Automatic Merit Scholarships

Academically talented students will automatically be offered these merit scholarships at the time of admission.

 

These scholarships for first-time students are automatically renewable for a total of 4 years (8 semesters). Eligible students are required to maintain full-time consecutive undergraduate enrollment in fall and spring semesters and maintain specific GPA requirements noted below. Recipients must be admitted by August 1 for the Fall term; for all other terms, students must be admitted, and transcripts can be updated through the first day of class to qualify for the scholarship or qualify for a higher amount. International undergraduate students on current visas (F1, J1) are not eligible for freshman merit or transfer merit scholarships.

 

  GPA Award
Distinguished Merit Scholarship 3.75 - 4.0 $16,000* ($4,000 Annually)
High Achieving Merit Scholarship 3.5 - 3.74 $14,000* ($3,500 Annually)
Academic Merit Scholarship 3.0 - 3.49 $12,000* ($3,000 Annually)

*Renewable up to 8 consecutive fall and spring semesters if renewal criteria is met.

How Your Scholarship May Appear

Your merit scholarship may appear as multiple awards or funding sources on your financial aid award letter. EIU is required to list these amounts separately, but together they will equal the full annual value of the merit scholarship you were offered. For example, a $4,000 Distinguished Merit Scholarship may appear as two or more separate awards that add up to $4,000.

The scholarship amount and renewal requirements remain the same.

Renewal Criteria

Student must maintain the following cumulative GPA at Eastern Illinois University, with continuous full-time enrollment of 12+ hours.