LIU is really two places under one name. LIU Post sits on a leafy, suburban campus in Brookville on Long Island’s North Shore. LIU Brooklyn is a city campus in downtown Brooklyn. The published tuition is the same at both, and so is the scholarship playbook on this page. LIU is test-optional and admits on a rolling basis, with Early Action and Early Decision available too. Merit money is decided right alongside the admission decision, so the earlier the application goes in, the sooner you see a real number.
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Long Island University (Read This First)
Every LIU admission scholarship pays tuition only. Housing, meals, the $2,116 university fee, and the $2,158 student health insurance charge are on your family, no matter how big the award looks.
Total aid is capped at tuition, and LIU’s money goes on last. LIU applies its scholarships after federal and state grants like Pell and TAP. If your student qualifies for those grants, the LIU scholarship can shrink so the total stays under tuition.
The offer you get at admission is the offer you keep. LIU’s policy says admission scholarships are final and can’t be increased later. Defer a semester or a year, and the scholarship resets to whatever LIU offers for the new start date.
The FAFSA is required every year, even for pure merit. Skip it and renewal is at risk. LIU’s priority date is February 15.
There’s no public scholarship chart. LIU doesn’t publish dollar amounts or score cutoffs for its merit tiers. The offer letter (or the net price calculator) is the only way to see a real number.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Long Island University is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 22-29; SAT: 1110-1340.
Average net price? About $24,867/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Long Island University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Long Island 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 $1,300 to $3,100 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
All students: billed cost per year
$62,928
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$43,990
Housing & meals (typical)
$18,938
Total billed cost
$62,928
Average federal net price: $24,867 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.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
Long Island University is a private institution that charges the same published tuition and required fees to all undergraduates regardless of residency; tuition and fees are presented as a combined figure in financial-aid cost tables, and no nonresident waivers or regional reciprocity discount programs are listed.
Same Price, Every State, Both Campuses
LIU is private, so there’s no in-state discount and no out-of-state premium. A family in Ohio pays the same published tuition as a family in Queens. LIU has also publicly committed to keeping annual tuition increases at 2% or less, which makes four-year budgeting a lot less of a guessing game than at most private schools.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Long Island University
Does LIU charge more for out-of-state students?
No. LIU charges one undergraduate tuition rate ($41,874 for 2026–2027) plus a $2,116 full-time university fee, no matter where your family lives.
Is LIU Brooklyn cheaper than LIU Post?
Not on paper. LIU publishes a single undergraduate tuition rate and a single standard double room rate ($12,384) for its main campuses. Where the real difference shows up is in living costs if your student commutes or lives off campus, which looks very different in Brooklyn than on Long Island.
How much will tuition go up each year?
LIU says it limits annual tuition increases to no more than 2%. On today’s tuition, that’s roughly $840 a year at most. Since LIU scholarships are fixed dollar amounts that can’t be increased later, plan on covering that small yearly bump yourself.
What costs do LIU scholarships NOT cover?
Anything that isn’t tuition. LIU’s admission scholarships can’t be used for the university fee, housing, meal plans, or student health insurance ($2,158 on LIU’s rate sheet). For a student living on campus, that’s roughly $23,000 a year outside of tuition. If your student has other coverage, ask LIU about the health insurance waiver process.
Why does pharmacy cost more after the first two years?
LIU’s PharmD runs on its own rate. Years 1–2 are billed at regular undergraduate tuition ($41,874), but the professional years 3–5 jump to $49,510. If your student is heading into pharmacy, budget for that step up and check how any merit award applies once tuition rises.
Can New York families use TAP at LIU?
Yes. New York’s Tuition Assistance Program can be used at LIU (TAP school code 0403), and LIU’s aid page also points students to the state’s Enhanced Tuition Award. Just remember LIU applies state and federal grants first, then fills in with its own scholarship up to the cost of tuition.
Can my student take extra classes without paying more?
Up to a point. LIU’s flat tuition covers up to 18 credits per semester, which is a great way to add a minor or finish early. Credits beyond 18 are billed per credit ($1,307 each for 2026–2027).
What do families actually pay at LIU?
The federal average net price is about $24,867 a year after grants and scholarships. That number includes housing and living costs, so a commuter’s real cost can be quite a bit lower.
Fall of senior year: Apply. LIU reviews applications on a rolling basis, and merit is decided with the admission decision. There’s no separate scholarship form.
With the acceptance: The offer letter shows the scholarship name and dollar amount. This is the number you’re locked into.
February 15: LIU’s priority FAFSA date. File by then every single year, even if you don’t expect need-based aid.
Every spring: Renewal check. Your student needs a 3.0 cumulative GPA and full-time enrollment to keep the award.
Parent rule of thumb: get the application in early, and don’t let the FAFSA slide just because the money is “merit.”
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Long Island University
Every admitted student is automatically reviewed for these awards. No extra application is needed. LIU has a seven-step ladder, from the Presidential Scholarship at the top down to the Recognition Scholarship, but it doesn’t publish dollar amounts or GPA and test cutoffs. Your student gets one of these, and the amount shows up in the offer letter.
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.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyneed based
Enhanced Tuition Award
📅 Deadline: Separate HESC application by Aug 31 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$6,000/yr
✔ Stackable
NY resident; household federal AGI $125,000 or less; 30 credits a year; only at participating private colleges (2026-27: Long Island University, with a match limit); residency obligation after graduation or it converts to a no-interest loan
✚
Stacking & Combining
The private-college version of Excelsior: TAP, the state award, and a required college match combine to $6,000 a year toward tuition. It is a ceiling, not an add-on to TAP. Few private colleges participate, and some cap the number of students.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Long Island University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent NY page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students under the income cap at one of the handful of participating colleges, and at LIU the college limits its match, so early applicants come first. Most private-college families assume Excelsior has a private version that works everywhere; it does not.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Tuition Assistance Program
📅 Deadline: FAFSA and TAP application; final cutoff June 30 after the aid year ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000–$5,665/yr
✔ Stackable
NY resident for 12 months; NYS net taxable income $125,000 or less for dependent students; full time at an approved NY college; FAFSA plus a separate TAP application every year
✚
Stacking & Combining
New York's main need grant, $1,000 to $5,665 a year on a sliding income scale, and it travels to private NY colleges. Stacks with Pell and with the college's own aid. Two forms every year: the FAFSA and the TAP application.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Long Island University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent NY page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Families under $125,000 who finished the separate TAP application after the FAFSA. The TAP form is its own step on the HESC site, and the students who show up with Pell but no TAP are almost always the ones who stopped at the FAFSA confirmation screen.
State AidApp Requiredstate residency
NYS Scholarship for Academic Excellence
📅 Deadline: High school nomination; deadline set by the school ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$500–$1,500/yr
✔ Stackable
Nominated by the high school based on Regents exam scores; no application; must enroll the fall right after graduation; public or private NY college
✚
Stacking & Combining
$500 or $1,500 a year for four years, awarded by Regents scores and nominated by the high school. Small but automatic and renewable at a C average. Stacks with TAP, Excelsior, and college aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Long Island University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent NY page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Top Regents scorers whose high school submitted the nomination. There is nothing for a family to do except confirm with the guidance office that the nomination went in, and that is exactly the step nobody takes.
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.
Automaticpipeline
Presidential Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Apply for admission as early as possible. File FAFSA when it opens each year. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
A tuition-only award, so it can only reduce tuition charges. Recipients typically cannot also receive other LIU admission-based merit scholarships at the same time. Combined aid still cannot exceed the total tuition charge.
💡
Strategic Detail
LIU's top admission scholarship, open to first-year and transfer applicants. LIU does not publish a dollar chart or score cutoffs, so the amount appears in your student's offer letter. For reference, LIU's 2024 FBLA partnership page valued the Presidential Scholarship at $40,248 per year, which matched full tuition that year. It pays tuition only, students receive one admission scholarship rather than several, and LIU caps total aid at the cost of tuition. First-year recipients can renew for up to 8 semesters (transfers up to 6) with 12+ credits per term, a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and a FAFSA filed every year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: High-achieving freshmen and transfer applicants selected through admissions review. Renewal requires full-time enrollment and maintaining the GPA specified in the offer letter.
Automatic
University Scholars Award
📅 Deadline: Apply for freshman admission as early as possible. File FAFSA when it opens each year. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Tuition-only, so it can only reduce tuition charges. Recipients typically cannot also receive other LIU admission-based merit awards at the same time. Combined aid cannot exceed the total tuition charge.
💡
Strategic Detail
One of LIU's upper admission tiers, for first-year students only. LIU does not publish a dollar chart or score cutoffs, so the amount appears in the offer letter. It pays tuition only, students receive one admission scholarship rather than several, and total aid is capped at tuition. Renews for up to 8 semesters with 12+ credits per term, a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and a FAFSA filed every year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: High-achieving freshman applicants selected through admissions. Renewal requires full-time enrollment and maintaining the GPA specified in the award letter.
Automatic
Distinguished Scholars Award
📅 Deadline: Apply for admission as early as possible. File FAFSA as soon as it opens each year. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
A tuition-only award. Total LIU aid plus outside tuition scholarships cannot exceed the cost of tuition, and this award may adjust as other aid comes in. It typically becomes the anchor of the merit package rather than stacking with other admission scholarships.
💡
Strategic Detail
An upper-tier admission scholarship for first-year and transfer applicants. LIU does not publish a dollar chart or score cutoffs, so the amount appears in the offer letter. It pays tuition only, students receive one admission scholarship rather than several, and total aid is capped at tuition. First-year recipients renew for up to 8 semesters (transfers up to 6) with 12+ credits per term, a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and an annual FAFSA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Freshmen and transfer applicants with strong academic preparation. Renewal requires full-time enrollment and maintaining the GPA laid out in the offer letter.
Automatic
Academic Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Apply for freshman admission as early as possible. File FAFSA when it opens each year. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
This is a tuition-only award, meaning it can only offset tuition charges, not room, board, or fees. When combined with other LIU aid and outside scholarships, total aid cannot exceed the cost of tuition. If your student wins something big from the outside, LIU may reduce this award to stay under that cap.
💡
Strategic Detail
A mid-tier admission scholarship for first-year students. LIU does not publish a dollar chart or score cutoffs, so the amount appears in the offer letter. It pays tuition only, students receive one admission scholarship rather than several, and total aid is capped at tuition. Renews for up to 8 semesters with 12+ credits per term, a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and an annual FAFSA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted freshmen with solid academic records. Your student needs to stay enrolled full-time, maintain the GPA specified in the offer letter, and file the FAFSA every year to keep this award flowing all four years.
Automatic
Excellence Award
📅 Deadline: Apply for freshman admission as early as possible. File FAFSA when it opens each year. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Tuition-only, so it can only reduce tuition charges. Combined LIU aid plus outside tuition scholarships cannot exceed the total cost of tuition, and LIU may adjust this award if a large outside scholarship arrives.
💡
Strategic Detail
A mid-tier admission scholarship for first-year students. LIU does not publish a dollar chart or score cutoffs, so the amount appears in the offer letter. It pays tuition only, students receive one admission scholarship rather than several, and total aid is capped at tuition. Renews for up to 8 semesters with 12+ credits per term, a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and an annual FAFSA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted freshmen with a solid academic record. Renewal requires full-time enrollment and maintaining the GPA specified in the offer letter across all four years.
Automatic
Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Apply for admission as early as possible. File FAFSA when it opens each year. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Tuition-only. Combined LIU aid and outside tuition awards cannot exceed the tuition charge. LIU may adjust this scholarship down if a large outside award comes in.
💡
Strategic Detail
An admission scholarship for first-year and transfer applicants. LIU does not publish a dollar chart or score cutoffs, so the amount appears in the offer letter. It pays tuition only, students receive one admission scholarship rather than several, and total aid is capped at tuition. First-year recipients renew for up to 8 semesters (transfers up to 6) with 12+ credits per term, a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and an annual FAFSA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted freshmen and transfer students who meet LIU's admission standards. Renewal requires full-time enrollment and hitting the GPA laid out in the scholarship letter.
Automatic
Recognition Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Apply for admission as early as possible. File FAFSA when it opens each year. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Tuition-only, so it can only reduce tuition charges. Combined LIU aid and outside tuition awards cannot exceed the total tuition charge, and LIU may adjust this award if a large outside scholarship comes in.
💡
Strategic Detail
The entry tier of LIU's admission scholarship ladder, for first-year and transfer applicants. LIU does not publish a dollar chart or score cutoffs, so the amount appears in the offer letter. It pays tuition only, students receive one admission scholarship rather than several, and total aid is capped at tuition. First-year recipients renew for up to 8 semesters (transfers up to 6) with 12+ credits per term, a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and an annual FAFSA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted freshmen and transfer students who meet LIU's admission standards. Renewal requires full-time enrollment and maintaining the GPA specified in the scholarship letter.
Data last verified Oct 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: These awards pay tuition only and can’t be increased after admission. Students receive a single admission scholarship, not a stack of them. First-year awards renew for up to 8 semesters with 12+ credits per term, a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and a FAFSA every year.
Automatic Merit: FAQs (Long Island University)
How much is LIU’s Presidential Scholarship worth?
LIU doesn’t publish the amount, but there’s a useful clue. In 2024, LIU’s partnership page with FBLA valued the Presidential Scholarship at $40,248 a year, which was exactly full tuition at the time. Treat it as LIU’s “up to full tuition” tier, and confirm the real number in your offer letter.
Why can’t I find a scholarship chart for LIU?
Because there isn’t one. LIU lists the names of its merit tiers and the renewal rules, but it sets the dollar amounts individually during admission. The net price calculator is the best way to get a ballpark before your student applies.
Can my student receive more than one of these awards?
No. Students receive one admission scholarship. Smaller add-ons like the legacy award or the High School Scholars award can sit on top, but LIU caps total aid at the cost of tuition.
Can we ask LIU to raise the scholarship later?
Not under LIU’s written policy. Admission scholarships are final and can’t be increased in later semesters. If something in your family’s finances changes, talk to LIU’s Center for Student Success about need-based aid instead.
Do test scores matter for merit if LIU is test-optional?
LIU reviews applicants for merit based on their academic credentials, and scores are optional. If your student’s SAT or ACT is strong compared with LIU’s typical range, it’s worth sending, since it’s one more piece of evidence for a higher tier.
What happens if my student loses the scholarship?
Renewal is checked at the end of each spring. A cumulative GPA below 3.0, dropping below 12 credits, or skipping the FAFSA can cost the award. Your student’s success coach is the first call if grades start slipping.
Can transfer students get these awards?
Yes, some of them. The Presidential, Distinguished Scholars, Merit, and Recognition awards are open to transfers, renewable for up to 6 semesters.
LIU doesn’t run a big, open, essay-and-interview scholarship competition the way some private universities do. Its largest awards come through the admission review itself (see Automatic Merit above). The one major competitive program is the Roc Nation Hope Scholarship at LIU Brooklyn, and it comes with fine print every family should read.
🔎 Read the Fine Print: “Tuition-Free” Is Not “Debt-Free”
LIU describes the Hope Scholarship as contributing to a tuition-free education for 25% of each incoming Roc Nation School class. LIU’s own page says that tuition support is funded through LIU scholarships, state and federal grants, and philanthropy. So Pell and TAP are part of the math, and housing, meals, fees, and health insurance are not covered.
In April 2025, Gothamist reported that at least a dozen students from the first Hope class owed LIU between $5,000 and $39,000, even though their offer letters said they would graduate without debt. LIU responded that the award covers tuition only and that offer letters state housing and fees aren’t included. A New York City consumer-protection inquiry was later reported.
Parent translation: before accepting, ask LIU for a written, four-year estimate of every charge the Hope Scholarship does not cover.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at LIU?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
LIU Parent Translation
Admission Merit (Presidential through Recognition)
N/A
Your student gets one admission scholarship, and it can’t be increased later.
Pell, TAP, and other grants
Counted first
LIU applies federal and state grants first, then its own scholarship, and grant plus scholarship money tops out at tuition.
High School Scholars ($2,500/yr) and Legacy ($500/yr)
Yes
Small add-ons that sit on top of merit, as long as the total stays under tuition.
Departmental, Endowed, Arts Awards
Often yes
Usually layered on top, but they’re tied to the campus and program that offered them.
Athletic Scholarships
Capped
Recruited athletes can receive no more than $10,000 in additional tuition scholarships.
Outside Scholarships
Count toward the cap
LIU’s policy counts all financial aid toward the tuition cap, so a big outside award can reduce the LIU scholarship. Ask before you assume it adds on.
Big picture: at LIU, the admission offer is where most of the money is decided. Competitive dollars are limited to the Hope Scholarship and program-specific awards, so put your energy into a strong, early application and a well-understood offer letter.
App Requiredmajorcampusneed
Roc Nation Hope Scholarship
📅 Deadline: LIU does not post a separate Hope Scholarship deadline. Apply to the Roc Nation School through the Hope application and file the FAFSA early; LIU's priority FAFSA date is February 15. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~25% of each incoming Roc Nation School class winners/yr
📄
How to Apply
Apply to LIU Brooklyn's Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment through the Hope Scholarship application link on LIU's Hope page, and complete the FAFSA. Before accepting, ask LIU for a written estimate of every non-tuition charge (housing, meals, university fee, health insurance) for all four years.
💡
Strategic Detail
LIU describes the Hope Scholarship as contributing to a tuition-free education for 25% of each incoming Roc Nation School class, with tuition support funded through LIU scholarships, state and federal grants, and philanthropy. That means Pell and TAP count toward the tuition total. It does not cover housing, meals, fees, or health insurance. In April 2025, Gothamist reported that at least a dozen students from the first Hope class owed LIU between $5,000 and $39,000 after offer letters said they would graduate without debt. LIU said the award covers tuition only and that offer letters state housing and fees are not included.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: First-time freshmen with competitive academics and financial need who enroll in the Roc Nation School at LIU Brooklyn. To continue, recipients must keep a 3.0 GPA and complete at least 24 credits per year.
Data last verified Oct 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.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
Does LIU have a full-ride scholarship competition?
We didn’t find one. LIU’s top merit award is the Presidential Scholarship, awarded through admission, and it covers tuition only. Housing and meals are never part of LIU’s admission scholarships.
Who is eligible for the Roc Nation Hope Scholarship?
First-time freshmen with competitive academics and financial need who enroll in the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment at LIU Brooklyn. A completed FAFSA is required.
What does “tuition-free” mean for the Hope Scholarship?
It means tuition is covered by a combination of LIU scholarships, federal and state grants (like Pell and TAP), and donor money. It does not cover housing, meals, the university fee, or health insurance, which together run more than $20,000 a year for an on-campus student.
How does a student keep the Hope Scholarship?
LIU’s continuing criteria are a 3.0 GPA or higher and at least 24 credits completed each year.
How do I apply for the Hope Scholarship?
Through the Hope application link on LIU’s Roc Nation School page, along with the FAFSA. LIU doesn’t post a separate Hope deadline, so apply early and file the FAFSA by February 15.
What should we ask LIU before accepting any big award?
Ask for a written breakdown of every charge the award does not cover, for all four years, and whether any outside scholarship would reduce it. Families who did that up front are the ones who avoided surprise bills.
If your student’s high school partners with the LIU High School Scholars Program, this is one of the best deals on the page. Dual-credit courses cost just $290 each, and the credits count toward both the high school diploma and a bachelor’s degree.
Take at least six credits (usually two courses) through High School Scholars.
Earn a 3.5 GPA in those LIU courses.
Enroll at LIU and receive $2,500 a year for four years ($10,000 total), on top of the regular aid package.
Parent translation: about $580 in course fees can turn into $10,000 in scholarships, plus college credit your student keeps either way.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These are the awards most families never hear about. Some come with family connections, some through auditions or a department, and a few are tucked into LIU’s renewal chart without much fanfare. Most can sit on top of the main merit award, as long as the total stays under tuition.
Automatic
High School Scholars Award
📅 Deadline: Award applied automatically upon LIU enrollment after earning required High School Scholars credits. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$2,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Scholarship of $2,500 per year, renewable for four years, is in addition to the regular financial-aid package but cannot cause total LIU aid to exceed tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
Students who take at least six credits through the LIU High School Scholars dual-credit program and earn a 3.5 GPA in those LIU courses receive $2,500 per year at LIU, renewable for four years ($10,000 total). Courses cost $290 each and are taught in participating high schools, with credits affiliated with LIU Post. The award is in addition to the regular aid package but cannot push total LIU aid above tuition.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who completed at least six LIU credits in high school through the High School Scholars Program and maintained a strong GPA in those courses.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Alumni / Sibling / Legacy Award
📅 Deadline: Apply for admission and confirm the alumni or legacy connection during the application process. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$500/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Up to one award per eligible student; number of recipients not publicly capped. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Applied only to tuition, so this small award sits inside the same total-aid-cannot-exceed-tuition cap as every other LIU institutional scholarship. In practice it almost always stacks cleanly on top of a merit scholarship because of the small dollar amount.
💡
Strategic Detail
A $500 per year award, renewable for up to four years, for undergraduates whose parent, grandparent, or sibling graduated from LIU. Your student must formally apply to LIU to be considered (acceptance is not required to be reviewed) and can receive only one of LIU's two alumni awards. LIU's alumni page lists 12 credits per semester for the legacy award while the renewal grid shows 6, so plan on full-time enrollment. Renewal requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Undergraduate students with a parent, grandparent, or sibling who graduated from LIU, plus alumni returning for another degree. Renewal requires full-time enrollment for undergraduate legacy applicants and a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Automatic
LIU Grant
📅 Deadline: Feb 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~Limited number available each year; specific count not published. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Tuition-only. Combined LIU aid plus outside tuition scholarships cannot exceed the total tuition charge. Because this is a need-based grant, the amount can be reduced or modified year to year based on FAFSA changes and available funds.
💡
Strategic Detail
The LIU Grant appears on LIU's renewal grid alongside the merit awards for first-year and transfer students. LIU does not publish who receives it or how much it is worth, so it shows up individually in the offer letter. It renews with 12+ credits per term, a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and a FAFSA filed every year by LIU's February 15 priority date.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted first-year and transfer students who receive it as part of their offer letter. LIU does not publish selection criteria.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Departmental & Endowed Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Varies by department and specific endowed fund. ✓ Renews (3 GPA)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies by endowed fund and departmental budget. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Often can be combined with automatic merit awards, though some endowed funds may replace a portion of existing institutional tuition scholarships.
📄
How to Apply
Follow application or nomination processes run by individual departments or advisors, which may include internal forms, faculty recommendations, or program applications.
Selection criteria: Departmental selection based on academic performance, involvement, and donor-specified criteria.
💡
Strategic Detail
LIU's renewal grid lists dozens of restricted and endowed awards tied to specific majors and groups, including the Ruth J. Maher Endowed Award (Accounting), Richard W. Gorman Endowed Award (English), Steven S. Hornstein Endowed Award (Political Science), Harold Bernstein Memorial Endowed Award (History), Jacqueline Frank Memorial Award (Art History), Alan Skelly Scholarship (Philosophy), Zena Benack Endowed Award (Liberal Arts), Peter Kohler Cabaret Endowed Award (Music/Theatre), and the Semper Fi Endowed Scholarship (Veterans Affairs). Most renew at a 3.0 GPA (3.25 for Skelly and Benack). Amounts are not published centrally; ask your student's department how selection works.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who are active in their majors or departments and meet GPA and credit-load requirements.
Often layered on top of automatic merit awards; some endowed or departmental funds may replace part of other institutional aid depending on packaging rules.
📄
How to Apply
Complete an audition or submit a portfolio for music, theatre, dance, or visual arts as directed by the relevant LIU department.
Selection criteria: Departmental review emphasizing artistic ability and program fit.
💡
Strategic Detail
LIU's renewal grid lists Performing/Fine Arts Awards for undergraduates, renewable with 12+ credits per term and a 3.0 GPA. Awards come through auditions or portfolio review in music, theatre, dance, and visual arts. Departmental awards are tied to the campus and program that offered them, so they do not follow your student if they switch campuses.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Full-time students with strong demonstrated artistic talent through auditions or portfolios.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Athletics Awards
📅 Deadline: Varies by sport and recruiting timeline. ✓ Renews
Varies
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~Subject to team and NCAA scholarship limits. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
LIU policy limits the combination of athletic and tuition scholarships; athletic recipients may not receive more than a capped amount in additional tuition scholarships.
📄
How to Apply
Be recruited by an LIU coach and complete NCAA eligibility requirements along with the LIU admission process.
Selection criteria: Coach-driven selection within NCAA limits, considering athletic ability and academic standing.
💡
Strategic Detail
LIU athletic scholarships can cover tuition, fees, room, and board, but not health insurance. Under LIU's Tuition Scholarship Policy, recruited athletes may receive no more than $10,000 in additional tuition scholarships and must follow the terms of their National Letter of Intent. Renewal requires satisfactory academic progress rather than a set GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Recruited student-athletes who meet athletic and academic eligibility standards.
Automatic⚠ Upperclassmen Only
President’s Circle Award
📅 Deadline: Determined by the relevant department or institutional committee. ✓ Renews (3 GPA)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited by endowed fund availability. winners/yr🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Endowed awards may be layered with other aid but can also replace a portion of existing institutional tuition scholarships depending on packaging rules.
💡
Strategic Detail
Listed among named institutional awards in LIU’s scholarship and policy materials; public pages do not specify dollar amounts or detailed selection criteria.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Upperclassmen who meet donor-defined criteria and maintain required GPA.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Minor Award
📅 Deadline: Apply for admission as early as possible. File FAFSA when it opens each year. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Tuition-only. Combined LIU aid plus outside tuition scholarships cannot exceed the total tuition charge, so this smaller award may adjust when other larger scholarships arrive.
💡
Strategic Detail
A smaller tuition scholarship documented on LIU's financial aid policy renewal grid. LIU does not publish public amount ranges or eligibility thresholds for this tier, so families should treat it as a smaller add-on that shows up individually in the offer letter when awarded. Confirm details with LIU admissions if it appears on the aid offer.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted undergraduates who receive this award individually as part of their admission offer. No public criteria are published.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlyinternational
International Merit Award
📅 Deadline: Apply for admission early as an international student. ✓ Renews (3 GPA)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
An institutional tuition award for international students; total LIU scholarships cannot exceed tuition under the tuition scholarship policy.
💡
Strategic Detail
Financial-aid policy tables list an International Merit Award with full-time (12-credit) enrollment and 3.0 renewal GPA; specific dollar amounts are not published and are set in individual offer letters.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
International students with strong academic records based on LIU’s holistic review.
Data last verified Oct 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.
Named Awards Worth Asking About
LIU’s renewal chart lists restricted and endowed awards by major. If one matches your student, ask the department how to be considered:
Accounting: Ruth J. Maher Endowed Award
English: Richard W. Gorman Endowed Award
History: Harold Bernstein Memorial Endowed Award
Political Science: Steven S. Hornstein Endowed Award
Philosophy: Alan Skelly Scholarship (3.25 GPA to renew)
Art History: Jacqueline Frank Memorial Award
Music/Theatre: Peter Kohler Cabaret Endowed Award
Liberal Arts: Zena Benack Endowed Award (3.25 GPA to renew)
Veterans: Semper Fi Endowed Scholarship
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Who qualifies for LIU’s legacy scholarship?
Undergraduates whose parent, grandparent, or sibling graduated from LIU. It’s $500 a year, renewable for four years. Your student just has to formally apply to LIU and mention the connection. Admissions counselors can confirm eligibility.
Does the High School Scholars award stack with merit?
Yes. LIU says the $2,500 is in addition to the financial aid package, as long as total LIU aid doesn’t go over tuition.
How do arts students get scholarships at LIU?
Through auditions or portfolio review in music, theatre, dance, and visual arts. One catch: departmental awards belong to the campus and program that gave them. If your student switches from Post to Brooklyn, the award doesn’t follow.
Can recruited athletes also get academic scholarships?
Yes, but with a ceiling. LIU’s policy caps additional tuition scholarships for athletes at $10,000. Athletic awards themselves can cover tuition, fees, room, and board.
What is the LIU Grant?
It’s listed on LIU’s renewal chart with the merit awards for first-year and transfer students, but LIU doesn’t publish who gets it or how much it is. If it shows up in your offer letter, it renews like the others: full-time, a 3.0 GPA, and a FAFSA every year.
Are there awards for current LIU students?
Yes. Many endowed and departmental awards, plus the President’s Circle Award, are aimed at continuing undergraduates. Have your student check in with their department and success coach each year.
The LIU Honors College runs on both main campuses. It’s a smaller community inside the bigger university, built around research, internships, and one-on-one mentoring. Admission isn’t automatic: your student indicates interest on the LIU application, and the Honors team selects each class from those applicants.
Typical Honors Student: median GPA of 100 (on a 100-point scale), SAT 1350–1450, ACT 29–32
How to Apply: Apply to LIU and indicate Honors College interest. LIU’s Honors application link uses the promo code LIUHONORS.
Where: LIU Post (Honors College Village in the historic Winnick Mansion) and LIU Brooklyn (Honors College Lounge)
Honors College Scholarships & Fellowships
Automatic
Honors Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Apply for admission and Honors College consideration as early as possible. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
A tuition-only award that follows LIU's standard tuition scholarship policy. May replace or supplement other merit awards, and combined LIU aid cannot exceed the total tuition charge.
💡
Strategic Detail
A tuition scholarship tied to admission into LIU's Honors College. The amount and GPA condition are set individually inside the offer letter; there is no public dollar chart. This award is bundled with Honors College acceptance rather than a stand-alone competition.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students admitted to the LIU Honors College with strong academic records. Renewal requires staying in Honors, maintaining full-time enrollment, meeting the GPA in the award letter, and filing FAFSA annually.
Data last verified Oct 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.
*LIU doesn’t publish a dollar amount for the Honors Scholarship. It’s set in the offer letter and follows the same tuition-only rules as LIU’s other admission awards.*
Timing Note: LIU doesn’t post a separate Honors deadline. Honors decisions and scholarships typically arrive with the admission offer, and LIU admits on a rolling basis, so an early application gives your student the best shot at both.
What Honors Students Get (Beyond the Scholarship)
Mentorship: One-on-one advising for academics, careers, and post-graduation plans.
Fellowship help: Personal support applying for prestigious fellowships and outside scholarships.
Study abroad: Access to international programs through LIU’s Global College.
Dedicated spaces: The Winnick Mansion Honors Village at Post and the Honors Lounge in Brooklyn.
Honors College: FAQs (Long Island University)
Is Honors admission automatic for high achievers?
No. Students have to indicate interest on the LIU application, and the Honors team reviews academic performance and personal achievements before selecting each class.
Does the Honors Scholarship stack with the Presidential Scholarship?
Don’t count on it. Both are admission scholarships, and LIU awards one admission scholarship per student. The Honors perks (mentoring, housing community, fellowship support) come either way.
Do Honors students take more classes?
No. LIU says the Honors curriculum is a curated version of courses rather than extra classes on top of the major.
What does it take to keep the Honors Scholarship?
The same rules as LIU’s other merit awards: full-time enrollment (12+ credits), a 3.0 cumulative GPA, staying in the Honors College, and a FAFSA every year.
Can my student be in Honors at either campus?
Yes. The Honors College has a home at both LIU Post and LIU Brooklyn.
LIU’s sweet spot is career-focused programs, especially in health care. Nursing is the university’s largest bachelor’s program by a wide margin, pharmacy has deep roots in Brooklyn, and the Post campus is home to a veterinary college. On the creative side, LIU pairs a full performing arts center on Long Island with a music and sports business school in Brooklyn backed by Roc Nation.
Signature Program: LIU Pharmacy: Students can enter LIU’s PharmD track straight from high school and move through two years of pre-professional study into the professional program. It’s one of the clearer “start freshman year, finish as a pharmacist” pathways in the New York area. Just note that tuition steps up in the professional years.
Nursing & Health Sciences: Nursing produces more LIU bachelor’s graduates than any other field, with health sciences programs at both campuses feeding into New York’s huge hospital job market.
Veterinary Medicine: The Lewyt College of Veterinary Medicine at LIU Post offers the DVM. It’s a graduate program, but pre-vet undergraduates get a rare look at a vet school on their own campus.
Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment (Brooklyn): Bachelor’s degrees in sports management, sports communication and marketing, music technology and production, and vocal performance, built around industry connections in New York City.
Performing Arts: LIU Post is home to the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, one of Long Island’s major concert halls, which gives theatre, dance, and music students a professional stage right on campus.
Business & Journalism: LIU runs student-run businesses where students manage real ventures, and it administers the George Polk Awards, among the best-known prizes in American journalism.
🔗 Official Long Island University Links
Use LIU’s official pages below to double-check admissions details, scholarship rules, costs, and aid policies. When it comes to final amounts and deadlines, these pages (and your student’s offer letter) are the last word.
Here’s the honest version of LIU. It’s a private university with a private-school price, but it hands out merit money to almost everyone it admits, and its top award has historically reached full tuition. The catch is that every one of those scholarships stops at tuition. Housing, meals, fees, and health insurance are yours, and LIU’s money is applied after Pell and TAP, not on top of them.
If you go in knowing that, LIU can be a genuinely good deal, especially for a student headed into nursing, pharmacy, or the performing arts, or one who can pick up the High School Scholars award before senior year ends. Apply early, file the FAFSA every February, read the offer letter line by line, and ask LIU in writing what your family will owe outside of tuition. The offer you sign is the offer you keep, so make sure it’s one you can live with for four years.
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Leo Dimilo
Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He built the site after working through college costs with his own daughter, and writes every guide for families who want straight answers about what college really costs.
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