Merit Scholarships

GW rewards exceptionally qualified students with academic scholarships.

Applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships as part of the admissions process and no application is required.

Qualifications

You may meet the qualifications for several merit scholarships, but can only be awarded one scholarship. Some scholarships may require U.S. citizenship. If you receive GW employee benefits you are not eligible to receive a merit scholarship.

Award Requirements

If you’re a freshman and receive a merit scholarship, you’re guaranteed the award for up to 10 consecutive semesters as long as you maintain continuous full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress. Unless otherwise indicated, all scholarships and merit awards can only be used towards tuition expenses.

 

Awards

Freshman Applicants

Presidential Academic Scholarships

All freshman applicants are considered automatically for these tuition scholarships. Presidential Academic Scholarships are awarded to the most competitive applicants in the pool.

National Scholarships

National Hispanic Scholars who apply to GW must be designated by the College Board as a National Hispanic Scholar in the National Hispanic Recognition Program to be eligible to receive a merit scholarship.        

Engineering Scholarships

The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences offers a generous program of scholarships through the Presidential Academic Scholarship Program and all applicants are considered for these awards. You are required to enroll in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences to receive the award.

Stephen Joel Trachtenberg (SJT) Scholarship

Outstanding graduates of District of Columbia high schools who have been nominated by their school counselors are considered for SJT Scholarships. These awards cover full tuition and fees (beyond the DC Tag Program allowance), room and board and include a book allowance. Candidates must be residents of the District of Columbia, attend a regionally accredited D.C. high school and have applied for financial assistance.

 

Transfer Applicants

Phi Theta Kappa

Members of Phi Theta Kappa honors society who apply to GW are considered for academic tuition scholarships of $7,500 ($15,000 for two years). You must apply to enter GW for the fall semester on a full-time basis, present proof of membership in Phi Theta Kappa and have at least 56 semester hours of transferable credit with a cumulative grade point average of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale to be eligible for the award.

Alpha Beta Gamma

Members of Alpha Beta Gamma honors society who apply to GW are considered for academic tuition scholarships of $7,500 ($15,000 for two years). You must apply to enter GW for the fall semester on a full-time basis, present proof of membership in Alpha Beta Gamma and have at least 56 semester hours of transferable credit with a cumulative grade point average of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale to be eligible for the award.

Transfer Engineering Scholarship

Transfer students admitted to the School of Engineering and Applied Science with a minimum of three credit-hours of college-level chemistry or physics and six credit-hours of college-level calculus or higher mathematics may be considered for a Presidential Academic Scholarship. To be considered for a $16,000 tuition scholarship, you must have at least 30 hours of transferable credit with a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.

You must have at least 60 hours of transferable credit with a cumulative grade point average of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale to be considered for a $20,000 tuition scholarship. Preference is given to students who apply for the fall semester.

National Society of Collegiate Scholars

Members of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) Community College Scholars Program who apply to GW are considered for academic tuition scholarships of $10,000 ($20,000 for two years). To qualify for consideration you must:

  • be accepted as a transfer student from an NSCS community college chapter to enter GW for the fall semester on a full-time basis

  • present proof of membership in NSCS

  • have at least 56 semester hours of transferable credit from a community college with a cumulative grade point average of 3.6 on a 4.0 scale

Military and Veteran Applicants

Yellow Ribbon Program

GW participates in the Post-9/11 GI Bill's Yellow Ribbon Program, which allows academically qualified undergraduate veterans who are eligible for the program to attend GW for free.

ROTC Scholars

ROTC scholars may be eligible for awards toward the cost of GW campus housing and meals. Navy, Army and Air Force ROTC scholars who are new to the military service with majors in computer science, mathematics, chemistry, physics or engineering may be eligible for a $4,000 room and board award. Regardless of major, NROTC scholars with prior Navy experience may be eligible for awards up to the average cost of room and board.

International Applicants

Presidential International Scholarship

Any non-U.S. citizen or non-permanent resident who is admitted to GW as a first-year undergraduate for the fall semester and possesses strong academic credentials is eligible for consideration for a Presidential International Scholarship.

Automatic consideration will be given to eligible candidates at the time of admission, but priority is given to applicants who have admissions files that are complete by the application deadlines (Early Decision or Regular Decision). The value of the scholarship varies, but can cover full tuition.

Presidential Academic Scholarships

International freshman applicants who graduate from high schools in the U.S. are automatically considered for Presidential Academic Scholarships.

Freshman International Engineering Scholarships

The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences offers a generous program of scholarships through the Presidential Academic Scholarship Program and all international applicants are considered for them. You are required to enroll in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences to receive the award.