Academic Scholarships
2024-2025 First-Year Undergraduate and Transfer Students
Incoming freshmen and transfer students' scholarship eligibility beginning in Fall 2024 or later.
Academic scholarships are determined based on a student's academic performance in high school, or high school and college for a transfer student.
For students who apply as test optional, only GPA will be used to determine an academic scholarship. Updated GPAs and/or test scores are accepted through May 1. These academic scholarships are guaranteed through your sophomore year at Calvin and are renewable for up to three additional undergraduate years with a cumulative Calvin GPA of 3.0.
Scholarship amounts and average scores of recipients
| Amount | Scholarship | Weighted GPA | SAT | ACT | CLT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $22,000 | National Merit | Selection determined by National Merit Corporation | |||
| $20,000 | Trustee's | 4.20 | 1350 | 30 | 91 |
| $18,000 | President's | 3.90 | 1200 | 26 | 85 |
| $16,000 | Provost's | 3.70 | 1160 | 24 | 75 |
| $14,000 | Dean's | 3.50 | 1100 | 22 | 70 |
| $5,000–$12,000 | Faculty's | 3.10 | 1000 | 20 | 65 |
Guidelines and Renewal
Calvin-sponsored National Merit Scholarships are awarded to students selected as National Merit Finalists by the National Merit Corporation who select Calvin as their first-choice university. This award is offered in addition to Calvin’s $20,000 Trustee's Scholarship.
- Amount: $2,000
- Availability: 4 years
- Renewal Criteria: Recipient is making satisfactory academic progress. National Merit Finalists that require a fifth year of study will be eligible for the Trustee's Scholarship as long as they have a cumulative Calvin GPA of 3.0.
Guidelines
- National Merit Finalists are eligible to receive a National Merit Scholarships sponsored by one of the following organizations: National Merit Corporation, other participating corporations, or Calvin University.
- Finalists are only eligible for one National Merit Scholarship.
- Finalists must select Calvin as their first-choice university with National Merit Corporation to receive a National Merit Scholarship.
- Finalists can change their first-choice university with National Merit before May 3, 2021. Undecided finalists have until May 31, 2021, to select a first-choice university.
- Total Calvin-sponsored award value: $20,000
- National Merit Finalists that require a fifth year of study will be eligible for the $20,000 Trustee’s Scholarship as long as they have a cumulative Calvin GPA of 3.0.
Contact
National Merit Corporation
Telephone: (847) 866-5100
Web: nationalmerit.org
Fax: (847) 866-5113
Letter: National Merit Corporation, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite 200, Evanston, IL 60201-4897
Scholarships are guaranteed through your sophomore year and are renewable for up to three additional undergraduate years with a cumulative Calvin GPA of 3.0 measured after the fourth semester.
Academic scholarships are renewable based on your cumulative Calvin GPA. If you had significant and extenuating circumstances that affected your academic performance, you may send an appeal and supportive documents to Financial Aid at scholarships@calvin.edu.
Scholarship appeals will be accepted until July 8. Appeal decisions are made in July. If granted, scholarships will be reinstated in the following academic year.