Scholarships & Gift Aid | Office of Financial Aid

Scholarships & Gift Aid | Office of Financial Aid | Michigan State University

Commonly Awarded Scholarships and Grants

Michigan

The State of Michigan offers a variety of scholarship and grant opportunities for resident students, each of which have their own requirements and application processes. Some of these offerings include the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, Children of Veterans Tuition Grant, MI Future Educator Fellowship, and the Tuition Incentive Program. View all State of Michigan Student Aid Programs.

Once you have submitted the FAFSA, you can access specific information about your eligibility for state programs using the MiSSG Student Portal.

Out-of-State

Most states do not allow their aid programs to be used to pay for out-of-state schools, or only at schools in select neighboring states. One exception to this is the DC Tag program for residents of Washington, D.C.

TEACH Grant

Students who plan to become teachers in a high-need field in a low income area may wish to consider the federal TEACH Grant program, which can cover up to $4,000/year for undergraduate and master's students who meet the following eligibility requirements:

3.25 GPA
Enrollment in an eligible program
Yearly completion of:

Please note that TEACH Grant funds have a high potential for turning into a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan with retroactive interest to the day of disbursement. For this reason, if you are not committed to completing the 4 years of full-time teaching in a low-income school in a high-need subject, you should reconsider receiving this grant as a possible source of aid.

MSU Spartan Tuition Advantage

As the nation's premier land-grant university, we are dedicated to making an MSU education within reach for all Michigan residents. In support of this commitment, the Spartan Tuition Advantage is a financial aid program that covers the full cost of tuition for all qualifying in-state students through a combination of federal, state and institutional gift aid, beginning with the 2024-25 aid year.

MSU Student Aid Grant (SAG)

(FAFSA required) The MSU Student Aid Grant (SAG) is available to Michigan residents pursuing their first undergraduate degree, based on need.
There is no separate application other than the FAFSA, and the award will disburse automatically once you are registered.

MSU Admissions Scholarships

All admitted students are automatically considered for Admissions scholarships. Admissions scholarships include awards for first-year students, out-of-state students, international students, transfer students, and more.
In most instances, the application for admission, including the required essay, is sufficient for award consideration. Any supplemental documents required for particular scholarships will be provided on their site.

Scholarship selection criteria vary. Satisfying the initial criteria listed does not guarantee that a student will receive an award.

MSU Child Care Grant

The MSU Child Care Grant program provides funds to students with children to assist in meeting the cost of licensed child care during the school year. The maximum award for the MSU Child Care Grant is $1,000 per semester per child.

Information about the MSU Child Care Grant can be found here.

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) determines your eligibility for many federal, state, institutional and private scholarships and grants. So even if you think your income is too high, it's always best to apply.

Consider your interests, hobbies, jobs, and affiliations (and those of your parents), and begin your search in your own hometown.
Check with your high school, clubs, service organizations or wherever you have demonstrated special talents and hard work.
Find out if your parents' employers offer any educational benefits.
Find out if there is a Promise program in your area.
Look for Community Foundations in your town/county/state. They administer scholarships for students who reside in those communities and sometimes for students who attend college in those communities.

You may be offered a scholarship through the Office of Admissions simply by applying to MSU. Current and prospective MSU students may also check:

MSU Scholarship Database: A comprehensive listing of scholarships offered by MSU. Many of these scholarships do not have applications and are awarded automatically by departments across campus.
Scholarships for Special Populations: Links related to study abroad, athletics, students with children, etc. Students in these situations may have unique scholarships available to them.

MSU programs and activities, including scholarships, are not restricted based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin or other protected personal identity. Eligibility is not restricted based on protected identity. No preference based on a protected identity will be given in the selection of recipients.

Expand your search by using online scholarship search services such as those listed below. Remember that you will need to submit your application materials directly to the awarding organization and meet all their requirements and deadlines.

College Board
Appily
FastWEB
International Scholarships - includes scholarships that do not take nationality into account (students of any nationality, including the United States, can apply)
Sallie Mae

Watch out for scams!
MSU does not endorse any scholarship service that charges a fee. Be wary of companies that guarantee results. No company can guarantee that you will get a scholarship.

Education - MSU College of Education

Gender and Sexuality Campus Center

Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Kalamazoo Promise

Labor Union Scholarships

ROTC Scholarships

United Negro College Fund