Incoming Transfer Merit Scholarships 2026-2027
Application Requirements
Consideration for scholarships are based on a complete admissions application submitted by March 1st for spring/summer admission, July 1st for fall admission and November 1st for winter admission (unless otherwise noted). Documents received after the deadline will not be used for scholarship consideration.
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Award for Excellence Transfer Scholarship
Award amount: $4,000 (renewable for two additional consecutive years)
- Must have completed 12 college credit hours at the time of application review
- Must have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or greater
- Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress at Grand Valley
- Requires full-time enrollment
- Deadline for consideration is July 1 for fall admission
- Deadline for consideration is November 1 for winter admission
- Total award value: $12,000
Transfer Student Urban Schools Scholarship
Award amount: $3,000 (renewable for two additional consecutive years)
- Awarded at application review specifically to students from select urban high schools. Click here for a list of qualifying schools.
- Must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and completed 12 college credit hours at the time of application review
- Cannot be combined with the Transfer Student Early Awareness Scholarship or a Native American Tuition Grant
- Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress at Grand Valley
- Requires full-time enrollment
- Students receiving this scholarship are also encouraged to participate in one of the structured student success programs on campus
- Deadline for consideration is July 1 for fall admission
- Deadline for consideration is November 1 for winter admission
- Total award value: $9,000
Transfer Student Early Awareness Scholarship
Award amount: $3,000 (renewable for two additional consecutive years)
- Recipients of this scholarship will have at least two years of participation in one of the following programs:
- The Detroit Compact
- Wade H. McCree, Jr. Incentive Scholarship
- Introspect Youth Services, Inc.
- Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc.
- TRiO Upward Bound
- TRiO Talent Search
- GEAR UP
- Midnight Golf Program
- Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars
- GVSU 8th Grade Pathways
- Must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and completed 12 college credit hours at the time of review
- Cannot be combined with the Transfer Student Urban Schools Scholarship or a Native American Tuition Grant
- Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress at Grand Valley
- Requires full-time enrollment
- Students receiving this scholarship are also encouraged to participate in one of the structured student success programs on campus
- Deadline for consideration is July 1 for fall admission
- Deadline for consideration is November 1 for winter admission
- Total award value: $9,000
Students that do not meet the GPA requirement listed above will qualify for the following (12 completed college credit hour requirement still applies):
- Annual Award: $1,000
- Total award value: $3,000
GV Charter Schools Alumni Scholarship
Annual Award: $1,000 (renewable for three additional consecutive years)
- Awarded at application review specifically to students that have graduated from a GVSU Charter High School
- Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress at Grand Valley
- Requires full-time enrollment
- Students receiving this scholarship are also encouraged to participate in one of the structured student success programs on campus
- Total award value: $4,000
Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship
Award amount: up to $1,200 (renewable for one additional consecutive year)
- Recognizes the outstanding members of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society
- Must have a total cumulative community college grade point average of 3.5 or higher and be a member of the PTK Honor Society
- Must be a graduate of any accredited community college and have earned an associate's degree
- Must be admitted to GVSU as a new, full-time transfer student
- Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress at Grand Valley
- Requires full-time enrollment
- Must complete a separate application by July 1 to be considered. Visit myScholarships to apply
Laker Lane Scholarship
Award Amount: $500 (renewable for two additional consecutive years)
- To qualify, students must sign-up for Orientation and file the 26-27 FAFSA by July 1, 2026
- Student must be admitted for the Fall 2026 semester to qualify
- Scholarship requires full-time enrollment
- This scholarship is renewable as long as the student earns a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and earns 24 GVSU credit hours each year
- Total award value: $1,500
SCHOLARSHIP POLICIES & DISCLOSURES
- Renewal eligibility for each additional year is determined at the conclusion of the winter semester.
- Students are only eligible for these scholarships during the fall, spring/summer, and winter semesters as an undergraduate student pursuing their first Bachelor's degree. For programs and majors that require a nontraditional academic year, please contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships.
- Students who apply to the LEADS program for the Winter 2026 term or earlier are not eligible for the merit scholarships listed above. Beginning the Fall 2026 term, LEADS students will be considered for transfer merit scholarships.
- Students who apply to certificate or badge programs are not eligible for merit scholarships as listed.
- Student's annual award amount must be split between the fall and winter semesters. The full annual amount cannot be received in one semester.
- We do not accept AP, IB, CLEP, or DANTES credits for scholarship review purposes.
- International students do not qualify for the scholarships listed above. Click here for more information on opportunities for international students.