Longwood admits most students who apply, takes applications through the Common App, and doesn’t require SAT or ACT scores for most majors. That makes getting in the easy part. The money is where timing matters. Longwood’s merit scholarships run on a simple high school GPA chart, and the date your student hits submit decides whether that award is guaranteed.
High school GPA 3.0+ (GPA-only grid, no test cutoff)
Benchmarks for top-tier awards.
Testing Policy
Test-optional (nursing requires scores)
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Dec 1 • FAFSA: Mar 1
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Cormier Honors Full Ride (two awarded per year)
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Residency & Waivers
ACM
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Longwood University (Read This First)
December 1 is the scholarship deadline that counts. Apply by then and the merit award on Longwood’s chart is guaranteed. Apply after and it becomes a “potential” award that tops out $1,000 lower at every level. For a 4.0 student, that’s up to $4,000 over four years.
Keeping the scholarship takes 30 credits a year, not just a 3.0. Longwood counts fall, spring, and summer together. A student taking 12 credits each semester finishes the year at 24 and can lose the award even with a 4.0. Tuition costs the same from 12 to 18 credits, so 15 a semester is free insurance.
Honors starts with an invitation, and the clock is tight. Longwood invites students to apply to the Cormier Honors College after reviewing the regular application, and the Honors Portfolio is due December 1. Submit the admissions application in early November so the invitation arrives in time.
Nursing plays by different rules. Nursing applicants must submit SAT, ACT, or TEAS scores, the November 1 Early Decision option is binding, and there is no Regular Admission path into nursing.
Merit can shift when other Longwood awards land. Longwood says merit amounts may be influenced by other institutional awards. Read the final award letter line by line, not just the acceptance letter.
Student athletes, check before you celebrate. Under NCAA rules, if Longwood’s non-athletic aid pushes a recruited athlete over their athletic aid limit, that institutional aid offer can be pulled.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes — Longwood University is test-optional.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 21-27; SAT: 1040-1230.
Average net price? About $20,983/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
Yes — participates in ACM.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Longwood University 2026-2027
📅 2027–2028 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2026–2027). Universities typically finalize the next year’s rates in the spring, and we’ll update this page once official 2027–2028 numbers are released.
Planning tip: At large public universities, tuition, fees, and housing usually increase modestly each year (often in the 2–5% range). For early budgeting, families may want to plan for roughly $1,000–$1,500 more in-state or $2,000–$3,000 more out-of-state in total direct costs once new rates are published.
Category (2026–2027)
In-State
Out-of-State
Tuition & Mandatory Fees (2 semesters)
$16,910
$29,150
Housing & Meals (typical)
$15,130
$15,130
Total (Direct Costs)
$32,040
$44,280
Average Federal Net Price: $20,983 — this is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships (no loans), based on the most recent federal data. Your specific cost could be significantly lower or higher depending on your financial aid eligibility and merit scholarships. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
Virginia takes part in the Academic Common Market, a Southern Regional Education Board program that lets residents of member states pay in-state tuition for approved majors their home state does not offer. Access is program by program and state by state, and Longwood does not publish its current ACM majors, so search SREB's ACM program list and contact your home state's ACM coordinator before counting on it. Longwood's financial aid rules also mention an Out-of-State Tuition Grant that requires recipients to live in Longwood-managed housing and keep out-of-state status. Amounts and criteria are not published, so ask Admissions whether your student is being considered.
Two Longwood Cost Details the Table Doesn’t Show
Tuition is a flat band. Longwood charges the same full-time tuition for anywhere from 12 to 18 credits a semester. Since keeping merit requires 30 credits a year, taking 15 each semester costs nothing extra and protects the scholarship.
The financial aid office uses a bigger number. The table above shows what Longwood bills: tuition, a room, and the default Lancer All Access meal plan. Longwood’s aid budget for 2026-27 sets housing and meals at $18,902 and adds books, transportation, and personal costs, for an estimated total of $39,688 for Virginia residents and $51,958 for out-of-state students. Aid is packaged against that larger figure.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Longwood University
What does a semester at Longwood cost?
For 2026-27, Longwood estimates $16,020 per semester for Virginia residents and $22,140 for out-of-state students. That covers banded tuition for 12 to 18 credits, a room, and the default Lancer All Access meal plan. Books, travel, and personal spending are extra.
Why is Longwood’s official cost of attendance higher than this table?
The table shows billed charges. Longwood’s financial aid budget adds $900 for books and supplies, $1,270 for transportation, $1,712 for personal expenses, and a small loan fee allowance, and it uses a higher housing and meal estimate. That’s why the aid office total runs several thousand dollars above the bill.
Can out-of-state students pay in-state tuition at Longwood?
Not automatically. Virginia is part of the Academic Common Market, but access is limited to approved majors and depends on your home state, so check SREB’s program list first. Longwood’s aid rules also mention an Out-of-State Tuition Grant that requires living in Longwood-managed housing. Longwood doesn’t publish the amount, so ask Admissions. The good news: Longwood’s merit chart doesn’t split students by state, so out-of-state students qualify for the same GPA-based awards.
What state grants can Virginia families get at Longwood?
Two need-based grants come from the FAFSA. The VGAP Grant requires full-time enrollment (12 credits a semester), a 2.0 GPA, and moving up a grade level each year. The Virginia Commonwealth Grant requires at least half-time enrollment but shrinks below 12 credits. File the FAFSA by Longwood’s March 1 priority date every year.
How much does Longwood tuition go up each year?
For 2026-27, Longwood’s Board raised tuition 3.68%, or $330 for the year, and Longwood says its increases since 2020-21 have run below inflation. Merit scholarships are fixed dollar amounts, so any future increase lands on the family’s share.
Is the average net price what we’ll pay?
It’s a federal average after grants and scholarships, not a quote. Run Longwood’s net price calculator with your own numbers, and keep in mind Longwood notes its calculator is built on 2022-2023 cost and aid data, so today’s real figures will run a little higher.
August 1: The Common App opens. Add Longwood and get started.
November 1: Nursing Early Decision deadline (binding). Admitted nursing students get a financial aid estimate with the acceptance.
Early November: Honors hopefuls should have the admissions application and documents in, so the Honors invitation arrives in time.
December 1: Early Action deadline for guaranteed merit, and the Honors Portfolio deadline for priority Honors scholarship consideration.
February 1: Regular Admission deadline. Merit after December 1 is a “potential” award, not a guaranteed one.
March 1: FAFSA priority date, music audition deadline for scholarships, and English and Modern Languages freshman award packets.
Parent rule of thumb: treat December 1 as the real deadline, even if your student is still deciding.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Longwood University
Longwood’s merit awards come with the acceptance letter and are based on high school GPA. There’s no separate application. Students with a 3.0 or higher are eligible, and applying by December 1 turns the award from “potential” into guaranteed.
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.
Automatic
Presidential Scholarship
📅 Deadline: December 1 · 📢 Results: rolling ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$6,000–$7,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 4.0+ GPA👥 ~unlimited; awarded to all eligible freshmen who meet criteria within institutional aid policies winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Merit scholarship amounts may be influenced by other institutional awards and are part of the overall financial aid package. Total institutional aid cannot exceed cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Longwood's merit grid awards up to $7,000/year for Early Action applicants (guaranteed for those applying by Dec. 1) and up to $6,000/year for Regular Admission applicants with a 4.0+ GPA. Renewal requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA and 30 credit hours per academic year at Longwood.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming first-year students with a 4.0+ high school GPA who apply by the Early Action deadline and have strong overall applications. Early Action applicants are guaranteed up to $7,000/year; Regular Admission applicants are in the running for up to $6,000/year but it's not locked in. Either way, this is Longwood's top automatic merit tier.
Automatic
Provost's Scholarship
📅 Deadline: December 1 · 📢 Results: rolling ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000–$6,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.8+ GPA👥 ~unlimited; GPA-grid based institutional merit winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
May be adjusted when combined with other institutional scholarships. Total institutional aid is subject to cost-of-attendance limits.
💡
Strategic Detail
Longwood's merit grid awards up to $6,000/year for Early Action applicants and up to $5,000/year for Regular Admission applicants with GPAs between 3.75 and 3.99. Renewable with a 3.0 GPA and 30 credits per year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted freshmen whose high school GPAs fall in the 3.75–3.99 band. Early Action applicants are guaranteed up to $6,000/year; Regular Admission applicants are considered for up to $5,000/year. Apply by December 1 to lock in the higher tier.
Automatic
Dean's Scholarship
📅 Deadline: December 1 · 📢 Results: rolling ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$4,000–$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA👥 ~unlimited; GPA-band based winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Counts as institutional merit aid and may combine with other scholarships as long as total aid does not exceed cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Dean's Scholarship tier offers up to $5,000/year for Early Action applicants and up to $4,000/year for Regular Admission applicants with GPAs between 3.50 and 3.74. Renewable for up to four years with a 3.0 cumulative GPA and 30 credits per year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Fall freshmen whose high school GPA falls in the 3.50–3.74 range. Early Action applicants are guaranteed up to $5,000/year; Regular Admission applicants are eligible for up to $4,000/year. Completing the application by December 1 is the single most important lever here.
Automatic
Rotunda Award
📅 Deadline: December 1 · 📢 Results: rolling ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$2,000–$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA👥 ~unlimited; GPA-based tier winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Institutional merit award that may be adjusted when combined with other Longwood scholarships, subject to cost-of-attendance limits.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Rotunda Award provides up to $3,000/year for Early Action applicants and up to $2,000/year for Regular Admission applicants with GPAs between 3.25 and 3.49. Renewable with a 3.0 GPA and 30 credits per academic year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted freshmen with high school GPAs in the 3.25–3.49 range who enroll at Longwood. Early Action locks in up to $3,000/year; Regular Admission students are considered for up to $2,000/year. Even at this tier, applying early is worth real money.
Automatic
Lancer Distinction Award
📅 Deadline: December 1 · 📢 Results: rolling ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$1,000–$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA👥 ~unlimited; automatic for qualifying admitted freshmen winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Lowest tier of the automatic merit grid. May stack with need-based and outside aid up to cost-of-attendance limits.
💡
Strategic Detail
Longwood's grid awards up to $2,000/year for Early Action applicants and up to $1,000/year for Regular Admission applicants with GPAs between 3.0 and 3.24. Renewable under the same 3.0 GPA and 30-credit annual requirement as all other merit tiers.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted Fall freshmen with a 3.0–3.24 GPA, the entry point of Longwood's merit grid. Early Action guarantees up to $2,000/year; Regular Admission students are eligible for up to $1,000/year. Renewing this award only requires maintaining the same 3.0 GPA students already earned in high school.
Data last verified Sep 18, 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.
What Applying Early Is Worth
Here’s Longwood’s most recently published chart, side by side. Every level loses up to $1,000 a year for applying after December 1, and the later award isn’t guaranteed.
Scholarship
High School GPA
Apply by Dec 1 (Guaranteed)
Apply After Dec 1 (Potential)
4-Year Difference
Presidential
4.0+
Up to $7,000
Up to $6,000
Up to $4,000
Provost’s
3.75–3.99
Up to $6,000
Up to $5,000
Up to $4,000
Dean’s
3.50–3.74
Up to $5,000
Up to $4,000
Up to $4,000
Rotunda Award
3.25–3.49
Up to $3,000
Up to $2,000
Up to $4,000
Lancer Distinction Award
3.0–3.24
Up to $2,000
Up to $1,000
Up to $4,000
Parent translation: For a Lancer Distinction student, applying early doubles the award. For everyone, it’s the same $4,000 swing over four years for doing nothing more than submitting sooner. These are Longwood’s Fall 2026 amounts, the most recent chart posted. Longwood is already awarding for Fall 2027, so confirm the figures in your student’s acceptance letter.
Automatic Merit FAQs (Longwood University)
Do test scores affect Longwood merit scholarships?
The published chart is based on high school GPA, with no test score cutoffs. Scores are optional for most majors, and Longwood says students who skip them aren’t penalized; applications are reviewed as a whole for admission, Honors, and merit aid. If your student does send SAT scores, Longwood uses the highest reading and math section scores.
What happens if we apply after December 1?
Your student can still receive merit, but it’s a “potential” award instead of a guaranteed one, and the maximum drops by $1,000 at every level. Longwood also recommends having the application and FAFSA in by February 1 for top aid consideration.
Can my student receive more than one of these awards?
No. Each level matches a GPA range, so a student lands in one. Cormier Honors scholarships come on top, though Longwood notes merit amounts can be influenced by other institutional awards.
How does the scholarship renew?
Automatically each year for up to eight semesters, as long as your student keeps a 3.0 cumulative GPA and completes at least 30 credits at Longwood each academic year, counting fall, spring, and summer.
Do out-of-state students get the same merit awards?
Yes. Longwood’s merit chart isn’t split by residency, so a 3.8 student from Maryland sees the same award levels as a 3.8 student from Richmond. The difference is the higher out-of-state tuition the award is chipping away at.
My student is being recruited for a sport. Does that change anything?
It can. Longwood’s aid rules say that if non-athletic institutional aid would push a student-athlete past the equivalency on their athletic award, the student is no longer eligible for that institutional aid offer. Talk to the coach and the aid office before signing.
Longwood doesn’t publish a separate campus-wide scholarship competition for incoming freshmen. All of its big competitive money, including two full rides and named awards worth $2,000 to $10,000 a year, runs through the Cormier Honors College, covered in its own section below. The award listed here is for community college transfer students.
That’s actually good news for planning. Instead of chasing a dozen separate essays and interview weekends, a high-achieving student has one main door to walk through: get the admissions application in early, watch for the Honors invitation, and put real effort into the Honors Portfolio by December 1.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Longwood?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
Longwood Parent Translation
Automatic merit
One award
Your student gets the one level that matches their GPA.
Cormier Honors scholarships
Usually adds
Longwood calls these additional scholarships, but merit can be adjusted when other Longwood awards are in the package.
Foundation scholarships
Usually yes
Every enrolled student is considered automatically. These are the gap fillers, up to the cost of attendance.
Music, art, and English awards
Usually yes
Talent money sits on top, but each department has its own step and most want it done by March 1.
Pell, VGAP, Commonwealth Grant
Yes
Need-based aid comes from the FAFSA. File by March 1 every year.
Athletic aid
Careful
NCAA limits can cancel a non-athletic institutional offer if it pushes an athlete over their equivalency.
App Required⚠ Transfer Only
Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Each fall; specific date published by Financial Aid. Email finaid@longwood.edu to confirm the current deadline. ✓ Renews
$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Between one and ten $1,000 scholarships awarded each fall, depending on renewals. winners/yr🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
May be combined with other institutional, state, and federal aid up to cost of attendance. Availability of new awards depends on how many existing recipients renew. Some years have more open slots than others.
📄
How to Apply
Apply and be admitted to Longwood as a transfer student. Email the Financial Aid office at finaid@longwood.edu to request the Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship application form, then complete and submit it by the stated deadline.
Selection criteria: Competitive review based on academic merit, PTK standing, and financial need as determined by the Financial Aid office, within the constraints of limited annual award slots.
💡
Strategic Detail
Between one and ten $1,000 renewable scholarships are available each fall for PTK members transferring to Longwood. Selection is based on merit and need. Students must email Financial Aid to request the application form. It is not posted publicly.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
A small group of PTK transfer students each fall with strong academic records. Between one and ten awards are available depending on how many prior recipients renew, so competition can vary significantly year to year. Worth applying every fall you're enrolled.
Data last verified Sep 18, 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 Longwood hold a scholarship competition day for freshmen?
We didn’t find one publicly listed outside the Cormier Honors College. The full rides and the named $2,000 to $10,000 awards are all decided through the Honors review.
Where should a high-achieving student focus?
On the Cormier Honors College. Submit the admissions application and documents in early November, accept the Honors invitation, and finish the Honors Portfolio by December 1. Every Honors freshman gets at least $500 a year, and the strongest applicants are considered for the two full rides.
How does the Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship work?
Longwood offers between one and ten renewable $1,000 scholarships each fall to Phi Theta Kappa members, depending on how many current recipients renew. Selection weighs merit and need. The form isn’t posted online; request it by emailing finaid@longwood.edu.
Can transfer students get the automatic merit awards?
No. Longwood lists its GPA-based merit chart under freshman applicants. Transfers should look at the Phi Theta Kappa award and Foundation scholarships once enrolled.
What should students prepare for the Honors Portfolio?
Start early with a clear picture of leadership and service, since Longwood’s Honors College is built around citizenship. Families can use our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder to organize activities and write stronger responses.
🧠 Parent Strategy: Longwood’s “No Application” Rule (and the Catch)
Longwood made donor scholarships easy: every enrolled student is automatically considered for
Longwood University Foundation scholarships, with no general application. The catch is that the talent awards and a handful of Foundation awards still need your student to do something, and those deadlines come early.
File the FAFSA by March 1. Many donor funds consider need.
Music students: audition before March 1 to be guaranteed scholarship consideration.
English and Modern Languages students: mail the writing sample, teacher recommendation, and cover letter by March 1.
Art and Graphic and Animation Design students: follow the department’s portfolio instructions.
Once enrolled, check the Longwood email inbox. Awards that need essays or a portfolio are announced there.
Parent translation: you don’t have to fill out a scholarship form, but a student who ignores a Longwood email can still miss money meant for them.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These awards don’t show up on the merit chart, but they can sit on top of it and help with housing, meals, and books. The Foundation alone reported nearly 900 scholarships to more than 680 students in a single year. The department awards are smaller pools where a talented student can stand out.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Longwood Foundation & Departmental Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Awarded throughout the year. Watch Longwood email for any award that asks for additional materials. ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies by fund; collectively hundreds of awards (897 scholarships in a recent year) across the university. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Foundation awards generally combine with merit, state, and federal aid up to cost of attendance. Longwood notes that merit scholarship amounts can be influenced by other institutional awards.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Longwood University Foundation reports that its scholarship program provided 897 scholarships totaling $2.5 million to more than 680 students in 2022-2023. All enrolled students are considered automatically without a general application. A small number of awards ask for extra information, essays, or a portfolio, and eligible students are notified through their Longwood email. Recipients are notified through Longwood email and the Office of Financial Aid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Enrolled Longwood students who match the criteria donors set for each fund, such as major, GPA, hometown, financial need, or campus involvement. Students who answer quickly when Longwood emails them for extra materials give themselves the best shot.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Music Department Scholarships
📅 Deadline: March 1 ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Multiple departmental music scholarships awarded each year to both incoming and continuing students; specific counts vary by fund and budget. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Music scholarships may be combined with academic merit, state grants, and federal aid as long as total funding does not exceed cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to Longwood and schedule a Department of Music audition and interview before March 1. After March 1, students may still audition for admission but are not guaranteed scholarship consideration. Non-majors interested in ensemble awards should contact the Department of Music.
Selection criteria: Evaluated on audition performance, musical potential, ensemble and program needs, and, for continuing students, academic and musical progress.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Department of Music awards scholarships from $500 up to the cost of tuition to incoming and returning students by application and audition. Waverly Cole scholarships for students new to a music degree program are renewable and can reach full tuition. Students must audition by March 1 for scholarship consideration; later auditions can still earn admission to the program but are not guaranteed scholarship consideration. Returning students need a 2.5 GPA as rising sophomores and a 3.0 GPA as rising juniors and seniors. A limited number of awards are open to non-majors who play in ensembles or take lessons.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who audition well before March 1 and are accepted into the program. Instrument or voice needs and faculty evaluation of talent matter, and a few awards go to non-majors who join ensembles.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Art & Graphic and Animation Design Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Departmental deadlines associated with portfolio review and scholarship consideration. ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Several departmental art and design scholarships awarded annually; each named fund has its own budget and number of recipients. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Departmental art scholarships may stack with academic merit and need-based aid up to cost-of-attendance limits. Some awards are renewable; others are one-year, non-renewable scholarships.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to Longwood as an Art (Art Education/Studio) or Graphic and Animation Design (GAND) major. Follow the Art Department’s instructions to submit a portfolio and, where required, complete scholarship applications or forms for specific departmental awards listed on the Art Scholarships page. Many awards are evaluated through portfolio submission and departmental review.
Selection criteria: Departmental review of portfolios and academic standing, with additional consideration of need, research interest, and donor criteria for certain funds.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Art Department lists named scholarships including the Lucile Walton Art Scholarship, Franklin Federal Art Scholarship, Jane Aman Liepis Research Award for the Arts, Art Departmental Scholarship, Barbara L. Bishop Scholarship, Virginia Estes Bedford Memorial Scholarship, Nan Gilbert Aman Memorial Scholarship, and TowneBank Art Scholarship. Most are judged by portfolio for full-time Art (Art Education or Studio) and Graphic and Animation Design students. The Bishop, Bedford, and Nan Gilbert Aman awards are renewable, and Nan Gilbert Aman is reserved for accepted incoming freshmen. The Walton, Franklin Federal, Liepis, and Departmental awards are one-year awards.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Full-time Art and GAND students whose portfolios stand out to faculty committees, often demonstrating strong artistic ability, promise, and, for certain awards, financial need or research interest.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
English & Modern Languages Scholarships and Awards
📅 Deadline: March 1 ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Multiple departmental scholarships and awards each year for English and Modern Languages students; exact numbers vary. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Departmental awards may supplement university merit and need-based aid; some are one-time awards, while others may be renewable depending on donor criteria and departmental policy.
📄
How to Apply
For incoming freshmen, submit a writing sample, one letter of recommendation from a high school English or foreign language teacher, and a cover letter to the Department of English and Modern Languages by March 1. Current majors can apply for departmental scholarships and awards through the English scholarships page and, when applicable, the Longwood Scholarship Homepage.
Selection criteria: Evaluated by the departmental awards committee based on writing quality, academic performance, recommendation strength, and alignment with donor or award criteria.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
The department honors its most exceptional majors each spring at a scholarships and awards banquet. Incoming freshmen can apply for listed awards by submitting a writing sample, teacher recommendation, and cover letter by March 1; current majors have access to additional departmental awards managed by faculty.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Exceptional English and Modern Languages majors and incoming students with strong writing samples, recommendations, and academic records, as identified by the department’s awards committee.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlygeographicidentity
Longwood Enslaved Ancestors College Access Scholarship
📅 Deadline: The 2026-2027 application period is closed. Longwood will post the next cycle on its Financial Aid scholarships page. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Virginia undergraduates with a documented personal or community connection to slavery in Virginia; one award per year; the 2026-27 cycle is closed.
👥 ~One scholarship awarded annually, subject to program funding and institutional selection. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
One-time award designed to partially offset cost of attendance. May stack with federal, state, and other institutional aid as long as total funding does not exceed cost-of-attendance limits.
📄
How to Apply
When the application reopens, download it from Longwood's Financial Aid scholarships page, answer the narrative questions about the student's connection to slavery in Virginia or to an affected community, and submit any requested documentation.
Selection criteria: Selection follows state guidance and Longwood committee review, emphasizing financial need, strength and clarity of the historical or community connection, and alignment with the program's memorial and access goals.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Longwood awards one one-time scholarship each year to an eligible undergraduate from Virginia to help with the cost of attendance. Applicants must show a personal and historical connection to slavery in Virginia or be a member of a community that has experienced the negative legacy of slavery.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: One Virginia undergraduate each year who can document a personal and historical connection to slavery in Virginia, or membership in a community that has lived with its legacy.
Data last verified Sep 18, 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
Do we need to fill out a general scholarship application at Longwood?
No. Longwood automatically considers all enrolled students for Foundation scholarships. A small number of awards ask for more information, essays, or a portfolio, and Longwood contacts eligible students by email. Questions go to scholarships@longwood.edu.
How big are Longwood’s music scholarships?
From $500 up to the cost of tuition. The Waverly Cole scholarships, for students new to a music degree program, are renewable and can reach full tuition. Students must audition by March 1 for scholarship consideration, and a limited number of awards are open to non-majors who play in ensembles or take lessons.
What do the English and Modern Languages freshman awards require?
A writing sample, one recommendation from a high school English or foreign language teacher, and a cover letter, mailed to the department’s awards committee by March 1. Incoming freshmen are considered for awards such as the Rosemary Sprague Memorial Scholarship and the Elizabeth Garrett Rountrey Scholarship, and the Martha E. Cook Scholarship gives preference to first-generation English majors.
Are Longwood’s art scholarships renewable?
Some are. The Bishop, Bedford, and Nan Gilbert Aman awards renew, and the Nan Gilbert Aman scholarship is reserved for accepted incoming freshmen. The Walton, Franklin Federal, Liepis research award, and Art Departmental scholarships are one-year awards. Most are judged by portfolio.
What is the Enslaved Ancestors College Access Scholarship?
A one-time award Longwood gives each year to one eligible Virginia undergraduate who can show a personal and historical connection to slavery in Virginia, or membership in a community that has lived with its legacy. The 2026-27 application period is closed, and Longwood will post the next cycle on its Financial Aid scholarships page.
Can these stack with merit scholarships?
Generally yes, up to the cost of attendance. Longwood does note that merit amounts can be influenced by other institutional awards, so compare the final award letter to the acceptance letter.
Cormier Honors College for Citizen Scholars at Longwood
The Cormier Honors College is where Longwood’s biggest scholarships live, including the university’s only full rides. It’s built around citizenship and service, not just grades, and it works by invitation: Longwood reviews the regular admissions application first, then invites eligible students to submit an Honors Portfolio.
Guaranteed floor: every incoming Honors freshman receives a merit scholarship of at least $500 a year.
The range: Honors scholarships run from $500 a year up to a full ride covering tuition, on-campus room and board, and books.
The top prize: two full rides each year, renewable for four years.
Extras: a scholarship toward a study abroad or study away program, plus smaller classes, priority registration, and designated Honors housing.
Deadline: Honors Portfolio by December 1, with the admissions application in by early November.
Honors College Scholarships
Full RideApp Required
Cormier Honors Full Ride Scholarship
📅 Deadline: December 1 · 📢 Results: Typically in spring prior to enrollment. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
Highly competitive full-ride Honors scholarship covering tuition, standard room and board, and books
For students receiving this full-ride package, other institutional awards may be reduced so total institutional aid does not exceed tuition, standard housing, meal plan, and estimated book costs. Outside scholarships may still reduce out-of-pocket costs subject to cost-of-attendance limits.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to Longwood early, accept the invitation to apply to the Cormier Honors College, and submit the Honors Portfolio by December 1. Honors applicants are considered for the full rides through the Honors scholarship review; Longwood does not publish a separate full-ride application.
Selection criteria: Holistic Honors review identifying two top students for full-ride support, based on academic excellence, leadership, service, essay strength, and alignment with the citizen-scholar mission.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Longwood's merit grid notes that students admitted to the Cormier Honors College may receive additional scholarships, including two full rides renewable for four years. The Honors scholarships page confirms coverage includes tuition, on-campus room and board, and books. Only two of these awards are given annually.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Two students a year. These go to the very strongest Cormier Honors College applicants, students with exceptional academic records plus leadership and service that fit Longwood's citizen leader mission. It is the most competitive merit award Longwood offers.
App Required
Cormier Honors College Scholarships
📅 Deadline: December 1 · 📢 Results: Typically in spring before enrollment. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited competitive awards at the upper end; every Honors admit receives at least the base $500/year award. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Longwood describes Cormier Honors scholarships as additional to the merit grid, but notes that merit amounts can be influenced by other institutional awards. Total aid cannot exceed cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Longwood admissions application and supporting documents early, ideally in early November. Eligible students receive an invitation to apply to the Cormier Honors College. Complete the Honors Portfolio by December 1 for priority scholarship consideration.
Selection criteria: Holistic Honors review emphasizing academic performance and rigor, leadership, service, essay quality, and fit with the citizen-scholar model. Larger awards and full rides are reserved for the strongest candidates identified through this process.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Every incoming Cormier Honors College freshman receives a merit scholarship of at least $500 per year, and Honors scholarships run from $500 per year up to a full ride covering tuition, on-campus room and board, and books. The most competitive named Honors awards (Cormier Citizen Scholars, Hull Scholars, and Longwood Scholars) range from $2,000 to $10,000 per year. Honors students also receive a scholarship toward a study abroad or study away program. The Honors College reviews recipients each year and renews awards based on overall academic performance.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Every student admitted to the Cormier Honors College gets at least $500 per year. Bigger awards, from $2,000 per year up to the two full rides, go to the strongest Honors applicants after review of the Honors Portfolio and academic record. Honors admission starts with an invitation after Longwood reviews the regular admissions application.
App Required
Cormier Citizen Scholars
📅 Deadline: December 1 · 📢 Results: Typically in spring before enrollment. ✓ Renews (3.25 GPA, 4 yrs)
$2,000–$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA👥 ~Limited; small cohort selected annually as part of the Honors scholarship review. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Named Honors award that stacks with the base Cormier Honors scholarship. Total institutional aid subject to cost-of-attendance limits.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to Longwood, accept the invitation to the Cormier Honors College, and submit the Honors Portfolio by December 1. Longwood's listing says Honors students are considered for this award automatically.
Selection criteria: Holistic Honors review with emphasis on academic achievement, leadership, civic engagement, essay quality, and strength of fit with Longwood's citizen-scholar model.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
The Cormier Citizen Scholars is one of the most competitive named awards within the Cormier Honors College, valued at $2,000–$10,000/year and renewable for four years. Awarded as part of the holistic Honors admissions and scholarship review process. Students apply by completing the Honors Portfolio by December 1.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
A small group of top Cormier Honors College students each year. Longwood's scholarship listing shows a committee preference for a 3.5 high school GPA, and returning recipients must keep a 3.25 GPA. Leadership, service, and fit with the citizen scholar mission matter alongside grades.
App Required
Hull Scholars
📅 Deadline: December 1 · 📢 Results: Typically in spring before enrollment. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,000–$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited; small cohort selected annually as part of the Honors scholarship review. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Named Honors award that stacks with the base Cormier Honors scholarship. Total institutional aid subject to cost-of-attendance limits.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to Longwood, accept the invitation to the Cormier Honors College, and submit the Honors Portfolio by December 1. Make the plan to teach clear in the portfolio, since this award is reserved for future teachers.
Selection criteria: Holistic Honors review with emphasis on academic achievement, commitment to the teaching profession, essay quality, leadership, and alignment with Longwood's citizen-scholar mission.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
One of the most competitive named scholarships in the Cormier Honors College, worth $2,000 to $10,000 per year and renewable. It is designated for students entering the teaching profession and is awarded through the Honors scholarship review.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: A small cohort of top Cormier Honors College admits each year who are committed to becoming teachers. If your student has their heart set on education as a career and they're Honors-caliber, this is a scholarship worth highlighting in the Honors Portfolio essays.
App Required
Longwood Scholars
📅 Deadline: December 1 · 📢 Results: Typically in spring before enrollment. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,000–$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited; small cohort selected annually as part of the Honors scholarship review. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Named Honors award that stacks with the base Cormier Honors scholarship. Total institutional aid subject to cost-of-attendance limits.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to Longwood, accept the invitation to the Cormier Honors College, and submit the Honors Portfolio by December 1. Honors applicants are considered for this award through the Honors scholarship review.
Selection criteria: Holistic Honors review with emphasis on academic achievement, leadership, service, essay quality, and alignment with Longwood's citizen-scholar mission.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
One of three named competitive scholarships in the Cormier Honors College, worth $2,000 to $10,000 per year and renewable. Awarded through the Honors scholarship review.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: A small cohort of top Cormier Honors College admits each year identified through the holistic Honors review for outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and service. One of three named competitive awards in the $2,000–$10,000/year range within the Cormier umbrella.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Cormier Honors Study Abroad Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Available to all enrolled Cormier Honors College students. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Supplemental award intended specifically for study abroad or away program costs. Does not count against other merit scholarship stacking; subject to overall cost-of-attendance limits for the semester applied.
💡
Strategic Detail
Longwood states that Cormier Honors College students receive a scholarship toward a study abroad or study away program during their time at Longwood. The amount is not published, so contact the Honors College for current details.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Enrolled Cormier Honors College students. This is a benefit of Honors membership rather than a separate competition.
Data last verified Sep 18, 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.
Longwood lists award ranges rather than fixed amounts, and the number of named awards depends on the applicant pool and funding each year.
Deadline Note: The Honors Portfolio is due December 1, but your student can’t start it until Longwood sends the invitation, and that invitation only comes after the admissions application is reviewed. Longwood strongly encourages Honors hopefuls to submit the admissions application and documents in early November. Waiting until the last week of November can leave almost no time to write the portfolio.
The Named Honors Awards ($2,000 to $10,000 a Year)
Hull Scholars: for students heading into teaching. If your student plans to teach, say so clearly in the portfolio.
Cormier Citizen Scholars: for Honors students who stand out for service and leadership. Longwood’s listing shows a committee preference for a 3.5 high school GPA.
Longwood Scholars: for top Honors students across majors.
Cormier Honors College FAQs (Longwood University)
Is admission to the Cormier Honors College automatic?
No. Longwood invites eligible students after reviewing the admissions application, and invited students then submit an Honors Portfolio. No invitation, no portfolio, so get the application in early.
What GPA does a student need for Longwood Honors?
Longwood doesn’t publish a cutoff. The decision looks at the whole student, and the Honors College puts real weight on leadership and service. For reference, the Cormier Citizen Scholars listing shows a 3.5 high school GPA preference.
Do Honors scholarships replace the automatic merit award?
Longwood describes them as additional scholarships on top of the merit chart. It also says merit amounts can be influenced by other institutional awards, so the final award letter is the number to trust.
What does the Cormier Honors full ride cover?
Tuition, on-campus room and board, and books. Longwood awards two each year, renewable for four years. Personal expenses and travel are still on the family.
How do Honors scholarships renew?
The Honors College reviews students every year and renews scholarships based on overall academic performance. Students who also hold a merit award need to meet its separate 3.0 GPA and 30-credit rule.
Can out-of-state students apply?
Yes. Longwood’s Honors scholarship pages don’t list a residency requirement, and the Honors invitation comes through the same admissions review for every applicant.
Longwood is a public university in Farmville, in the middle of Virginia, about an hour from Richmond. What sets it apart is size. With roughly 4,500 students, an average of 18 students per class, and only a couple of classes with more than 50 students, it feels closer to a small private college than a typical state school. U.S. News ranks it among the top regional universities in the South, and Longwood says it leads Virginia in students completing internships during college.
Nationally Known Program: Teacher Preparation: Longwood grew out of a state normal school founded in 1884 to train teachers and was once called State Teachers College, so educating teachers is in its bones. Elementary education is still one of its most popular majors, and the Honors College even has a named scholarship, Hull Scholars, just for future teachers. If your student wants to teach in Virginia, few public universities have a longer track record.
Nursing: One of Longwood’s most popular majors, with its own admissions track. Nursing applicants submit test scores and can apply Early Decision by November 1 to get an answer and an aid estimate by mid-December.
Business: The College of Business and Economics is AACSB-accredited and houses the McGaughy Internship and Professional Development Center, which the accreditors singled out for its focus on career readiness. Majors include finance, marketing, management, real estate, and cyber security.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science: A popular path for students headed toward physical therapy, athletic training, coaching, or health careers.
Communication Studies: Another large major, and a natural fit for the internship-heavy culture Longwood is known for.
Biology and Environmental Science: Longwood owns Hull Springs Farm, a 662-acre property on a Chesapeake Bay tributary with more than a mile and a half of tidal shoreline. It’s an outdoor classroom most universities this size simply don’t have.
🔗 Official Longwood University Links
Use Longwood’s official pages below to confirm scholarship amounts, deadlines, costs, and application steps. Award charts and rules can change each year, so always treat these pages as the final word.
Big picture? Longwood is a small public university that rewards families who pay attention to the calendar. The merit chart is about as simple as it gets: one number, high school GPA, decides the award, and out-of-state students see the same chart as Virginians. What moves the money is timing. Apply by December 1 and the award is guaranteed at its highest level. Wait, and every level drops by $1,000 a year.
For strong students, the real prize is the Cormier Honors College, where every member gets something and two students a year get a full ride. That path starts with an early November application, not a December scramble. After enrollment, the Foundation does the matching for you, but music, art, and English students still have their own March 1 steps. And once the scholarship is in hand, protect it with 15 credits a semester, since Longwood charges the same tuition anywhere from 12 to 18.
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I started CollegeReadyParent while working through college costs for my own kid, and quickly figured out that the number a school advertises and the number a family actually pays are two very different things. Since then I’ve gone school by school pulling apart award letters, scholarship pages, and cost sheets to find what families are supposed to just know. This site is the version of that research I wish someone had handed me.
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