Student Financial Aid

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Student Financial Aid
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5337 USA
(269) 387-6000

First-Year Scholarships

As one of TIME and Statista's Best Colleges for Future Leaders, WMU is dedicated to making a top-ranked education affordable and accessible for every aspiring first-year student. 

Students will be considered based on scholarship availability at the time of application. Dec. 15 is the Early Action application deadline to be considered for WMU’s merit scholarships. After Dec. 15, applicants will be considered for admissions merit scholarships based on the materials in their application file (at the time of application) and as scholarship funds are available. WMU does not require the submission of ACT or SAT test scores for first-year students applying for 2025 enrollment. Scholarships are not guaranteed and are based on academic credentials provided at the time of application.

Explore our scholarships designed to help you take the next step toward your future. If you’re looking for other types of funding outside of scholarships, our financial aid homepage can help you access additional sources.

Admissions scholarships

Medallion Scholarship Program

Value: The Medallion Scholarship is WMU’s most prestigious merit-based scholarship offered to incoming first-year students and valued at approximately $92,110 over the course of four years. This includes:

  • Up to $16,000 per year (for four years) for tuition and fees.
  • An on-campus housing scholarship of up to $6,279 per year (for four years).
  • A one-time engagement scholarship of up to $3,000 to help fund either study abroad or research.

Consideration criteria: Medallion scholars stand out among their peers. Students are selected through a competitive, holistic review of the admissions application file. No additional scholarship application is required. Up to 60 semifinalists will be selected to participate in an interview to select up to 20 Medallion Scholars. 

Deadline: Complete your admission application file† by the Early Action deadline of Dec. 15. Semifinalists will be notified in February.

Notes: Please refer to the Medallion Scholarship webpage for further details regarding the use of scholarship funds.


Bronco Success Award

Students who apply for admission† (or submit required application materials) after our Dec. 15 Early Action Deadline through our June 1 Rolling Admission Deadline will automatically be considered for the Bronco Success Award. 

Value: The award amount varies based on GPA at the time of admission. 

Deadline: Complete admission application file by June 1 Rolling Application Deadline. 

Value and consideration criteria: 
  • 3.85 GPA at the time of admission = $14,000 ($3,500/year)
  • 3.60 GPA at the time of admission = $12,000 ($3,000/year)
  • 3.30 GPA at the time of admission = $6,000 ($1,500/year)
  • 3.00 GPA at the time of admission = $4,000 ($1,000/ year)

†A complete admission application file is due by the Rolling Admission deadline of June 1. Information in the admission application file will be used to determine eligibility and during the scholarship selection process. No additional materials or applications are required to be considered. Must be a first-year student enrolling in fall.

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.


Foundation Scholarship

Value: $64,000 ($16,000/year for four years)

Consideration criteria: 3.70 GPA at the time of admission and verified, significant financial need

Deadline: Complete your admission application file† and scholarship application due in Scholarship Universe by the extended deadline of Feb. 28 (formerly Feb. 15). The application will open on Dec. 1. Recipients will be notified in March.

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
  • 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

  • Complete your admission application file† and scholarship application due in Scholarship Universe by the extended deadline of Feb. 28 (formerly Feb. 15). 
     

Notes

  • U.S. citizens and permanent residents must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (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 the 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 the highest value. Awards are subject to change. 

WMU has the resources of a bigger school, but it is small enough to make each individual feel special. While other colleges mostly relied on their reputation to recruit me, the admissions team at WMU made a huge effort to make me feel welcome on campus. No other school came close to the personal attention WMU gave me.
—Emily Bosak, senior and Medallion Scholar

Empowering Futures scholarships

Academics at WMU, nursing practical classroom.

Bronco Promise

Value: Full tuition for up to five years

Consideration 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 admissions application file† by June 1. Complete FAFSA by July 1.

Explore the Bronco Promise scholarship 

Living on campus, two students in their decorated room, cute and cozy.

Bronco Connect Scholarship

Value: Up to $6,000

Consideration criteria: Admitted, first-year, undergraduate students who are Michigan residents with demonstrated financial need

Deadline: Scholarship application due in Scholarship Universe and FAFSA completed by April 28.

Explore Bronco Connect Scholarship 

Other scholarship opportunities

See other funding options to support your education with us.
Visit Scholarship Universe

MLK GOLD

Value: $32,000 ($8,000/year for four years)

Consideration 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
  • Eligibility for participation in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch program
  • First-generation college student.

Students are selected through a competitive, holistic review of the admissions 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 admissions application file† by Feb. 15.
 

Paper Technology Foundation scholarships

Value: Scholarships range annually and can be stacked with other WMU merit-based scholarships.

Consideration criteria: PTF scholarships are awarded to first-year students based on their GPA at the time they are admitted to WMU. 

Deadline: Completed admissions 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.

Explore the Paper Technology Foundation scholarships

WMU mechanical engineering students in the lab.

Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship

Value: One-time, nonrenewable award worth $500.

Consideration criteria: Award is given to students whose parent, step-parent or legal guardian is a WMU graduate.

Deadline: No additional application steps required; this information is collected in the application for admission.

Explore the Legacy Scholarship 

WMU business students, working in the computer lab.

Seita Scholarship

Value: Partial-tuition scholarship

Consideration criteria: Students who have lived some or all of their teenage years in foster care. See additional criteria.

Deadline: Scholarship application due by May 15.

Explore the Seita Scholarship 

Early Action scholarship opportunities

Students who submit a complete application for admission† prior to the Dec. 15 Early Action Deadline will automatically receive one of our merit scholarships. The award amount varies based on GPA at the time of admission. 

Bronco Merit 

Value: $16,000 ($4,000/year for four years)

Consideration criteria: 3.85 GPA at the time of admission

Deadline: Complete your admission application file† by the Early Application deadline of Dec. 15.

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

Bronco Honors

Value: $14,000 ($3,500/year for four years)

Consideration criteria: 3.60 GPA at the time of admission

Deadline: Complete your admission application file† by the Early Application deadline of Dec. 15.

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

Brown & Gold 

Value: $8,000 ($2,000/year for four years)

Consideration criteria: 3.30 GPA at the time of admission

Deadline: Complete your admission application file† by the Early Application deadline of Dec. 15.

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

Bronco Recognition

Value: $6,000 ($1,500/year for four years)

Consideration criteria: 3.00 GPA at the time of admission

Deadline: Complete your admission application file† by the Early Application deadline of Dec. 15.
 

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

Notes on scholarship awards

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 application. 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 webpage.

Historic scholarship offerings: fall 2023 | fall 2022 | fall 2021 | fall 2020

More funding opportunities

Federal student grants:

A federal student grant is a type of financial aid that you don’t have to pay back. They come in the form of the federal Pell Grant, the federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and the federal TEACH Grant.
Explore federal offers

State of Michigan scholarships:

Residents of Michigan may qualify for scholarships or grants. The state of Michigan will notify WMU of student eligibility, and the financial aid office will offer students accordingly.
Explore Michigan offers

Private scholarships:

Private scholarships are free funds from sources outside of WMU. Scholarships that are received from a private source must be reported to the University and must be factored in to existing student financial aid offers.
Explore private offers

Loans:

Loans are another way to finance your education. Undergraduate and graduate students and parents of dependent students may borrow money to pay for educational expenses.
Explore loan offers