St. Cloud State University

First-Year Student (Freshman) Scholarships

St. Cloud State University seeks to reward high achieving students for their academic successes through various scholarship opportunities. As part of your application for admission, you are also applying for merit scholarships. Students who apply by the posted deadlines will automatically be considered for the majority of SCSU scholarships.

First Year Student (Freshman) Scholarships
First year students who are admitted to the University prior to scholarship deadlines will be considered for all scholarships for which they meet the minimum requirements. These scholarships awarded through the Office of Admissions will not require an additional application and are merit based; factoring into consideration a student’s academic record and standardized test scores. Students receiving awards will be notified following the deadlines. To be eligible, students must earn traditional admission into the University and have official ACT or SAT scores on file with the Office of Admissions.

Fall Semester: December 15 Spring Semester: October 15

Cultural Diversity Scholarships
New students who contribute to the cultural diversity at St. Cloud State University will be automatically considered for these awards. To be eligible, students should demonstrate strong academic achievement through their curriculum, academic record and standardized test scores.

Non-Resident Tuition Scholarships
Non-Resident Tuition Scholarships are awarded to freshman students who do not otherwise qualify for in-state or reciprocity tuition. Recipients pay the equivalent of in-state tuition. Applicants must rank in the top 15% of their graduating class or earn a composite score of 25 or above on the ACT. All students who meet the above requirements will be automatically awarded the Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship on an on-going basis. There is no application deadline.

Foundation-Sponsored Scholarships

Scholarship Applications

Scholarship and Honors Brochure

SCSU also offers scholarships provided by friends and alumni of the University. These require additional information and students must complete the scholarship application to be considered.

Deadline: January 25

To determine which scholarships you may be eligible for, please click on the title for award criteria.

Second Generation Scholarship for the Children of SCSU Alumni

Must be a dependent child of SCSU alumni
Enroll full time at SCSU
Entering SCSU as an undergraduate for the first time as a first year student with a B average or above

Charles and Laurel Brainard Scholarship

Student must have financial need and demonstrate leadership potential
Incoming student must have a good academic record
Must be full-time students

Dudley and Merl Brainard Scholarship

Incoming first year student with a good academic record
Student must have financial need and demonstrate leadership potential

Diana and Robert Carter Scholarship for Engineering or Business Students

Intended for incoming first year students intending to major in engineering or business
Enroll full time at SCSU
Preference given to female students

Coborn’s Incorporated Scholarship

Intended for first year students demonstrating financial need and involvement in extra-curricular activities
Available to a student who has lived and graduated from a high school in a community where there is a Coborn's, Incorporated store

Minnie Boese Depuis Scholarship

Incoming student who demonstrates financial need
Preference given to a graudate of Becker High School or a student from Sherburne County

Grace Scholarship

Incoming student who ranks in the top 25% of their graduating class
Intends to enroll full time and has demonstrated financial need

Richard Green Scholarship

Incoming student who ranks in the top 25% of their graduating class
Intends to enroll full time and will contribute to the cultural diversity of the University
Preference given to students who participate in extracurricular activities and community service.

Harry and Jan Hoelscher Scholarship

Incoming first year student who has at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale
Active member of St. Peter's Parish in St. Cloud, MN
Preference given to students who demonstrate financial need

Arthur J. Kurtzman Sr. Scholarship in Education

Full time student who graduated from the high school serving Avon residents or the high school serving Rockville residents, provided they attended all elementary grades in either Avon or Rockville, MN
Intend to become teachers

The James W. Miller Family Endowed Scholarship

Incoming first year students from the 11 county Central Minnesota area who demonstrate high financial need
Student should have a good academic record

Lula Mische Freshmen Scholarship

Incoming first year students enrolling full time who have overcome obstacles such as socioeconomic or educational disadvantages or disabilities, or who are first generation college students

Alys Mayman Misho Freshman Scholarship

Incoming student in the top 25% of their graduating class
Demonstration of leadership through extracurricular activities and leadership positions (through high school and community involvements)
Preference for students from Central Minnesota

Margaret L. Nearly Future Teachers Scholarships

Incoming full time first year student who intends to become an elementary school teacher
Demonstrated superior academic ability

Optimist Club Scholarship

Incoming first year student with good academic ability
Demonstrate strong leadership skills

Ronald G Perrier Scholarship

Incoming first year student who ranks in the top 25% of their graduating class
Intended arts major wtih strong proficiency in athletic performance

Lauren Marie Riesgraf Endowed Scholarship

Incoming first year student graduating from Maple Grove or Annandale High School (MN) with a GPA of at least 3.0.
Enroll as a full time student and be working to pay for a portion of his/her college education
Separate essay is required (see application)

Doyle L Rose Scholarship

Incoming student from Minnesota with an outstanding academic record
Demonstrated financial need
Intending to major in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Broadcasting.

Fred N and Blanche L Sartell Scholarship in Elementary Education

Incoming first year student intending to major in Elementary Education who ranks in the top 25% of their graduating class
Participation in extra-curricular activites (high school and community) will be considered
Preference given to students residing in Sartell, MN

Susan Lynn Webb Scholarship

Strong participation activities with demonstrated leadership skills
Student should have a good academic record

Willmar Poultry Company Scholarship

Incoming student with strong academic record who is an employee or dependent of an employee of Willmar Poultry
Demonstrated financial need
Clear vision how a college education will benefit the student and their community

Xcel Energy Foundation Endowed Scholarship

Incoming first year student intending to major in mathematics or the sciences
Consideration for students who have overcome obstacles such as socioeconomic or educational disadvantages or disabilities, or who are first generation college students

Legacy Tuition Waiver

Available for students from non-reciprocity states who are not otherwise receiving in-state tuition rates
Students whose parent, step-parent or adopted parent graduated from SCSU are eligible for this award, which enables recipients to pay the equivalent of in-state tuition