minnesota schools that do not rank or are unable to rank multiple students as #1 or #2 and wish to receive consideration for the Best of Class Scholarship are required to submit an admissions scholarship appeal. Required documentation includes signature and verification from a high school official stating that the student would have been ranked #1 or #2 in the class if the school ranked or would have been ranked #1 or #2 if the ranking of multiple students was allowed. Please email our office or contact an Admissions Counselor to request a copy of the scholarship appeal form.
Q: Are there any minimum requirements for the Best of Class Scholarship?
A: Yes. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.9 in order to be eligible for the Best of Class Scholarship. In addition, students must apply by the priority application deadline of December 15 and have a completed admissions file by February 1 in order to qualify for the scholarship.
Q: What if I improve my high school rank in my senior year?
A: The Best of Class Scholarship is offered to Minnesota high school students who achieve a high school rank of #1 or #2 in their class. Rank is only considered (based on the transcript received) at the time of application for admission. (Students who are homeschooled do not qualify for the Best of Class Scholarship.)
Q: Does UMD combine multiple admissions scholarships?
A: Students may only qualify for one admissions scholarship from the Office of Admissions, including RaiseMe. If you are eligible for a UMD Scholarship worth more than what you have earned on your RaiseMe portfolio, we will award you the larger scholarship. Scholarships from outside of the university may be combined with your admissions scholarship.
Q: What if I graduate from UMD in less than four years?
A: Should a student graduate in less than four years, they are not eligible to receive the remainder of the scholarship. Students graduating (official degree posted) in less than four years cannot transfer the scholarship to UMD non-degree, graduate, or professional school enrollment.
Q: I was awarded a scholarship and was planning to attend a different school, but my plans have changed, and I want to attend UMD. Can I still receive my scholarship?
A: If you submitted your application for admission prior to the December 15 deadline and met the scholarship criteria, we will reinstate your award. This does not happen automatically; please email our office or contact an Admissions Counselor to have your award reviewed for reinstatement.
Q: How do outside scholarships and financial aid affect my merit scholarships?
A: University scholarship awards disburse per the University's financial aid award policy. Consistent with University policy, the total annual aid amount awarded to a student, including all scholarships and grants, cannot exceed the cost of attendance at UMD. Financial aid awards (e.g., loans, work-study, scholarships, or grants) may be reduced for students whose total aid exceeds the cost of their program for the academic year, as determined by the Office of Financial Aid.
When you receive a scholarship from an organization outside of UMD, your existing financial aid award will be reviewed, and adjustments may be made based on the receipt of your scholarship(s). You may see a reduction in other types of aid, such as loans, work-study, or institutional aid. UMD will allow you to receive the maximum benefit of any scholarships within the US Department of Education guidelines.
See here (second drop-down) for details on how to submit outside scholarships to UMD.
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Renewal Criteria
Renewal of admissions merit scholarships is contingent upon maintenance of a 3.0 University of Minnesota cumulative GPA and maintenance of full-time (12 credits or more) undergraduate status.
Renewal of admissions alumni scholarships is contingent upon maintenance of full-time (12 credits or more) undergraduate status and satisfactory academic progress.
More Scholarship Opportunities
For a list of scholarships, visit the One Stop Scholarships page.