Scholarships for Transfer Students

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Are There Scholarships for Transfer Students?

There are some great college scholarships for eligible students who plan to transfer. Many accredited four year colleges offer them so it’s easier for students to make a change. Some schools may award scholarships for community college transfer students and even out of state admitted students. In addition, many promising students receive scholarships from other sources. These may include university departments, nonprofits, honor societies and private companies. 

University of Denver says 70% of undergraduate students who transfer in get some type of merit financial aid. Transfer college students may receive a merit scholarship ranging from $5,000 to $21,000. If you keep up good standing, the amount you receive is renewable for all 4 years. Eligibility is based on your high school GPA and test scores.

Students transferring from a community college may also find scholarship opportunities. University of North Florida offers several Community College Transfer Scholarships. It is open to accepted state residents who have an associate’s degree from an accredited two year college in Florida. Eligible applicants must also have a 2.5 GPA or higher.

How Do You Qualify for a College Transfer Scholarship? 

As a college transfer student, you may qualify for college scholarships based on financial need or merit. For need based awards, you must file a FAFSA. You must apply by a priority deadline. Merit scholarships are about academic excellence. For these, you must meet the school’s grade point average and test score range.

Eligible applicants may also need a certain number of completed college credit hours, earned at an accredited institution. Criteria might also include full time enrollment. This may equal from 12 to 15 semester hours per academic year, depending on the school.

Some scholarship application might also ask for the following info:

  • Letter of acceptance
  • School Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Copy of visa if you’re a non U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident card
  • Essay

10 Transfer Student Scholarships You Should Apply for in 2021

Here are 10 scholarships for transfer students who plan to switch schools. If you meet eligibility rules, apply soon before the deadline.

  1. University of Denver Merit Scholarships for Transfer Students
  2. McMurry University Transfer Scholarship
  3. DePaul University Transfer Scholarship 
  4. Aquinas College Transfer Scholarship
  5. Concordia College of New York Fortress Grant for Transfer Students
  6. Concordia College of New York Scholarship for Transfer Students
  7. North Park University Academic Scholarship for International Transfer Students
  8. University of Louisiana at Lafayette Associate Degree Academic Transfer
  9. Stevenson University Honors Scholarship for Transfer Students
  10. Drury University Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Scholarship

Which Colleges Offer Transfer Scholarships?

Many accredited colleges like University of Maryland and University of Miami offer scholarships to students transferring in. Some awards may cover partial or full tuition and fees. You may also receive full ride scholarship awards. They typically pay tuition, fees, housing and a monthly sum for living costs or travel.

The Maryland Transfer Scholarship provides partial tuition awards ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. It is granted equally over four consecutive semesters. Only in state students transferring to the University of Maryland from a two year or four year college are eligible.

All transfer applicants are automatically considered for the President’s Scholarship at University of Miami. Award amounts range from $10,000 to $15,000 annually if you have a competitive GPA of 3.5 or higher. The school also strives to maximize need based financial aid for eligible students making the move. Their goal is to meet 100% of unmet need. 

Can You Transfer Your Scholarship to a Different College?

Scholarships don’t usually transfer from one college to the next. So if you received a scholarship from college A, it won’t transfer to college B. The new school you transfer to may calculate financial aid from scratch. However, if the scholarship for transfer students comes from a nonprofit or outside source, you may be able to transfer the award as long as you continue to meet their terms. 

Why Do College Students Transfer Between Schools?

Students transfer colleges for a variety of reasons and it’s more common than you might think. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were over 1.3 million transfer in students at some 3,420 schools in the U.S. as of 2019. One of the main motivators is to save money. The average cost of a public two year college, cites the NCES, was $9,400 vs $14,600 at a four year school. 

As a result, many students start by enrolling in an associate’s degree program. This gets some of the general college coursework out of the way. The transferable credit hours then reduce the time and cost of a bachelor’s degree from a four year college. For others, the reasons may be less about finances and more about school fit or switching majors. Many students may also transfer due to life and academic challenges because of COVID.  

List of Scholarships for Transfer Students

Check out our list of scholarships worth below.

Spring Arbor University Dean’s Transfer Scholarship

U.S. college transfer students with a grade point average of 3.65 or higher will receive this award upon admission to Spring Arbor University in Michigan.
Award Amount

Total: $30000

Awards: 30

Deadline

Deadline: 

Bellarmine University Transfer Grant

U.S. students planning to transfer to Bellarmine University in Kentucky are eligible for this award. Students must have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
Award Amount

Total: $19000

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: February 01

Bellarmine University Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship

U.S. students planning to transfer to Bellarmine University in Kentucky are eligible for this award. Students must have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and must be a member of Phi Theta Kappa.
Award Amount

Total: $29500

Awards: 4

Deadline

Deadline: June 01

D’Youville College Transfer Achievement Scholarship

U.S. undergraduate students planning to transfer to D’Youville are eligible for this award. Students must have a grade point average of 2.75 or higher.
Award Amount

Total: $18000

Awards: 20

Deadline

Deadline: 

Ashland University Transfer Student Scholarship

Transfer students who have completed 15 or more college credit hours and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher are eligible for this award. Students must plan to transfer to Ashland University in Ohio.
Award Amount

Total: $22000

Awards: 20

Deadline

Deadline: 

Ascent $1,000 Community Champions Scholarship

Enter for your chance to win Ascent’s $1,000 Giveaway STEP 1: Follow @AscentFunding and “Like” their Instagram post. STEP 2: Leave a comment below sharing different ways you plan to set yourself up for success and show your peers support. Be sure to end your comment with #AscentSponsored. STEP 3: Complete the contact form then “Submit” your entry.
Award Amount

Total: $1000

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: November 15

Crofton Cares $25,000 Scholarship

Eligible students must: Reside in either the Tampa (FL) Metropolitan Area or Cleveland (OH) Metropolitan Area Be a high school senior or older Have a minimum, unweighted high school GPA of 3.5 and a minimum 1280 SAT (or 28 ACT) Be a leader or actively engaged in their school and/or community Demonstrate financial need
Award Amount

Total: $25000

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: April 15