Salisbury University Scholarships (2026–2027)

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Last Updated on November 2, 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: ~88%
Middle 50% ACT: N/A
Middle 50% SAT: 1190-1300
Average GPA: 3.72

🧭 Salisbury in Plain English

Salisbury University is a mid-size public university on Maryland’s Eastern Shore with about 6,500 undergraduates. It admits most of the students who apply (88% for fall 2025), and only about 1 in 10 freshmen even sent an SAT score. Roughly 1 in 5 freshmen come from outside Maryland.

The money picture is modest but stackable. The average no-need award to freshmen was $3,944 in 2025-2026, so the families who do best at SU are the ones who layer the automatic award, a department scholarship, and state money on top of each other instead of stopping at the admission letter.

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

📌 Salisbury University at a Glance

Average Net Price

$18,760/year (in-state estimate)

Average paid for residents.

Automatic Merit

$1,000 to $8,500/yr

No separate application.

Scholarships Tracked

14 opportunities

3 automatic · 7 competitive · 2 hidden gem · 2 honors

Typical Qualifiers

No published grid; GPA and scores reviewed

Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.

Testing Policy

Test-optional (merit too)

Scores optional for automatic merit

Competitive awards have a no-test path

No superscore.

Key Deadlines

Priority: Dec 1 • FAFSA: Mar 1

Honors College

Honors Program Available

Residency & Waivers

Special Waivers Available

🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Salisbury (Read This First)

Dec 1 is the real scholarship deadline. Early Action applicants get guaranteed merit consideration. After that, SU only keeps reviewing while money lasts.
There’s no merit grid. SU names four award tiers but only publishes dollar ranges, so the same GPA can earn a different amount from year to year. Run the net price calculator instead of guessing.
The admission award is only half the money. Each of SU’s schools has its own freshman scholarship, and those need a separate application in the scholarship portal by Feb 15, 2027.
Test-optional costs something on department awards. With a 1250 SAT or 26 ACT, the bar is a 3.3 GPA. Without scores, it jumps to 3.7.
Miss the deposit and the scholarships disappear. SU forfeits every award if the deposit is late. On the plus side, a better score or GPA sent before the deposit deadline can raise the award.
Old articles mention a $6,000 “Sea Gull Nation” award for out-of-state students. It ended after 2025-2026.

FAQ

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

Do you need test scores for scholarships at Salisbury University? Scores are optional for automatic merit, and SU superscores the SAT. The department scholarships want a 1250 SAT or 26 ACT with a 3.3 GPA, or a 3.7 GPA if your student applies test-optional.

What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: N/A; SAT: 1190-1300.

Average net price? About $18,760/year after aid.

Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? Yes. Institutional waivers are available.

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

Figures verified against official sources in November 2026.

📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Salisbury 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 $500 to $1,300 more than the in-state total below. $800 to $1,900 more than the out-of-state total below.

In-State: billed cost per year

$25,984

Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters

Tuition & mandatory fees	$11,466
Housing & meals (typical)	$14,518
Total billed cost	$25,984

Out-of-State: billed cost per year

$38,108

Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters

Tuition & mandatory fees	$23,590
Housing & meals (typical)	$14,518
Total billed cost	$38,108

That is $12,124 more per year than Maryland residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.

Average federal net price: $18,760 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, 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.

Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.

📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options

New for fall 2027: the SU Connection Scholarship. Students whose permanent home address is in Delaware, or in Accomack or Northampton County on Virginia's Eastern Shore, get $4,000 a year automatically with no separate application, for up to 8 semesters as freshmen (6 as transfers). They must stay full time and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress. SU has not said whether it combines with the out-of-state merit award, so ask when the award letter arrives.

Out-of-state nursing majors: Maryland's Tuition Reduction for Non-Resident Nursing Students drops tuition to the in-state rate (worth about $12,100 a year at SU in 2026-2027) for juniors and seniors admitted to the nursing program. In exchange, the student works four years as a full-time nurse in Maryland after graduation or repays the money with interest.

Heads up: the Sea Gull Nation Scholarship for out-of-state students was discontinued after 2025-2026, so ignore older articles that mention it. The lower "Regional Hagerstown" rate on SU's tuition schedule only applies to programs at the USM Hagerstown center, not the main campus.

The Full Budget SU Uses for Financial Aid (2026-2027)

The table above is what lands on the bill. SU’s official cost of attendance adds books ($1,300), personal and travel costs ($3,900) and a small loan-fee allowance ($312). That brings the full yearly budget to $31,496 for Maryland residents and $43,620 for out-of-state students. That bigger number matters because SU won’t let total gift aid from all sources go past it.

FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Salisbury University

How much does Salisbury cost per year?
For 2026-2027, tuition and mandatory fees are $11,466 for Maryland residents and $23,590 for out-of-state students. Add a double room in a suite ($8,150) and the All Access meal plan ($6,368), and the billed total is about $25,984 in-state or $38,108 out-of-state.

What do families actually pay after aid?
The average net price for in-state freshmen who received grants was $18,760 in the latest federal data (2023-2024). It ranged from about $6,743 for families earning under $30,000 to about $22,759 for families earning over $110,000.

Can out-of-state students get in-state tuition at Salisbury?
Not across the board. Maryland doesn’t belong to a regional tuition exchange for SU’s main campus. There are two narrower breaks: the $4,000-a-year SU Connection Scholarship for students from Delaware and Virginia’s Eastern Shore (starting fall 2027), and Maryland’s nursing program that drops juniors and seniors to the in-state rate.

How does the out-of-state nursing tuition break work?
Once an out-of-state student is admitted to SU’s nursing program (usually junior year), Maryland’s Tuition Reduction for Non-Resident Nursing Students lets them pay in-state tuition. That’s worth about $12,100 a year at 2026-2027 rates. In exchange, the student agrees to work four years as a full-time nurse in Maryland after graduation or repay the money with interest. Pre-nursing students don’t qualify yet.

Can we save money on the meal plan?
A little. First-year students in the traditional residence halls have to pick either All Access ($6,368) or 200 Meals ($6,130), so the most you save is about $238. The real savings show up later, when upperclassmen in apartment-style housing can choose smaller plans or none at all.

Does tuition go up every year?
Usually a little. In-state tuition rose 2% for 2026-2027 and out-of-state tuition rose 4%. SU’s merit scholarships are a fixed dollar amount, so they don’t grow when tuition does. Plan for your share to creep up each year.

Sources:
https://www.salisbury.edu/admissions/financial-aid/cost-of-attendance/
https://www.salisbury.edu/administration/administration-and-finance-offices/financial-services/accounts-receivable-cashiers-office/_files/tuition-fee-Schedule-2026-2027.pdf
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=163851
https://mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/Pages/FinancialAid/ProgramDescriptions/prog_nonresnurs.aspx

📅 Salisbury Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)

Dec 1: Early Action deadline. This is the date that guarantees automatic merit consideration. The SU scholarship portal also opens for the new year.
Jan 15: Clarke Honors College priority deadline for honors scholarships.
Feb 15, 2027: Department freshman scholarships close in the portal (STEM, business, science, liberal arts).
Mar 1: FAFSA priority date for need-based money.
Spring: Enrollment deposit. Miss it and every scholarship offer is forfeited.

Parent rule of thumb: get the application in by Dec 1, then treat the scholarship portal as a second application your student still has to finish.

Automatic Merit Scholarships at Salisbury University

Every admitted first-year is reviewed automatically, with no separate application. SU sorts students into four tiers (Presidential, SU Deans, SU Excellence and SU Achievement) but doesn’t publish the GPA or score each tier takes. You only get the ranges: $1,000 to $6,000 a year for Maryland residents and $6,000 to $8,500 for out-of-state students. Test scores are optional, and SU superscores the SAT.

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

GPA (9th–11th)

ACT

SAT

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.

Automatic

First-Year Academic Merit Scholarship (Maryland Residents)

📅 Deadline: 12-01 · 📢 Results: With the admission decision
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)

$1,000–$6,000/yr

✔ Stackable

Admitted first-year students paying Maryland in-state tuition. Test scores are optional for merit consideration. Renewal takes a 3.0 cumulative GPA and 12 or more credits each semester; first-semester students between a 2.0 and 2.99 get one warning semester.

✚

Stacking & Combining

Stacks with SU Foundation scholarships from the AcademicWorks portal (STEM, school and alumni awards) and with state and federal grants. SU will not let total gift aid from all sources pass the cost of attendance, and it trims its own aid first when a package goes over.

💡

Strategic Detail

SU names four first-year tiers (Presidential, SU Deans, SU Excellence and SU Achievement) but publishes only the dollar range, not the GPA or score each tier takes. Awards are based on high school GPA and SAT or ACT scores measured against the applicant pool. Applying by Early Action guarantees consideration; after Dec 1, SU keeps reviewing only while money lasts. SU will reconsider a higher score or GPA sent before the May 15 deposit deadline. Paid for fall and spring only, for up to eight consecutive semesters. SU's net price calculator gives a personalized estimate.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most admitted Early Action students with a strong B-plus or better record see something here. SU's average non-need award to freshmen was $3,944 in 2025-2026, so the $6,000 top of the range goes to the strongest GPAs and scores in the pool. With no published grid, the same profile can land a different amount from one year to the next.

Automatic

First-Year Academic Merit Scholarship (Out-of-State Students)

📅 Deadline: 12-01 · 📢 Results: With the admission decision
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)

$6,000–$8,500/yr

✔ Stackable

Admitted first-year students paying out-of-state tuition. Test scores are optional for merit consideration. Renewal takes a 3.0 cumulative GPA and 12 or more credits each semester.

✚

Stacking & Combining

Stacks with SU Foundation scholarships from the AcademicWorks portal and with outside scholarships. SU will not let total gift aid from all sources pass the cost of attendance, and it trims its own aid first when a package goes over.

💡

Strategic Detail

Same four tiers and no published grid. Awards are based on high school GPA and SAT or ACT scores measured against the applicant pool. Applying by Early Action guarantees consideration; after Dec 1, SU keeps reviewing only while money lasts. SU will reconsider a higher score or GPA sent before the May 15 deposit deadline. Paid for fall and spring only, for up to eight consecutive semesters.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Out-of-state students who apply by Early Action with competitive grades. Be careful with older advice: SU's $6,000 to $8,500 range used to be built on the $6,000 Sea Gull Nation award every non-Maryland freshman received, and that award ended after 2025-2026. SU still publishes the same range, but run the net price calculator instead of assuming $6,000 is a floor.

Automatic

SU Connection Scholarship

📅 Deadline: No application (fall 2027 entrants and later) · 📢 Results: With the admission decision
✓ Renews (4 yrs)

$4,000/yr

✔ Stackable

⚠ Delaware or Accomack/Northampton County, VA home address

Permanent home address in Delaware or in Accomack or Northampton County, Virginia. New incoming freshmen and transfers starting fall 2027.

✚

Stacking & Combining

SU's page does not say whether this combines with the out-of-state first-year merit award, so ask Financial Aid when the award letter arrives. Students on in-state tuition, the Regional Hagerstown rate or tuition remission are not eligible.

💡

Strategic Detail

New for fall 2027. Freshmen can hold it for up to 8 semesters and transfers for up to 6. Full time means 12 or more credits a semester.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: Any new freshman or transfer whose permanent home address is in Delaware, or in Accomack or Northampton County on Virginia's Eastern Shore, starting in fall 2027. SU lists no GPA or test cutoff, just full-time enrollment and Satisfactory Academic Progress.

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: SU will look at a higher test score or GPA right up until the deposit deadline. If your student retakes the SAT in the spring and jumps, send the score. It can move them into a bigger tier.

Automatic Merit: FAQs (Salisbury University)

How much is Salisbury’s automatic merit scholarship?
Maryland residents receive $1,000 to $6,000 a year, and out-of-state students receive $6,000 to $8,500. SU doesn’t publish a chart, so the net price calculator is the best way to estimate where your student lands.

Do we need test scores to get merit money at Salisbury?
No. SU says scores aren’t required for merit. A strong SAT can still help, since SU superscores it and awards are based on GPA and scores compared to the rest of the applicant pool.

What’s the deadline for automatic scholarships?
Apply by Early Action, Dec 1. That guarantees consideration. Students who apply later are only reviewed while money is left.

What is the SU Connection Scholarship?
Starting in fall 2027, students whose permanent home is in Delaware, or in Accomack or Northampton County on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, get $4,000 a year automatically. Freshmen can hold it for up to eight semesters if they stay full time and keep Satisfactory Academic Progress. SU hasn’t said whether it combines with the out-of-state merit award, so ask when the award letter comes.

What happened to the Sea Gull Nation Scholarship?
It’s gone. SU discontinued the $6,000 out-of-state award after 2025-2026. Current holders keep renewing it, but new students won’t get it.

How do students keep their merit scholarship?
A 3.0 cumulative GPA and 12 or more credits every fall and spring, for up to eight semesters. First-semester students get a little grace: anything between a 2.0 and 2.99 earns a warning, not a cut. Below 2.0 the award ends.

Is there state money on top of this?
Yes, for Marylanders. State grants and scholarships, including Teaching Fellows for future teachers, show up in this section as well. Out-of-state nursing majors should look at Maryland’s non-resident nursing tuition reduction.

Sources:
https://www.salisbury.edu/admissions/financial-aid/types-of-aid/su-admission-scholarships.aspx
https://www.salisbury.edu/admissions/financial-aid/policies.aspx
https://www.salisbury.edu/admissions/first-year-students/test-optional-policy.aspx
https://www.salisbury.edu/admissions/international-students/scholarships.aspx

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

Salisbury doesn’t have a big full-ride competition. What it does have is something many families miss: every one of SU’s schools runs its own freshman scholarship, and they sit on top of the automatic award. They all use the same bar and most close the same day.

✅ The Department Freshman Scholarships at a Glance

Scholarship	Per Year	Who It’s For	GPA to Keep It
STEM Scholarship (20 awards)	$5,000	Declared STEM majors	3.0
Perdue School of Business	$3,000	Business majors	3.3 plus 30 credits a year
Henson School of Science	$3,000	Science and technology majors	3.0
Fulton School of Liberal Arts	$2,000 or $3,000	Humanities, social science and arts majors	3.3
Seidel School of Education	$1,500	Education majors	3.3

The bar to apply is the same for all five: a 1250 SAT or 26 ACT with a 3.3 GPA (STEM takes a 3.1). Students applying test-optional need a 3.7. That gap is the big strategy point at Salisbury. A student sitting at a 3.4 or 3.5 GPA is locked out of these awards without a score and eligible with one. If your student is anywhere near a 1250, it’s worth sending it.

App Required

STEM Scholarship

📅 Deadline: 02-15
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)

$5,000/yr

✔ Stackable

⚠ Declared STEM majors only

🏫 3.1+ GPA✎ ~26 ACT✎ ~1250 SAT👥 ~20 winners/yrIncoming fall 2027 freshmen with a declared STEM major, a 3.1 or higher high school GPA and a 1250 SAT or 26 ACT. Test-optional admits with a 3.7 or higher GPA can apply. Renewal: stay in a STEM major, make degree progress and keep a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

✚

Stacking & Combining

SU says STEM awards can be given on top of other merit scholarships. The total-aid cap at cost of attendance still applies.

📄

How to Apply

1. Get admitted to SU with a declared STEM major. 2. On or after Dec 1, log into SU's AcademicWorks scholarship portal and finish the General Application. 3. If the STEM Scholarship shows up as recommended on the dashboard, submit it with the essay (what excites you about your major and how you would contribute) by Feb 15, 2027.

✎ Essays

💡

Strategic Detail

Eligible majors: biology, biology/environmental science dual degree, chemistry, computer science, data science, earth science, geography, information systems, economics, mathematics, integrated science, physics and physics/engineering dual degree, plus biology and chemistry secondary education. The listing gives two different test-optional GPA bars (3.5 in one line and 3.7 in another); plan on 3.7.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Twenty awards for a freshman class of about 1,400 makes this one of SU's most selective freshman awards. Winners are declared STEM majors who clear a 1250 SAT or 26 ACT with at least a 3.1 GPA, or test-optional applicants with a 3.7 or better, and who write a specific essay about their major. Minors don't count, and students who aren't recommended on the portal dashboard won't be considered.

App Required

Franklin P. Perdue School of Business Scholarship for Incoming Freshmen

📅 Deadline: 02-15
✓ Renews (3.3 GPA, 4 yrs)

$3,000/yr

✔ Stackable

⚠ Declared business majors only

🏫 3.3+ GPA✎ ~26 ACT✎ ~1250 SATIncoming full-time freshmen with a Perdue School of Business major, a 3.3 high school GPA and a 1250 SAT or 26 ACT, plus an essay. Test-optional admits need a 3.7 GPA.

✚

Stacking & Combining

Foundation scholarships like this one sit on top of first-year merit. The total-aid cap at cost of attendance still applies.

📄

How to Apply

1. Get admitted with a declared Perdue School of Business major. 2. On or after Dec 1, finish the General Application in SU's AcademicWorks portal. 3. Submit the Perdue School application and essay by Feb 15, 2027.

✎ Essays

💡

Strategic Detail

Awarded on a competitive basis as a four-year scholarship. Renewal also requires staying in a Perdue School major.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: Declared business majors with a 3.3 or better GPA plus a 1250 SAT or 26 ACT, or a 3.7 GPA if test-optional, and a solid essay. Keeping it is the harder part: a 3.3 cumulative GPA and 30 credits every year, which is stricter than SU's 3.0 rule for regular merit.

App Required

Richard A. Henson School of Science and Technology Scholarship for Incoming Freshmen

📅 Deadline: 02-15
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)

$3,000/yr

✔ Stackable

⚠ Declared Henson School majors only

🏫 3.3+ GPA✎ ~26 ACT✎ ~1250 SATIncoming freshmen with a declared Henson School major, a 3.3 high school GPA, a 1250 SAT or 26 ACT and a record of accomplishment and service. Test-optional admits need a 3.7 GPA.

✚

Stacking & Combining

Foundation scholarships like this one sit on top of first-year merit. The total-aid cap at cost of attendance still applies.

📄

How to Apply

1. Get admitted with a declared Henson School major. 2. On or after Dec 1, finish the General Application in SU's AcademicWorks portal. 3. Submit the Henson School application by Feb 15, 2027.

✎ Essays

💡

Strategic Detail

Renews for up to 8 semesters with a Henson major, full-time enrollment and a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Recipients attend the Henson Scholars luncheon each May. SU's Henson School web pages still quote older SAT cutoffs; the scholarship portal listing is current.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: Declared science and technology majors with a 3.3 GPA and a 1250 SAT or 26 ACT (3.7 GPA if test-optional) who can show service along with grades. Many Henson majors also qualify for the $5,000 STEM Scholarship, so apply to both if both show on the dashboard; SU hasn't said whether one student can hold both.

App Required

Charles R. and Martha N. Fulton School of Liberal Arts Scholarship for Incoming Freshmen

📅 Deadline: 02-15
✓ Renews (3.3 GPA, 4 yrs)

$2,000–$3,000/yr

✔ Stackable

⚠ Declared liberal arts majors only

🏫 3.3+ GPA✎ ~26 ACT✎ ~1250 SATIncoming full-time freshmen with a declared Fulton School major, a 3.3 high school GPA and a 1250 SAT or 26 ACT, plus an essay. Test-optional admits need a 3.7 GPA.

✚

Stacking & Combining

Foundation scholarships like this one sit on top of first-year merit. The total-aid cap at cost of attendance still applies.

📄

How to Apply

1. Get admitted with a declared Fulton School major. 2. On or after Dec 1, finish the General Application in SU's AcademicWorks portal. 3. Submit the Fulton School application and essay by Feb 15, 2027.

✎ Essays

💡

Strategic Detail

Awards of $2,000 or $3,000. Renews for up to eight semesters with a liberal arts major, full-time enrollment and a 3.3 cumulative GPA.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Humanities, social science and arts majors with a 3.3 GPA and a 1250 SAT or 26 ACT, or a 3.7 if test-optional. It's one of the few merit pots aimed at students who aren't in STEM or business, and the 3.3 renewal GPA is the catch.

App Required

Seidel Scholars Program in Education and Seidel Challenge Scholarships

📅 Deadline: No date posted (sister school awards close Feb 15, 2027)
✓ Renews (3.3 GPA, 4 yrs)

$1,500/yr

✔ Stackable

⚠ Declared education majors only

🏫 3.3+ GPA✎ ~26 ACT✎ ~1250 SATIncoming freshmen with a declared Seidel School of Education major, a 3.3 high school GPA and a 1250 SAT or 26 ACT, plus an essay. Test-optional admits need a 3.7 GPA.

✚

Stacking & Combining

Foundation scholarships like this one sit on top of first-year merit and on top of state money like Maryland's Teaching Fellows scholarship, up to the cost of attendance.

📄

How to Apply

1. Get admitted with a declared Seidel School of Education major. 2. On or after Dec 1, finish the General Application in SU's AcademicWorks portal. 3. Submit the Seidel application and essay if it shows on the dashboard.

✎ Essays

💡

Strategic Detail

Renews for up to eight semesters with full-time enrollment, a Seidel School major and a 3.30 cumulative GPA.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: Education majors in the Seidel School with a 3.3 GPA and a 1250 SAT or 26 ACT (3.7 if test-optional) plus an essay. Future teachers should pair this with Maryland's Teaching Fellows scholarship, which can cover far more.

App Required

Salisbury University Alumni Association Scholarship

📅 Deadline: Not posted yet for 2027-28 (last cycle closed Apr 1)
✓ Renews (4 yrs)

$2,000/yr

✔ Stackable

🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~25 ACT✎ ~1250 SAT👥 ~1 winners/yrIncoming freshmen with a 3.5 high school GPA and a 1250 SAT or 25 ACT, or a 3.7 GPA if test-optional, plus extracurricular involvement. Preference for children of SU alumni.

✚

Stacking & Combining

Sits on top of first-year merit, up to the cost of attendance.

📄

How to Apply

Finish the General Application in SU's AcademicWorks portal (opens Dec 1) and submit the Alumni Association Scholarship application if it shows on the dashboard.

💡

Strategic Detail

Worth $2,000 a year for four years.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: One incoming freshman a year. Children of SU alumni get preference, but anyone with a 3.5 GPA and a 1250 SAT or 25 ACT (or a 3.7 if test-optional) plus real extracurricular involvement can apply.

App Required

Roy S. Perdue Alumni Scholarship

📅 Deadline: No date posted; check the AcademicWorks portal
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)

$500/yr

✔ Stackable

🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~26 ACT✎ ~1250 SAT👥 ~1 winners/yrIncoming freshmen with a 3.5 high school GPA and a 1250 SAT or 26 ACT, or a 3.7 GPA if test-optional. Preference for children of SU alumni.

✚

Stacking & Combining

Sits on top of first-year merit, up to the cost of attendance.

📄

How to Apply

Finish the General Application in SU's AcademicWorks portal (opens Dec 1) and submit this application if it shows on the dashboard.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: One incoming freshman, with preference for children of SU alumni. Small dollars, but it renews for four years with a 3.0 and costs nothing extra once the General Application is done.

❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs

When are Salisbury’s competitive scholarships due?
The STEM, business, science and liberal arts freshman scholarships close Feb 15, 2027. The portal opens Dec 1, 2026. The education and alumni awards hadn’t posted dates yet, so check the portal in December.

How does my student apply?
After admission, log into SU’s scholarship portal (AcademicWorks), finish the General Application, and then apply to the scholarships it recommends on the dashboard. SU says students who aren’t recommended on their dashboard won’t be considered, so the General Application comes first.

Can my student get the STEM Scholarship and still keep automatic merit?
Yes. SU says STEM awards can be given on top of other merit scholarships. The only ceiling is that total aid can’t go past the cost of attendance.

Can a science major win both the STEM and Henson scholarships?
SU hasn’t said. Many majors qualify for both, so apply to both if both appear on the dashboard and let SU sort it out.

Does my student need to be an alumni kid for the alumni scholarships?
No. Both the Alumni Association Scholarship ($2,000 a year) and the Roy S. Perdue Alumni Scholarship ($500 a year) give preference to children of SU graduates, but they’re open to everyone who meets the GPA and score requirements. Each one goes to a single freshman.

What should students prepare for their applications?
Most of these ask for a short essay about their major and how they’d contribute. Families can use our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder to get organized. One SU-specific rule: SU is NCAA Division III, so students shouldn’t mention athletic ability or performance in scholarship essays. SU says doing so takes them out of consideration.

Sources:
https://salisbury.academicworks.com/opportunities/5459
https://salisbury.academicworks.com/opportunities/2422
https://salisbury.academicworks.com/opportunities/2879
https://salisbury.academicworks.com/opportunities/5818
https://salisbury.academicworks.com/opportunities/5816
https://salisbury.academicworks.com/opportunities/3249
https://salisbury.academicworks.com/opportunities/5539

🧠 Parent Strategy: The Dashboard Is the Whole Game

Most of SU’s smaller scholarships come from the SU Foundation, and they only show up after your student finishes the General Application in the SU scholarship portal. The portal opens Dec 1 for the next school year.

Get admitted, then log in on or after Dec 1.
Finish the General Application completely, essay included.
Apply to every scholarship the dashboard recommends. Deadlines vary, so sort by date.
Keep athletics out of the essays. SU is Division III and says mentioning it removes the student from consideration.

Parent translation: the admission letter shows the automatic award. Everything else your student has to go ask for.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These are the smaller awards that quietly lower the bill: a sibling discount, SU’s own need-based grant, and the state money that families in the right major should not leave on the table.

Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only

Sea Gull Sibling Scholarship

📅 Deadline: No deadline posted
✓ Renews (4 yrs)

$409–$1,015/yr

✔ Stackable

⚠ Must have a sibling enrolled at SU at the same time

🎓 All UndergradDegree-seeking students enrolled at least half time with a sibling enrolled at SU at the same time. Awarded to the younger sibling.

✚

Stacking & Combining

Tuition only. Students getting any other tuition waiver are not eligible; SU doesn't list a conflict with merit scholarships.

💡

Strategic Detail

Equal to 5% of tuition. Undergraduates can receive it for up to eight semesters and graduate students for up to four. Announced March 2026.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: Any younger sibling enrolled at least half time while an older sibling is also enrolled, with both meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress. Worth about $409 a year on in-state tuition and about $1,015 on out-of-state tuition in 2026-2027.

Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only

SU Fund Grant

📅 Deadline: 03-01
✓ Renews (4 yrs)

Varies

✔ Stackable

🎓 All UndergradFull-time undergraduates seeking a first bachelor's degree with financial need shown on the FAFSA.

✚

Stacking & Combining

Need-based, so it is built around the rest of the package and re-checked with each year's FAFSA.

💡

Strategic Detail

SU's own need-based grant. SU does not publish a maximum.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: Full-time undergraduates working on a first bachelor's degree who show financial need on the FAFSA. The minimum award is $300, funds are limited, and early FAFSA filers are first in line.

❓ Hidden Gems FAQ

Does Salisbury give a sibling discount?
Yes. The Sea Gull Sibling Scholarship takes 5% off tuition for the younger sibling while two siblings are enrolled at the same time. That’s about $409 a year on in-state tuition and about $1,015 out-of-state. It’s tuition only, and it doesn’t work alongside other tuition waivers. SU’s page doesn’t describe an application, so email Financial Aid once both kids are enrolled.

What is the SU Fund grant?
It’s SU’s own need-based grant for full-time undergrads working on a first bachelor’s degree. The minimum is $300 and the money is limited, so file the FAFSA by the Mar 1 priority date. SU’s school code is 002091.

My student wants to teach. Is there extra money?
A lot. Maryland’s Teaching Fellows scholarship can cover full in-state tuition, fees, and room and board at a public university like SU. The trade is a commitment to teach in a high-need Maryland public school. SU started as a teachers’ college and reports 115 current Teaching Fellows, so it knows this program well. Pair it with the $1,500 Seidel School scholarship.

Are there scholarships for current SU students?
Yes. The same portal is open to enrolled students every year, and many department, donor and county-based awards are aimed at sophomores, juniors and seniors. Have your student redo the General Application every December.

What if a family’s finances change after filing the FAFSA?
SU reviews special circumstances like job loss or a big income drop. Contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Reviews can take up to 60 days, so ask early.

Sources:
https://salisbury.academicworks.com/
https://www.salisbury.edu/admissions/financial-aid/types-of-aid/su-admission-scholarships.aspx
https://www.salisbury.edu/admissions/financial-aid/types-of-aid/grants.aspx
https://www.salisbury.edu/admissions/financial-aid/policies.aspx
https://mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/Pages/TeachingFellowsMDScholarship.aspx

Clarke Honors College at Salisbury University

The Glenda Chatham and Robert G. Clarke Honors College is open to students in any major. Think smaller discussion-style classes, honors housing, trips and a capstone project. It’s a separate application, and your student can only start it after being admitted to SU.

Suggested GPA to apply: 3.5 or higher
Priority scholarship deadline: January 15 (scholarship decisions by February 1)
Final honors deadline: April 15
4.0 students: can request automatic admission, but still have to submit the full application and essay to be considered for honors scholarships

Honors College Scholarships & Fellowships

App Required

Bellavance Scholars (Clarke Honors College)

📅 Deadline: 01-15 · 📢 Results: By Feb 1
✓ Renews (3.5 GPA, 4 yrs)

$1,000–$2,000/yr

✔ Stackable

⚠ Clarke Honors College students only

Incoming first-years admitted to the Clarke Honors College who apply by the Jan 15 priority scholarship deadline.

✚

Stacking & Combining

Sits on top of first-year merit and department scholarships, up to the cost of attendance.

📄

How to Apply

1. Get admitted to SU. 2. Apply to the Clarke Honors College through the Future Sea Gull Portal, essay included, by Jan 15 for priority scholarship consideration. 3. Watch for scholarship news by Feb 1.

✎ Essays

💡

Strategic Detail

Named for Thomas and Elizabeth Bellavance. Recipients are recognized at the Honors Spring Banquet.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: Incoming first-years admitted to the Clarke Honors College by the Jan 15 priority deadline whose grades and honors essay stand out. SU suggests at least a 3.5 GPA to apply to honors. Keeping it takes a 3.5 GPA and staying active in honors.

App Required

Director's Fellowship (Clarke Honors College)

📅 Deadline: 01-15 · 📢 Results: By Feb 1
✓ Renews (3.25 GPA, 4 yrs)

$1,000–$2,000/yr

✔ Stackable

⚠ Clarke Honors College students only

✎ ~25 ACT✎ ~1200 SATIncoming first-years offered admission to the Clarke Honors College with at least a 1200 SAT or 25 ACT, or a 3.7 GPA if test-optional.

✚

Stacking & Combining

Sits on top of first-year merit and department scholarships, up to the cost of attendance.

📄

How to Apply

1. Get admitted to SU and apply to the Clarke Honors College by the Jan 15 priority deadline. 2. Complete the Director's Fellowship application in SU's AcademicWorks portal, which asks whether you've been offered honors admission and how you plan to use your SU experience to help your community.

✎ Essays

💡

Strategic Detail

Chosen by the Honors Admissions committee. Fellows are recognized at the Honors Spring Banquet.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: Honors admits with at least a 1200 SAT or 25 ACT (or a 3.7 GPA if test-optional) who show leadership potential in the honors essay and an extra essay about giving back to their community. Fellows get priority placement in a first-year honors living-learning community and must keep a 3.25 GPA.

Honors scholarships run $1,000 to $2,000 a year and stack on top of automatic merit and department awards, up to the cost of attendance.

Deadline Note: Honors applications are open until April 15, but the money goes to students who apply by January 15. Have your student apply for honors as soon as the admission decision comes in.

Why Honors Can Still Be Worth It Here

Housing: First-year and sophomore honors students get honors housing options, and first-years get early move-in.
Director’s Fellows get priority placement in a first-year honors living-learning community.
Courses often count toward both honors and general education, so they don’t add extra semesters.

Clarke Honors College: FAQs (Salisbury University)

Is honors admission automatic at Salisbury?
Only for students with a 4.0 high school GPA, and only if they request it after submitting the honors application. Those students must also take an honors course their first semester. Everyone else is reviewed on their application.

What are the honors scholarships worth?
The Bellavance Scholars award and the Director’s Fellowship each run $1,000 to $2,000 a year, renewable for four years. Bellavance Scholars keep it with a 3.5 GPA, and Director’s Fellows with a 3.25. Both require staying active in the honors college.

Can test-optional students win honors money?
Yes. The Director’s Fellowship asks for a 1200 SAT or 25 ACT, but test-optional students with at least a 3.7 GPA can apply too.

Can transfer or current SU students join honors?
Yes. Current students need at least a 3.5 in their SU courses and a faculty recommendation. Transfers should apply by March 1 for best consideration.

How much honors work does it take to graduate with honors?
SU’s honors requirement is 24 credit hours of honors coursework, ending in a capstone or thesis project.

Sources:
https://www.salisbury.edu/academic-offices/honors/honors-application.aspx
https://www.salisbury.edu/academic-offices/honors/for-prospective-students.aspx
https://salisbury.academicworks.com/opportunities/5398

⭐ College Specialty

Salisbury opened in 1925 as a school for training teachers, and that DNA still shows. Today it’s a full university with four main schools plus a college of health and human services. Its strongest pull is in the careers that keep a region running: teaching, nursing, business and social work.

Signature Strength:
Teacher Preparation (Seidel School of Education): SU has been training Maryland teachers for 100 years. It reports 115 current Teaching Fellows, the state scholarship that can cover tuition, fees, room and board for future public school teachers. In 2026, U.S. News ranked several SU graduate programs, including education, among the nation’s best.

Nursing: One of SU’s most in-demand majors. Out-of-state nursing students can drop to in-state tuition for their last two years by agreeing to work in Maryland after graduation.
Business (Perdue School of Business): SU’s largest group of graduates, spread across finance, accounting, marketing, management and information systems.
Social Work: A big program at both levels, and SU’s largest master’s program by graduates.
Exercise Science, Communication and Psychology: Each produces around 100 graduates a year, making them some of the most popular majors on campus.
Science and Technology (Henson School): Biology, chemistry, computer science, data science, environmental science and physics, with $5,000 STEM scholarships available to 20 incoming freshmen.

🔗 Official Salisbury University Links

Use Salisbury’s own pages below to double-check deadlines, scholarship rules, costs and admissions data. Always go by these for final dates and award terms.

First-Year Application Process & Deadlines:
https://www.salisbury.edu/admissions/first-year-students/first-year-application.aspx
Admission (Merit) Scholarships:
https://www.salisbury.edu/admissions/financial-aid/types-of-aid/su-admission-scholarships.aspx
SU Scholarship Portal (AcademicWorks):
https://salisbury.academicworks.com/
Cost of Attendance:
https://www.salisbury.edu/admissions/financial-aid/cost-of-attendance/
Net Price Calculator:
https://www.salisbury.edu/admissions/financial-aid/cost-of-attendance/net-price-calculator.aspx
Financial Aid & Scholarship Policies:
https://www.salisbury.edu/admissions/financial-aid/policies.aspx
Test-Optional Policy:
https://www.salisbury.edu/admissions/first-year-students/test-optional-policy.aspx
Clarke Honors College Application:
https://www.salisbury.edu/academic-offices/honors/honors-application.aspx
Common Data Set (Institutional Research):
https://www.salisbury.edu/administration/university-analysis-reporting-and-assessment/reporting/institutional-research.aspx

Salisbury University Scholarships (2026–2027)

📊 Admissions Snapshot

📌 Salisbury University at a Glance

FAQ

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

📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options

FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Salisbury University

📅 Salisbury Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)

Automatic Merit Scholarships at Salisbury University

Automatic Merit: FAQs (Salisbury University)

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

✅ The Department Freshman Scholarships at a Glance

❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs

🧠 Parent Strategy: The Dashboard Is the Whole Game

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

❓ Hidden Gems FAQ

Clarke Honors College at Salisbury University

Honors College Scholarships & Fellowships

Clarke Honors College: FAQs (Salisbury University)

⭐ College Specialty

🔗 Official Salisbury University Links

The Project

Scholarships & Aid

Planning Tools

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Salisbury University Scholarships (2026–2027)

📊 Admissions Snapshot

📌 Salisbury University at a Glance

FAQ

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

📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options

FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Salisbury University

📅 Salisbury Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)

Automatic Merit Scholarships at Salisbury University

Automatic Merit: FAQs (Salisbury University)

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

✅ The Department Freshman Scholarships at a Glance

❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs

🧠 Parent Strategy: The Dashboard Is the Whole Game

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

❓ Hidden Gems FAQ

Clarke Honors College at Salisbury University

Honors College Scholarships & Fellowships

Clarke Honors College: FAQs (Salisbury University)

⭐ College Specialty

🔗 Official Salisbury University Links

✅ Wrapping It Up

Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.

The Project

Scholarships & Aid

Planning Tools

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