Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen

If you are still a high school student or if you haven't yet enrolled in any college courses after graduating from high school, we consider you an incoming freshman.

New incoming students do not apply for scholarships, rather we will automatically review your application for admission to the U of M to determine if you are eligible for a scholarship from the University, the college and/or an academic department. To make the process easier for you, we do not have a separate application for scholarships.

The typical freshman scholarship from CFANS ranges from $1,000 to $5,000 per year for four years. Scholarships are based on criteria established by the donors for each scholarship. For example, criteria may include scholastic achievement, consistency of academic record, extracurricular and leadership activities, major and career objectives, place of residence, grade level, or financial need, etc. 

Full consideration for academic scholarships is given to students who submit a complete application for freshman admission by either the first (November 1) or second (January 1) application deadlines. Students who apply after that date will be considered on a funds-available basis, though it's unlikely that funds will be available at that time. For more information about the admissions process, call 1-800-752-1000 or visit the University of Minnesota's freshman admissions page.

Award notices will be sent by the Office of Admissions to recipients by the end of March of their senior year in high school. If you also applied for federal financial aid by completing the FAFSA, you will receive a second letter in April that outlines your complete financial aid package, including grants, scholarships, loans, expected family contribution, etc.

If you don’t receive a scholarship as an incoming freshman, there are other opportunities to apply for scholarships in your first year of enrollment. See the Current Students section for more information.