All admitted students, regardless of nationality, are considered for academic/merit scholarships for which they are eligible. In general, admitted students awarded scholarships have excellent academic credentials and exhibit exceptional leadership skills.
Most merit-based scholarships do not require an application for financial aid. However, we strongly encourage merit award candidates to complete the forms required for need-based aid, if they believe that they may need financial aid in addition to their merit award. Merit award recipients who have applied for need-based financial aid will be considered for any need-based aid for which they qualify beyond the amount of the merit award.
The Admissions Committee makes all merit-based scholarship decisions and notifies students approximately six weeks after March 1. Your admissions application is your application for a merit scholarship. No separate scholarship application is required except for the AU United Methodist Scholarship and Tuition Exchange Scholarship.
Transfer Merit Awards
Deadlines:
- Fall Applicants: March 1
- Spring Applicants: November 1
Baseline Requirements:
Transfer applicants with a minimum GPA of 3.5 or higher will be considered for a merit based scholarship and students with 45 credits or more will have priority consideration. Merit scholarships are awarded to the strongest applicants in the pool. Transfer scholarship amounts range from $6,000 to $15,000 per year and are renewable for 2 years only.
- AU Presidential Scholarship
- AU Deans' Scholarship
- AU Leadership Scholarship
- United Methodist Scholarship
Eligibility: Children of an active, ordained Methodist minister. Applicants must submit a letter identifying themselves as the children of a Methodist minister. Contact Christine Gettings, Kay Spiritual Life Center Operations Administrator at gettings@american.edu or at 202-885-3321. - Athletic Scholarships
Eligibility: Outstanding transfer athletes. Contact Athletics at 202-885-3000. - Tuition Exchange Scholarships
Eligibility: Students whose parents are employed by one of over 160 colleges participating in the Tuition Exchange Program. For information call 202-885-6000 and ask to speak with the Tuition Exchange liaison. Transfer students must submit their Tuition Exchange application by March 1. - Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
Eligibility: Transfer applicants who are members of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society. Students must identify themselves as PTK members on the admissions application and provide a PTK advisor letter of recommendation. PTK membership alone does not guarantee a scholarship. Academic credentials must be competitive within the applicant pool.
