Many scholarships are based on talent, academics, service, or leadership. However, need-based programs also exist to assist students.  Ball State offers a wide variety of scholarships of its own and several of our academic departments award funding to students in their programs.

Review the programs below to see what may be available to you.  You may also want to view our frequently asked questions page for answers to common scholarship questions.

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Want an idea of which scholarships you might be eligible for? Plug your GPA and test scores into our scholarship calculator to see if you’re eligible for one of our merit-based awards.

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Freshman scholarships and awards

Freshman Scholarships and Awards

Ball State offers a wide variety scholarships and awards that outstanding high school students will want to explore.

Selected outstanding high school seniors are awarded a Ball State Scholars Award. The award is open to in-state and out-of-state students. This award pays for institutional charges for tuition, fees, and room and board.  To check on your eligibility of this scholarship, please visit our scholarship calculator.

For Those Awarded 2021-22

  • In-state students can receive $4,000 a year (maximum of $2,000 a semester) for a four-year total of $16,000.
  • Out-of-state students can receive $14,000 a year (maximum of $7,000 a semester) for a four-year total of $56,000.

In certain circumstances, other financial aid you receive may result in your award being reduced. All financial aid you receive, when combined with the Ball State Scholars Award, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.  Ball State Scholars must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. If the GPA drops below 3.0 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 3.0 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The award is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study (ten semesters for students in an undergraduate major that requires a fifth year to complete). Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, Bachelor's degree-seeking students.

Selected out-of-state outstanding high school seniors are awarded a Distinction Scholarship. This award may pay institutional charges for tuition, fees, and room and board.  To check on your eligibility of this scholarship, please visit our scholarship calculator.

For Those Awarded 2021-22

  • Out-of-state students can receive $12,000 a year (maximum of $6,000 a semester) for a four-year total of $48,000.

In certain circumstances, other financial aid you receive may result in your award being reduced. All financial aid you receive, when combined with the Ball State Distinction Scholarship, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.  Distinction Scholars must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If the GPA drops below 2.5 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 2.5 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The scholarship is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study (ten semesters for students in an undergraduate major that requires a fifth year to complete). Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, Bachelor's degree-seeking students.

The Harold Ellison Scholarship is available only to first-time freshmen who have graduated from schools in Delaware County, Indiana.  The scholarship pays for full tuition, room, and board at Ball State University.  Applicants must be nominated by their high school guidance counselor and only if they have already been awarded the Ball State Presidential Scholarship.  Students must demonstrate outstanding leadership, creativity, talent and academic achievement.  Nomination forms are available from your guidance counselor. 

The deadline to apply is February 1 of each year.

For more information contact:

First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors
Attn:  Lauren Lewis
P.O. Box 1467
Muncie, Indiana  47308-1467
Telephone 765-747-1362

If you are a high school senior, who has applied and been admitted to Ball State University, and who has actively participated in academic and extracurricular activities and has been a leader in your high school and local community, you will want to apply for this award. The Emens Leadership Scholarship is open to both in-state and out-of-state students.

Please check your Ball State portal for an application notification.  We send out applications to selected admitted students beginning in mid-November.  Any admitted student is welcome to request application materials; send a request to emensscholar@bsu.edu.  You must submit your completed application via your student portal by the deadline of January 6.

The number and the value of Emens Leadership Scholarships may vary slightly from year to year, but in recent years the value has been approximately one-half the amount of in-state tuition. Ten to twelve new scholarships are currently awarded each year to incoming freshmen. These awards are for eight semesters and are subject to an annual review of the student’s leadership and academic progress.

The Emens Scholars form a lively community of leaders on campus. They meet as a group at least twice a year, and they support each other in their wide-ranging endeavors across campus both in and out of the classroom.

You must have applied and been admitted to Ball State University to apply for the Emens Leadership Scholarship.  You must receive and submit a completed application by January 6 to be considered for this award.

 The Holmes-McFadden Journalism Scholarship is a renewable award, with preference given to an incoming minority student who plans to major in the Department of Journalism.

Award Amount

$1,000 scholarship ($500 per semester) can be renewed for three additional years, if funding is available.

Criteria

Preference will be given to an incoming minority student who plans to major in the Department of Journalism. Student must maintain a minimum GPA of at least a 2.7 on a 4.0 scale. If the recipient leaves the study of journalism, he or she will no longer be eligible for the award.

How to Apply

To apply, please use our online form and have a PDF copy of your transcript and any supporting materials ready for upload. We are no longer accepting paper applications.

Apply Now

Ball State University offers a variety of scholarships to high-achieving students based on their admissions application, test scores, academic performance, and other factors. Not all students who meet the minimum qualifications will be offered a scholarship. The number of scholarships awarded each year is dependent on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the size and quality of the incoming freshman class. There is no additional application required for these scholarships and recipients will be notified as they are selected.

The Honors College Residency Award is awarded to a select group of Honors College applicants.  The award pays up to $1,500 per year ($750 per semester for up to eight semesters) toward the following university room and board charges: residence hall room and board, university apartment rent, and/or commuter meal plans.  A recipient must be an undergraduate enrolled in on-campus classes as a full-time degree seeking student.

Renewal: Students are required to maintain their status in the Honors College and a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.33. If the grade point average drops below the required 3.33 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative grade point average is raised to a 3.33 or above at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request.

The Miller Business Honors Scholarship is an academic scholarship program developed to financially support and academically challenge top students to achieve at the highest levels. Open to incoming freshmen, the program offers a powerful and vibrant experience that's second to none—it honors and supports the highest-caliber students who enroll in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University. The program combines the Miller Business Honors Program with academic funding throughout the four-year college experience.

Learn more about the Miller Business Honors Scholarship.

Selected outstanding high school seniors are awarded a Presidential Scholarship. The award is open to in-state and out-of-state students. This award may pay institutional charges for tuition, fees, and room and board.  To check on your eligibility of this scholarship, please visit our scholarship calculator.

For Those Awarded 2021-22

  • In-state students can receive $5,500 a year (maximum of $2,750 a semester) for a four-year total of $22,000.
  • Out-of-state students can receive $16,000 a year (maximum of $8,000 a semester) for a four-year total of $64,000.

In certain circumstances, other financial aid you receive may result in your award being reduced. All financial aid you receive, when combined with the Presidential Scholarship, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.  Presidential Scholars must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. If the GPA drops below 3.0 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 3.0 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The scholarship is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study (ten semesters for students in an undergraduate major that requires a fifth year to complete). Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, Bachelor's degree-seeking students.

This scholarship was established to provide the opportunity for outstanding students to pursue an academic degree in residential property management at Ball State University. Open to incoming freshmen who are majoring in residential property management (RPM). Annually, at least one scholarship in the amount of $2,500 will be awarded to an incoming freshman. This scholarship is renewable in that amount up to three additional years. The recipient of the award will be known as a RPM Advisory Board Merit Scholar.

Learn more about the RPM Advisory Board Merit Endowment Scholarship.

The Whitinger Scholarship is the signature scholarship of the Honors College and the most prestigious scholarship awarded by Ball State. It supplements Ball State’s Presidential Scholarship to provide full tuition and required fees plus on-campus room and board for eight new Honors College students of exceptional potential each year. This award honors Dr. Ralph J. Whitinger, a 1929 graduate who served many years as the first president of the Ball State University Foundation.

Award Amount

This scholarship covers full tuition (in-state or out-of-state), mandatory fees (those which apply automatically to all students), and on-campus room and board (a typical DeHority Complex shared double room with 14 meals per week) for eight semesters of undergraduate study. Students who receive another merit-based scholarship from Ball State (Presidential Scholarship, Ball State Scholars Award, etc.) will have that award applied to tuition and fees first, and the Whitinger Scholarship will be applied to remaining tuition and fee charges plus on-campus room and board.

Criteria

Requirements include returning a completed application by the stated deadline. Scholarship recipients are selected by a committee based on their academic ability, character, creativity, and potential for leadership. Eligibility for consideration includes:

  • Apply to the Honors College by the priority deadline of November 16.
  • Get accepted to Ball State and the Honors College.
  • Complete the Indiana Academic Honors Diploma or an equivalent curriculum in another state.
  • Earn a high school GPA of 3.85 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).

How to Apply

Honors College applicants who qualify for this award will receive application materials via their Ball State Applicant Status Portal. Please check your portal daily for an application notification; we send out applications each day. You must submit your completed application via your student portal by the December 6 deadline. Specific information is on the application form. We will not accept self-nominations or applications/nominations from schools.

Finalists will be notified on or before December 18 to schedule an interview. All interviews must be completed by January 15.

In-State Resident

The Ball State Transfer Scholarship is awarded to well-prepared community college transfer students.

The award pays up to $1,000 per year ($500 per semester) for up to three years or 120 credit hours.

To be eligible, you must:

  • be an Indiana resident
  • have completed 30 credits or more at Ivy Tech Community College and/or Vincennes University
  • have a 3.5 or higher cumulative grade point average
  • ·not be receiving the Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship
  • be an undergraduate enrolled in on-campus classes as a full-time degree seeking student

To renew the scholarship, you must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0. If your GPA drops below the required 3.0 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if your cumulative GPA increases to a 3.0 or above at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request.

Phi Theta Kappa awards are for Indiana residents transferring to Ball State.

To be eligible for this award, you must:

  • be an Indiana resident who has earned an associate in arts or associate in science degree with a minimum 3.5 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale from an accredited in-state community or junior college
  • be an inducted member of Phi Theta Kappa
  • enroll in on-campus classes as a full-time, degree-seeking student at Ball State for the first fall or spring semester following completion of the associate degree

The scholarship will be $4,500 a year for a two years or a total of four semesters (totaling $9,000). The award covers tuition only.

The scholarship is awarded for a maximum of four semesters of undergraduate study, if you maintain a 3.0 GPA at Ball State University.

A limited number of scholarships are awarded, based on availability of funds.

All eligible transfer applicants who have been admitted by July 1 are considered for this award. No separate scholarship application is necessary. However, you should submit a copy of your Phi Theta Kappa membership certificate or membership card and a personal letter requesting scholarship consideration to the Office of Admissions.

Out-of-state students, students with previous bachelor's degrees, and re-enrolling Ball State students are not eligible.

Out-Of-State Resident

Academic Distinction Scholarships are for out-of-state residents transferring to Ball State.

To be eligible for this award, you must:

  • be a non-Indiana resident
  • earned an associate in arts or associate in science degree with a minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale from an accredited out-of-state community or junior college
  • have enrolled full-time at Ball State for the first fall or spring semester immediately following completion of the associate degree
  • be an undergraduate enrolled in on-campus classes as a full-time degree seeking student

The award is a waiver of the out-of-state resident portion of tuition and fees. This does not include room and board charges, technology fees, or the Health Center fee.

The award is renewable for three additional semesters if you maintain a 3.0 GPA.

All eligible transfer applicants are considered for this award. No separate application is necessary.

In-state students, students with previous bachelor's degrees, and re-enrolling Ball State students are not eligible for this award.

Ball State offers four awards that outstanding international high school and transfer students can explore.

Selected outstanding high school seniors or undergraduate transfer students are awarded a scholarship. Awards are open to all international undergraduate students, and they pay for institutional charges for non-resident tuition. All financial aid received, when combined with other scholarships, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.

Awards may not be used for any institutional charges for study in the Intensive English Institute or for a combination of study in the Intensive English Institute and credit bearing classes. Recipients must meet Ball State’s English proficiency requirements before the award will pay charges for non-resident tuition.

For Those Awarded 2021-22

  • International Undergraduate students can receive $2,000 a year for a four-year total of $8,000.

Ball State International Recognition Scholarship students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If the GPA drops below 2.5 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 2.5 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The award is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study. Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, degree-seeking students.

For Those Awarded 2021-22

  • International Undergraduate students can receive $4,000 a year for a four-year total of $16,000.

Ball State International Achievement Scholarship students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If the GPA drops below 2.5 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 2.5 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The award is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study. Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, degree-seeking students.

For Those Awarded 2021-22

  • International Undergraduate students can receive $6,000 a year for a four-year total of $24,000.

Ball State International Distinction Scholarship students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If the GPA drops below 2.5 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 2.5 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The award is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study. Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, degree-seeking students. 

For Those Awarded 2021-22

  • International Undergraduate students can receive $8,000 a year for a four-year total of $32,000.

Ball State International Honors Scholarship students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If the GPA drops below 2.5 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 2.5 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The award is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study. Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, degree-seeking students.

The #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship was developed as a result of US higher education institutions’ commitment to providing a welcoming, safe, and diverse environment to international students. Ball State University is proud to support this initiative by offering two annual, renewable scholarships to students who demonstrate an interest and initiative in promoting intercultural learning and exchange.

Award Amount

$14,000 scholarship ($7000 per semester), awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study. This award pays for institutional charges specifically, non-resident tuition. All financial aid received, when combined with other scholarships, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.

Criteria

Awards are open to incoming first-year international (not a US citizen or permanent resident) undergraduate students. Students must be admitted to an on-campus, Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree program. Students must enroll full-time each semester and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If the GPA drops below 2.5 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 2.5 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request.

How To Apply

Students wishing to apply must submit a short essay or video telling us about their leadership skills in their school or community, and how they plan to continue applying those skills at Ball State University.

The deadline to apply is June 1. Essays and videos should be submitted through our online form.

Apply Now

To learn more about the #YouAreWelcomeHere campaign, visit their website at https://www.youarewelcomehereusa.org/.

Many Ball State academic departments and organizations offer academic scholarships to students majoring or minoring in the subject.

These awards may be merit-based or need-based. Recipients of these awards are chosen by the departments. Below are links to department Web sites regarding scholarships:

Ball State awards a wide variety of scholarships each year to reward incoming students for their academic, athletic, and creative achievement and demonstrated leadership skills.

Top-ability students in Indiana are expected to complete the Indiana Academic Honors Diploma. Out-of-state applicants should pursue the best college preparatory curriculum available to them.

Academic Distinction Scholarships are for out-of-state residents transferring to Ball State.

To be eligible for this award, you must:

  • be a non-Indiana resident
  • earned an associate in arts or associate in science degree with a minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale from an accredited out-of-state community or junior college
  • have enrolled full-time at Ball State for the first fall or spring semester immediately following completion of the associate degree
  • be an undergraduate enrolled in on-campus classes as a full-time degree seeking student

The award is a waiver of the out-of-state resident portion of tuition and fees.Students receiving this award are still responsible for paying the equivalent of in-state tuition rates and fees.This does not include room and board charges, technology fees, or the Health Center fee.

The award is renewable for three additional semesters if you maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

All eligible transfer applicants are considered for this award. No separate application is necessary. In-state students, students with previous bachelor’s degrees, and re-enrolling Ball State students are not eligible for this award.

This scholarship may be applied only to institutional charges.  All financial aid you receive, when combined with the Academic Distinction Scholarship, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.

Academic Distinction Scholarship recipients are not eligible to also receive the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP) award.

The Ball State University Alumni Association awards or cosponsors several scholarships each year.

Selected outstanding high school seniors are awarded a Ball State Scholars Award. The award is open to in-state and out-of-state students. This award pays for institutional charges for tuition, fees, and room and board.

For Those Awarded 2021-22

  • In-state students can receive $4,000 a year (maximum of $2,000 a semester) for a four-year total of $16,000.
  • Out-of-state students can receive $14,000 a year (maximum of $7,000 a semester) for a four-year total of $56,000.

In certain circumstances, other financial aid you receive may result in your award being reduced. All financial aid you receive, when combined with the Ball State Scholars Award, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.  Ball State Scholars must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. If the GPA drops below 3.0 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 3.0 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The award is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study (ten semesters for students in an undergraduate major that requires a fifth year to complete). Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, Bachelor's degree-seeking students.

The Ball State Transfer Scholarship is awarded to well-prepared community college transfer students.

The award pays up to $1,000 per year ($500 per semester) for up to three years or 120 credit hours.

To be eligible, you must:

  • be an Indiana resident
  • have completed 30 credits or more at Ivy Tech Community College and/or Vincennes University
  • have a 3.5 or higher cumulative grade point average
  • ·not be receiving the Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship
  • be an undergraduate enrolled in on-campus classes as a full-time degree seeking student

To renew the scholarship, you must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0. If your GPA drops below the required 3.0 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if your cumulative GPA increases to a 3.0 or above at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request.

The Completion Scholarship is a $500 scholarship awarded in a student’s final semester before graduation.

To qualify, you must be an Indiana resident who entered Ball State as a first-time, full-time freshman and will complete a bachelor’s degree within four calendar years.

To apply for the award, you must e-mail the Upper Division Advising Center a Completion Scholarship Application. You should apply after you register for courses in your final semester but before the course withdrawal deadline.

Selected out-of-state outstanding high school seniors are awarded a Distinction Scholarship. This award may pay institutional charges for tuition, fees, and room and board.  To check on your eligibility of this scholarship, please visit our scholarship calculator.

For Those Awarded 2021-22

  • Out-of-state students can receive $12,000 a year (maximum of $6,000 a semester) for a four-year total of $48,000.

In certain circumstances, other financial aid you receive may result in your award being reduced. All financial aid you receive, when combined with the Ball State Distinction Scholarship, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.  Distinction Scholars must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If the GPA drops below 2.5 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 2.5 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The scholarship is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study (ten semesters for students in an undergraduate major that requires a fifth year to complete). Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, Bachelor's degree-seeking students.

The Harold Ellison Scholarship is available only to first-time freshmen who have graduated from schools in Delaware County, Indiana.  The scholarship pays for full tuition, room, and board at Ball State University.  Applicants must be nominated by their high school guidance counselor and only if they have already been awarded the Ball State Presidential Scholarship.  Students must demonstrate outstanding leadership, creativity, talent and academic achievement.  Nomination forms are available from your guidance counselor. 

The deadline to apply is February 1 of each year.

For more information contact:

First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors
Attn:  Lauren Lewis
P.O. Box 1467
Muncie, Indiana  47308-1467
Telephone 765-747-1362

If you are a high school senior, who has applied and been admitted to Ball State University, and who has actively participated in academic and extracurricular activities and has been a leader in your high school and local community, you will want to apply for this award. The Emens Leadership Scholarship is open to both in-state and out-of-state students.

Please check your Ball State portal for an application notification.  We send out applications to selected admitted students beginning in mid-November.  Any admitted student is welcome to request application materials; send a request to emensscholar@bsu.edu.  You must submit your completed application via your student portal by the deadline of January 6.

The number and the value of Emens Leadership Scholarships may vary slightly from year to year, but in recent years the value has been approximately one-half the amount of in-state tuition. Ten to twelve new scholarships are currently awarded each year to incoming freshmen. These awards are for eight semesters and are subject to an annual review of the student’s leadership and academic progress.

The Emens Scholars form a lively community of leaders on campus. They meet as a group at least twice a year, and they support each other in their wide-ranging endeavors across campus both in and out of the classroom.

You must have applied and been admitted to Ball State University to apply for the Emens Leadership Scholarship.  You must receive and submit a completed application by January 6 to be considered for this award.

The Ball State University Guardian Scholars Program is a University-sponsored student support service for Ball State students who experienced foster care during high school.

The mission of the program is to promote self-sufficiency while equipping students with tools for a successful transition into college, career and life. The Guardian Scholars program provides a variety of supports for program participants including academic support, success seminars, program and community events and financial support. Within the Guardian Scholars, students are connected to peers who shared similar childhood experiences and network of professionals to support their unique challenges on campus.

Current Guardian Scholars program participants who are in good standing with the University and program can apply to be a Guardian Scholars scholarship recipient annually by March 15th. Each scholarship award will include up to $2,500 per year and is renewable for up to 4 years, subject to review.

For more information about the Guardian Scholars program visit www.bsu.edu/guardianscholars or contact the program coordinator at 765-285-5538.

 The Holmes-McFadden Journalism Scholarship is a renewable award, with preference given to an incoming minority student who plans to major in the Department of Journalism.

Award Amount

$1,000 scholarship ($500 per semester) can be renewed for three additional years, if funding is available.

Criteria

Preference will be given to an incoming minority student who plans to major in the Department of Journalism. Student must maintain a minimum GPA of at least a 2.7 on a 4.0 scale. If the recipient leaves the study of journalism, he or she will no longer be eligible for the award.

How to Apply

To apply, please use our online form and have a PDF copy of your transcript and any supporting materials ready for upload. We are no longer accepting paper applications.

Apply Now

If you plan to enroll in the Honors College or currently are, you have several scholarships and fellowships available to you.

On top of offering some of Ball State’s most prestigious awards, the college provides resources on national scholarship programs.

Learn more about Honors College Scholarships.

The Marshall Scholarship recognizes students who are committed to diversity-related work in their communities, on campus, and in society at large.

The amount awarded for this scholarship is approximately $1,000 for the academic year.

Because Ball State students are a diverse group in themselves, we welcome applicants who advocate social justice with regard to race, ethnicity, economic status, national origin, disability, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity, age, and/or religious viewpoints.

Learn more and apply.

The Muncie Community Schools Award is for employees of the Muncie Community Schools to receive reduced tuition.

Requirements:

  • must be an employee of Muncie Community Schools at the beginning of the semester that an award is received.
  • can be used for up to 6 credit hours per year.
  • application must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships by the end of the first week of classes each semester.

Complete a 2021-22 Muncie Community Schools Award application form

Complete a 2020-21 Muncie Community Schools Award application form

Phi Theta Kappa awards are for Indiana residents transferring to Ball State.

To be eligible for this award, you must:

  • be an Indiana resident who has earned an associate in arts or associate in science degree with a minimum 3.5 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale from an accredited in-state community or junior college
  • be an inducted member of Phi Theta Kappa
  • enroll in on-campus classes as a full-time, degree-seeking student at Ball State for the first fall or spring semester following completion of the associate degree

The scholarship will be $4,500 a year for a two years or a total of four semesters (totaling $9,000). The award covers tuition only.

The scholarship is awarded for a maximum of four semesters of undergraduate study, if you maintain a 3.0 GPA at Ball State University.

A limited number of scholarships are awarded, based on availability of funds.

All eligible transfer applicants who have been admitted by July 1 are considered for this award. No separate scholarship application is necessary. However, you should submit a copy of your Phi Theta Kappa membership certificate or membership card and a personal letter requesting scholarship consideration to the Office of Admissions.

Out-of-state students, students with previous bachelor's degrees, and re-enrolling Ball State students are not eligible.

Selected outstanding high school seniors are awarded a Presidential Scholarship. The award is open to in-state and out-of-state students. This award may pay institutional charges for tuition, fees, and room and board.  To check on your eligibility of this scholarship, please visit our scholarship calculator.

For Those Awarded 2021-22

  • In-state students can receive $5,500 a year (maximum of $2,750 a semester) for a four-year total of $22,000.
  • Out-of-state students can receive $16,000 a year (maximum of $8,000 a semester) for a four-year total of $64,000.

In certain circumstances, other financial aid you receive may result in your award being reduced. All financial aid you receive, when combined with the Presidential Scholarship, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.  Presidential Scholars must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. If the GPA drops below 3.0 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 3.0 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The scholarship is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study (ten semesters for students in an undergraduate major that requires a fifth year to complete). Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, Bachelor's degree-seeking students.

Barb Stedman, Director of National and International Scholarships, assists Ball State students in finding and then applying for nationally competitive scholarships for study abroad, grad school, and other endeavors.  Applicants typically need to have a GPA of 3.0 or higher (sometimes much higher), and many scholarships require strong records of campus leadership and community service.

The Study Abroad Office also has a considerable number of scholarship opportunities for Study Abroad participants. 

Learn more about financing for study abroad.


Pell Grant recipients who plan to study abroad should consider applying for a Benjamin Gilman Scholarship; students interested in East and Southeast Asia should also apply for the Freeman-Asia Scholarship.  Dr. Stedman holds information sessions about both scholarships at the very beginning of fall and spring semesters each year.  Details about upcoming sessions are emailed to all Pell Grant recipients and are posted on Facebook.

Please note that many nationally competitive scholarships are especially geared toward minority students and others who increase the diversity of the applicant pool.

To learn more and explore scholarship options, visit www.bsu.edu/honors/scholarships.   Students searching for scholarships should use the links to “Major Scholarships,” “Other Scholarships,” and “Scholarship Databases.”  Students who believe they are strong scholarship applicants should complete the “Scholarship Interest Form” and then call 765-285-1024 to schedule an appointment.

The Whitinger Scholarship is the signature scholarship of the Honors College and the most prestigious scholarship awarded by Ball State. It supplements Ball State’s Presidential Scholarship to provide full tuition and required fees plus on-campus room and board for eight new Honors College students of exceptional potential each year. This award honors Dr. Ralph J. Whitinger, a 1929 graduate who served many years as the first president of the Ball State University Foundation.

Award Amount

This scholarship covers full tuition (in-state or out-of-state), mandatory fees (those which apply automatically to all students), and on-campus room and board (a typical DeHority Complex shared double room with 14 meals per week) for eight semesters of undergraduate study. Students who receive another merit-based scholarship from Ball State (Presidential Scholarship, Ball State Scholars Award, etc.) will have that award applied to tuition and fees first, and the Whitinger Scholarship will be applied to remaining tuition and fee charges plus on-campus room and board.

Criteria

Requirements include returning a completed application by the stated deadline. Scholarship recipients are selected by a committee based on their academic ability, character, creativity, and potential for leadership. Eligibility for consideration includes:

  • Apply to the Honors College by the priority deadline of November 16.
  • Get accepted to Ball State and the Honors College.
  • Complete the Indiana Academic Honors Diploma or an equivalent curriculum in another state.
  • Earn a high school GPA of 3.85 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).

How to Apply

Honors College applicants who qualify for this award will receive application materials via their Ball State Applicant Status Portal. Please check your portal daily for an application notification; we send out applications each day. You must submit your completed application via your student portal by the December 6 deadline. Specific information is on the application form. We will not accept self-nominations or applications/nominations from schools.

Finalists will be notified on or before December 18 to schedule an interview. All interviews must be completed by January 15.

Indiana Scholarships

The Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship, which is funded by the state of Indiana, is a one-time award up to $4,000 to cover tuition and regularly assessed fees for any student who:
  • is a resident of Indiana and had been a resident of Indiana for at least the last two semesters before graduating
  • attends a publicly supported school on a full-time equivalency basis for at least the last two semesters before graduating
  • met at least the minimum requirements set by the Indiana State Board of Education for granting a high school diploma by the end of grade 11 and was awarded after Dec. 31, 2010 a high school diploma by the
  • was not enrolled in a publicly supported school for any part of grade 12
  • applies to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE)
  • within five months after graduating from high school, becomes a student in good standing taking classes at an approved postsecondary educational institution and is engaged in a program that will lead to an approved postsecondary degree or credential
CHE must verify that your matriculation, the Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship application, and FAFSA filing and contents meet the requirements for you to be eligible for this scholarship before the college may bill CHE.
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) offers the William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship to you if you:
  • are a minority student (defined as black or Hispanic)
  • are admitted to or already attend an eligible Indiana institution as a full-time student
  • intend to pursue or are pursuing a course of study that would enable you, upon graduation, to teach in an accredited school in Indiana
  • agree, in writing, to apply for a teaching position in an accredited school in Indiana after you are certified as a teacher and, if hired, to teach for at least three years
  • meet other criteria established by the CHE
Minimum criteria to receive state financial aid, including the William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship, include that you:
  • be an Indiana resident and an eligible U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • complete and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • not be in default on a federal student loan or in over payment status on a federal student grant

You must complete a FAFSA before you can complete the online scholarship application. It takes five to seven business days from filing for the FAFSA data to be available in the state's system. Therefore, the FAFSA must be filed in time for the student to meet the application deadline.

To renew the scholarship, a minority student who qualified for the initial award must maintain the cumulative grade point average (GPA) required for admission to the institution’s school of education or at least a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent if the school does not require a minimum GPA. Only first-time undergraduate students are eligible to receive the William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship.

Apply online for the William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship.