Dillard University Scholarships (2026–2027)

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Last Updated on November 1, 2026
What This Page Covers:
  • Tuition, housing, and average family net price
  • Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
  • Flagship and hidden-gem awards
  • Honors and stacking strategy

📊 Admissions Snapshot

  • Acceptance Rate: ~42%
  • Middle 50% ACT: 18-22
  • Middle 50% SAT: 970-1200
  • Average GPA: N/A
🎓 What Makes Dillard Different

Dillard is a small private HBCU in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans, about 1,100 students, with a founding seat in UNCF and roots going back to 1869. The price works differently than at most privates: every family pays the same sticker, there’s no in-state discount, and Dillard locks tuition for two years at a time. The scholarship grid is simple to read, but the two biggest awards behave very differently from the rest, so read the gotchas below before you plan around them.

Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →

📌 Dillard University at a Glance

🏆 Full tuition, room and board possible (limited, first come)
Average Net Price
$21,842/year
Average paid.
Automatic Merit
$6,000/yr up to full tuition, room and board
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
11 opportunities
8 automatic · 3 hidden gem
Typical Qualifiers
GPA 2.5+; ACT 18+ / SAT 960+
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-optional (scores needed for top 2 awards)
Scores needed for some merit tiers
Scores required for competitive awards
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Dec 1 • FAFSA: TBD
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
University (tuition, room, board) & Presidential (tuition)
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Dillard (Read This First)

  • The two biggest awards are first come, first served. University (tuition, room and board) and Presidential (tuition) need ACT or SAT scores on file and an acceptance by December 1, plus a short essay. Spots are limited, so a student who qualifies in spring can find them gone.
  • Test-optional caps out at $10,000. No scores means no shot at University or Presidential. But for some students, skipping a weak score actually pays more. A 3.65 GPA with no scores gets $10,000, while the same student sending a 19 ACT drops to $8,000. Run both columns before you send anything.
  • The SAT door to the top award is wider. University asks for a 27 ACT or a 1220 SAT, and a 1220 lines up with roughly a 25 ACT. If your student is close, the SAT may be the better bet.
  • Keeping it is harder than getting it. The 2026-27 agreement requires a 3.5 GPA to keep University and a 3.2 for Presidential, plus 24 credit hours every year. Dillard’s own FAQ still shows an older 3.0, so go by the agreement.
  • Outside money may swap, not stack. Dillard can replace its own scholarship with an outside award that covers the same costs. Ask how any outside scholarship will be applied before you celebrate.

FAQ

Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Dillard University is test-optional for admission, but scholarships can work differently (see the next question).

Do you need test scores for scholarships at Dillard University? Test-optional students can earn up to the $10,000 Dean's tier. University and Presidential need ACT or SAT scores on file by Dec 1.

What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 18-22; SAT: 970-1200.

Average net price? About $21,842/year after aid.

Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.

Sources:
Dillard Bleu Devils Athletics: https://www.dillardbleudevils.com/
UNCF: Dillard University: https://uncf.org/member-colleges/dillard-university
Dillard Institutional Scholarships: https://www.dillard.edu/financial-aid/institutional-scholarships/
Dillard 2026-27 Scholarship/Grant Agreement: https://www.dillard.edu/wp-content/uploads/Scholarship-Agreement.pdf
Dillard Outside Scholarships: https://www.dillard.edu/financial-aid/outside-scholarships/
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

💰 Cost of Attendance at Dillard University: 2026–2027 Rates

Figures verified against official sources in November 2026.

📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Dillard University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.

Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $700 to $1,900 more than the total below.

✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.

All students: billed cost per year
$37,110
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees $23,918
Housing & meals (typical) $13,192
Total billed cost $37,110

Average federal net price: $21,842 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.

Dillard’s Two-Year Tuition Freeze

Dillard prices tuition by entering class. Each new group of freshmen pays the same tuition for their first two years, then can see one increase for the last two. The most recent published rate is for the Fall 2025 class ($10,059 per semester plus a $1,900 mandatory fee per semester). Dillard hasn’t posted the Fall 2026 class rate yet, so treat the numbers above as a close estimate and budget a little cushion for junior and senior years.

FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Dillard University

Why is the in-state price the same as out-of-state?
Dillard is private, so there’s no state discount. Everyone pays the same sticker price. Louisiana families still come out ahead because TOPS and the GO Grant can follow the student to Dillard, which out-of-state families can’t use. Nearly half of Dillard’s freshmen come from outside Louisiana.

Does Dillard take the Academic Common Market or any out-of-state tuition break?
No. Those programs are for public universities, and Dillard doesn’t charge an out-of-state premium in the first place. Your savings come from Dillard’s merit grid and need-based aid, not a reciprocity deal.

What does housing actually cost?
Room and meals are billed together. In the 2025-26 schedule, a standard double runs $6,496 a semester, triples are $6,063, and singles go up to $9,151 in the newest building. Every resident also pays a $200 renter’s insurance fee for the year. The table above uses a double plus that fee, which matches Dillard’s own budget.

What costs do the scholarships NOT cover?
Even the biggest award leaves some bills. Dillard’s 2026-27 Scholarship Agreement says mandatory fees (about $3,800 a year), housing fees, lab fees and assessment fees aren’t covered. The tuition schedule also lists a student health insurance fee ($1,100 in 2025-26), a one-time $150 enrollment fee, and a $650 nursing fee for nursing students. Ask whether the health insurance charge can be waived if your student is on your plan.

Is the average net price really about $21,800?
Yes. The federal average for first-year students who got grant aid was $21,842 in 2023-24. It runs from about $19,800 for families earning under $30,000 to about $27,000 for families over $110,000. A strong grid award or TOPS can pull your number well below that.

When does the bill have to be settled?
Dillard’s clearance deadline for fall is August 1. Your balance has to be at zero, or on a payment plan, by then. If it isn’t, Dillard can drop your class schedule and housing assignment the next day.

Sources:
https://www.dillard.edu/about/administration/academic-affairs/tuition-and-fees/
https://www.dillard.edu/wp-content/uploads/tuition-and-fees-2025-26.pdf
https://www.dillard.edu/admissions-aid/cost-and-attendance/
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=158802

📅 Dillard Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)

  • Early fall of senior year: Apply and send official ACT or SAT scores if you’re using them.
  • December 1: Scores on file and admitted to be considered for University and Presidential. These go first come, first served.
  • As soon as the FAFSA opens: File it. Louisiana’s GO Grant is handed out first come.
  • After award letters go out: You get one chance to request a review of your scholarship.
  • July 1, 2027 (Louisiana students): Final TOPS deadline through the FAFSA or the TOPS application.

Parent rule of thumb: if your student might qualify for the top two awards, treat December 1 as the real deadline, even though admissions stays open through spring.

Automatic Merit Scholarships: Dillard University

Every admitted freshman is considered for one award from Dillard’s grid, based on GPA and (if you send them) ACT or SAT scores. There are two columns: one with scores and one test-optional. The test-optional column tops out at the $10,000 Dean’s Scholarship. University and Presidential require scores on file by December 1 and a short essay, and spots are limited.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Full RideAutomatic
University Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 1: scores on file and admitted. Limited, first come.
✓ Renews (3.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Ride
Full tuition plus room and board
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.8+ GPA✎ ~27 ACT✎ ~1220 SATIncoming first-year students graduating high school the same year they enroll. 3.8 GPA plus a 27 ACT or 1220 SAT. Not available on the test-optional path. Full-time enrollment (12 to 18 hours). Renews for up to eight consecutive fall and spring semesters with a 3.5 cumulative GPA checked each spring and 24 hours earned per year.
💡
Strategic Detail
Dillard's own pages disagree on fees: the FAQ says this award includes the mandatory fee, but the 2026-27 Scholarship Agreement says mandatory, housing, lab and assessment fees are not covered. Plan on about $3,800 a year in fees. One automatic award per student. Dillard can swap this award for an outside scholarship that covers the same costs. It cannot be used for study abroad or for hours over 18. Recipients are automatically admitted to the Thompson/Cook Honors Program.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 3.8 and a 27 ACT or 1220 SAT who are admitted with scores on file by Dec 1 and turn the essay around fast. The SAT door is the easier one: a 1220 lines up with roughly a 25 ACT, while the ACT route asks for a 27. Spots are limited and first come, so qualifying in March can be too late.
Full TuitionAutomatic
Presidential Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 1: scores on file and admitted. Limited, first come.
✓ Renews (3.2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
Full tuition
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.7+ GPA✎ ~25 ACT✎ ~1200 SATIncoming first-year students graduating high school the same year they enroll. 3.67 to 3.799 GPA plus a 25 ACT or 1200 SAT. Not available on the test-optional path. Full-time (12 to 18 hours). Renews for up to eight consecutive fall and spring semesters with a 3.2 cumulative GPA and 24 hours earned per year.
💡
Strategic Detail
Dillard's FAQ still shows older terms (3.6 GPA, 1130 SAT, 3.0 renewal). The current grid and the 2026-27 Scholarship Agreement show 3.67, 1200 and a 3.2 renewal; we follow those. Covers tuition only, so housing, meals and fees are still owed. One automatic award per student, and Dillard can swap it for outside money that covers the same costs. Recipients are automatically admitted to the Thompson/Cook Honors Program.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students in the 3.67 to 3.79 GPA band with a 25 ACT or 1200 SAT who apply in the fall. The 3.2 renewal bar is the real test: one rough freshman spring can cost the whole award.
Automatic
Dean's Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Awarded at admission; scores must be on file when admitted.
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$10,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~21 ACT✎ ~1060 SAT3.0 to 3.599 GPA plus a 21 ACT or 1060 SAT. Full-time. Renews with a 3.0 cumulative GPA and 24 hours earned per year, up to eight semesters.
💡
Strategic Detail
The grid has a quirk: a 3.60 to 3.669 GPA with scores is not on the with-scores column, while the test-optional column gives Dean's to any 3.6 or higher. Award amounts are reviewed every year. One automatic award per student. Students can request one review of their award after letters go out.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
B and B-plus students with a 21 ACT or 1060 SAT. A 21 is the line that turns $8,000 into $10,000 a year, so it is the most valuable retake at Dillard for a student sitting at 19 or 20.
Automatic
Dean's Scholarship (Test-Optional)
📅 Deadline: Awarded at admission.
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$10,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.6+ GPA3.6 GPA or higher, admitted test-optional (3.0 unweighted minimum to apply test-optional; home-schooled applicants are not eligible for the test-optional path). Full-time. Renews with a 3.0 cumulative GPA and 24 hours earned per year.
💡
Strategic Detail
Applying test-optional means Dillard ignores scores already on a transcript. That also takes the student out of the running for University and Presidential.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Strong-GPA students whose test scores do not help them. A 3.6 or higher with no scores gets $10,000, which can beat what the same student gets by sending a 19 or 20 ACT.
Automatic
Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Awarded at admission; scores must be on file when admitted.
✓ Renews (2.75 GPA, 4 yrs)
$8,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 2.8+ GPA✎ ~19 ACT✎ ~990 SAT2.75 GPA or higher plus a 19 ACT or 990 SAT. Full-time. Renews with a 2.75 cumulative GPA and 24 hours earned per year.
💡
Strategic Detail
Award amounts are reviewed every year. One automatic award per student. Dillard can swap it for outside money that covers the same costs.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a B-minus average or better and a 19 ACT or 990 SAT. This is where many Dillard students land.
Automatic
Merit Scholarship (Test-Optional)
📅 Deadline: Awarded at admission.
✓ Renews (2.75 GPA, 4 yrs)
$8,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA3.25 to 3.59 GPA, admitted test-optional. Full-time. Renews with a 2.75 cumulative GPA and 24 hours earned per year.
💡
Strategic Detail
One automatic award per student. Dillard can swap it for outside money that covers the same costs.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 3.25 to 3.59 GPA who skip the test. Compare it against the with-scores column first: a 3.3 student with a 21 ACT gets Dean's ($10,000) instead.
Automatic
DU Grant
📅 Deadline: Awarded at admission; scores must be on file when admitted.
✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
$6,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPA✎ ~18 ACT✎ ~960 SAT2.5 GPA or higher plus an 18 ACT or 960 SAT. Full-time. Renews with a 2.5 cumulative GPA and 24 hours earned per year.
💡
Strategic Detail
Shown on Dillard's grid as "DU Grand I," an apparent typo; the Scholarship Agreement calls it the DU Grant. One automatic award per student.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who meet Dillard's regular admission line, a 2.5 GPA with an 18 ACT or 960 SAT. It is the floor of the grid, not a guarantee: Dillard says acceptance does not promise an award.
Automatic
DU Grant (Test-Optional)
📅 Deadline: Awarded at admission.
✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
$6,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA3.0 to 3.249 GPA, admitted test-optional. Full-time. Renews with a 2.5 cumulative GPA and 24 hours earned per year.
💡
Strategic Detail
One automatic award per student. Dillard can swap it for outside money that covers the same costs.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Test-optional students in the 3.0 to 3.249 GPA band. A student here with a 21 ACT would get Dean's ($10,000) by sending scores, so it is worth one more look at testing.
Data last verified Nov 1, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

Note: Students receive one award from the grid, and amounts are reviewed every year. Dillard says acceptance doesn’t guarantee an award, but nearly every regularly admitted student gets one. Louisiana students: TOPS is separate state money and appears with the state awards on this page.

Automatic Merit: FAQs (Dillard University)

What does it take to get the University Scholarship?
A 3.8 GPA plus a 27 ACT or a 1220 SAT, admission with scores on file by December 1, and a short essay. It covers tuition, room and board. It doesn’t cover the roughly $3,800 in mandatory fees, according to Dillard’s 2026-27 agreement, even though an older FAQ says it does.

Is the Presidential Scholarship 3.6 or 3.67?
Dillard’s current grid says 3.67 to 3.799 with a 25 ACT or 1200 SAT. An older FAQ on another Dillard page still lists 3.6 and a 1130 SAT. We go by the grid, and it’s worth asking the aid office which they’re using for your year.

Should my student apply test-optional?
Compare both columns first. With a 3.6 GPA or higher and no scores, the award is $10,000. With scores, that same student needs a 21 ACT to stay at $10,000, and a 19 drops them to $8,000. If the student has a 25 or better, sending scores opens University or Presidential. Going test-optional also takes them out of the running for those two.

Does Dillard superscore?
Dillard doesn’t say. Send the best single sitting to be safe. Louisiana’s TOPS doesn’t superscore, so a single sitting matters there either way.

How do I keep the award?
Stay full-time, earn 24 credit hours each year, and keep the cumulative GPA for your tier, checked every spring: 3.5 for University, 3.2 for Presidential, 3.0 for Dean’s, 2.75 for Merit, and 2.5 for the DU Grant. Awards cover eight fall and spring semesters. They don’t cover summer, study abroad, or hours over 18.

Can we appeal the award amount?
Yes, once. Dillard lets each student request one additional review after award letters go out. If your student’s GPA or scores improved after admission, that’s the time to send them.

Sources:
https://www.dillard.edu/financial-aid/institutional-scholarships/
https://www.dillard.edu/wp-content/uploads/Scholarship-Agreement.pdf
https://www.dillard.edu/admissions-aid/admission-requirements/first-year-students/test-optional/
https://www.dillard.edu/about/administration/academic-affairs/tuition-and-fees/

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

Dillard doesn’t run a separate essay-and-interview flagship competition. Its two biggest awards, University and Presidential, live on the automatic grid. In practice they act like competitive awards: they’re limited, handed out first come, and require a short essay. That’s why they’re listed in the automatic section above, not here.

Here’s the kitchen-table version. If your student has the numbers for University or Presidential, the “competition” is really a race against the calendar. Get the application in early in the fall, get scores to Dillard, and make sure the acceptance happens before December 1. Students who wait until spring often qualify on paper and still miss out because the money is already committed.

✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Dillard?

Aid Type Stacks with Dillard Merit? Dillard Parent Translation
Grid awards No Your student gets one award from the grid, whichever tier they land in.
TOPS and the GO Grant (Louisiana) Usually yes State money sits alongside the grid award, but total aid can’t go past the cost of attendance. A bigger TOPS can shrink the GO Grant.
Pell and federal grants Yes Federal grants are based on need and fill in after merit. File the FAFSA every year.
Outside scholarships (UNCF, church, civic) Maybe Dillard’s agreement lets it swap its own award for outside money that covers the same costs. Outside money aimed at fees, books or housing gaps is more likely to actually add up.
Athletic aid (NAIA) Ask Dillard doesn’t publish how athletic and academic awards combine. Get the full package in writing.

This institution does not offer designated Competitive scholarships at this time.

❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs

Does Dillard have a full-ride competition like some bigger schools?
Not a separate one. The closest thing is the University Scholarship, which covers tuition, room and board for students with a 3.8 GPA and a 27 ACT or 1220 SAT. It works on qualifications plus timing, not an interview weekend.

What’s the essay for University and Presidential?
It’s short. Dillard asks qualifying students why Dillard is the right place for their college experience. It isn’t a contest essay, but a slow response can cost a first-come spot. Our Essay Toolkit can help your student draft it ahead of time.

If my student misses December 1, is the top award gone?
The scores-and-acceptance deadline for consideration is December 1. After that, your student is still considered for the rest of the grid, which tops out at $10,000.

Does Dillard take QuestBridge, National Merit or Stamps?
Dillard isn’t a QuestBridge or Stamps partner, and it doesn’t sponsor National Merit awards.

Is there a way to stand out for outside money?
Yes. Dillard was a founding UNCF member in 1944, and UNCF scholarships are a natural fit. Our Brag Sheet Builder helps organize activities for those applications.

Sources:
https://www.dillard.edu/financial-aid/institutional-scholarships/
https://www.dillard.edu/wp-content/uploads/Scholarship-Agreement.pdf
https://www.dillard.edu/admissions-aid/admission-requirements/first-year-students/

🧠 Parent Strategy: Aim Outside Money at the Gaps

Dillard’s agreement says it can swap its own scholarship for an outside award that covers the same costs. So a $5,000 outside scholarship for tuition might not lower your bill at all. Here’s how to make outside money count:

  1. Before accepting an outside award, ask the aid office exactly how it will be applied.
  2. Point outside money at what Dillard’s awards don’t cover: fees, books, the health insurance charge, travel.
  3. Use your one award review if grades or scores improve after admission.
  4. Keep copies of every award letter and the signed Scholarship Agreement.

Parent translation: outside scholarships are still worth chasing. Just make sure they’re filling a hole, not replacing money you already had.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These aren’t on the main grid, and families often don’t hear about them until they ask. Athletics, transfer awards, and outside money from Dillard’s UNCF and church ties can all help close the gap.

App Required
Bleu Devils Athletic Scholarships (NAIA)
📅 Deadline: Recruiting runs on each coach's timeline; reach out junior year.
Non-Renewable
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠  Recruited athletes only
Varsity athletes recruited by Dillard coaches. NAIA eligibility rules apply.
📄
How to Apply
Fill out the team's recruiting questionnaire, send film or results, and talk with the coach directly. Get the athletic offer and how it combines with any academic award in writing.
💡
Strategic Detail
Dillard does not publish how athletic aid combines with its academic grid. Ask the coach and the aid office to put the full package in writing before committing.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Recruited athletes in baseball, basketball, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Dillard competes in the NAIA, which allows athletic scholarships and partial awards, so even a modest offer can matter at a school this size.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Transfer Scholarships (Transfer 1, Transfer 2, Transfer DU Grant)
📅 Deadline: Considered at admission; June 1 (fall) and Dec 1 (spring) are the admissions priority dates.
✓ Renews
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠  Transfer students only
🏫 2.0+ GPA🎓 TransferTransfer applicants with at least 12 college credit hours and a 2.0 cumulative GPA across all colleges attended. Three tiers in the 2026-27 agreement: Transfer 1 (renews at 3.0), Transfer 2 (renews at 2.5), Transfer DU Grant (renews at 2.0), each with 24 hours earned per year.
💡
Strategic Detail
Amounts are not published online. Dillard accepts no more than 75 transfer hours.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Community college and four-year transfers with at least 12 earned hours and a solid college GPA. Dillard does not publish the dollar amounts, so ask for the tier chart when you apply.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Re-Admit Grant
📅 Deadline: Ask during the re-admission process.
✓ Renews (2 GPA)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠  Re-admitted students only
🏫 2.0+ GPA🎓 All UndergradStudents returning to Dillard through re-admission. Renews with a 2.0 cumulative GPA and 24 hours earned per year.
💡
Strategic Detail
Listed in the 2026-27 Scholarship Agreement; amount is not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Former Dillard students coming back to finish. If your student stepped away, ask about this before assuming the old scholarship is gone for good.
Data last verified Nov 1, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Money the college does not control. Federal programs, city promise funds, foundations, and employers. The college may help you apply, but someone else writes the check, and these almost always stack with the college's own awards.
Outside MoneyApp Required
UNCF Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Deadlines vary by program; many fall in the fall and winter of senior year.
Non-Renewable
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Varies by program. Many UNCF scholarships require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency and a minimum GPA.
📄
How to Apply
Create a profile on UNCF's scholarship portal and apply to the programs that fit. Many have fall and winter deadlines.
💡
Strategic Detail
Read Dillard's swap clause before you count this as extra money: if an outside award covers the same costs as a Dillard scholarship, Dillard may switch them instead of stacking.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Dillard students who apply early and often. Dillard is a founding UNCF member, and UNCF's own Dillard page shows about two dozen current recipients.
Outside MoneyApp Required
United Methodist HBCU Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Deadlines vary by program.
Non-Renewable
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Varies by program; many prefer or require active United Methodist membership.
📄
How to Apply
Start from Dillard's outside scholarships page, which links the United Methodist scholarship program, and ask your home church about local Methodist awards too.
💡
Strategic Detail
Same swap clause applies: an outside award covering the same costs can replace a Dillard scholarship rather than add to it.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a United Methodist church connection. Dillard is one of the church-related HBCUs, and a pastor's letter often opens the door.
Data last verified Nov 1, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

❓ Hidden Gems FAQ

Does Dillard give athletic scholarships?
Yes. Dillard competes in the NAIA, which allows athletic scholarships, with teams in baseball, basketball, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Talk with the coach directly, and get any offer, and how it combines with academic aid, in writing.

My student is transferring from a community college. Is there money?
Yes. Dillard has three transfer tiers (Transfer 1, Transfer 2, and a Transfer DU Grant) for students with at least 12 college credit hours and a 2.0 GPA. Dillard doesn’t post the amounts, so ask for the tier chart when you apply.

How does UNCF connect to Dillard?
Dillard helped found UNCF in 1944, and UNCF lists a couple dozen current Dillard students as its scholarship recipients. UNCF runs many separate programs with their own deadlines, so create a portal profile early in senior year.

We’re United Methodist. Does that help?
It can. Dillard is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ, and its outside scholarships page links the United Methodist scholarship program. Ask your pastor about local church awards too.

Does Dillard take the Yellow Ribbon Program for veterans’ families?
Federal college data lists Dillard as a Yellow Ribbon school, but Dillard’s own veteran affairs page doesn’t mention it. Confirm with the School Certifying Official before you count on it. Dillard does accept the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Chapter 35 benefits for spouses and dependents.

Sources:
https://www.dillard.edu/wp-content/uploads/Scholarship-Agreement.pdf
https://www.dillard.edu/financial-aid/outside-scholarships/
https://www.dillard.edu/admissions-aid/admission-requirements/transfer-students/
https://www.dillard.edu/admissions-aid/veteran-affairs/
https://uncf.org/member-colleges/dillard-university
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=158802

Honors Program at Dillard University

Dillard doesn’t have a separate honors college. It has the Daniel C. Thompson/Samuel DuBois Cook Honors Program, named for a longtime Dillard sociologist and the president who led the university for more than two decades. It’s built for Dillard’s most academically driven students, with enriched coursework and co-curricular programming.

  • Door 1: Earn the University or Presidential Scholarship. Those students are admitted automatically.
  • Door 2: Petition the Honors Advisory Council. This is the path for strong students who didn’t land a top-tier award.
  • To stay in: Keep a 3.2 cumulative GPA.

Honors Program Scholarships

This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.

Dillard doesn’t publish separate honors scholarships. The money tied to the program is the University and Presidential awards listed in the automatic section.

Deadline Note: The automatic path into honors runs through the top two scholarships, which need ACT or SAT scores on file by December 1. Test-optional students can still get in through the petition route.

Honors Program: FAQs (Dillard University)

Is honors admission automatic?
Only for University and Presidential Scholars. Everyone else can petition the Honors Advisory Council.

Does honors come with extra money?
Not on its own. The scholarship value comes from University or Presidential. Honors adds the academic experience and community.

What if my student’s GPA dips?
The honors program requires a 3.2 GPA. That’s the same bar as Presidential renewal, but lower than University’s 3.5. A University Scholar at 3.3 could stay in honors and still lose the scholarship.

Is this the same as an “Honors College” at a big state school?
No. It’s a program inside a small university, so the community is tight and the classes are already small. Dillard’s overall student-to-faculty ratio is 14 to 1.

Sources:
https://www.dillard.edu/du-experience/student-support/honors-societies/
https://www.dillard.edu/admissions-aid/admission-requirements/first-year-students/test-optional/
https://www.dillard.edu/wp-content/uploads/Scholarship-Agreement.pdf

⭐ College Specialty

Dillard is small, about 1,100 undergrads, but a few of its programs punch way above that size. If your student is drawn to health care, physics, or film, this is a school worth a serious look.

Nationally Known Program:
Physics: For a school this size, Dillard has an outsized record of producing Black physics graduates, especially Black women. It has been recognized as one of the top producers in the country, and the department offers pre-engineering and medical physics paths. Dillard named physics one of its two signature programs.
  • Nursing: Dillard started Louisiana’s first bachelor’s nursing program in 1942. It paused new admissions for 2017-18 to rebuild and came back stronger, and it’s accredited by ACEN through 2033. Nursing has its own application, so ask about it early.
  • Film: Dillard’s other signature program, and one of only a few undergraduate film programs at an HBCU. Being in New Orleans, a busy filming city, gives students real production experience.
  • Biology, Pre-Health and Public Health: Biology is one of Dillard’s largest majors, and the university runs a dedicated pre-health program for students aiming at medical, dental or pharmacy school.
  • Popular paths: Business, criminal justice, mass communication and psychology round out where most Dillard students graduate.

✅ Wrapping It Up

Dillard is a small HBCU with a big history: Louisiana’s first bachelor’s nursing program, a physics department that turns out Black physicists at a rate schools ten times its size can’t match, and a founding seat at UNCF. The price is the same for every family, and the merit grid is easy to read. Most admitted students land somewhere between $6,000 and $10,000 a year.

The real money, though, sits at the top and moves fast. University and Presidential cover full tuition, and University adds room and board. Both need test scores and an acceptance by December 1, and both go first come. If your student is anywhere near a 25 ACT or a 1200 SAT, get the application and scores in early in the fall, and look hard at the SAT route. Then plan for what the awards don’t cover, keep an eye on that 3.5 or 3.2 renewal bar, and point any outside scholarships at the gaps so they add up instead of getting swapped.

Leo Dimilo

Leo Dimilo

Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He went through the college money maze with his own daughter and built this site so other families can see the real numbers before they sign anything. No paywall, no lead forms, just the research. More about Leo →

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