Scholarships
College is an investment in your future, and every penny you can save up front can make a difference. Scholarships provide free money towards the cost of college. At CMU, you’ll automatically be considered for merit scholarships worth thousands of dollars when you submit your application.
Skip to CMU scholarship opportunities for:
- Incoming freshmen
- Transfer students
- Michigan residents
- Military and veteran students (and their spouses/dependents)
- Students of a particular major
Hunting for even more opportunities? Additional internal and external scholarships can be discovered through Scholarship Universe. If you are searching outside the resources we’ve provided, check out these helpful hints.
Scholarships for incoming freshmen
Freshmen merit scholarships
Our Maroon and Gold Merit Scholarships reward incoming freshmen based on high school academics.
Incoming freshmen who have applied to CMU are automatically considered for these awards. No additional application is required. Apply by December 1 to receive priority consideration. Award values are subject to the availability of funds.
| ACT | SAT | GPA | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0-3.29 | 3.3-3.59 | 3.6-3.79 | 3.8-3.94 | 3.95-4.0 | ||
| <22 or no score | <1100 or no score | $3,500 | $4,000 | $4,500 | $5,000 | $6,000 |
| 22-24 | 1100-1190 | $4,250 | $4,750 | $5,250 | $5,750 | $6,750 |
| 25-31 | 1200-1390 | $5,000 | $5,500 | $6,000 | $6,500 | $7,500 |
| 32-36 | 1400-1600 | $5,750 | $6,250 | $6,750 | $7,250 | $8,250 |
Renewal requirements
Your Maroon & Gold Merit Scholarship is good for up to four years if you meet the following renewal requirements.
Years 1 and 2
- Enroll full time (12 credit hours) for both the fall and spring semesters.
- Earn at least 30 new credits at CMU each academic year (not including CLEP, AP, IB and dual enrollment credits).
- Live on campus your first and second years. Read more about the residency requirement.
Years 3 and 4
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Enroll full time (12 credit hours) for both the fall and spring semesters.
- Earn at least 30 new credits at CMU each academic year.
Estimate your merit award
Enter your information below to see what your results are:
Competitive scholarships for freshmen students
Our competitive scholarships for incoming freshmen are awarded based on a variety of factors, including academic success, community engagement, leadership, enhancing diversity, multiculturalism and inclusion and more.
These require a separate application and have application deadlines different than our merit awards. Once you submit an application for admission, the competitive scholarship applications you qualify for will become visible in your applicant portal.
| Award | Eligibility | Apply by |
|---|---|---|
| Centralis Scholar Award - Covers 100% of tuition and fees (up to 33 credits per academic year), housing and food, $250/semester book allowance and $5,000 to study away. | High school seniors with a GPA of 3.7 | October 31, 2024 |
| Centralis Gold Award - Covers 100% of tuition (up to 33 credits per academic year) and $5,000 to study away. | High school seniors with a GPA of 3.7 | October 31, 2024 |
| Leader Advancement Scholarship - Awards $2,000 per academic year | Open to incoming freshmen with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and have distinguished themselves through a record of leadership and service | January 15, 2025 |
| Lloyd M. Cofer Scholarship (part of the MAC Scholars Program) - Awards $4,125 per year | Incoming freshmen from a Detroit high school | January 15, 2025 |
| Multicultural Advancement Award of Distinction (part of the MAC Scholars Program) - Covers 100% of tuition and fees (up to 33 credits per academic year), housing and food, a $250 book allowance per semester and $5,000 to study away. | Incoming freshmen who have distinguished themselves in the advancement of underrepresented groups in American society | January 15, 2025 |
| Multicultural Advancement Scholarship (part of the MAC Scholars Program) - Awards $4,125 per academic year | Incoming freshmen who have shown interest in the advancement of underrepresented groups in American society. This interest may be demonstrated through past activities or through educational aspirations. | January 15, 2025 |
Scholarships for transfer students
No matter where you've taken classes before, or if you're planning to take classes in-person or online, you'll find a scholarship to meet your needs.
Transfer merit scholarships
Merit-based scholarships are awarded based on materials you submit with your application for admission. No additional application is necessary.
Earn up to $13,500 over three years by combining these scholarships designed specifically for transfer students. Award values are subject to the availability of funds.
Merit Scholarship Information
Transfer Honors Scholarship
- $3,500 per year / $10,500 over three years
- Available to new transfer students with at least a 3.5 cumulative college GPA and 24 earned credits.
- Can be added to the Phi Theta Kappa Award.
- Can be renewed for up to three years by maintaining full-time enrollment and earning at least 30 new CMU credit hours each academic year. Third-year renewal requires a minimum 3.0 GPA and at least 30 new CMU credits earned each year through the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Transfer Recognition Scholarship
- $2,000 per year / $6,000 over three years
- Available to new transfer students with at least a 3.0 cumulative college GPA and 12 earned credits.
- Can be added to the Phi Theta Kappa Award.
- Can be renewed for up to three years by maintaining full-time enrollment and earning at least 30 new CMU credit hours each academic year. Third-year renewal requires a minimum 3.0 GPA and at least 30 new CMU credits earned each year through the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Transfer Success Scholarship
- $1,000 per year / $3,000 over three years
- Available to new part-time transfer students with at least a 3.0 cumulative college GPA and 12 earned credits who are taking between 6-11 CMU credit hours per semester.
- Cannot be combined with the Transfer Honors or Recognition scholarships.
- Can be renewed for up to three years by maintaining at least half-time enrollment and earning at least 15 new CMU credit hours each academic year. Third-year renewal requires a minimum 3.0 GPA and at least 15 new CMU credits earned each year through the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Phi Theta Kappa Award
- $1,000 per year / $3,000 over three years
- Available to new transfer students who are Phi Theta Kappa members with at least a 3.5 cumulative college GPA and 12 earned credits.
- Can be combined with the Transfer Honors and Recognition scholarships.
- Can be renewed for up to three years by maintaining full-time enrollment and earning at least 30 new CMU credit hours each academic year. Third-year renewal requires a minimum 3.0 GPA and at least 30 new CMU credits earned each year through the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Competitive scholarships for transfer students
Incoming transfer students with a 3.5 GPA and 45 earned college credits are eligible to compete for admission to the Honors Program and the Centralis Transfer scholarship worth $5,000 per semester.
Scholarships for Michigan residents
MI high school graduates
The Michigan Achievement Scholarship program is free money from the State of Michigan that lowers the cost of tuition by thousands of dollars per year. In fact, you can receive up to $5,500 per year based on financial need. This program is open to incoming freshmen and transfer students who graduated from a Michigan high school in 2023 or later.
Need-based
The CMU Tuition Advantage program provides free tuition and covers mandatory fees for qualifying incoming freshmen and transfer students. If you’re combined student and family adjusted gross income is $65,000 or less and your family assets are $65,000 or less, review the full list or requirements to see if you qualify!
Place-based scholarships
The state of Michigan's student aid website offers a database of scholarships that have a component tied to specific Michigan schools, counties, cities and regions. Visit their scholarship search website to find scholarships near you!
The state of Michigan offers additional programs for children of veterans, those who have experienced foster care, future educators, and more.
Scholarships for military and veteran students and their spouses/dependents
As an incoming military or veteran freshman or transfer student, you are eligible for merit scholarships and can apply for all the applicable scholarships listed on this page in addition to your VA benefits. You can also apply to a number of additional scholarships.
CMU Veteran Award
- Need-based award for eligible honorably discharged veterans in graduate and undergraduate programs.
- Amount of award varies depending on need and degree program.
- Not available to students who are receiving discounted tuition rate.
- Apply by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Veteran Award Application.
While not a scholarship, don't forget that active-duty military and their spouses/dependents qualify for a tuition discount!
Scholarships for students by major
Several of our academic departments also offer competitive scholarships based on the major you plan to pursue. Often these are only available when you’ve selected a major, so don’t forget to pursue scholarships like these even after you’ve become a student.
Opportunities are out there
Scholarships come from a wide variety of places. Finding them takes patience and persistence, but can make a real difference in college affordability.
- Scholarship Universe helps you discover CMU scholarships provided by donors looking to support students like you.
- Scholarship Universe – Gold connects you to external, non-CMU scholarship opportunities.
- Community Foundations often offer scholarships. Find one near you!
- Search the internet for even more opportunities.
Helpful hints for external scholarship searches
- Do not pay to apply for a scholarship.
- Do not pay for any kind of "processing" fee.
- Begin the scholarship search a year prior to the academic year of the award to give yourself plenty of time to prepare and meet deadlines.
- Be very careful about providing private information.
- Check with guidance departments and local organizations. Search the internet; many scholarships are found simply by exploring a personal interest.