Undergraduate Scholarships

Application Process

The scholarship application window is December 1 through February 15 for the following academic year.

To apply for these and other scholarships, please access WMU’s ScholarshipUniverse system. To be considered for scholarships with financial need criteria, you must have submitted a FAFSA application for the upcoming academic year. The federal school code for Western Michigan University is 002330. If you do not complete the FAFSA, you are still eligible to apply for consideration for scholarships without financial need criteria.

To view college and departmental scholarships, use the advanced search to filter by organization (College of Education and Human Development). Submitting one CEHD application will consider you for all college-level scholarships you are eligible for. We recommend completing as many matching questions in the system as possible and completing your FAFSA before applying in order to ensure you are considered for as many scholarships as possible. You can also answer matching questions by clicking into individual CEHD/departmental scholarships before submitting your application.

CEHD scholarship tutorial video:

View the ScholarshipUniverse instructions.

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Scholarships

Click on the scholarship to expand and see scholarship criteria, if applicable.

  • Senior status
  • Enrolled in early elementary education curriculum
  • Resident of the state of Michigan
  • Preference given to African American and Native American students
  • Must maintain a 2.5 GPA
  • Must demonstrate financial need
  • Must be a full-time undergraduate student
  • Must be seeking a career in teaching in K-12 levels
  • Minimum 2.7 GPA
  • Scholarship shall be awarded to a full-time undergraduate student in the College of Education and Human Development and will be used for the purpose of study abroad internships
  • First preference shall be given to a student in the teacher preparation curriculum within the College of Education and Human Development
  • Preference is also given to students who demonstrate financial need
  • Scholarship shall be a one-time award and will not be renewable
  • Enrolled in any curriculum in the College of Education and Human Development
  • Must maintain 3.0 GPA (may have a 2.5 with faculty recommendation)
  • May be renewable upon reapplication if requirements continue to be met and sufficient funding is available
  • Must be enrolled in the early childhood education program
  • Must be sophomore status
  • Must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Preference will be given to Kalamazoo County, and particularly greater Kalamazoo, high school graduates (e.g., Loy Norrix, Kalamazoo Central, Hackett Catholic Central, Kalamazoo Christian, Comstock, Parchment, Portage Northern and Portage Central).
  • Primary consideration will be given to graduates of Parchment High School.
  • May be renewable upon reapplication if requirements continue to be met and sufficient funding is available
  • Awarded to full-time undergraduate students enrolled in their teaching internship semester
  • Preference shall be given to students demonstrating financial need
  • Scholarship shall be a one-time award and will not be renewable
  • Student must be in the College of Education and Human Development pursing a Teaching career
  • Student must demonstrate financial need
  • Student must be junior or senior status, enrolled full-time
  • May be renewable upon reapplication if requirements continue to be met and sufficient funding is available.

Preference shall be given to students who are the first in their family to attend college, students who have overcome significant socio‐economic hardships, and students who graduated from identified urban high schools.

 

  • First year, full-time student
  • Enrolled in teacher training curricula
  • Preference for graduates of Kalkaska County public high schools (Kalkaska and Forest Area High)
  • Must have and maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA
  • May be renewable upon reapplication for a period of three years if requirements continue to be met and if sufficient funding is available
  • Full-time student pursuing teacher training
  • Preference giving to non-traditional students 25 years of age or older
  • Must have a minimum of 3.0 GPA at the time of application
  • Preference given to students with financial need
  • For freshmen receiving the scholarship, the award will be renewable for a period of up to three years; for sophomores, a period of up to two years; and for juniors, one year, upon reapplication if requirements continue to be met and if sufficient funding is available.
    • To be considered for renewal, the student must remain a full-time undergraduate student in the College of Education and Human Development and demonstrate satisfactory academic progress.
  • Incoming freshmen, community college transfer students and current WMU students are eligible.
  • First year, full-time student
  • Pursuing degree in teacher training
  • Preference for demonstrated financial need
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA at time of application
  • Current recipients may reapply in the next academic year, provided they have demonstrated satisfactory academic progress.
  • May be renewable upon reapplication up to three additional years if requirements continue to be met and sufficient funding is available
  • Senior status
  • GPA between 2.5 to 3.4 at time of application
  • Scholarship shall be a one-time award and will not be renewable
  • Awarded to an upper-level undergraduate student
  • Student must be in the College of Education and Human Development
  • Student must demonstrate financial need
  • Student must be enrolled full-time
  • Student must be in good academic standing
  • Student must be a Michigan resident
  • Preference given to students majoring in the Department of Human Performance and Health Education
  • Award is renewable once for a junior level student and non-renewable for a senior level student
  • All students enrolled in a College of Education and Human Development curriculum are eligible.
  • Preference shall be given to students who are the first in their family to attend college, students who have overcome significant socio economic hardships or graduates of Cass Technical High School.
  • Graduates of other Detroit area high schools will also be considered for this award.
  • Recipients of this scholarship will be known as the "Mitchell Scholars".
  • Students must be from the College of Education and Human Development with a minimum 3.2 GPA.
  • Students must carry a full load for the semester(s) in which they have the fellowship.
  • Students must have a commitment from a faculty member to supervise their project as their mentor.
  • The focus will be on undergraduate students in the College of Education and Human Development majoring in a teacher education program who show promise as creative thinkers and innovative practitioners.
  • The focus will be on developing innovative, creative research concepts or ideas capable of positively impacting learning in  K-12 education.
  • The focus will be on innovative approaches to using technology in teaching and learning within or outside of the classroom.
  • The focus will be on creating original research that challenges the current practices of teaching and learning.
  • Fellows must commit to regular activities associated with the approved work.
  • Fellows must meet regularly with faculty mentor.
  • Fellows must complete a final research presentation or paper submitted to mentor and the Dean.
  • Fellows must prepare an archival document chronicling their work.
  • Graduate of a high school in Cass, Berrien, or Van Buren counties in the state of Michigan
  • Preference given to eligible students who demonstrate financial need determined by the Office of Student Financial Aid
  • Have a minimum 2.5 grade point average
  • May be renewable upon reapplication if requirements continue to be met and sufficient funding is available.
  • Enrolled full time, first-year student
  • Preference given to graduates of Waterford Public Schools
  • Second preference for graduates of Muskegon Senior High School
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA at the time of application
  • Awarded in the College of Education and Human Development in even years (i.e., fall 2020, fall 2022)
  • This scholarship will be a one-time award only and will not be renewable
  • Junior or senior status
  • Enrolled full-time in a College of Education and Human Development curriculum
  • Must demonstrate financial need
  • Must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Demonstrated financial need 
  • High academic standing
  • Preference to College of Education and Human Development students who graduated from Pentwater High School
  • Undergraduate student enrolled in the College of Education and Human Development with an interest in teaching K-12 science and math
  • Must demonstrate financial need
  • Must maintain satisfactory academic progress
  • The award is renewable upon reapplication for the same qualifying student for up to a maximum of three consecutive academic years if sufficient funding is available.
  • Enrolled in any curriculum in the College of Education and Human Development
  • Must maintain a 3.0 GPA
  • Preference will be given to students who demonstrate financial need
  • May be incoming first-year students, community college transfer students, or current WMU students
  • Enrolled full time
  • Incoming freshmen must be enrolled in pre-education (PED) curriculum
  • Transfer students or current WMU students must be enrolled in program leading to teacher certification
  • Special consideration given to students of under-represented populations
  • Full tuition and fees for fall and spring only. Total of eight semesters. Tuition provided at WMU rates for classes taken at WMU. If studying abroad, tuition to another college or agency to be paid by awardee. Remission of WMU credits still apply.
  • Preference to community college transfers with at least 30 hours accumulated at community college
  • Enrolled full time in teacher training curricula
  • Preference to underrepresented populations
  • Preference for demonstrated financial need
  • Minimum 2.75 GPA
  • May be renewable upon reapplication if requirements continue to be met and if sufficient funding is available
    • If the scholarship is awarded to a sophomore, renewable a maximum of two years; a junior, a maximum of one year; if awarded to a senior, it is not renewable.
  • Must be a graduate of any public school system in Muskegon County, MI
  • Enrolled in any undergraduate program in the College of Education and Human Development
  • Must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA
  • Must have demonstrated financial need
  • The scholarship award is for one academic year only
  • Enrolled in the early elementary education curriculum
  • Must be enrolled full time
  • Major in elementary education and a minor of early childhood 
  • Must demonstrate financial need
  • The scholarship is renewable upon reapplication as long as sufficient funding is available and provided the recipient remain a full-time undergraduate student in education, has maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA and has demonstrated satisfactory academic progress.
    • If the scholarship is awarded to a freshman, it shall be renewable for a maximum of three years; to a sophomore, a maximum of two years; a junior, a maximum of one year. If it awarded to a senior, it is not renewable.
  • Awarded to a full time undergraduate student in the College of Education and Human Development in even years (i.e., fall 2020, fall 2022)
  • Preference shall be given to students who enhance WMU's diversity and multiculturalism
  • 2.5 GPA minimum at time of application
  • Awarded based on financial need
  • The scholarship award period is of one academic year only. This scholarship is not renewable because it is an alternating scholarship.
  • All students enrolled in a College of Education and Human Development curriculum are eligible.
  • Junior or senior status
  • Preference given to female students
  • Enrolled full-time in a program leading to teacher certification
  • Must demonstrate financial need
  • Must hold and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • May be renewable upon reapplication for junior status if requirements continue to be met and sufficient funding is available
  • Junior, senior or graduate student
  • Enrolled full-time majoring in early childhood education and/or elementary education
  • Preference given to non-traditional students
  • Renewable up to a maximum of two consecutive years for a junior undergraduate and one consecutive year for a senior undergraduate or graduate student if requirements continue to be met and sufficient funding is available.
  • Full-time student majoring in elementary education
  • Minimum of 3.0 GPA at the time of application
  • Preference for demonstrated financial need
  • The scholarship is renewable upon reapplication provided the recipient remain a full-time undergraduate student in education, has maintained a minimum of 3.0 GPA, has demonstrated satisfactory academic progress and if sufficient funding is available.
    • If the scholarship is awarded to a freshman, it shall be renewable for a maximum of three years; to a sophomore, a maximum of two years; a junior, a maximum of one year. If it awarded to a senior, it is not renewable.
  • Junior or senior status
  • Enrolled in an elementary education curriculum
  • May be renewable upon reapplication if requirements continue to be met and sufficient funding is available
  • Junior or senior status
  • Must be an elementary education major
  • May be renewable upon reapplication if requirements continue to be met and sufficient funding is available
  • Enrolled in a program in the College of Education and Human Development
  • Undergraduate or graduate student
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Financial need a priority
  • May also be used for internships, field placements, student travel, study abroad, childcare and/or transportation needs
  • Members of, or a direct descendant of a member of, the ABE WMU Sorority will receive first preference for this scholarship. Applicants are responsible for indicating membership or familial relationship on the application and providing verification if necessary.
  • Must be a full-time junior, senior or graduate student
  • Preference shall be given to students enrolled in the teacher education program
  • Must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Award is solely for WMU tuition, fees and book expenses
  • May be renewable upon reapplication (two consecutive years) if requirements continue to be met and sufficient funding is available
  • Preference given to students enrolled in early childhood education
  • Preference shall be given to an incoming full-time freshman from a rural area majoring in elementary education
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA at the time of application
  • The scholarship is renewable upon reapplication as long as sufficient funding is available and provided the recipient remain a full-time undergraduate student in education, has maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA and has demonstrated satisfactory academic progress.
    • If the scholarship is awarded to a freshman, it shall be renewable for a maximum of three years; to a sophomore, a maximum of two years; a junior, a maximum of one year. If it awarded to a senior, it is not renewable.
  • Full-time student
  • Majoring in elementary education
  • Preference shall be given to eligible students who demonstrate financial need and have a minimum 2.5 GPA at the time of application
  • The scholarship is renewable upon reapplication up to a maximum of four consecutive academic years if the recipient remains a full-time student majoring in elementary education, has demonstrated satisfactory academic progress and if sufficient funding is available.
  • Enrolled full-time
  • Award limited to new or current WMU undergraduate students who are graduates of Warren Consolidated School District
  • Must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Full tuition, fees and books per academic year (fall/spring) WMU only
  • If studying abroad, tuition to another college or agency to be paid by awardee. Remission of WMU credits still apply
  • May be renewable upon reapplication for a maximum of four academic years if requirements continue to be met and sufficient funding is available
  • Must hold and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Preference given to students preparing for careers in elementary or secondary education (teacher certification programs)
  • Awarded to a full-time student in a teacher education program
  • Awarded to students in their student teaching internship semester
  • Must demonstrate financial need
  • Must have and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Must have senior status
  • Must be a high school graduate of Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, St. Joe, or Van Buren County
  • Awarded to full-time incoming freshman student
  • Preference given to African American students
  • Must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA at the time of application
  • May be renewable upon reapplication if requirements continue to be met and sufficient funding is available
  • Awarded in the College of Education and Human Development in odd years (i.e., fall 2021, fall 2023)
  • Preference will be given to students who can demonstrate financial need (including, but not limited to, deserving foreign students who are in need of financial assistance)
  • Full-time student in teacher education program, the counseling education program, or the counseling psychology program
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA at the time of application
  • Current recipients may reapply for the scholarship the next academic year provided they have demonstrated satisfactory academic progress and sufficient funding is available. Furthermore, if the scholarship is awarded to a freshman, it shall be renewable for a maximum of three years; to a sophomore, a maximum of two years; to a junior, a maximum of one year. If it awarded to a senior or graduate student, it is not renewable.
  • Must be a U.S. citizen, resident of Michigan
  • Must be a student in a program leading to teacher certification
  • Preference to students who have a teaching emphasis in speech or social studies
  • Preference to southwest Michigan residents
  • Preference to junior or senior
  • Must display “ideal” teacher qualities
  • Must maintain 3.0 GPA
  • May be renewable upon reapplication if requirements continue to be met and if sufficient funding is available

The scholarship, created by the Pickard Family Fund, endeavors to increase the number of K-12 teachers from historically underrepresented populations.

  • Enrolled full-time in the pre-teacher education or teacher education undergraduate program
  • First-generation college students ("first-generation" meaning that the student and/or their siblings are the first in their family line that will attend or, with respect to a sibling, have graduated from a university); or
  • From historically underrepresented student populations; or
  • From historically underrepresented K-12 teacher populations
  • Full-time junior
  • Must be pursuing a teaching career in math or science
  • Must demonstrate financial need
  • May be renewable upon reapplication up to one year if requirements continue to be met and sufficient funding is available
  • Awarded to a first-year, full-time undergraduate
  • Preference given to minority high school graduates of Wayne County public schools
  • Preference given to students who demonstrate financial need and have a minimum 3.0 GPA at time of application
  • The scholarship is renewable upon reapplication as long as sufficient funding is available and provided the recipient remain a full-time undergraduate student in education, has maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA and has demonstrated satisfactory academic progress.
    • If the scholarship is awarded to a freshman, it shall be renewable for a maximum of three years; to a sophomore, a maximum of two years; a junior, a maximum of one year. If it awarded to a senior, it is not renewable.
  • The Ron & Diane Reece Teacher Education Fund can be used at the discretion of the dean to support the education of future teachers. In the unlikely event that the College of Education and Human Development ceases to exist, this fund shall be used to provide scholarships to students pursuing education as a career.
  • Must demonstrate financial need
  • Must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Must be a US citizen
  • Scholarships shall be awarded to full-time undergraduate students majoring in elementary and secondary education
  • The scholarship may be renewable upon reapplication for an additional three consecutive academic years if sufficient funding is available and provided the student maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and provided the student continue as an elementary or secondary education major.
  • Enrolled in the elementary or secondary education curriculum which will prepare them to become school instructors of science or mathematics
  • Must demonstrate financial need
  • Awarded to full-time undergraduate students enrolled in their teaching internship semester
  • Must demonstrate financial need
  • Scholarship shall be a one-time award and will not be renewable
  • Award is for $1,000
  • Enrolled full time
  • Early childhood professional education program
  • Preference to students who maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Preference given to students that have overcome socioeconomic or educational disadvantages or first-generation college student
  • Preference shall be given to eligible students who demonstrate financial need
  • The scholarship is renewable upon reapplication as long as sufficient funding is available and provided the recipient remain a full-time undergraduate student in education, has maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA and has demonstrated satisfactory academic progress.
    • If the scholarship is awarded to a freshman, it shall be renewable for a maximum of three years; to a sophomore, a maximum of two years; a junior, a maximum of one year. If it awarded to a senior, it is not renewable.
  • Awarded to students in their student teaching internship semester
  • Preference given to students that demonstrate financial need
  • Preference given to students who plan to make K-12 teaching their primary, full-time profession
  • Preference given to candidates who are U.S. citizens and intend to teach in the U.S. after graduation
  • The award shall be made to a full-time undergraduate student enrolled in a teacher training curriculum in the CEHD and will be used for the purpose of student teaching internships.
  • The internship shall be a one-time award and will not be renewable
  • Participate in a non-English based study abroad program
  • Candidates include any WMU CEHD undergraduate or graduate student
  • Students must provide proof of acceptance into a international study abroad program, processing of an application request for funding with a proposed budget, and submission of a written proposal as to how and why this foreign study experience would benefit them in their studies as well as enhance their personal career goals and options.
  • Must be enrolled as a full-time student
  • Must demonstrate financial need
  • Must be enrolled in elementary education curriculum
  • Must demonstrate a career purpose in education
  • Must have and maintain a 3.0 GPA
  • Preference for junior or senior
  • Preference given to students in elementary education of Latin major
  • May be renewable upon reapplication up to one year if requirements continue to be met and sufficient funding is available