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.

Niagara University Transfer Scholarship

This award is available to U.S. undergraduate students who plan to transfer to Niagara University in New York. The student must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Award Amount

Total: $56000

Awards: 200

Deadline

Deadline: 

Ashland University – Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Student Scholarship

U.S. transfer students who are members of Phi Theta Kappa and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher are eligible for this award. Students must have an associates degree.
Award Amount

Total: $4000

Awards: 20

Deadline

Deadline: 

Ashland University – Alpha Beta Gamma Transfer Student Scholarship

U.S. transfer students who are members of Alpha Beta Gamma and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher are eligible for this award. Students must have an associates degree.
Award Amount

Total: $2000

Awards: 20

Deadline

Deadline: 

Belhaven University Academic Scholarship

U.S. and international freshmen and transfer students who are admitted to Belhaven University are automatically considered for this award. Students must demonstrate academic achievement.
Award Amount

Total: $11500

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: February 01

Augsburg College Transfer Regents’ Scholarship

This award is for U.S. and International undergraduate students who are planning to transfer to Augsburg College full time. The student must have a grade point average of 2.75 or above based on one year or more of completed college coursework.
Award Amount

Total: $48000

Awards: 60

Deadline

Deadline: 

FAU Transfer Educational Achievement Award (TEAA)

This award is available for U.S. students who are transferring from Florida College System institutions to Florida Atlantic University as juniors. The student must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and must demonstrate financial need.
Award Amount

Total: $3000

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: November 01

FAU Honors/Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship

This award is available to U.S. students who will graduate from a Florida College System institution and plan to transfer to Florida Atlantic University. The student must be a graduate of an Honors Program or be a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Award Amount

Total: $3200

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: November 01

Niagara University Transfer Award

This award is available to U.S. undergraduate students who plan to transfer to Niagara University in New York. The student must have a grade point average of 2.5 to 2.99.
Award Amount

Total: $36000

Awards: 200

Deadline

Deadline: 

Athens State University Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship

This undergraduate award is for U.S. students who reside in Alabama and are current members of Phi Theta Kappa. The student must a have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, as well as a minimum of 36 transfer credit hours, and plan to enroll in Athens State University in Alabama immediately after completing coursework at the two-year college level.
Award Amount

Total: $10000

Awards: 10

Deadline

Deadline: March 31

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Associate Degree Academic Transfer Scholarship

This award is for U.S. students who are transferring to the University of Louisiana Lafayette after earning an associate’s degree. Students must be residents of Louisiana and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Award Amount

Total: $1800

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: July 01