All admitted students, regardless of nationality, are considered for academic/merit scholarships for which they are eligible. In general, admitted students awarded scholarships have excellent academic credentials and exhibit exceptional leadership skills.
Most merit-based scholarships do not require an application for financial aid. However, we strongly encourage merit award candidates to complete the forms required for need-based aid, if they believe that they may need financial aid in addition to their merit award. Merit award recipients who have applied for need-based financial aid will be considered for any need-based aid for which they qualify beyond the amount of the merit award.
Freshman Merit Awards
The Admissions Committee makes all merit-based scholarship decisions and notifies students at the time they are admitted or shortly thereafter. Your admissions application is your application for a merit-based scholarship. No separate application is required for the following merit awards:
AU Presidential Scholarship
AU Deans' Scholarship
AU Leadership Scholarship
Frederick Douglass Scholarship
Freshman Scholarships
Some students may be eligible for the following scholarships. Requirements and application details are outlined below.
AU Honors Scholarship
First-year student who are accepted into the AU Honors Program for fall 2017 will receive a guaranteed $30,000 in combination of undergraduate merit awards. This includes a $20,000 Presidential Scholarship and a $10,000 AU Honors Scholarship. The AU Honors Scholarship is contingent on recipients maintaining continuous enrollment in the AU Honors Program. Should a scholarship recipient choose to withdraw from the AU Honors Program at any point during the year, the AU Honors Scholarship ($10,000) will be withdrawn, even if students meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress conditions.
Frederick Douglass Distinguished Scholars Program
Eligibility: Please visit the program's webpage for detailed information.
United Methodist Scholarship
Eligibility: Children of an active, ordained Methodist minister. Applicants must submit a letter identifying themselves as the children of a Methodist minister. Contact Christine Gettings, Kay Spiritual Life Center Operations Administrator at [email protected]
or at 202-885-3321.
Athletic Scholarships
Eligibility: Outstanding freshman and transfer athletes. Contact Athletics at 202-885-3000.
Tuition Exchange Scholarships
Eligibility: Students whose parents are employed by one of over 160 colleges participating in the Tuition Exchange Program are eligible to apply for a Tuition Exchange Scholarship. Here are a few things you should know about Tuition Exchange at American University:
To apply, you must first contact your home university liaison and fill out the application. Freshman applicants and current AU students must submit their Tuition Exchange application by January 10. Transfer students must submit their Tuition Exchange application byMarch 1.
Tuition Exchange is a competitive scholarship based on academics.Not all admitted students who apply for Tuition Exchange will receive the scholarship.
The scholarship for the academic year of 2016-2017 is a set amount of $34,000 and is not a full tuition scholarship.
Students are able to renew their scholarship each year provided the student takes at least 12 credits every semester, maintains a 3.2 or higher cumulative GPA, completes a total of 30 credits within the academic year (fall and spring semesters), maintains eligibility at their home institution and submits the recertification application byJanuary 10 of each academic year.
For more information about Tuition Exchange please refer to the Tuition Exchange website or contact our Tuition Exchange Liaison, Kenneth Haltenhof, at [email protected]
Restricted/Endowed Awards
AU is fortunate to have a number of annual and endowed scholarships that are funded by generous donors. Scholarships vary by school and may be based on merit, academic program, need or other factors as designated by the donor.