Scholarships & Waivers

We award more than 3,300 academic scholarships totaling nearly $8.5 million each year.

All scholarships are subject to change. Funding for these awards is limited and not guaranteed. Medical School students should consult the School of Medicine & Health Sciences for scholarships.

Scholarship Central

Apply annually for 1,000+ scholarships with one application.

Explore Scholarships

Eligibility:
Must be admitted as an undergraduate, graduate or law student.
Opens:
Oct. 1 for the following academic year
Deadline:
Feb. 1 (new, incoming students)  |  March 1 (current, returning students)
Renewal:
Varies by scholarship

Automatic Academic Scholarships for New Students

You must be a full-time student and enrolled in at least 12 credits per semester to qualify.

If you meet the criteria and submit your admissions application to UND by the priority deadline, you'll automatically be awarded a scholarship. As funding is available, scholarships may be awarded after the priority deadline. All scholarships are subject to change.

Receive Up to $14,000 in Freshman Scholarships

If you meet the criteria, submit your completed admissions application and/or official test scores (if applicable) by the Feb. 1 priority deadline for the upcoming fall semester, you'll automatically be awarded one of the following academic scholarships.

Unweighted High School GPA Freshman
Scholarship Award
3.90+ GPA
or
30+ ACT (1370+ SAT) with 3.00+ GPA*		 $14,000
$3,500/yr
for a max of 4 years
3.70-3.89 GPA $11,000
$2,750/yr
for a max of 4 years
3.50-3.69 GPA $1,500
non-renewable

You're eligible to receive one automatic scholarship award based on your unweighted, cumulative high school GPA. Renewal criteria apply.

*You must submit official test scores to qualify for this scholarship.

Receive Up to $2,000 in Transfer Scholarships

If you meet the criteria and submit your completed admissions application by the Aug. 15 deadline for the upcoming fall semester or the Dec. 15 deadline for the upcoming spring semester, you'll automatically be awarded one of the following academic scholarships.

Cumulative
College GPA		 Transfer Student
Scholarship Award
3.90 - 4.00 $2,000
$1,000/semester
3.50 - 3.89 $1,000
$500/semester

Scholarships are awarded based on your cumulative GPA for all credits transferred to UND as calculated by the UND Registrar's Office. Students transferring more than 120 credits to UND will not qualify.

National Merit Scholars

You may receive a UND scholarship equivalent to full tuition and mandatory student fees.

  • A National Merit Scholar Finalist or Semi-Finalist from North Dakota or Minnesota who selects UND as their first choice on the National Merit Application.
  • If you're a National Merit Scholar from another state, UND will review your file for scholarship eligibility.
  • This scholarship is in addition to other UND scholarships and waivers you're eligible to receive (up to the full cost of attendance).
  • May be renewable for up to 3 additional years if criteria are met. 

Cultural Diversity Scholarship

The Cultural Diversity Scholarship is a comprehensive initiative aimed at facilitating the success and timely graduation of high-achieving, underserved students at the University of North Dakota. The program employs a multi-faceted approach to support students in their academic and personal development through financial support, programming, professional advising and peer engagement.

Students will be considered if they meet the following criteria:

  • United States citizen or permanent resident
  • Member of an underrepresented diverse group, which may include disability, Indigenous status, ethnicity, race and LGBTQ+
  • Official high school or transfer Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 or above
  • Financial need demonstrated through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • Must be degree-seeking new freshman or new transfer student

  • Effective Fall 2024, undergraduate students are eligible for up to $3,000 per semester, or $6,000 per academic year. In some cases, partial scholarships may be awarded.
  • Scholarships will be awarded up to but not exceeding the cost of UND in-state tuition.
  • Scholarships do not include flight fees, application fees, books, room, board, or other costs of attendance.
  • Please note that online tuition cannot be waived through this program.

Scholarship Central will be the main application platform for students to apply. Student applications will be evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis. New students must be admitted before they are eligible to apply to Scholarship Central.

The duration of the Cultural Diversity Scholarship is up to 120 total credits, first bachelors' degree or eight semesters (fall/spring) as long as the following renewal criteria have been met:

  • Earn 12 credit hours per semester
  • Maintain a 2.75 Institutional Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
  • Meet with CDS Advisor | 2 visits per semester
  • Meet with Academic Advisor | 1 visit per semester

Student-Athlete Scholarships

If you plan to be a student-athlete on an intercollegiate sports team at UND, any scholarships you are awarded are subject to NCAA rules. You may not be able to accept every scholarship you are offered.

You must immediately report all scholarships to the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance by Aug. 1 for fall semester and Jan. 1 for spring semester. 

How to report your scholarships:

  1. Request a “Student-Athlete Outside Aid Award” form from Ashley Steffan at ashley.steffan@UND.edu or 701-777-3169.
  2. Complete the form and return it to Ashley.

Open Door Scholarship

Provides tuition assistance to help current UND students finish their degrees. This scholarship is intended to help students facing financial hardship due to an unforeseen dire circumstance. Examples may include sudden illness, loss of an immediate family member, and unexpected loss of income.

UND Student Finance will take into account the unique financial situation of students who apply and award a one-time scholarship to those who qualify.

Students who are eligible to be considered must:

  • Be an admitted undergraduate, graduate or professional student in a degree-seeking program.
  • Have completed a FAFSA for the academic year and have financial need, based on FAFSA information (only if student is U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident).
  • Be enrolled for the current semester.
  • Be in good academic standing.
  • Have exhausted other options for financial assistance, including Federal and PLUS loans, and private educational loans.

If you're a student who meets all of the above criteria, has no other option for financial assistance as described above, and would like to be considered for this award, please complete the application linked below.

Open Door Scholarship Application

Once submitted, please allow 10-15 business days for Student Finance to review your request. You will be notified through your UND email account whether or not you have qualified for the scholarship. Student Finance may also request additional information in order to evaluate your situation.

Please note that this scholarship, if placed on a student's account, could impact other financial aid received.

Angel Fund Scholarship

Limited financial support may be available to help current UND students in need of financial support to succeed. Visit the Angel Fund website for complete details. 

Students who are eligible to be considered must:

  • Must be enrolled in the current semester at UND in undergraduate, graduate or professional programs, who are making satisfactory progress in their respective academic programs.
  • Must be be in Academic Good Standing, as defined by the UND Academic Catalog.
  • Must not be on Conduct Probation, as defined by the UND Code of Student Life.

Angel Fund Request Form

Community Housing Navigation Program

TRIO’s Community Housing Navigation Program’s mission is to ensure eligible participants have a safe, permanent place to lay their heads at night and their basic needs are being met. Participants may be experiencing barriers preventing participants from obtaining self-sufficiency such as financial constraints, justice involvement and/or knowing what services community agencies/resources are available.

Community Housing Navigation Program

Non-UND Scholarships

Scholarships are available through a variety of sources including the federal government, the state of North Dakota and outside organizations. You may accept non-UND scholarships without affecting UND scholarships.

External scholarships must be accounted for in your financial aid package. If you have questions regarding how your award may impact other financial aid you have received, please contact One-Stop.

Where to Send Non-UND Scholarship Checks

Scholarship checks should be mailed to:

One-Stop Student Services
2901 University Ave Stop 7155
Grand Forks, ND 58202-7155

One-Stop Student Services offers a drop box if you need to turn in a scholarship check. If you do not have a check to mail, please let us know about your scholarship early by completing the Outside Aid Reporting Form.

National Scholarships and Fellowships

National scholarships provide high-performing college students exceptional opportunities to experience learning and academic training at the highest levels. Reach out to UND's coordinator for assistance in applying to these nationally competitive programs.

NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

North Dakota Career Builders Scholarship

Students attending UND who are in a full degree program are eligible the last two years of their program as long as it leads to a High-Need Occupation. See High-Need and Emerging Occupations List for qualified programs at the University of North Dakota listed on the North Dakota University System website. The University of North Dakota may have matching dollars for the ND Career Builders Scholarships. See the Private-Sector Donation Form section for additional details.

ND Career Builders Scholarship

Aid for North Dakota Students

The state of North Dakota provides aid to high-achieving students, including:

North Dakota Tuition Waivers and Tuition Assistance

  • National Guard Members – Complete the State Tuition Assistance Request Form no later than 8 business days before the class start date.  Contact the State Tuition Manager at 701-333-3008 if you are submitting a late application.  
  • Surviving dependents of POW/MIA veterans who were killed in action, died of service-related causes, were prisoners of war, have 100% service-connected disability, or who were declared missing in action. Complete the ND Resident Tuition Application in UND Campus Connection > Select Dependent of Vet KIA/Disabled as residency selection>Enter Parent Name>Upload Student Birth Certificate > Service Member DD214 or other Documentation.
  • Surviving spouse and children of firefighters, emergency medical service personnel, and peace officers who died as a result of injuries received in the line of duty.  Using Secure File Drop, upload student birth certificate or marriage certificate and death certificate for family member killed in the line of duty.   In “Submission Reason Box” indicate ND Front Line Workers Waiver.
  • Senior citizens:  Enroll in classes via Registrar/Campus Connection as Audit Class>Email OneStop@UND.edu and indicate you are 65 years are older and are signed up to audit a course.   UND tuition will be waived at 100%.
  • North Dakota University System employees and spouses/dependents of system employees.  Complete the waiver form and submit. 

Tuition and Fee Waivers

Scholarship Databases

Use the scholarship search engines listed below to research and apply for many scholarships.

Make sure scholarship information and offers you receive are legitimate, and remember that you don't have to pay to get scholarships or other financial aid.

Other Outside Organizations

Organizations that aren't affiliated with UND can be a great source of funding for your education. Ask your school counselor about awards for graduating seniors.

You may also find scholarships or other forms of financial assistance through:

  • Your place of worship or other religious communities
  • Local branches of organizations such as the Rotary Club or Kiwanis
  • Other organizations, such as Army ROTC, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and North Dakota National Guard
  • Your parents' employers
  • Your employer

Employee, Spouse and Dependent Tuition Waiver

UND employees and their family members are eligible for tuition waivers.

UND Human Resources

What is the difference between scholarships and waivers?

Scholarships are monetary gifts, which means you don't need to repay them or earn the funds by working. Scholarships are considered part of your financial aid package, and they may replace some or all of your financial aid eligibility. You may qualify for different scholarships based on your financial need, academic success and other factors.

Waivers are similar to scholarships in that they're used to offset college expenses and don't need to be paid back.

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