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UHD Merit Scholarships - Freshman

UHD Merit Scholarship - Freshman

Merit Four-Year Scholarships for Freshmen:

Benefits:

  • Merit scholarships of up to $2,000 per year, for four years = total: $8,000.
  • Scholarship will cover the cost of tuition/fees depending on financial aid eligibility, in addition to the $2,000.
  • Students can apply for membership in the UHD Honors Program and Scholars Academy.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • For new full-time, first-time-in-college students beginning in a fall semester only.
  • 3.5 or higher GPA or Class Rank must be within the top 16%-25% and SAT 1080/ACT 21 or higher.
  • Currently Pre-Nursing/RN to BSN students are not eligible for the Freshman Merit Scholarship.

Application Process:

  • Students who meet the eligibility criteria above are asked to complete Essay Topic A or B (in approximately 500-600 words).
    • Topic A: Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?
    • Topic B: Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself.
  • Please type your essay and email to: MeritScholarships@uhd.edu. Attaching essay as a PDF or Word document is preferred. Please include your full name and UHD Student ID number. If Student ID number is not known, please include your date of birth (DOB).
  • Deadline to apply, be admitted, and submit essay to UHD for consideration is October 21.
  • A committee reviews essay submissions for those who meet the eligibility criteria before a final list of new freshman students are identified and notified via email.
  • Notified students must accept the scholarship award by the deadline given.
  • Students who meet the eligibility criteria and submit essay are not guaranteed a merit scholarship as institutional funds are limited and contingent upon funding from one year to the next.
  • Historically, UHD awards no more than 25 Freshman Merit Scholarships each year.

Renewal Requirements:

  • Must be enrolled in 15 or more college credit hours each term and complete 30 credit hours each year to renew the scholarship for subsequent years, up to four years.
  • Maintain a 3.20 cumulative GPA by the end of each academic year. If your cumulative GPA drops below a 3.20 at the end of any academic year, you will no longer qualify to receive the scholarship in future semesters nor will the scholarship be reinstated in any subsequent semesters.

 

Distinguished Merit Four-Year Scholarships for Freshmen:

Benefits:

  • Merit scholarships of up to $3,000 per year, for four years = total: $12,000.
  • Scholarship will cover the cost of tuition/fees depending on financial aid eligibility, in addition to the $3,000.
  • Students can apply for membership in the UHD Honors Program and Scholars Academy.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • For full-time, first-time-in-college students only.
  • 3.5 or higher GPA or Class Rank Top 15% and SAT 1170/ACT 24 or higher.

Application Process:

  • The Distinguished Freshman Merit Scholarship is awarded through UHD’s University Honors Program.
  • Students are encouraged to review and apply for the Honors Program, and to reach out to the department with any additional questions at honors@uhd.edu.
  • Each fall the University Honors Program awards up to one dozen full four-year scholarships to highly qualified freshmen. Recipients are selected from the most qualified applicants of the fall freshmen cohort. Once awarded, the scholarships are renewable for a total of four years as long as students maintain eligibility.

Renewal Requirements:

  • Must be enrolled in 15 or more college credit hours each term and complete 30 credit hours each year to renew the scholarship for subsequent years, up to four years.
  • Maintain a 3.20 cumulative GPA by the end of each academic year. If your cumulative GPA drops below a 3.20 at the end of any academic year, you will no longer qualify to receive the scholarship in future semesters nor will the scholarship be reinstated in any subsequent semesters.

 

In addition to the specific criteria listed above, all students who receive scholarship offers must:

  • Submit a completed FAFSA (or TASFA if applicable) for the academic year; scholarship will be packaged with eligible federal and state aid.
  • Accept or decline award by the deadline listed on the offer letter.
  • Financial aid package and scholarship cannot exceed the cost of attendance.