How to be Considered for Scholarships at Miami University
October 2, 2024 | Courtney Russell

By: Heather Chase, associate director of admission
Google searches about college scholarships are one of the most popular themes among high school students and parents. How to get a full-ride? What are merit-based scholarships? What are need-based scholarships? I can help answer those questions on behalf of Miami.
Merit-Based
Merit scholarships are typically based on students’ academic credentials, like your grades, grade point average, high school curriculum, and test scores. Miami automatically considers you for our merit scholarships with the information you provide on your Common Application. For priority merit scholarship consideration, please plan to apply to Miami by Dec. 1.
Miami also has more selective scholarships, in addition to the merit scholarships mentioned above:
- Ohio Governor’s Scholarship – for one top scholar from each Ohio county.
- Presidential Fellows Program – a highly selective, full-ride scholarship that admitted Honors College students compete for during a weekend campus visit in February.
- Prodesse Scholarship – a merit scholarship for selected Honors College students.
To be considered for Presidential Fellows and Prodesse awards, you’ll need to check a box on your Common App, indicating that you’re interested in being considered for Miami’s Honors College. Dec. 1 is the firm admission application deadline for the Presidential Fellows Program.
Need-Based Scholarships and Grants
Need-based scholarships and grants are awarded based on information provided through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a Federal Government form used to determine a student’s eligibility for various funds based on the student’s and parent’s income and assets.
When you file the FAFSA, please identify Miami-Oxford (Federal School Code 003077) to receive your information. Once admitted, you will receive a Miami aid package that will show any federal, state, or Miami-specific aid you qualify for toward your Miami cost of attendance.
To maximize consideration for need-based scholarships and grants, file your FAFSA by Miami’s priority FAFSA deadline, Feb. 1 (to apply for funding for the upcoming academic year). Students should file a FAFSA for each year they’re in college. High school seniors who file a FAFSA by Feb. 1 of their senior year can expect a Miami aid package in March, and then have until May 1 to accept their offer of admission.
Learn more about Miami costs and financial aid.