Fall 2023 Admissions Scholarships

WMU seeks to find a cohort of Medallion scholars who stand out among their peers. Medallion scholars are leaders both inside and outside of the classroom. Scholars demonstrate outstanding academic performance during high school, leadership, and a commitment to making the world a better place. Students are selected through a competitive, holistic review of the admissions application file.† No additional scholarship application is required. 

Award amount

The Medallion Scholarship is WMU’s most prestigious merit-based scholarship offered to incoming first-year students. As of fall 2023*, the Medallion Scholarship is valued at approximately $89,400 over the course of four years. This includes:

• Up to $16,000 per year (for four years) for tuition and fees

• Housing costs in standard double occupancy room (for four years)

• A one-time engagement scholarship of up to $3,000 to help fund either study abroad or research

Consideration criteria

• Information in the admission application is used in Medallion Scholarship selection. This includes, but is not limited to, extracurricular activities, honors and awards, essay and/or personal statement, and letters of recommendation. Make sure to fully complete all areas of the admission application to maximize your consideration. No additional scholarship application is required. 

• Must be a first-year student enrolling in fall 2023.

• Students must submit a complete admission application file† by the Early Action deadline of December 15, 2022. 

• Up to 60 semifinalists will be selected to participate in an interview to select up to 20 Medallion Scholars. Semifinalists will be notified in February 2023.

Additional information

• The Medallion Scholarship is merit-based and renewable for up to eight consecutive fall/spring semesters of undergraduate study, or until graduation requirements are met, whichever occurs first. If Medallion Scholars complete an undergraduate degree in less than four years, they may petition the dean of the Lee Honors College to use remaining funds toward graduate study at WMU.  To use these funds for graduate study, the student must either have been accepted and enrolled in a WMU accelerated graduate degree program or been accepted and enrolled full‐time in a WMU graduate degree program beginning in the fall or spring semester immediately following completion of their undergraduate degree. The housing and engagement scholarship may not be applied toward graduate study. 

Notes

Scholarship consideration is based on the transcript GPA at the time of admission on a 4.00 scale. Transcript GPAs that are not on a 4.00 scale will be recalculated accordingly. Students awarded more than one Office of Admissions scholarship will be awarded the scholarship of highest value. Awards are subject to change.

*This award amount only applies to Medallion Scholarship recipients entering WMU in Fall 2023 and beyond.

†A complete admission application file includes: application (Common App including WMU supplement), official high school transcripts and $40 application fee or fee waiver. Students who wish for an ACT/SAT score to be considered in review must self-report their score on the admission app. Students interested in Aviation Flight Science must complete their admission application by the Early Action deadline.  

The housing scholarship amount is based on the rate of a double occupancy, suite-style room (currently $5,600 annually). If a scholar elects to live in a different on-campus option, they will be charged the difference in amount**. In order to qualify for the room portion of the scholarship, scholars must remain in good standing with residence life and WMU’s student code of conduct. If a scholar elects to live off campus, they will not receive the housing scholarship portion of the Medallion package.

Scholars must develop a budget for the engagement stipend scholarship and work in collaboration with the Lee Honors College to secure funding. Any stipend funding that is not used or needed will not be credited to a student account.

**Example of housing cost calculation:

• Western Heights Double Room with Bronco Gold Plus meal plan - $11,102.00 (annual)

• Rate of Double Occupancy Suite-Style Room - $5,665.00 (annual)

• Remaining balance to be charged - $5,434.00 (annual)

Award amount

• $64,000 over four years / $16,000 per year

Consideration criteria

• 3.70+ weighted cumulative GPA* at the time of admission
• Must be a first-year student enrolling in fall 2023
• Admissible to WMU
• Have verified financial need based on one or more of the following criteria
     -Student is enrolled in or eligible to participate in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch program (FRPL)
     -Student is a ward of the state, an orphan, or in foster care
     -Student is homeless, as determined by their district’s McKinney-Vento Liaison
     -Student is undocumented/DACA
• Undocumented/DACA students are invited to apply for this scholarship
• Please note that the GPA and financial need criteria are the minimum criteria for consideration. The Foundation Scholarship is highly competitive and selective, and not all students who meet the consideration criteria will be awarded.  

Deadline

• The Foundation Scholars application will open in ScholarshipUniverse on February 15, 2022. A completed WMU admission application file† and scholarship application in ScholarshipUniverse are due by February 15, 2022. 
  

Additional information

• U.S. citizens and permanent residents must file the FAFSA. All available financial information will be used to make final scholarship decisions.   
• Students who qualify for more than one admission scholarship will be awarded the scholarship of highest value.

*Scholarships are awarded based on the transcript GPA at the time of admission. GPA requirements are based on a 4.00 scale. Transcript GPAs that are not on a 4.00 scale will be recalculated accordingly. Students awarded more than one Office of Admissions scholarship will be awarded the scholarship of highest value. Awards are subject to change.

†A complete admission application file includes: application (Common App including WMU supplement), official high school transcripts and $40 application fee or fee waiver. Students who wish for an ACT/SAT score to be considered in review must self-report their score on the admission app. Students interested in Aviation Flight Science must complete their admission application by the Early Action deadline.  

Award amount

• $16,000 over four years / $4,000 per year

Award criteria

• 3.85 GPA* at the time of admission
• Must be a first-year student enrolling in fall 2023.

Deadline

• A complete admission application file† is due by the Early Action Deadline of December 15. Information in the admission application file will be used to determine eligibility and during the scholarship selection process. No additional materials or application are required to be considered.

Notes

*Scholarships are awarded based on the transcript GPA at the time of admission. GPA requirements are based on a 4.00 scale. Transcript GPAs that are not on a 4.00 scale will be recalculated accordingly. Students awarded more than one Office of Admissions scholarship will be awarded the scholarship of highest value. Awards are subject to change.

†A complete admission application file includes: application (Common App including WMU supplement), official high school transcripts and $40 application fee or fee waiver. Students who wish for an ACT/SAT score to be considered in review must self-report their score on the admission app. Students interested in Aviation Flight Science must complete their admission application by the Early Action deadline.  

Award amount

• $14,000 over four years / $3,500 per year

Award criteria

• 3.60 GPA* at the time of admission
• Must be a first-year student enrolling in fall 2023.

Deadline

• A complete admission application file† is due by the Early Action Deadline of December 15. Information in the admission application file will be used to determine eligibility and during the scholarship selection process. No additional materials or application are required to be considered.

Notes

*Scholarships are awarded based on the transcript GPA at the time of admission. GPA requirements are based on a 4.00 scale. Transcript GPAs that are not on a 4.00 scale will be recalculated accordingly. Students awarded more than one Office of Admissions scholarship will be awarded the scholarship of highest value. Awards are subject to change.

†A complete admission application file includes: application (Common App including WMU supplement), official high school transcripts and $40 application fee or fee waiver. Students who wish for an ACT/SAT score to be considered in review must self-report their score on the admission app. Students interested in Aviation Flight Science must complete their admission application by the Early Action deadline.  

Award amount

• $8,000 over four years / $2,000 per year 

Award criteria

• 3.30 GPA* at the time of admission
• Must be a first-year student enrolling in Fall 2023.

Deadline

• A complete admission application file† is due by the Early Action Deadline of December 15. Information in the admission application file will be used to determine eligibility and during the scholarship selection process. No additional materials or application are required to be considered.

Notes

*Scholarships are awarded based on the transcript GPA at the time of admission. GPA requirements are based on a 4.00 scale. Transcript GPAs that are not on a 4.00 scale will be recalculated accordingly. Students awarded more than one Office of Admissions scholarship will be awarded the scholarship of highest value. Awards are subject to change.

†A complete admission application file includes: application (Common App including WMU supplement), official high school transcripts and $40 application fee or fee waiver. Students who wish for an ACT/SAT score to be considered in review must self-report their score on the admission app. Students interested in Aviation Flight Science must complete their admission application by the Early Action deadline. 

Award amount

• $6,000 over four years / $1,500 per year

Award criteria

• 3.00 GPA* at the time of admission
• Must be a first-year student enrolling in fall 2023.

Deadline

• A complete admission application file† is due by the Early Action Deadline of December 15. Information in the admission application file will be used to determine eligibility and during the scholarship selection process. No additional materials or application are required to be considered.

Note

*Scholarships are awarded based on the transcript GPA at the time of admission. GPA requirements are based on a 4.00 scale. Transcript GPAs that are not on a 4.00 scale will be recalculated accordingly. Students awarded more than one Office of Admissions scholarship will be awarded the scholarship of highest value. Awards are subject to change.

†A complete admission application file includes: application (Common App including WMU supplement), official high school transcripts and $40 application fee or fee waiver. Students who wish for an ACT/SAT score to be considered in review must self-report their score on the admission app. Students interested in Aviation Flight Science must complete their admission application by the Early Action deadline.  

Bronco Promise

Value: FREE TUITION for up to five years
Criteria: Admitted, full-time, first-year students who are Michigan residents. Household adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less and household net assets under $50,000. No GPA minimum. 
Deadline: Complete admission application file† by the annual application deadline. Complete FAFSA by July 1.

Empowering Futures Housing Scholarship

Value: Up to $6,000 
Criteria: Admitted, first-year, undergraduate students who are Michigan residents with demonstrated financial need
Deadline: Scholarship application due in ScholarshipUniverse by March 15. Complete FAFSA by February 15.

WMU Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship
Sponsored by the WMU Alumni Association, the Legacy Scholarship is awarded to all entering students whose parent, stepparent or legal guardian is a WMU graduate.  
Value: one-time, non-renewable award of $500
Criteria: To be eligible for this scholarship, students must meet the following criteria:  Parent, stepparent, or legal guardian must be a graduate of Western Michigan University AND Enrolled as a full-time, degree-seeking student at WMU in fall for the first time as a freshman or as an undergraduate transfer student. 
To Apply:  In the appropriate section of the undergraduate admission application, provide the requested information about your parent, step-parent, or legal guardian.  First-year students will complete this via the Common App; transfer students via the WMU institutional application.

College Departmental Awards
Explore departmental scholarships and awards specific to majors and programs of study. 
Value/criteria: Awards and eligibility criteria vary by department. Supplemental material(s) may be required for consideration.
Deadline: Scholarship applications due in ScholarshipUniverse by February 15. Applications will open on December 1. 

Paper Technology Foundation Scholarships
WMU's Paper Technology Foundation (PTF) awards generous merit-based scholarships to incoming first-year paper engineering students. 
Value/criteria: PTF scholarships are awarded to first-year students based on their GPA* at the time they are admitted to WMU. Scholarships range from $2,400 to $4,000 annually and can be stacked with other WMU merit-based scholarships. 
Deadline: Completed admission application file† by annual WMU application deadline of June 1. Students must list paper engineering as their intended academic major on their application in order to be considered for PTF scholarships. No additional application materials are needed.

MLK GOLD Scholarship
Value: $32,000 ($8,000/year for four years)
Criteria: 3.00+ GPA at the time of admission and at least two of the following criteria: participation in a pre-college/bridge or migrant education program, eligible for participation in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch program, and/or first generation college student. Students are selected through a competitive, holistic review of the admission application file. No additional scholarship application is required. This scholarship is highly selective, and up to 30 MLK GOLD Scholars will be selected and notified in March.
Deadline: Completed admission application file† by February 15. 

Endowed Scholarships
Value/criteria: Award amounts and eligibility requirements vary
Deadline: Scholarship application due in ScholarshipUniverse by March 1. Applications will open on December 1.

Seita Scholarship
Value: Partial tuition scholarship
Criteria: Students who have lived some or all of their teenage years in foster care. Additional criteria.
Deadline: Scholarship application due by May 15.

Students awarded more than one Office of Admissions scholarship will be awarded the scholarship of highest value. Awards are subject to change.

*Scholarships are awarded based on the transcript GPA at the time of admission. GPA requirements are based on the cumulative GPA on a 4.00 scale. Transcript GPAs that are not on a 4.00 scale will be recalculated accordingly.

†A complete admission application file includes: application (Common App including WMU supplement), official high school transcripts and $40 application fee or fee waiver. Students who wish for an ACT/SAT score to be considered in review must self-report their score on the admission app. Students interested in Aviation Flight Science and direct admission to the Bronson School of Nursing must complete their admission application by the Early Action deadline. Learn more on the Competitive Admission Programs website.