University-Wide Academic Scholarships

University of Minnesota academic scholarships are highly competitive. Admitted freshmen are considered for these scholarships based on an overall assessment of the application for freshman admission. Full consideration for academic scholarships is given to students who submit a complete freshman application by the corresponding application deadline dates. Scholarship recipients are notified by the end of March of their senior year.

No separate application is needed, though demonstration of financial need is required for certain academic scholarships.

Recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or be eligible for the Minnesota Dream Act. Please note: there are a limited number of scholarships that are available for international students.

Scholarship decisions are based on a very careful, overall assessment of each admitted student's academic preparation and performance, as well as the additional information provided in the admission application, based on the academic and context factors listed below. The strongest consideration in the decision is given to the primary factors, and no single factor is the deciding factor in the decision.

Holistic Review

Academic Factors

Because the greatest predictor of college success is academic preparation, the strongest consideration in the decision is given to a student's high school record. We know that COVID-19 might have changed your school's course offerings and grading systems. Our promise to you is that we will look at the overall trend of your high school performance to understand your academic preparation. The following academic factors are considered:

  • Coursework through high school graduation (Admitted students typically exceed the University's high school requirements. See course requirements.)
  • Grades in academic coursework
  • Class rank/Grade point average (if available)
  • Rigor of academic curriculum based on what is available in the high school (including enrollment in honors, AP, IB, A-Level, or college-level courses when available.)
  • ACT or SAT scores (Submitting an ACT/SAT score is not required on applications for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 terms. All students*, whether or not they submit a test score, will receive full consideration for admission, scholarships, and the University Honors Program. For more information, please visit our ACT/SAT FAQ) 
  • English Proficiency test score (when required)
  • Applicant's academic interests (We review a student's academic preparation related to the major/college for which they are seeking admission.)

Context Factors

Individual circumstances are also considered as part of the overall assessment of each application. Enrolling a diverse student body—with students bringing differing experiences, talents, and perspectives to their scholarly community—is essential to achieving the development outcomes of a University of Minnesota education. Our university community is strengthened by our students representing different races, economic backgrounds, geographic origins, genders, religions, ethnicities, sexualities, talents, and beliefs.

Our holistic review takes into consideration the individual circumstances that make each individual student unique. We consider the following context factors in our decision review:

  • Outstanding talent, achievement, or aptitude in a particular area
  • Strong commitment to community service and leadership
  • Military service
  • Contribution to the cultural, gender, age, economic, racial, or geographic diversity of the student body
  • Evidence of having overcome social, economic, or physical barriers to educational achievement
  • First-generation college student
  • Significant responsibility in a family, community, job, or activity
  • Family employment or attendance at the University of Minnesota
  • Personal or extenuating circumstances
  • Information received in open-ended questions

Expand all

University-Wide Scholarships

Award

Amount

Scholarship consideration is based on the holistic review of factors listed above.

Additional criteria are listed below by scholarship.
Maroon and Gold Leadership Award $12,000 each year for four years
  • Minnesota resident or eligible for MN Dream Act
  • Note: This is a highly competitive scholarship, where most awardees are in the top 1-3% of a graduating class.
Gold Scholar Award Amount varies, up to $10,000 each year for four years
  • Preference is given to National Merit Finalists
  • Recipients must list the University of Minnesota Twin Cities as their first-choice college by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation deadline
Presidential Scholarship $1,000 - $10,000 each year for four years  
Bentson Family Scholarship $24,000 over four years
  • Preference given to students of the Jewish faith
Minnesota Academic Excellence Scholarship $6,500 each year for four years
  • Minnesota resident or eligible for MN Dream Act
  • Interested in English/creative writing, fine arts, foreign language, math, science, or social studies
Puckett Scholars Program $4,000 over four years
  • High school senior from Minnesota
  • Preference given to students who demonstrate strong academic achievement, leadership and/or community involvement, financial need, and who have excellent potential to succeed at the college level
Ethel Curry Scholarship Amount varies, renewable up to four years
  • Must present written documentation of tribal enrollment by May 1 of your senior year
Iron Range Scholarship $1,000-$3,000 each year for four years
  • Minnesota resident or eligible for MN Dream Act
  • Note: This is a highly competitive scholarship, where most awardees are in the top 10% of a graduating class.
Gopher State Scholarship $1,000 each year for two years
  • North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin resident
National Scholarship $2,500, $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 each year for four years
  • Resident of any state, excluding Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
University of Minnesota Alumni Association Freshman Leadership Incentive Scholarship $2,000 or $3,000 for one year
  • Minnesota resident or eligible for MN Dream Act
  • Preference given to first-generation college students
  • Financial need considered
National Merit University of Minnesota Scholarship $1,000 each year for four years
  • Eligible National Merit Finalists who list the University of Minnesota Twin Cities as their first-college choice by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation deadline
Ruby Hackett and Weldon Jones Scholarship $5,000 each year for four years
  • Minnesota resident or eligible for MN Dream Act
Calmenson Family San Diego Chapter Scholarship Amount varies
  • Graduate of a high school in San Diego County or Riverside County, California
Robert & Gail Buuck Scholarship $5,000 each year for four years
  • Provides support for students with physical disabilities. Physical disability is defined as a mobility, hearing, vision, or systemic disability that substantially limits at least one major life activity.
Sig Hagen Scholarship $500 for one year
  • New York resident
Nils & Pat Hasselmo Undergraduate Scholarship Amount varies  
Kermit V. Haugan & Gladys Haugan Johnson Scholarship Amount varies
  • Public high school graduate in Richfield, Minnesota, Two Harbors, Minnesota, North Branch, Minnesota or Horicon, Wisconsin
Irene Fraser Jackson Scholarship Amount varies
  • Preference given to students interested in Library Sciences
John O. Kangas Scholarship Amount varies
  • Graduate of Moose Lake High School
Josephine L. Merriam Scholarship Amount varies  
Charles E. Merrill Scholarship Amount varies
  • Preference given to descendants of maimed or wounded veterans
Edgar Morrill Scholarship Amount varies  
Carl & Eloise Pohlad Scholarship Amount varies
  • Financial need considered
Gamma Omicron Beta Scholarship Amount varies
  • Preference given to legacies of Gamma Omicron Beta Sorority
Kevin Herkenhoff Memorial Scholarship Amount varies
  • Graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota
University of Minnesota Alumni Association Scholarship Amount varies  
Schott Family Scholarship Amount varies
  • Graduate from the Chicago area of Illinois
Harold Soine Memorial Scholarship Amount varies  
Richard Gary Stone Scholarship Amount varies  
Dr. Robert Mossefin Scholarship Amount varies
  • Graduate of Red Wing High School in Red Wing, Minnesota
Melvin Levin Scholarship Amount varies  
North Texas UMAA Chapter Scholarship Amount varies
  • Resident of North Texas
TLD Scholarship Amount varies
  • Support students who have lost a parent to cancer.
University Honors Program Scholarship $2,000 each year for four years  
Harriet B. & Ester Snyder Merrill Scholarship Amount varies  
Dawn Christine Hanna Memorial Scholarship Amount varies
  • Graduate of Owatonna High School in Owatonna, Minnesota
Accenture Scholarship Amount varies
  • Interest in business or technology
Judith and Patrick Henry Scholarship Amount varies  
Oelkers Scholarship Amount varies
  • First generation college student, graduates from a MN high school located in School District #279
  • Preference for students enrolled in CLA
S.I. Marvin Scholarship Amount varies
  • Preference for children or grandchildren of current or retired employees of Marvin Windows and Doors or its subsidiaries
Dan Roland Legacy Scholarship Amount varies
  • Studying toward a degree in the area of business and/or entrepreneurship with a preference for students who have been accepted into the Carlson School of Management
  • First generation college student, able to demonstrate leadership and hard work, and able to show evidence of engagement in student and professional activities and/or extracurricular activities.
  • Minnesota resident

Need-Based Academic Scholarships

Demonstration of financial need is required for the following academic scholarships. To be considered for these awards, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by March 1 of their senior year.

Award Amount

Scholarship consideration is based on the holistic review of factors listed above.

Additional criteria are listed below by scholarship.
American Indian Environmental Leadership Scholarship Amount varies
  • Commitment to the protection/understanding of natural resources and the environment
  • Tribal enrollment
  • Preference for students enrolled in CSE and from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota or Wisconsin
Dave Larson Scholarship $21,500 over four years
  • Minnesota resident or eligible for MN Dream Act
Buuck Family Scholarship $5,000 each year for four years
  • Commitment to volunteerism
Olseth Family Scholarship $23,000 over four years
  • Academic performance
  • Demonstrated leadership
Leslie Scholarship Amount varies
  • Graduate of Minnesota high schools in the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul
  • Preference given to first generation students
Donovan O. Adamek Scholarship Amount varies
  • Graduate of a public high school in Todd County, Minnesota
Harry F. Albert Scholarship Amount varies
  • Preference given to residents of St. Paul, Minnesota
Bentson/Niblick Scholarship $2,500 each year for four years
  • Preference given to National Merit Finalists
Arthur Barlow Scholarship Amount varies
  • Graduate of Sleepy Eye High School in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota
  • Potential, leadership, and community involvement
Anna Rose and Lawrence Biever Scholarship Amount varies
  • Preference given to students who participated in 4-H
Laura and Arthur Brecher Scholarship Amount varies
  • Preference given to students who are enrolled or eligible for enrollment in the federally recognized tribe the Oglala Sioux Tribe/Oglala Lakota Nation
  • Preference given to students studying in the areas of nursing, health, pre-med, or other health related fields.
Doepke Scholarship Amount varies
  • Preference given to tribally enrolled students from Minnesota
Mary L. Edwards Scholarship Amount varies
  • Graduate of Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Preference given to students who plan to major in science or engineering
Martha Enbody Scholarship Amount varies
  • Graduate of a Hennepin County high school in Minnesota
S.I. Marvin Scholarship Amount varies
  • Child or grandchild of current or retired employees of Hormel Foods Corporation or its subsidiaries
Mildred Hunter Evans Scholarship Amount varies
  • Preference given to a resident of Lyon County, Minnesota
Leon & Ida Finkelstein Memorial Scholarship Amount varies
  • Minnesota resident or eligible for MN Dream Act
  • Preference given to children of Jewish parents who have lost a parent due to divorce or death.
Morton S. Katz Scholarship $1,000 each year for four years  
Warren C. Locke Scholarship Amount varies
  • Graduate of South High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Jay & Rose Phillips Family Scholarship $2,000 each year for two years
  • Minnesota resident or eligible for MN Dream Act
  • Supports Presidential Scholarship recipients
Alvin B. and Bailie Sheehan Scholarship Amount varies
  • Resident of Hennepin County, Minnesota
St. Paul Central Scholarship Amount varies
  • Graduate of St. Paul Central High School in St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Preference given to students with strong math aptitude
Harriet Snow Sutton Memorial Scholarship $500 for one year  
Germain J. Vigeant Scholarship Amount varies
  • Preference given to graduates from Harding High School in St. Paul, Minnesota
Harold C. Wieman Scholarship Amount varies for one year
  • Graduate of LeSueur-Henderson High School in Minnesota
Herbert E. Olson Scholarship Amount varies
  • Graduate of Bemidji High School in Bemidji, Minnesota
Annexstad Family Foundation Leaders for Tomorrow Scholarship $25,000 over four years
  • Preference given to Minnesota residents
Coca-Cola Scholarship $5,000 for one year  
Bay Area UMAA Scholarship Amount varies
  • California resident
  • Preference given to students from the eleven-county Bay Area
Vulcan Community Charities Scholarship Amount varies
  • Graduate of a high school located in St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Commitment to community service
Power of One Scholarship $5,000 for one year
  • Exceptional leadership
Bud and Norma Crewdson Scholarship Amount varies  
Yetka Family Scholarship Amount varies  
Barbara and Robert de la Vega Scholarship Amount varies
  • Preference given to students majoring in the fields of math, engineering, and science.
Nicollet Chapter of AA Scholarship Amount varies
  • Provide support to students who have directly been by alcoholism in their personal or family life.
UMAA Washington, D.C. Chapter Scholarship Amount varies
  • Reside in Washington, D.C. the Commonwealth of Virginia, or the State of Maryland
Larry and Mary Laukka Scholarship Amount varies  
Wen Ping Pan Scholarship Amount varies
  • Chinese-American descent or non-immigrant Chinese students
  • Preference given to students who have attended Tsing Hua University in Beijing, China
Bill & Carol Riley Scholarship Amount varies  
Norbert and Eve Johnson Scholarship Amount varies  
Roger Young Opportunity Scholarship Amount varies  
Pass Family Scholarship Amount varies  
Immigrant Opportunity Scholarship Amount varies
  • Preference for 1st or 2nd generation immigrants
Brian L. Fitterer $5,000 each year for four years
  • Preference given to students majoring in the fields of Math, Applied Econ, Business, Medicine & Health, Engineering, Computer Science, or Accounting
Jack Schmidt Scholarship Amount varies
  • Students who have been directly affected by addiction and/or depression and is a transfer student
Results Foundation Scholarship Amount varies
  • Graduates of high schools in the cities of Minneapolis or St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Preference for those that have engaged in community based volunteerism
Tobin and Susan Jones Scholarship Amount varies
  • Students who are enrolled or eligible for enrollment in a federally recognized tribe
Lotus Scholarship $10,000 each year for four years
  • Preference for students participating in the University Honors Program
Horatio Alger-Annexstad Scholarship $25,000 over four years
  • Preference given to first generation students
Horatio Alger-Davis Scholarship $25,000 over four years
  • Preference given to first generation students
Mindy Siebenaler Bopp and Alexander Bopp Scholarship Amount varies
  • Preference given to first generation students
  • Preference for a graduate from a Minnesota public high school
James L. Ballard Scholarship Amount varies
  • Preference given to first generation students
  • Preference for students who demonstrate leadership in their community by working, volunteering, or participating in sports, clubs, or other school activities
Patricia and John Bowen Scholarship Amount varies
  • Preference given to first generation students
  • Preference for students who demonstrate leadership in their community by working, volunteering, or participating in sports, clubs, or other school activities

International Scholarships

There are a limited number of scholarships that are available for international students. Visit Costs, Scholarships, and Visas for International Students for more information.