Tuition & Financial Aid
Scholarships
Scholarships are money you don’t pay back. When you apply to MVU, you’re automatically considered for many of them, and you can earn more with an essay, an audition, or a recommendation.
Good to know
How MVU scholarships work
- Apply to MVU and Admissions reviews you for scholarships automatically.
- MVU academic scholarships go to full-time (12–18 credit hours) incoming undergraduates in face-to-face programs.
- The package you accept before your first year can continue for up to 10 semesters if you keep the required GPA.
- Qualify for something special, like an Eagle Scout or alumni award? Tell Admissions before you’re admitted.
MVU scholarships
Find the awards that fit you.
Amounts are per year unless noted. Questions about any award? Contact the Office of Financial Aid at 660-831-4049 or financialaid@moval.edu.
Considered when you apply
Amount varies
Academic scholarships
Based on your GPA and test scores, for full-time incoming undergraduates in face-to-face programs.
Amount varies
MVU Resident/Commuter Scholarship
Available to students accepted to MVU.
Amount varies
Talent Scholarship
For your talents in areas like academics, fine arts, leadership, and athletics.
Amount varies
Drive 60 Scholarship
For students from a high school within 60 miles of campus. Enroll the semester after you graduate, stay a full-time commuter, and meet regular admission requirements (2.3 GPA).
Compete or apply
Full tuition
Valley Select Scholarship
An invitation-only virtual competition for high school seniors with a 3.75 GPA or higher. It recognizes students with strong academics and a service mindset.
Amount varies
Valley’s Got Talent
A yearly theatre and dance audition for high school seniors. Winners and top performers in each category earn major scholarships.
$500
Loren Gruber Scholarship (Literary Studies)
Requires an ACT of 21 or higher (or SAT Critical Reading and Math of 976 or higher) and a 3.0 high school GPA.
Write 500 words about a favorite book, poem, play, essay, blog, or film and how it shaped your goals. Email it as a PDF to financialaid@moval.edu by midnight, May 15.
$1,000
Virginia Zank Scholarship (Writing Studies)
Same test score and GPA requirements as the Loren Gruber Scholarship.
Write 500 words about your relationship to writing: what and why you write, and your goals in and after college. Email it as a PDF to financialaid@moval.edu by midnight, May 15.
By recommendation or connection
$1,000
Alumni Scholarship
For new students who live on campus. Have an MVU graduate send a letter of recommendation to Admissions before May 15. Six are awarded each year.
Up to $5,000
Board of Trustees Scholarship
A member of the MVU Board of Trustees must recommend you before your first scholarship offer.
Amount varies
Eagle Scout Scholarship
For Eagle Scouts who apply and are accepted to MVU. Send proof of your Eagle Scout status before your first scholarship offer.
$500
MVU Alumni Legacy Scholarship
For graduating high school seniors who are children or grandchildren of MVU graduates and show strong leadership and character.
Endowed scholarships
Awards made possible by alumni and friends.
Gifts from MVU alumni and friends fund endowed scholarships, opening doors for students who might not otherwise be able to attend. Many have specific criteria.
Apply by June 15
The Endowed Scholarship Application opens for a limited time each year and is due June 15 before the school year you want the award. Contact the Office of Financial Aid to find out when it opens.
Loren C. Gruber Endowed Honors Award
Up to $500 for current students in good standing in the Honors College who have completed an Honors thesis. The Honors College selects the recipient each year.
Outside scholarships
Add to your aid from other sources.
Scholarships from other organizations can stack on top of your MVU aid, within your cost of attendance. Tell the Office of Financial Aid about every one you receive.
$300
Chamber of Commerce
For first-time students from Marshall High School or Saline County. Three are awarded each year: two to traditional students and one to a nontraditional student.
Up to $6,000, shared
Gwendolyn Allen Scholarship
For African American students accepted to MVU with community volunteer and leadership experience. Apply with an essay, your work and volunteer history, honors, and a reference letter, before your first MVU award offer.
Up to $21,300
Horatio Alger Scholarship
Sponsored by the Horatio Alger Association and MVU for national winners and runners-up.
$250–$2,500
National Merit
For National Merit Finalists.
Amount varies
National Presbyterian
For Presbyterian Church members who apply for the National Presbyterian Scholarship. Applications must be postmarked by December 1.
Amount varies
Scholarships for military families
Federal Student Aid’s list of scholarships for service members, veterans, and their families.
Search for more. Free tools can match you with thousands of scholarships: try College Board’s BigFuture scholarship search, the Sallie Mae scholarship search (also for graduate students), or Study.com student scholarships (deadline November 1). Never pay to apply for a scholarship.
Good to know
Scholarship rules, in plain language.
A few policies decide how scholarships combine and how you keep them.
Your total aid can’t be more than your cost of attendance
All scholarships together can’t exceed your cost of attendance. MVU scholarships can be used for tuition, room, board, and fees.
Most MVU scholarships can’t be combined
In most cases, institutional scholarships don’t stack. Students with a half-tuition, full-tuition, or varsity scholarship can’t receive other MVU scholarships, and a full-tuition scholarship plus outside scholarships can’t exceed the year’s tuition. MVU aid may also be reduced if you receive help from outside sources.
Keeping your scholarship
The scholarship package you accept before your first year can continue for up to 10 semesters, as long as you keep the GPA it requires. Athletic and talent awards can change based on your performance or participation.
Dropping below full time, switching to fully online classes, or moving off campus can reduce or end MVU scholarships. See Scholarship Adjustments in the catalog.
Online students
Students in fully online programs aren’t eligible for Marshall campus institutional scholarships. Explore MVU Online and grants instead.
Timing matters
Scholarship changes or additions need to be made before your first award offer. Let Admissions know about any scholarship you may qualify for before you’re admitted.
Questions?
Real people, ready to help.
Financial Aid can answer questions about scholarships and your full aid package. Admissions can help you apply to MVU.
Office of Financial Aid
FAFSA, scholarships, grants, loans, and your aid offer.
Ferguson Center
Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Office of Admissions
Questions about applying to MVU.
Keep exploring
More ways to pay for college.
Most students combine several types of aid. Start with the FAFSA, then see what else fits. Back to Tuition & Financial Aid
Your scholarship search starts with your application.
Apply to MVU and you’re automatically considered for academic scholarships.