Freshman Scholarships
Freshman Scholarships
The W cares about all of our students and their potential. That's why we've created financial awards that recognize all levels of academic achievement and provide support for your studies. We'll be happy to talk to you about what The W can do to encourage your success!
*SAT Scores listed here are concorded from the 2019 ACT/SAT concordance tables. The state of Mississippi requires all scores to be converted to pre-March 2016 score ranges.
To qualify for a scholarship award at The W, your ACT/SAT score and your college preparatory curriculum (CPC) grade point average from high school are weighed to determine your award range. Students must also be eligible to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All merit awards begin with at least an 18 ACT or 940 SAT and a 3.0 CPC GPA or a 20 ACT or 1030 SAT and a 2.75 CPC GPA. Priority deadlines for awards are May 1. Students admitted after May 1 will be considered for awards if funds are still available.
Our four levels of W Freshmen Awards are:
Students with 24 to 47 hours at point of admission have 6 semesters of award eligibility and students with 48 hours or more at point of admission have 4 semesters of award eligibility.
How much could The W award me?
Use our Freshman Cost Calculator to see how much you could receive in scholarships and grants based on your GPA and ACT score.
Residential Honors Program
Students receiving The W's two highest levels of scholarship, the Centennial and the Honors Awards, participate in the Gordy Honors Residential Program, including Study Abroad in the summer after the sophomore year, and complete the four-year honors curriculum.
The Centennial Scholarship is The W’s most prestigious scholarship and covers the cost of full tuition, room and board, and a small book stipend. Recipients are required to participate in the Ina E. Gordy Honors College, live in the Honors Residence Hall and participate in the Honors Summer Study Abroad Program after their sophomore year. This scholarship does include a one-time award of $5,000 to be used toward the study abroad program sponsored by the Ina E. Gordy Honors College. Ten Centennial scholarships are awarded each year. Receiving this award replaces any prior award offers.
The Honors Award Scholarship is The W’s second most prestigious scholarship. The average award is $29,000 over a four-year period. Recipients are required to participate in the Ina E. Gordy Honors College, live in the Honors Residence Hall and participate in the Honors Summer Study Abroad Program after their sophomore year. This scholarship does include a one-time award of $2,500 to be used toward the study abroad program sponsored by the Ina E. Gordy Honors College. Five to seven Honors Award scholarships are awarded each year. Receiving this award replaces any prior award offers.
Students are notified when they apply to The W if they are qualified to be interviewed for these competitive scholarships. To be considered, students interview while on campus for Award Recognition Day or by special arrangement.
Additional Scholarship Opportunities
International Freshman Merit Scholarship
Any prospective W International freshman (first year) student who is interested in entering The W in the Fall semester, who is not eligible to submit the FAFSA, and will be eligible to apply for a merit award, based on ACT/SAT score and grade point average, may apply for this one-time merit scholarship. Ten incoming International freshmen students will be awarded the International Freshmen Merit Scholarship (IFMS) and the amount of the scholarship awarded to each student will be based on the individual student’s ACT/SAT score and grade point average.
The deadline to apply for the Fall 2023 term is May 1, 2023.
Valedictorian/Salutatorian
The W awards these one year scholarships to first-time college students who were valedictorians or salutatorians of their high school class. The award for salutatorian is $400 and the award for valedictorian is $500. These awards are one time awards over a one year period.
Early College High School Student Awards
All students who attend an Early College High School will be admitted and awarded under The W’s freshman award structure (see above grid).
If students are members of Phi Theta Kappa, Early College High School graduates may be awarded the Phi Theta Kappa award. This award in the amount of $2,000 per year, is reserved for Phi Theta Kappa members with at least a 3.0 overall transferable GPA and 24 transferable hours. Proof of Phi Theta Kappa membership is required. Students with 24 to 47 hours at point of admission have 6 semesters of award eligibility and students with 48 hours or more at point of admission have 4 semesters of award eligibility.
Students who earn an Associate of Arts Degree from EMCC, are a Lowndes County resident, and have a 2.5 overall transferable GPA are eligible to apply for the EMCC Tuition Guarantee award that will cover the remaining cost of tuition for four semesters at The W after any university awards and grants are applied. Students must meet all requirements as listed on the EMCC Tuition Guarantee link below and submit the form to the Office of Admissions to be considered.
Eagle Scout & Gold Award
The W awards a scholarship to incoming freshmen beginning in Fall 2023 who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America) or the Gold Award (Girl Scouts of America). The award is $1,000 per year and may be renewed for up to 4 years if the student maintains a GPA of 2.5 or higher. This scholarship may be stacked with other awards.
First Generation College Student Ambassador Scholarship
A first-generation student is one whose mom nor dad completed a Bachelor’s degree. The First Generation Ambassador Scholarship is for those first-year first-generation freshmen students who qualify for the Whitfield or Franklin scholarships and would like to support their fellow first-generation classmates by helping to facilitate special events and programming for their cohort. Ambassadors will be part of a small group of student leaders that will assist with events like workshops and the First-Gen Celebration.
First Generation College Student Ambassador Scholarship Application
Child or Grandchild of an Alumna/us
Residents of Mississippi whose parent(s) or grandparent(s) graduated from The W and are an active member of the MUW Alumni Association are eligible to receive this renewable scholarship in the amount of $400 per year. Students must notify the Office of Admissions and indicate parent(s) or grandparent(s) name and year of graduation to determine eligibility. Students with 24 to 47 hours at point of admission have 6 semesters of award eligibility and students with 48 hours or more at point of admission have 4 semesters of award eligibility.
Is your parent/grandparent an ACTIVE member of the Alumni Association?
Alumni Scholarship are available to children and grandchildren of active members of the MUW Alumni Association. To be considered an active member, alumni must make a donation to the MUW Alumni Association.
MUWAA Legacy Scholarship
The Legacy Scholarship is awarded to one family member of an alumna/us who has been admitted to The W as a new, full-time student. The Legacy Scholarship is a $2,500 award. MUWAA Legacy Scholarship selection will be based on the student’s potential for academic and leadership success at The W.
The priority deadline to submit applications to the MUWAA is April 1 for the following fall semester. Applications must be postmarked by that date. Applications should include:
- Student’s complete résumé, including academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and work and volunteer activities;
- Statement describing why she or he has decided to attend MUW; and
- Letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or counselor.
Out-of-State Students
The W does not charge out of state tuition! All students pay the same tuition rate regardless of their residency.
Departmental Scholarships
In addition to the academic and need-based scholarships that are awarded to you during the admissions process, many of the academic programs and departments at The W have separate scholarships that are exclusively for their majors. These scholarships have their own application, deadline, and selection process.
Additional Financial Aid Options
Your financial aid package will likely include a variety of options, scholarships are just one part. Learn more about federal financial aid, state financial aid, grants, student work-study programs, and military benefits. If you require student loans, you can get more information on that process at the Financial Aid Center. For additional information about loans, grants and state aid, contact the Financial Aid Center at 877-462-8439 ext. 7114.
All scholarships listed are for undergraduate students only.
Most MUW scholarships and awards are for a period of one academic year (fall and spring only). However, some can be renewed for three additional academic years, or until graduation, whichever occurs first. In order to receive and renew scholarships, all scholarship recipients must earn at least 12 hours per semester at The W and maintain a 2.5 or higher MUW cumulative grade point average per academic year. Centennial and Honors Award recipients must earn at least 12 hours per semester and maintain a 3.0 or higher. Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to have their award renewed. Students may receive more than one type of scholarship to attend The W. However, the total W award package, including state, federal, institutional, and private funds, may not exceed total cost of attendance. Awards will be adjusted should the total amount exceed this cost.
The total amount of institutional scholarships awarded by the university may not exceed the total cost of tuition, room, board and a book stipend.