West Virginia University Scholarships (2025–2026)

What This Page Covers:

Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
Automatic merit ranges and who typically qualifies
Competitive and hidden-gem scholarships worth a look
Honors perks and how to stack awards the smart way

Thinking about West Virginia University? WVU is the state’s flagship, and families from across West Virginia (and beyond) look here first. This page breaks down what you need to know about costs, scholarships, and aid in plain English. If you’re also comparing in-state options, don’t miss our West Virginia state aid guide alongside this full scholarship rundown.

💰 Cost of Attendance at West Virginia University

Expense	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition & Mandatory Fees	$10,752	$30,432
Housing & Meals	$13,306	$13,306
Books & Supplies	$950	$950
Total (before aid)	≈ $25,008	≈ $44,688

Average Net Price: According to federal data, families at WVU actually paid an average of about $13,000–$14,000 per year after grants and scholarships (2022–2023 NCES data). This is the “real” average cost after financial aid—not the sticker price.

Reciprocity & Regional Programs:

Ohio Tuition Reciprocity: Ohio residents admitted to certain majors at Morgantown or Potomac State may pay in-state rates. Students must remain in an approved major and in good standing. Note: Recipients are not eligible for nonresident merit scholarships.
Garrett County, Maryland Agreement: Residents of Garrett County with an associate degree from Garrett College may qualify for in-state tuition at Morgantown and Potomac State.
Academic Common Market (ACM): WVU participates in the Southern Regional Education Board’s ACM for select graduate programs. Students from other SREB states can pay in-state rates if their program isn’t offered in their home state. You must apply through your state’s ACM coordinator. See our full ACM guide for details.

Reciprocity FAQ

Who qualifies? Ohio residents in approved majors, Garrett County residents with an associate degree, and graduate students in eligible ACM programs.

How much can you save? Ohio and Garrett County residents save the full out-of-state tuition difference (≈$19,680/year). ACM students save the same on approved programs.

Is it automatic? Ohio and Garrett County benefits are automatic if you meet criteria. ACM requires a separate application through your state coordinator.

✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships

West Virginia University’s primary automatic merit award is the Climb Higher Scholarship. Awards are tiered by high school GPA, and the top tier also requires ACT or SAT scores. WVU superscores ACT/SAT for institutional scholarships.

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Climb Higher — Level 1	WV Resident: $5,000/yr Non-Resident: $17,000/yr	GPA ≥ 3.8 + ACT ≥ 30 or SAT ≥ 1360	No	Yes — maintain ≥ 2.75 GPA & 30 credits/yr	Top academics who also submit strong test scores; WVU uses ACT/SAT superscores to maximize eligibility.
Climb Higher — Level 2	WV Resident: $3,500/yr Non-Resident: $14,000/yr	GPA ≥ 3.8 (test optional OK)	No	Yes — maintain ≥ 2.75 GPA & 30 credits/yr	Students with very strong GPAs who may choose test-optional or submit scores below Level 1.
Climb Higher — Level 3	WV Resident: $2,500/yr Non-Resident: $11,000/yr	GPA 3.5–3.79	No	Yes — maintain ≥ 2.75 GPA & 30 credits/yr	Solid academic record; test scores optional and not required for this tier.
Climb Higher — Level 4	WV Resident: $1,500/yr Non-Resident: $8,000/yr	GPA 3.0–3.49	No	Yes — maintain ≥ 2.75 GPA & 30 credits/yr	Students with good GPAs; a great baseline award that can combine with external/private scholarships.

Note: Amounts shown reflect main-campus (WVU Morgantown) awards and differ by residency. Scholarship portability exists across WVU campuses, but dollar amounts may adjust by campus.

Automatic Scholarship FAQ

Do I need to apply separately? No — you’re automatically considered with your admissions application (submit early for priority review).

Does WVU superscore? Yes. WVU accepts multiple ACT/SAT test dates and superscores for admissions, Honors, and scholarship offers.

Can this stack with reciprocity/tuition waivers? Institutional stacking is limited. If you receive reduced non-resident tuition (e.g., Ohio Reciprocity/ACM where applicable), non-resident Climb Higher funds may not be available; institutional awards also don’t stack with each other beyond the highest single value.

🏆 Competitive Scholarships

Beyond the automatic Climb Higher awards, WVU offers a few elite scholarships that require a separate application or nomination. These are limited in number and reserved for the very top of the applicant pool.

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Foundation Scholarship	Full tuition, fees, room & board (4 years)	WV residents; GPA ≥ 4.0; ACT ≥ 31 or SAT ≥ 1390; interview required	Yes – competitive application & interview	Yes – maintain GPA & progress standards	Only 20 students chosen annually; winners typically have perfect GPAs, ACT 32–35 / SAT 1400–1500+, plus leadership and service.
Bucklew Scholarship	$10,000/year (4 years)	WV residents; GPA ≥ 3.9; ACT ≥ 30 or SAT ≥ 1360; invitation to apply	Yes – by invitation	Yes – GPA & standing requirements	Dozens selected; recipients usually have GPAs near 4.0, ACT 30–33 / SAT 1350–1450, plus strong extracurricular leadership.
Regional Neil S. Bucklew Scholarships	$2,000–$4,000/year	WV residents with GPA ≥ 3.7; ACT ≥ 28 or SAT ≥ 1300; leadership/service required	Yes – nomination or application	Yes – if GPA and credit minimums maintained	Strong students from different WV regions, typically ACT 28–31 / SAT 1300–1400 with notable service or leadership.

*GPA and test score ranges are based on published WVU criteria and past recipient profiles. They should be treated as approximate benchmarks, not guarantees. Exact cutoffs and selection depend on the applicant pool each year.

Competitive Scholarship FAQ

What makes these scholarships competitive? They’re limited in number, require extra steps (essays, interviews, or nominations), and go to students with both top academic records and leadership/service.

Are they worth applying for? Yes — Foundation and Bucklew far exceed the value of Climb Higher awards, though they’re highly selective.

Do they connect to Honors? Yes. Foundation Scholars are required to join the Honors College, and nearly all Bucklew Scholars are also invited into Honors.

What’s the deadline? Students must apply to WVU by December 1 for priority consideration. Foundation and Bucklew finalists are contacted directly.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These aren’t the headline merit awards, but they quietly save real money—especially for students in ROTC, marching band, first-gen, leadership organizations, or specific WVU colleges. Most require a short, separate application and a bit of planning.

Scholarship / Program	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
L. Andrew and Angela Moore Endowed Scholarship Fund	Varies ($500–$2,000 typical)	Members of “The Pride of West Virginia” Mountaineer Marching Band; non-music majors only	Yes – Marching Band application/nomination	No – awarded annually	Band members who balance rehearsal/performance with full-time coursework; designed to reduce the cost of participating in the Pride.
Go First Scholarship (First-Gen)	Varies ($1,000–$3,000 typical)	First-generation college students; FAFSA required; holistic review	No – considered automatically via admissions + FAFSA	Yes – must remain in good standing	First-gen students who demonstrate need and persistence; often paired with advising and mentoring supports.
Leadership Scholarship	$500–$1,500 (limited)	Incoming freshmen with high leadership honors in national organizations (e.g., Boys & Girls Nation, DECA, Eagle Scout/Gold Award, 4-H, FBLA)	Yes – separate WVU leadership scholarship app; first-come, first-served	No – one-time award	Students who held top national or state leadership roles and apply early; limited pool awarded quickly.
Army ROTC Scholarships (Mountaineer Battalion)	Full/partial tuition + stipend + book allowance	Enroll in Army ROTC, meet fitness/academic standards, contract to commission	Yes – national ROTC portal + WVU unit support	Yes – maintain standards	Cadets committed to military service with strong academics and leadership.
Air Force ROTC Room & Board / HSSP Awards	Up to full tuition + room/board support + stipend	Enrolled AFROTC cadets; GPA, fitness, citizenship; willingness to commission	Yes – AFROTC application	Yes – maintain standards	Strong scholars and cadets (STEM majors often competitive) who commit to AFROTC program milestones.
Departmental & College Scholarships	Varies widely ($500–$5,000+)	Students in majors such as Engineering, Agriculture, Business, or Health Sciences; upperclassmen especially	Yes – college/department apps or portals	Yes – depends on donor fund	Upperclassmen or committed majors with strong GPAs and faculty connections; many awards are donor-funded.
SURE – Summer Undergraduate Research Experience	Funded summer stipend	Undergrads with WVU faculty mentor; research proposal required	Yes – Office of Undergraduate Research	No – summer only	Rising juniors/seniors pursuing grad school pathways with hands-on research projects.
McNair Scholars	Research + grad prep funding	First-gen and/or underrepresented; GPA & TRIO guidelines	Yes – McNair application	No – program cohort	Ambitious first-gen students prepping for grad school; heavy on research and mentoring.

*Award ranges are based on WVU donor pages and program listings. Departmental and leadership scholarships can be highly variable; amounts shown reflect common ranges, not guarantees. Always verify with the awarding college or office.

Hidden Gems FAQ

Can I apply for departmental scholarships as a freshman? Some departments award to incoming freshmen, but most target sophomores and above once you’ve declared a major and built a GPA at WVU.

How do marching band awards work? You must be a member in good standing of the Mountaineer Marching Band (“The Pride of West Virginia”). Awards like the Moore Endowed Fund specifically help non-music majors who take on the band commitment.

What if I’m first-gen? WVU’s Go First Scholarships are built for you, and you’re automatically considered once you apply and file the FAFSA. Pair it with federal/state first-gen programs like McNair for extra support.

Do leadership awards run out? Yes. The Leadership Scholarship is first-come, first-served, so applying early is key.

⭐ College Specialty

West Virginia University is an R1 public research powerhouse — the only one in the state — offering undergraduates access to breakthrough labs, faculty-led innovation, and real-world research. That makes your student a part of something that’s shaping the future, not just watching it.

Flagship Program: Forensic & Investigative Science — WVU ranks among the top programs globally (EduRank puts it at #3 worldwide) and hosts a state-of-the-art crime-scene training complex.
R1 Status Confirmed: WVU is officially classified as an R1 institution (very high research activity), reaffirmed in 2025. It’s the only R1 campus in West Virginia.

Biometric Systems & Identification Technology — WVU is the FBI’s lead academic research partner in biometrics. The university hosts the Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR).
Neuroscience & Brain Health — Home to the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, a pioneering center for Alzheimer’s research and neuromodulation breakthroughs.
Health Sciences (Medicine, Nursing, Public Health) — WVU is the only university in the state offering Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health under one health-sciences complex.
Robotics & Engineering — WVU’s robotics teams have won national/international competitions, like NASA’s Robotic Mining Competition, complementing strong engineering pipelines.

🎖️ Honors College

WVU’s Honors College gives motivated students the chance to shrink a big university into a close-knit academic community. With small seminars, faculty mentors, and priority opportunities, Honors helps high-achievers stretch further while still enjoying everything that comes with a flagship R1 campus.

What a Typical WVU Honors Student Looks Like:
High school GPA ≥ 3.7*, ACT 28–32 / SAT 1300–1450*, strong college-prep curriculum (AP/IB/honors), leadership/service involvement.
*Estimates based on past cohorts; exact cutoffs vary by year.

Honors Perks That Matter:

Priority registration each semester
Dedicated Honors housing (Honors Hall, Lincoln Hall options)
Faculty-led small seminars and capstone experiences
Research funding and travel grants for conferences
Special advising and mentorship programs

Honors Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Foundation Scholarship	Full tuition, fees, room & board (4 years)	WV residents; GPA 4.0; ACT ≥ 31 or SAT ≥ 1390; Honors required	Yes – competitive application & interview	Yes – maintain GPA & progress standards	The most selective WVU scholarship; winners become automatic Honors College students with leadership/service profiles.
Bucklew Scholarship	$10,000/year (4 years)	WV residents; GPA ≥ 3.9; ACT ≥ 30 or SAT ≥ 1360; Honors strongly encouraged	Yes – invitation & application	Yes – GPA & progress standards	High-achieving WV students who are typically also invited into Honors; strong academics + leadership/service.

Honors College FAQ

Is Honors automatic if I meet the GPA/test ranges? No. You must submit the Honors College application after you’re admitted to WVU, though top-tier Foundation and Bucklew Scholars are placed automatically.

Does Honors add time to my degree? No. Honors seminars often replace core requirements, and the program is designed to fit within a 4-year graduation plan.

What are the deadlines? Apply to WVU by December 1 for full scholarship consideration, and submit your Honors application by February 1 for best chances at priority housing and funding.

Is there extra money for Honors students? Direct Honors scholarships are rare; the big money is in Foundation and Bucklew, which are tied to Honors. Smaller research/travel grants are common once you’re in the program.

📎 Official Links

✅ Final Thoughts

West Virginia University can feel huge at first glance, but once you understand the mix of automatic merit, competitive awards, and hidden gems, the picture gets clearer. WVU is the state’s flagship and an R1 research hub, which means your student has access to nationally recognized programs and plenty of financial pathways to make it affordable. Whether it’s the Climb Higher scholarship tiers, the life-changing Foundation Scholarship, or smaller awards for first-gen students and marching band members, there’s something here for almost every type of Mountaineer. If WVU is on your list, apply early, file the FAFSA, and make sure to ask about departmental awards — those details can make a big difference.

✅ Last updated: August 28, 2025