Northeast Colleges with Scholarships for a 3.5 GPA
A 3.5 GPA is a strong academic profile — but in the Northeast, it does not always translate into predictable scholarships the way it does in other regions. This is one of the most holistic parts of the country, where outcomes often depend less on a simple GPA threshold and more on where your student applies, how the school uses aid, and whether the college is trying to recruit students like them.
Northeast strategy tip: In this region, success is less about hitting a number and more about choosing the right schools. Merit aid exists, but it is often limited, competitive, or used strategically rather than handed out through big automatic grids.
That is why Northeast results can feel confusing to families. A student with a 3.5 GPA may be only middle-of-the-pack at a well-known flagship, but a much stronger recruit at a private college trying to shape its class and manage enrollment. In this region, the biggest mistake is assuming every school will reward the same profile in the same way.
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What this means: In the Northeast, a 3.5 GPA can still lead to strong financial outcomes — but usually through targeted applications, merit-friendly private colleges, state aid, regional tuition programs, or smart in-state public options rather than broad automatic merit.
Important context: This page focuses on colleges in the Northeast where a 3.5 GPA may put your student in range for scholarship opportunities. Many awards in this region are competitive or limited, some schools prioritize need-based aid over merit, and others may use state or regional tuition programs that function more like a discount than a traditional scholarship.
Why a 3.5 GPA Matters in the Northeast
In the Northeast, a 3.5 GPA often places a student in a competitive middle tier. At some colleges, that may be strong enough for meaningful merit consideration. At others, it may simply make the student a solid applicant in a much deeper pool.
That is what makes this region different. The same GPA that triggers automatic scholarship charts in other parts of the country may lead to very different outcomes here depending on whether the school is public or private, merit-friendly or need-focused, test-optional or test-sensitive, and trying to recruit your student’s profile or simply evaluate them holistically.
CRP Insight: In the Northeast, a 3.5 GPA is less about guaranteed outcomes and more about positioning your student at the right schools.
That is why this region rewards strategy more than volume. A family that applies thoughtfully can do much better than a family that simply assumes “strong GPA = strong merit.”
What Changes at a 3.5 GPA
At this GPA range, families move into a zone where real opportunities exist — but the path is less predictable than it is in regions with more published merit grids. In the Northeast, the win often comes from understanding which type of school is most likely to reward the profile your student brings.
- Merit aid becomes possible — but not predictable. A 3.5 GPA may trigger real awards at some colleges and very little at others.
- Private colleges may become stronger scholarship targets. Many mid-sized private schools use merit strategically to compete for good students.
- Test-optional flexibility can help. In this region, many colleges will let a 3.5 GPA stand on its own if test scores do not help the application.
- State aid and tuition programs matter more. For some families, the biggest savings may come from state-funded aid or regional discounts rather than institutional merit.
- Application quality starts to matter more. Essays, rigor, activities, and fit can influence outcomes in a region where many colleges review applications more holistically.
Reality check: A 3.5 GPA alone rarely drives large automatic scholarships in the Northeast. Families should expect a more selective and school-specific process.
CRP Pro Tip: Many elite Northeast schools do not offer merit aid at all. They rely almost entirely on need-based financial aid, which means the right “financial fit” school may not be the same thing as the most selective school on your student’s list.
Merit Leverage in the Northeast
In the Northeast, merit leverage comes from targeting the right schools — not assuming every college will reward the same GPA in the same way. Families often do best here when they compare private-college merit, in-state public value, state-funded aid, and regional tuition programs side by side instead of chasing one kind of scholarship.
CRP Insight: In this region, the biggest mistake families make is assuming merit works the same everywhere. It does not — and that is where strategy makes the difference.
A 3.5 GPA student may be only average for a better-known flagship, but a very attractive applicant for a private college trying to boost enrollment or shape its incoming class. That is one of the biggest Northeast unlocks: sometimes the lower net price comes from a private college offering substantial merit, not a public university with a famous name.
- Target merit-friendly private colleges. This is often where a 3.5 GPA stretches the furthest in the Northeast.
- Compare need-based and merit outcomes. Some families will win more through aid formulas than scholarship charts.
- Use test-optional policies strategically. If test scores are not helping, this region often gives families more flexibility.
- Apply early when possible. At some colleges, earlier applicants may get stronger scholarship consideration.
- Look at state programs before assuming merit is the answer. For qualifying families, state-funded aid can sometimes matter more than institutional scholarships.
- Compare public vs private net price, not sticker price. In the Northeast, the “cheaper-looking” option on paper is not always the cheaper one after aid.
The New England Tuition Break: If your student lives in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont, they may qualify for reduced tuition at certain out-of-state public colleges through a regional program if they choose an approved major not offered by their home-state public options.
CRP Pro Tip: In the Northeast, state aid is often more powerful than merit aid. For some families, programs tied to income, residency, enrollment status, or public college attendance may reduce tuition more than a modest merit scholarship ever would.
Student Scenarios: What This Looks Like in Real Life
A 3.5 GPA can lead to very different outcomes in the Northeast depending on whether the student is aiming at private colleges, state universities, income-based aid, or test-optional schools that let the GPA carry more of the weight.
The Private College Play
3.5 GPA + merit-friendly private colleges: This student may look only average at a flagship but become a stronger scholarship target at private colleges using merit to compete for applicants.
The State School Strategist
3.5 GPA + in-state public option: For this family, the best result may come from lower baseline tuition plus state aid rather than a bigger merit award somewhere else.
The Test-Optional Advantage
3.5 GPA + weaker test scores: In the Northeast, this student may benefit from colleges that allow the GPA, course rigor, and overall application to stand on their own.
The Missed Strategy
3.5 GPA + prestige-only list: This family may end up paying more than necessary by focusing only on selective schools that offer little or no merit aid.
Scholarship Matches
Based on a 3.5 GPA | Northeast Region
Showing Merit Scholarship Opportunities
These are colleges in the Northeast where a 3.5 GPA may put your student in range for scholarship opportunities. Some schools below may offer merit aid, while others may make more sense because of state aid, regional tuition breaks, or better overall value.
Regional strategy note: In the Northeast, families should not evaluate scholarship offers in isolation. Merit, state aid, tuition breaks, and private-college discounts can all change the final math.
Important: Some colleges in this region offer little or no merit aid, even for strong students. Always click through to the college page and verify whether the real opportunity is merit, need-based aid, state aid, or a regional tuition program.
Scholarship Matches
Based on a GPA 3.5 | Northeast profile. Institutions with actionable merit aid identified.
Colleges Listed
51
174 matching awards across these institutions.
These results cover awards where the college publishes a specific GPA cutoff. Many colleges award merit money without publishing one, so open a college guide to see everything it offers.
These are colleges where your numbers put you in range for real scholarship money. Important: some awards listed as automatic still depend on application timing, funding limits, or test scores for the highest tiers. Use each college guide to see how predictable the offer really is.
🏛️ Quinnipiac University
$32,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CT
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ Transfer Student Academic Scholarship
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Awarded with admission; no separate scholarship deadline
Strategic Note: Any full-time, on-campus transfer with at least a 2.5 cumulative college GPA is reviewed. Quinnipiac does not publish how it sets the amount inside the $26,000 to $32,000 range, but stronger college transcripts generally land higher.
🏛️ Rider University
$28,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NJ
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ Rider Merit Scholarships (First-Year)
GPA: 2.70 | Ends: Rolling. Early Action (Nov 15) gets priority scholarship consideration; a complete application by Jan 15 gets full merit consideration. Musical Theatre and Acting applicants must apply by Nov 15.
Strategic Note: Nearly every admitted first-year student receives a merit award. Higher GPAs and stronger course rigor land closer to the $28,000 ceiling, while solid-but-mid-range applicants typically receive awards in the lower part of the range.
🏛️ Robert Morris University
$27,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ RMU Freshman Merit Scholarship (Tier 2)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Rolling; awarded at the point of admission
Strategic Note: Strong students with a weighted GPA between 3.50 and 3.89.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ Saint Peter's University
$27,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NJ
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ Dean's Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Rolling; awarded with the admission decision
Strategic Note: Strong A-minus to A students with a GPA between 3.5 and 3.99.
+ 6 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ University of Maine
$25,110 / YRGPA 3.5+ ME
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ Global Flagship Match Commitment
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Dec 1 Early Action for maximum consideration; rolling after
Strategic Note: International students who graduated from a Maine high school and meet UMaine's academic criteria.
+ 7 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ Niagara University
$24,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NY
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Merit Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Rolling
Strategic Note: Community college transfer students who are active PTK members, walk in with at least a 3.00 GPA, and submit membership documentation. This is one of Niagara's most generous transfer awards and beats the top standard transfer tier.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ Providence College
$23,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ RI
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ St. Rose of Lima Transfer Tuition Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Transfer priority: Apr 1; final: Jun 1 for fall entry
Strategic Note: Fall transfer students with at least a full year of college coursework, a 3.5+ cumulative GPA, and a demanding full-time liberal arts schedule.
🏛️ Saint Francis University
$22,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ Bell Tower Scholarship
GPA: 3.45 | Ends: Rolling with admission. No separate scholarship form.
Strategic Note: Freshmen with a 3.45 GPA up to just under 3.75.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ Seton Hall University
$18,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NJ
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ Transfer Scholarship
GPA: 2.75 | Ends: Rolling for fall and spring entry
Strategic Note: Incoming transfers with a competitive college record. The higher the transfer GPA, the higher the award within the $5,000 to $18,000 range.
🏛️ University of Massachusetts Boston
$17,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ UMass Boston Freshman Merit Scholarship
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: November 1 (Early Action I) for priority merit consideration
Strategic Note: Admitted first-year students with a recalculated GPA of 3.3 or higher who apply by Early Action I on November 1. Stronger course rigor, grades and recommendations move students into the higher tiers, and out-of-state students see the largest dollar ranges.
🏛️ University of New Hampshire
$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NH
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ Dean's Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Nov 15 (Early Action) / Feb 1 (Regular)
Strategic Note: Steady, well-prepared admits with a recalculated weighted GPA between 3.50 and 3.69 — strong coursework, consistent grades, often with a meaningful mix of college-prep rigor.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ Coppin State University
$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MD
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ Gold First-Year Student Merit Award
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: December 1
Strategic Note: First-year applicants at or above a 3.0 GPA who get the admission application in before December 1. Coppin encourages essays, resumes, and recommendations even though they are optional, so students who send them give the committee more to go on.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ Delaware State University
$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ DE
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ DSU GAP Scholarship (Out-of-State)
GPA: 2.75 | ACT: 17 | SAT: 920 | Ends: No separate application. Awarded first-come, first-served from the admitted pool while funds last. Offers go out November 2, 2026 through May 1; accept by June 15, 2027.
Strategic Note: Out-of-state U.S. citizens with a 2.75 to 2.99 GPA and a 17 ACT or 920 SAT who get their file complete early.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ Central Connecticut State University
$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ CT
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ Central Merit Scholarship - Tier 2
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: Rolling (with admission)
Strategic Note: Incoming first-year students with a 3.30 to 3.79 high school GPA. No essay, no test scores, and no separate application.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ Fairleigh Dickinson University
$2,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NJ
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Rolling; documented with transfer application
Strategic Note: PTK members who finish their associate degree before transferring and hold at least a 3.0 GPA.
🏛️ University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ MA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ Admissions Award
GPA: 2.70 | ACT: 20 | SAT: 1000 | Ends: No separate application or deadline. Awarded at the time of admission.
Strategic Note: Solid admits who clear either bar. Good news for students whose transcript and test score don't line up.
🏛️ Siena University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ NY
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ Presidential Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 25 | SAT: 1160 | Ends: Rolling
Strategic Note: Students with a 90+ high school average (roughly A-minus), honors or AP courses on the transcript, and real involvement at school or in the community. Scores are optional; if your student has 1160+ SAT or 25+ ACT, sending them supports the case. Presidential Scholars can also be considered for the Standish Honors Program.
🏛️ Eastern Connecticut State University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ CT
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded
→ CAAP Scholar Merit Scholarship
GPA: 2.75
Strategic Note: Every Connecticut resident admitted through CAAP. If you graduate from an in-state high school and meet the GPA threshold, the merit scholarship is guaranteed.
Strategic Note: Based on these numbers, you also qualify to compete for the Competitive & Hidden Gem awards below. These require holistic review or a separate application.
🏛️ Boston College
$40,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Saint Oscar A. Romero Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Early February of junior year
Strategic Note: BC juniors with strong academic records and a sustained record of leadership and service to the Hispanic/Latino community at BC and beyond.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ Saint Joseph's University
$35,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ McConnell Scholars Program
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: February 15 (separate application).
Strategic Note: A small cohort of first-years with a track record of leadership on gender equity, such as advocacy, mentoring or organizing.
🏛️ University of Maryland Eastern Shore
$25,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MD
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ David A. Scott Scholarship Program (formerly UMES Land-Grant Scholarship)
GPA: 2.80 | Ends: Mid-spring (2026 application closed; watch for the next cycle)
Strategic Note: U.S. citizens entering as freshmen or transfers with at least a 2.8 unweighted GPA, accepted into an approved SANS major, taking at least 15 credits a semester, and planning a career in the food and agricultural sciences.
+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ Saint Francis University
$25,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Accounting Scholarship
GPA: 3.30 | ACT: 21 | SAT: 1060 | Ends: Follows the admission timeline. Apply and file the FAFSA early.
Strategic Note: Accounting majors whose GPA puts them in a merit tier below $25,000. For them, the guarantee can lift the package.
🏛️ University of Maryland, Baltimore County
$22,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MD
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Cyber Scholars Program
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: January 15 (first-year) • March 1 (transfer and current students)
Strategic Note: Incoming, transfer, and current UMBC undergraduates with at least a 3.25 GPA who show strong interest and potential in cybersecurity, AI, or data science and engagement with the program community.
🏛️ Southern Connecticut State University
FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ CT
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ NOYCE STEM Education Scholarship
GPA: 2.80 | Ends: Rolling (fall and spring semesters)
Strategic Note: Math or Science 7-12 education majors committed to teaching in high-need districts.
🏛️ Worcester Polytechnic Institute
$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MA
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Dearborn Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Request Mechanical Aptitude Test scheduling by January 10, 2027; initial application and test by February 1, 2027; second application by March 15, 2027.
Strategic Note: Students with high mechanical aptitude (as proven on the MAT) and strong physics or engineering academic records who can be described as inventors, innovators, or designers with a vision for the future.
🏛️ Carnegie Mellon University
$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Jennings Family Brave Companions Fund
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Mid-February each year (summer 2027 deadline: Feb 12, 2027)
Strategic Note: Students proposing impactful summer experiences in less-frequented or lower-income destinations, often first-generation or with significant financial need.
🏛️ University of Massachusetts Lowell
$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MA
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Nominations: Nov 5 (EA I); Jan 5 (EA II); Feb 5 (RD)
Strategic Note: STEM applicants with at least one Project Lead The Way course (three or more gets preference), a 3.000+ GPA, and a nomination from their school. Only one nomination is allowed per high school.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ Merrimack College
$8,100 / YRGPA 3.5+ MA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ MACHS Scholars Program
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: Recipients typically chosen by May 1 for awards applied the following fall.
Strategic Note: STEM admits with a 3.3+ high school GPA and demonstrated financial need who live on campus and are U.S. citizens, permanent residents or refugees.
🏛️ Robert Morris University
$7,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ B.K. Simon Free Enterprise Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Application in early January, project in early February (last cycle: Jan 5 and Feb 6, 2026)
Strategic Note: Southwestern PA seniors with a 3.0+ GPA who put real effort into the project. Only three students win, but the eight-county limit keeps the pool small.
🏛️ Columbia University
$6,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ NY
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Columbia College Summer Funding Program (Unpaid Internships)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Mid-April each year (Apr 13 in 2026).
Strategic Note: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have already secured an unpaid or low-paid internship and can show need for support.
🏛️ Niagara University
$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NY
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Niagara University Science Training and Research (NUSTAR) Fellowship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Applications reviewed starting February 1
Strategic Note: Self-motivated, academically strong science majors who want early, hands-on research experience with Niagara's Ph.D.-prepared faculty. Successful applicants come in with B-or-better grades in high school biology, chemistry, or environmental science, ideally paired with math and additional AP science coursework.
🏛️ Seton Hall University
$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NJ
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Joseph & Carmen Unanue Endowed Scholarship (Latino Institute)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Jan 15
Strategic Note: Incoming freshmen and international freshmen with at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA, demonstrated financial need, and clear appreciation and engagement with Latino culture and history.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ UMass Community College Advantage Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Complete the UMass CCAS interest form after your community college confirms eligibility.
Strategic Note: Top-10-percent Massachusetts community college graduates.
+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ Rider University
$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NJ
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Study Abroad Scholarships (Aberger, Madison Miller, Doris DeYoung, Bush International Immersion)
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Varies by award and term; most internal scholarship deadlines fall in late spring for the following academic year.
Strategic Note: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors in good academic standing with compelling study abroad plans and, for some funds, demonstrated financial need or prior language study.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ Lehigh University
$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Performing Arts Scholarships (Music)
GPA: 2.80 | Ends: January 10
Strategic Note: Strong instrumentalists, from any major, who audition successfully and commit to active participation in required ensembles.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ La Salle University
$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Maguire Service Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: June 1
Strategic Note: Freshmen with years of real, ongoing service and a clear plan to keep serving in college. Graduates of the 37 Maguire partner high schools get priority, but strong service candidates from other schools can apply.
+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ Towson University
$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MD
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Porter Family Scholarship in Mathematics and Computer Science
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Departmental (check the Mathematics scholarships page)
Strategic Note: Math or computer science majors with at least a 3.0 GPA and demonstrated financial need. File the FAFSA so need can be confirmed.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ University of Massachusetts Boston
$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Comprehensive Scholarship
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: October 15 (most recent cycle; confirm in AcademicWorks each fall)
Strategic Note: Continuing students with 24+ UMass Boston credits and strong grades. Preference may go to students who do not already receive significant scholarship aid.
🏛️ American University
$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ DC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Stephen C. Grebe Memorial Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Offered each spring for the following summer.
Strategic Note: Biology students who line up a faculty research mentor and apply in the spring.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ Temple University
$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Diamond Research Scholars
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: February (2026 deadline was Feb 18)
Strategic Note: Students who line up a faculty mentor early and submit a clear, specific project proposal.
🏛️ University of Maryland
$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MD
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Maryland Degree Completion Scholarship
GPA: 2.00 | Ends: Rolling (Scholarship Universe)
Strategic Note: Seniors in good academic standing with at least a 2.0 GPA, a current FAFSA showing need, maxed-out federal loans and an outstanding UMD balance.
🏛️ University of Hartford
$3,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ CT
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ University Emeriti Association Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Mid-March (March 13 in 2026, 4 p.m.)
Strategic Note: Rising juniors and seniors with a 3.5 or higher GPA and a real record of service, backed by strong faculty letters.
+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.
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🏛️ Rowan University
$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NJ
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ RIPPAC Leadership Corps
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Invites mid-to-late March; applications usually due mid-June
Strategic Note: Domestic students with at least a 3.0 high school GPA who are serious about politics or government. Any major is welcome, but it is not a fit for 3+4 medical or 4+1 accelerated degree students.
🏛️ Delaware State University
$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ DE
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Hornets L.I.F.T. Marketing and Media Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Not listed on the page; check with DSU Marketing and Communications each year.
Strategic Note: Marketing and mass comm majors with a 3.0+ GPA who have real work to show (content, design, video, campaigns).
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Long Island University
$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ NY
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ High School Scholars Award
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Award applied automatically upon LIU enrollment after earning required High School Scholars credits.
Strategic Note: 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.
🏛️ Charter Oak State College
$1,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CT
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Charter Oak State College Transfer Scholarship for Community College Graduates
GPA: 2.70 | Ends: May 1
Strategic Note: Community college graduates with an associate degree and at least a 2.7 GPA who will take six or more credits at Charter Oak in both fall and spring.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Eastern Connecticut State University
$500 / YRGPA 3.5+ CT
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ VSEI Award for Disadvantaged Students
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: March 1 (FAFSA priority)
Strategic Note: Students with diagnosed disabilities from underrepresented populations who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher; undocumented students are included.
🏛️ Boston University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ MA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Harold C. Case and Dean Elsbeth Melville Scholarships (Junior Merit)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: March (March 20 in the 2026 cycle)
Strategic Note: BU juniors with at least a 3.5 GPA who combine strong academics with sustained involvement on campus. BU usually supports 15 or more juniors a year.
🏛️ University of New Hampshire
FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ NH
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ The New Hampshire Promise
GPA: 2.70 | Ends: FAFSA (UNH priority date Mar 1)
Strategic Note: New Hampshire families earning $100,000 a year or less whose student is admitted full-time, has at least a 2.7 GPA, and files the FAFSA. The university system expects about 1,200 students a year to qualify across UNH, Plymouth State, and Keene State.
🏛️ Stonehill College
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ MA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Community College Transfer Guarantee (Massasoit & Bristol)
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: Transfer deadlines: Nov 15 (spring entry), July 15 (fall entry).
Strategic Note: Community college students with a 3.3+ GPA and clean transcripts who plan to finish a bachelor's degree at Stonehill.
🏛️ Providence College
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ RI
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Army ROTC — Campus-Based Scholarships
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Rolling after matriculation and enrollment in Army ROTC
Strategic Note: Enrolled cadets who stand out academically, physically, and as leaders in the battalion.
🏛️ Binghamton University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ NY
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Binghamton Donor Scholarships (Current Students)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: FAFSA on file by March 1 (continuing students)
Strategic Note: Current students with a 3.0 or better who keep their FAFSA current and take a few minutes each year to search the portal for awards tied to their major or background.
🏛️ Mount St. Mary's University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ MD
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Maguire Scholars Program
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: No published deadline. Submit the Maguire Scholar application and the FAFSA during senior year.
Strategic Note: Students with financial need and a 3.0+ GPA who are active in service, especially graduates of Maguire partner high schools in the Philadelphia area.
🏛️ Fairfield University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ CT
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Thomas J. Hulseman '87 Fund for Student Global Experiential Learning
GPA: 2.80 | Ends: Tied to the Global Fairfield study abroad application cycle; confirm with Global Fairfield
Strategic Note: Fairfield undergraduates with at least a 2.80 GPA heading to a semester-long program abroad, with priority for students with the greatest financial barrier.
🏛️ University of Pittsburgh
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ PA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ TRIO McNair Scholars
GPA: 2.75 | Ends: Rolling application through Student Success Hub
Strategic Note: First-gen, low-income, URM, research-focused with plan/mentor
🏛️ Lafayette College
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ PA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ EXCEL Scholars Program (Paid Faculty Research)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Set by faculty nomination cycles for summer, January interim and semester terms
Strategic Note: Students who build relationships with professors, usually after strong work in their courses, and who want hands-on research experience before graduate school or a first job.
🏛️ Coppin State University
FULL RIDEGPA 3.5+ MD
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Presidential Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 25 | SAT: 1200 | Ends: December 1
Strategic Note: Students at the very top of Coppin's applicant pool who pair strong grades with a real record of leadership and community service. Awards are limited and by invitation only.
+ 6 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Marist College
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ NY
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Otto Sussman Trust Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: As needed
Strategic Note: Final-year undergraduates from NY, NJ, PA, or OK with at least a 3.0 GPA who face documented, unusual financial hardship that threatens their ability to graduate.
🏛️ Drexel University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ PA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ The Drexel Promise
GPA: 2.00 | Ends: Follows the transfer admission deadline for the term your student is entering.
Strategic Note: Community college graduates from anywhere in the country who are admitted to a full-time, on-campus program. Meet the criteria and it is yours.
🏛️ Morgan State University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ MD
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Brian Maurice Heigh Endowed Scholarship Fund
GPA: 2.80 | Ends: Fall cycle opens May 15; Spring cycle opens January 2 (AcademicWorks General Application).
Strategic Note: Full-time engineering students with a 2.8+ GPA and financial need.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Monmouth University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ NJ
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ SOAR Grant
GPA: 2.00 | Ends: No application. Awarded at the discretion of the Director of Undergraduate Admission.
Strategic Note: Incoming students the Admission office wants to bring in. Monmouth does not publish the criteria, so the practical move is to ask your admission counselor whether your student was considered. Renewal requires full-time enrollment and a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
🏛️ Fairleigh Dickinson University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ NJ
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ Peter and Sylvia Sammartino Scholarship (QUEST Teacher Prep)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: February 15, 2027 (parent signature for applicants under 18 by March 1)
Strategic Note: Future teachers admitted to QUEST who show academic strength, leadership, and a clear commitment to education.
🏛️ Howard University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ DC
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Karsh STEM Scholars Program
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: Application window: November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Strategic Note: STEM students with strong grades, real research curiosity, and a clear reason for wanting a PhD. Hundreds apply each year for a cohort of roughly 30, and fit with the research mission matters as much as GPA.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ University of Delaware
FULL RIDEGPA 3.5+ DE
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded
→ B. Bradford Barnes Memorial Scholarship (State of Delaware)
GPA: 3.00 | SAT: 1290 | Ends: Late February (Feb 26 for 2027-28)
Strategic Note: One Delaware senior per year with strong grades, a 1290+ SAT, real financial need and a solid activities list. Long odds, but the bar to apply is lower than most families assume, and most eligible students never hear about it.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
