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 $33,000 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 (IFMS)
Any prospective international freshman (first-year) student who is interested in entering The W in the Fall semester and is not eligible to submit the FAFSA may apply for this one-time merit scholarship. The award is based on the student's ACT/SAT score and grade point average (GPA). Ten incoming international freshmen will be selected, and the amount of each scholarship will be determined by the individual student’s ACT/SAT score and GPA.
Application Deadline for Fall 2025: May 1, 2025.
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
Rebecca Smith Scholarship
The Rebecca Smith Scholarship will cover equal tuition, fees, books, room and broad and renewed annually but not to exceed eight semesters for a freshman student provided they maintain the criteria specified below
The Rebecca Smith Scholarship is awarded to one entering full-time freshman student who meets the following criteria:
- Resident of the state of Mississippi
- Demonstrates financial need
- Enrolls in a minimum of 15 hours each of the 8 semesters
- Has a 3.0 GPA on a 4.00 GPA scale in high school and maintains a 3.0 GPA
The recipient is required to be a member of the Student Alumni Association (SAA) where they will work closely with Alumni and the Office of Development and Alumni gaining a unique understanding of how investing in higher education makes a difference.
Thank you for your interest, but we are not accepting applications at this time.
G. Halbert Uplift Scholarship
The G. Halbert Uplift Scholarship is awarded to one student who has been admitted to The W as a full-time freshman or first-year transfer student. Preference is given to African-American male students from Lowndes County (first preference) or Oktibbeha County (second preference) in Mississippi. The scholarship selection is based on the student's GPA and essay. The award provides $250 per semester to help support the recipient's education at The W.
The priority deadline to submit applications is August 1st for the following fall semester.
Jeraldine Pruden Scholarship
The Jeraldine Pruden Scholarship supports undergraduate students who demonstrate strong academic achievement and a commitment to pursuing a career in law. Preference is given to in-state students with a minimum 3.0 GPA who plan to attend law school. If no eligible in-state student is available, the scholarship may be awarded to an out-of-state student who meets the same academic and career goals. Recipients are selected by the University based on these criteria.
Alumni Scholarship
Mississippi students 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 $400.00 per year. Students must indicate on their admission application their parent(s) or grandparent(s) name and year of graduation to determine 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.
Mississippi University for Women Alumni Association (MUWAA) Scholarships
MUWAA Legacy Scholarship
The Mississippi University for Women Alumni Association's Legacy Scholarship is awarded to one family member of an alum who has been admitted to MUW as a new, full-time student. The MUWAA Legacy Scholarship selection is based on the student’s potential for academic and leadership success at MUW. Criteria should not include student's financial need.
Amount: $2,500 (divided equally between fall and spring semesters)
Culinary Arts Advisory Board Scholarship
The Culinary Arts Institute has the Culinary Arts Advisory Board Scholarship which can be awarded each fall semester. The annual award is supported by funds from an endowed scholarship funded by the MUW Alumni Association from the proceeds of the Southern Grace cookbook and through contributions to the scholarship.
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 The W; and
- Letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or counselor.
MUWAA First Generation Scholarship
The Mississippi University for Women Alumni Association’s First Generation College Student Scholarship is established to support a First Generation College Student and to help alleviate some of the financial concerns associated with furthering their education at MUW. The University recognizes a First Generation (First Gen) student by using a student’s eligibility for the federal Pell Grant (meaning that if a student qualifies for Pell that will equate to first-generation status) and/or having the student attest that neither of their parents has completed a 4-year degree.
Amount: $1,000/Year
The priority deadline to submit applications to the MUWAA is June 1st for the following fall semester.
Out-of-State Students
The W does not charge out of state tuition! All students pay the same tuition rate regardless of their residency.
Women’s College
The Women’s College curriculum is built on The W’s strong foundation of courses across majors that focus on women’s and gender issues. The W’s expert faculty help you increase your gender awareness while you develop community with other Women’s College students and gain support for developing as a leader and pursuing your own goals. Students complete one of two pathways, 1884 Scholar or 1884 Fellow. The name of each path honors The W’s creation in 1884 as the first public college for women in the United States.
All MUW students regardless of gender are eligible to enroll in the Women’s College. Students receiving Women’s College scholarships must complete all the requirements as either an 1884 Scholar or an 1884 Fellow, including one or more hours of course credit per semester until all course requirements are met, after which they must complete two activity points per semester awarded for program attendance, volunteer opportunity participation, etc. Both 1884 Scholars and 1884 Fellows receive special recognition at graduation.
Women’s College Curriculum and Scholarship Application
The 1884 Scholar Scholarships and 1884 Fellow Scholarships are awarded in two rounds for incoming students. The deadline for the first round is March 1 and the deadline for the second is April 15.
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.
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). 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. Students at the point of admission will have 8 semesters of award eligibility. 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.