Scholarships
Each fall, the University Undergraduate Scholarship Program grants financial awards to outstanding students entering VCU. Selection of scholars is made on the basis of merit in the area of academic achievement. Leadership, community service and artistic talent (when applicable) also may be considered. To be eligible for scholarship renewal, students must complete at least 28 credit hours on a full-time basis over the fall and spring semesters and maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.3 or better.
Scholarships are awarded to fall semester applicants only. The majority of scholarships are awarded each fall to freshman applicants, though a limited number of scholarships are awarded each fall to transfer applicants. Students who wish to be considered for a scholarship must submit an essay. We strongly encourage scholarship applicants to apply online. We also encourage all applicants seeking scholarship consideration to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
How to apply
Step one
Scholarship applicants should write a one- to two-page essay on one of the following topics.
- Compose Page 87 of your autobiography. In this essay, you should be creative, considering where your life story would be at this point.
- Describe the most challenging obstacle you’ve faced and what you did to overcome it. What did you learn from the experience?
Step two
Submit the essay along with the Application for Undergraduate Admission to be considered for a scholarship; VCU requires no other scholarship application, with the exception of the Sica Scholarship [PDF], which requires additional application materials.
Types of scholarships
Merit-based scholarships range from $500 to $9,200 and are awarded only during the fall semester. Merit-based scholarships cover in-state costs only. Some of these awards are four year scholarships, renewable for up to three consecutive years provided the appropriate GPA is maintained. Students who apply by the scholarship application deadline will be notified by the beginning of April if you are to receive a scholarship offer. Each fall, all outstanding freshmen applicants as well as a limited number of Virginia community college transfer student applicants who have earned a minimum of 45 semester credit hours are considered for scholarship awards.
In addition to these scholarships, individual schools and departments at VCU offer scholarships to incoming freshmen. Visit the VCU Office of Financial Aid’s website for more information about these types of scholarships, as well as information about outside sources of scholarship aid. Contact the VCU school to which you are applying or into which you have been admitted for more specific scholarship application information.
University undergraduate scholarships
Dianne Nunnally Hoppes Scholarship Fund
Covers the cost of in-state tuition, fees, room, board, books (awarded every four years to one student).
Presidential
Covers the cost of in-state tuition, fees, room and board.
Provost
Is equal to the cost of in-state tuition and fees.
Deans’
Is equal to the cost of one-half in-state tuition and fees.
Alcoa Foundation Community Scholarship 1
Is equal to the cost of in-state tuition and fees.
VCCS Transfer Scholarship 2
Is equal to the cost of one-half in-state tuition and fees.
Sica Scholarship 3
$1,500 – Download information » [PDF]
Typical scores of merit scholarship recipients – Fall 2011
Presidential scholarships
High school GPA
| Category | GPA |
|---|---|
| Average for freshmen awarded Presidential scholarships | 4.48 |
| Middle 50 percent of freshmen awarded Presidential scholarships | 4.30-4.70 |
SAT*
| Category | SAT score |
|---|---|
| Average for freshmen awarded Presidential scholarships | 1459 |
| Middle 50 percent of freshmen awarded Presidential scholarships | 1400-1520 |
* SAT scores based on the best critical reading and math scores from separate testings.
Provost scholarships
High school GPA
| Category | GPA |
|---|---|
| Average for freshmen awarded Provost scholarships | 4.41 |
| Middle 50 percent of freshmen awarded Provost scholarships | 4.21-4.61 |
SAT*
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Average for freshmen awarded Provost scholarships | 1359 |
| Middle 50 percent of freshmen awarded Provost scholarships | 1300-1430 |
* SAT scores based on the best critical reading and math scores from separate testings.
Deans’ scholarships
High school GPA
| Category | GPA |
|---|---|
| Average for freshmen awarded Dean’s scholarships | 4.25 |
| Middle 50 percent of freshmen awarded Deans’ scholarships | 4.08-4.42 |
SAT*
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Average for freshmen awarded Dean’s scholarships | 1297 |
| Middle 50 percent of freshmen awarded Deans’ scholarships | 1230-1370 |
* SAT scores based on the best critical reading and math scores from separate testings.
Athletic scholarships
Scholarship aid is available for each of VCU’s intercollegiate athletic teams. If you’re interested in obtaining information about athletic scholarships, you should write to the athletic department or have your current coach contact VCU on your behalf.
