CMU Scholarships for New Students

CMU Scholarship Policy:  Many scholarships are available to CMU students in recognition of their outstanding academic and/or leadership achievement. 

  1. Recipients of CMU merit- and talent-based scholarships of a dollar value equal to or greater than $1,500 are required to reside on campus during their freshman and sophomore years unless they qualify as commuting students or for another exception to the Campus Residency Policy.
  2. Students may receive two renewable merit scholarships.  Students who are selected for more than two renewable scholarships may choose the awards of highest value.
  3. Estimated scholarships (i.e., Michigan Competitive, Michigan Merit, Michigan Promise, outside agency) do not reduce the amount of tuition payable on  September 1 and January 1.  Students must make arrangements to pay for the total amount of tuition due to avoid a $100 late tuition fee and a $30 service charge.

CMU Board of Trustees Centralis Scholarship Program

These Centralis scholarships include CMU’s highest merit-based awards. All Michigan high school students  with grade point averages of 3.5 or higher are eligible to compete for Centralis Scholar or Centralis Gold awards. Invitations are sent to applicants in the fall.   Applications also are available from guidance counselors.

Centralis Scholar Award

Twenty Centralis Scholar Awards are granted annually. The monetary value of this scholarship is equal to the cost of tuition, fees, room and board, and a $500 allowance toward the cost of books and supplies. The scholarship is renewable for three additional consecutive years if a 3.25 cumulative GPA and full-time continuous enrollment are maintained.

Centralis Gold Award

Twenty Centralis Gold Awards will be granted annually. The value of this scholarship is equal to the cost of full tuition. The scholarship is renewable for three additional consecutive years if a 3.25 cumulative GPA and full-time continuous enrollment are maintained.

CMU Board of Trustees Outstanding High School Student Scholarship

Michigan high school seniors who rank first or second in their high school graduating class who enter CMU as freshmen will automatically receive this award. No applications are necessary. The value of the scholarship is $3000 per academic year. The scholarship is renewable for three additional consecutive years if a 3.25 cumulative GPA and full-time continuous enrollment are maintained. The Centralis Scholarship replaces this award.

CMU Board of Trustees Academic Honors Scholarship

  1. All new freshmen entering CMU directly from Michigan high schools with both a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 and an ACT composite score of at least 20 will automatically receive this award. No applications are necessary. The value of this scholarship is $2000 per academic year and is renewable for new freshmen for three additional consecutive years and for new transfer students for one additional year if a 3.25 cumulative GPA and full-time continuous enrollment are maintained. The Centralis Scholarship and the Outstanding High School Student Scholarship replace this award.
  2. All new transfer students entering directly from a Michigan community college with an associate’s degree or 56 hours of credit and a 3.5 GPA will automatically receive this award. No applications are necessary. The value of this scholarship is $2000 per academic year and is renewable for one additional year if a 3.25 cumulative GPA and full-time continuous enrollment are maintained.

CMU Board of Trustees Community College Transfer Recognition Award

All new transfer students entering CMU directly from a Michigan community college with a minimum, cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or higher and with a minimum of 30 transferable credits are eligible for this $1000 award. This scholarship can be renewed for one additional year provided the student maintains full-time continuous enrollment at CMU with a 3.25 (or higher) cumulative GPA. The Academic Honors Scholarship replaces this award.

CMU Leader Advancement Scholarship Program

These Leader Advancement scholarships are awarded each year to 40 outstanding Michigan high school seniors who have distinguished themselves through a record of leadership in their schools and communities. Recipients are selected by a committee through the analysis of the scholarship application, a portfolio record of activities completed by the student. Competitors must have a minimum, cumulative high school GPA of 3.00. The value of the scholarship is $2000 per academic year and is renewable for three additional consecutive years if a 2.75 cumulative GPA and full-time continuous enrollment are maintained. For an Application Click here.

CMU Lloyd M. Cofer and Multicultural Advancement Scholarships

Up to 10 Lloyd M. Cofer scholarships are awarded annually to deserving incoming freshmen who are graduates of a Detroit public high school. Up to 40 Multicultural Advancement Scholarships are awarded to Michigan high school graduates who through past activities or educational aspirations indicate an interest in the advancement of minorities in American society. The value of these scholarships is $4,125 per academic year. The Cofer and Multicultural Advancement scholarships are renewable for three additional years for recipients who maintain full-time continuous enrollment and a satisfactory academic record.

 

Up to 10 Multicultural Advancement Awards of Distinction are also awarded each year. The value of this scholarship is $10,500 per academic year to be used toward the cost of tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies. The scholarship is renewable for three additional consecutive years if a 3.25 cumulative GPA and full-time continuous enrollment are maintained.

 

CMU Talent/Athletic/Departmental Scholarships

Privately funded endowments provide supplemental funding to students based on need, academic focus, career aspirations or other criteria. Most of the endowed scholarships awarded by CMU departments are awarded to returning students with established, CMU grade point averages and/or signed majors. A limited number of CMU departments do, however, offer scholarships to new students; these scholarships are awarded based on departmental criteria. Please see the CMU Bulletin for a listing and description of the endowed scholarships.

Talent scholarships are awarded to students participating in co-curricular activities in Music, Speech and Dramatic Arts and Broadcasting and Cinematic Arts; the Athletic Department awards athletic aid according to NCAA guidelines; and, the Military Science Department offers scholarships to students participating in ROTC. Students should contact the academic department for more information.

Links to Specific Scholarship Application Forms:

  Grand Rapids Alumni Chapter Scholarship Application

   Grand Traverse Alumni Chapter Scholarship Application

   Tri-Cities Alumni Chapter Scholarship Application

   James H. Moon Scholarship Application

   CMU Leader Advancement Program Scholarship Application

   Judy Johnson Endowed Scholarship Application

   Moon-Gempel Burton-Bendle High School Scholarship Application

   Robert and Susan Clarke Scholarship Application

   Christman Company Endowed Scholarship Application

   Dr. Leslie O. Carlin Scholarship Application for Freshman

   Dr. Leslie O. Carlin Scholarship Application for Transfer Student

   Dick Enberg Endowed Scholarship Application


CMU Scholarships for International Students

Office of International Education Scholarships:

A number of Presidential Awards help international students finance their education at Central Michigan University. Information on these scholarships can be found on the Office of International Education website listed below.

www.oie.cmich.edu/prostudents/finance_studies.asp

CMU Scholarships for Continuing Students

CMU Endowed Scholarships

Privately funded endowments provide supplemental funding to students based on need, academic focus, career aspirations or other criteria. Specific information regarding each scholarship is listed in the scholarship section of the CMU Bulletin. Students must complete a Bulletin Scholarship Application to be considered for scholarships awarded by the OSFA; the application period is March 1 to April 1 each year. Scholarships are generally awarded in the spring and summer for the next academic year. Most scholarships require the student be a returning undergraduate student, enrolled full-time in a degree-granting program on campus. Preference may be given to juniors and seniors of high academic standing demonstrating financial need.

CMU Departmental Scholarships

Many CMU academic departments award privately endowed and/or departmentally funded scholarships. A Departmental Scholarship Listing is available in the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid or by selecting the above link. Students should check with the academic department regarding scholarship application procedures.