Merit Scholarships
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–review aid options for international students. If you receive GW employee benefits, you are not eligible to receive a merit scholarship.
Award Requirements
If you’re a first-year student and receive a merit scholarship, your award will continue for up to 10 consecutive semesters as long as you maintain continuous full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress toward your degree. Unless otherwise indicated, all scholarships and merit awards can only be used toward tuition expenses.
Awards
- First Year Applicants
Presidential Academic Scholarships
All first-year applicants are considered automatically for these tuition scholarships. Presidential Academic Scholarships are awarded to the most competitive applicants in the pool.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Scholarship
First-year applicants who are on track to graduate secondary school with an IB Diploma are automatically considered for the IB Scholarship.
Cisneros Scholars
Cisneros Scholars take part in an innovative leadership development program throughout their entire undergraduate career. Students must apply on the Common Application and are selected based on academic achievement and a demonstrated commitment to service and leadership in the Latino community. For more, visit the Cisneros Scholars page.
Corcoran Scholars
Corcoran Scholars are supported in their artistic pursuits as they explore a diversity of practices and interpretations across disciplines, gaining a deeper understanding of the creative process and its place in a greater cultural context. Students must apply on the Common Application. For more, visit the Corcoran Scholars page.
FIRST Robotics Scholarship
FIRST Robotics Scholarship Students who have participated on a FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) team may apply for the FIRST Robotics Scholarship. Students must submit an additional application to be considered. For more information, visit GW's FIRST Robotics Scholarship page.
Engineering Scholarships
The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences offers a generous program of scholarships through the Presidential Academic Scholarship Program and all applicants to the school are considered for these awards. You are required to enroll in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences to receive the award.
Clark Engineering Scholarship
Outstanding engineering students may apply for the Clark Engineering Scholars program, which seeks students with strong leadership skills and a keen interest in the engineering profession. Each student selected will be awarded an annual scholarship, renewable each year based on academic performance, financial need, and participation in the program.
To be eligible, a student must be:
- a U.S. Citizen entering their first year of college
- studying full-time in pursuit of a B.S. from SEAS
Scholars are selected based on academic performance, engagement in engineering, financial need, and leadership skills
Established in January 2011 with a generous gift from the late Mr. A. James Clark, Eng.D. ’10, the Clark Engineering Scholars program includes a leadership boot camp, seminars, community service, internship opportunities, and study abroad.
District Scholars
GW's District Scholars program makes it possible for GW to meet full demonstrated financial need for qualifying residents of the District of Columbia. Find more information and the complete criteria on GW's District Scholars page.
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 D.C. 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.
Students must be nominated by a high school/CBO counselor to be considered. Find more information on GW's SJT Scholarship page.
Scottish Rite Scholarship
A limited number of merit scholarships, up to a maximum of half of tuition costs, established through a gift of the Scottish Rite Foundation, are awarded annually to full-time undergraduates at GW. To be eligible, an applicant must have a relative, living or deceased, who is or was in good standing with the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Applicants who are members of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in good standing may also be considered. Students must also have strong academic credentials as submitted with the application for admission and full-time attendance at GW. Students must submit an additional application to be considered. The Scottish Rite Scholarship application is available from October 1 through February 1 each year.
- Transfer Applicants
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.
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.
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
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. Preference is given to students who apply for the fall semester.
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.
To be considered for a $20,000 tuition scholarship, you must have at least 60 hours of transferable credit with a cumulative grade point average of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale.
Scottish Rite Scholarship
A limited number of merit scholarships, up to half of tuition costs, established through a gift of the Scottish Rite Foundation are awarded annually to full-time undergraduates at GW. To be eligible, a father, grandfather, brother, uncle or student must be affiliated with the Scottish Rite Foundation. Students must also have strong academic credentials as submitted with the application of admission and full-time attendance at GW. Students must submit an additional application to be considered. The Scottish Rite Scholarship application is available from October 1 through February 1 each year.
- Military & Veteran Applicants
GW Military and Veteran Services Processes Benefits Offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs
Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill
Chapter 31: Veterans Readiness and Employment
Chapter 33: Post 9-11 GI Bill
Chapter 35: Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Program
Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill: Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program (also known as Federal Tuition Assistance or FTA)
Yellow Ribbon Program
This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree-granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund tuition expenses that exceed the maximum base pay amount.
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.
Please visit Military & Veteran Services for more information.
- 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 first-year applicants who graduate from high schools in the U.S. are automatically considered for Presidential Academic Scholarships.
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 to the school are considered for them. You are required to enroll in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences to receive the award.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Scholarship
First-year applicants who are on track to graduate secondary school with an IB Diploma are automatically considered for the IB Scholarship.
You Are Welcome Here Scholarship
We are excited to offer two scholarships each year to international applicants who are dedicated to furthering the #YouAreWelcomeHere message by bridging intercultural divides. Applicants will need to answer a short essay question or present a multimedia project about their ideas for advancing intercultural learning and understanding on their future campus. The scholarship award will cover at least 50% of the tuition costs for the application year. Applicants who wish to be considered for this scholarship are also required to submit a CSS Profile with their application. Read more details about the scholarship requirements and the application process.