Miami University's faculty, staff, and alumni are committed to maintaining high standards of academic excellence. Part of the commitment is carried out through the Miami University Scholarship program, which is supported by contributions from the alumni, staff, parents, and friends of the University.

Miami has a limited number of special scholarships which are automatically awarded to students who meet the award criteria. For the remainder of our general scholarships, the Office of Student Financial Assistance uses two different processes to award scholarships to incoming freshmen and to continuing Miami Students. In addition to the scholarships awarded by the Office of Student Financial Assistance, many academic departments award scholarships to students enrolled in their major fields, and the Office of Student Affairs awards scholarships through the Scholar Leader Program. Also, as a Division I, institution Miami offers athletic scholarships to students who participate in intercollegiate athletics.

For information on National Scholarships and Fellowships, please visit the Honors and Scholars Programs website.

Special Recognition Scholarships

The Harrison Scholarship is Miami’s premier scholarship program. It provides four-year renewable awards for tuition, fees, on-campus room and board. Harrison Scholars for the 2007-08 academic year achieved an average 34 ACT or 1530 SAT (CR&M) scores, and ranked in the top 2% of their class (if a class rank is available), and had rigorous high school curriculums and strong records of extracurricular involvement. Harrison applications are reviewed for much more than these indicators alone. To be considered for admission into the Harrison Scholars Program, students must submit the Honors and Scholars Application in addition to the regular admission application submitted to the Office of Admission. Harrison Scholars applications must be submitted by November 3. For more information about the Harrison Scholarship, visit the Harrison Scholarship website.

Miami also offers special recognition scholarships to the following students:

National Merit Finalists – The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. National Merit Finalists, (who are not receiving a National Merit $2,500 Scholarship or Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship), who list Miami as their first choice school, are eligible to receive a renewable college-sponsored scholarship. Miami University offers college-sponsored scholarships ranging from $750 to $2,000 depending on financial need. More information about the National Merit Program can be found at www.nationalmerit.org.

National Achievement Scholar– The National Achievement Scholarship Program is an academic competition that provides recognition to outstanding African American high school students. High school students enter the National Achievement Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Miami University will guarantee National Achievement finalists who enroll at Miami $10,000 in scholarship and/or grant funds (students must submit documentation of finalist standing); semi-finalists will be guaranteed $5,000. This guarantee will be renewable with a 2.5 cumulative grade point average.

National Hispanic Recognition– The National Hispanic Recognition is an academic competition that provides national recognition of the exceptional achievements of Hispanic high school students. Students enter the National Hispanic Recognition Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Miami University will guarantee National Hispanic finalists who enroll at Miami $10,000 in scholarship and/or grant funds. This guarantee will be renewable with a 2.5 cumulative grade point average.

University Honors Students – High school students admitted to the University Honors Program are eligible to receive a $2,000 scholarship renewable for four years. For renewal, students must maintain a 3.2 cumulative GPA their first and second years and a 3.3 GPA their third and fourth years at Miami and continue to meet the academic requirements of the University Honors Program.

To be considered for admission into the University Honors Program, students must submit an Honors and Scholar application. For the 2007-08 academic year, Honors students achieved an average 32 ACT of 1430 SAT (CR&M scores) and ranked in the top 3% of their class. Current Miami students and new transfer students who have completed at least 15 credit hours, but have fewer than 45 total credit hours, and have a 3.5 cumulative GPA may also apply for admission to the Honors Program. Admission to the program for current and transfer students will be on a space available basis.

Students may not be in both the University Scholars and the University Honors Programs. For more information about the Honors Scholarship, the Honors program requirements and available benefits, and to obtain the Honors program application, visit the Honors and Scholars Programs website.

University Scholars Students – High school students admitted to the University Scholars Program are eligible to receive a $1,000 Oxford Scholars Scholarship renewable for four years. For renewal, students must maintain a 3.2 cumulative GPA their first and second years and a 3.3 GPA their third and fourth years at Miami. Students who are accepted into the University Scholars will have an option to enroll in the program which comes with special benefits and requirements, or choose not to enroll and receive the $1,000 Oxford Scholars Scholarship only.

Your application for admission is automatically reviewed for University Scholars Program, no separate application is required. Although all applications are reviewed for this program, for the 2007-08 academic year, students who attained a 29 composite ACT score or 1280 SAT (CR&M scores) and graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school class were admitted into this program. High ability students admitted to Miami who do not meet these combined criteria or who attend a high school that does not rank will be considered for admission to the University Scholars Program. Criteria will include academic and other contextual variables (to include strength of high school curriculum, grade point average, achievement interest, and diversity).

Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen

All students who apply for admission by January 31 and are admitted to Miami University are considered for the many general scholarships we award to incoming freshmen; no separate application is required. Most scholarship recipients have scored 30 or better on the ACT (1320 on the SAT I - CR & M) and rank in the top 10% of their graduating class. Overall in 2007-2008, more than half of admitted first-year students were offered a scholarship.

Scholarships range from $1,000 up to full tuition, fees, room and board. Many are multiple-year scholarships that may be renewed with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. Some scholarships consider financial need as a secondary factor. For these scholarships, your financial need may influence both your ability to receive a scholarship and the amount of the award. We determine whether or not a student has financial need based on the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To be considered for all need-based scholarships, students must complete the FAFSA between January 1 and February 15.

Miami Access Initiative – The Miami Access Initiative is a scholarship program for Ohio residents designed to help make Miami University accessible to all academically qualified students regardless of income. To learn more click here.

Non-Ohio Resident Scholarship – Out-of-State students with at least a 29 on the ACT (or its SAT equivalent of 1280 on the Critical Reading and Math) and top 15% of their high school graduating class will be considered for renewable awards ranging from $3000-$7000. Students who attend non-ranking high schools, as well as exceptional students who may not meet these exact criteria, will also be considered for these merit awards. Award determinations will be based on the official academic and testing information received by Miami University as of March 1.

In addition, students are also eligible for the three Honors and Scholars scholarships (listed above) on top of the $3000-$7000, and may also be eligible for additional merit scholarships, or need-based scholarships if the FAFSA is submitted by our priority filing deadline.

American High School Math Contest – Miami University will award a $1,000 scholarship to one admitted Ohio student accepted to Miami as either a Math or Math & Statistics major who scored the highest on the American High School Math Competition test. This scholarship will be renewable provided the student remains enrolled as either a Math or a Math & Statistics major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0. More scholarship information available at www.unl.edu/amc.

Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation Partnership – Miami University will award $2,000 to each admitted recipient of a Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation, who enrolls at the Oxford campus and has significant financial need. This scholarship will be renewable provided the student maintains a cumulative grade point average of 2.5. More scholarship information available at www.cincinnatischolarshipfoundation.org.

Cleveland Scholarship Programs Partnership – Miami University will award $2,000 to each admitted recipient of a Cleveland Scholarship Program Scholarship who enrolls at the Oxford campus. This scholarship will be renewable provided the student maintains a cumulative grade point average of 2.5. More scholarship information available at www.cspohio.org.

Dayton Montgomery County Scholarship Foundation – Miami University will award a $500 scholarship for each admitted recipient of a Dayton Montgomery County Scholarship Foundation. This scholarship is for one year only (because students must reapply each year with the Dayton Montgomery County Scholarship Foundation). More scholarship information available at www.ohiocan.org.

D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant – Miami University will award a $5,000 scholarship to each admitted recipient of a D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant. This scholarship will be renewable provided the student maintains a cumulative grade point average of 2.5. More scholarship information available at http://seo.dc.gov/seo.

Mosaic Youth Group – Miami University will award a $3,000 scholarship to each admitted student who is a member of the Mosaic Youth Group of Detroit who also file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This scholarship is renewable provided the student maintains a cumulative grade point average of 2.5. More scholarship information available at www.mosaicdetroit.org.

Washington Metropolitan Scholars – Miami University will award a $5,000 scholarship to each admitted Washington Metropolitan Scholar who enrolls at the Oxford campus. This scholarship will be renewable provided the student maintains a cumulative grade point average of 2.5. More scholarship information available at www.wmscholars.org.

Venture Scholars Program – Miami University will award a $5,000 scholarship to each admitted Venture Scholar student who enrolls at the Oxford campus. This scholarship will be renewable provided the student maintains a cumulative grade point average of 2.5. More scholarship information available at www.venturescholar.org.

Scholarships for Transfer Students

Students who are members of the Phi Theta Kappa, International Honor Society of the Two Year College, will be offered a $2500 renewable scholarship. To receive this scholarship, members must provide documentation of Phi Theta Kappa membership (designation on the student's admission transcript or submit copy of membership card).

A renewable scholarship is also available for students who have demonstrated academic merit and significant need. To determine need eligibility, a student must have submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students must also have a 3.5 GPA based on 12 credit hours from an accredited school. Students enrolled less than full time, attending the regional campuses, or have a previous Bachelor's degree are not eligible. Additionally, students receiving the Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG), will be eligible for a Miami grant for the same amount as their OCOG award if they submitted their FAFSA by Miami's priority filing deadline.

Scholarships for Regional Campus Students relocating to the Oxford Campus

Scholarships for Current Miami Students

Scholarships Awarded by Academic Departments

Many of the academic departments at Miami have scholarships which they award to both incoming freshmen and to current Miami students. If you wish to be considered for a scholarship from the department in your major field of study, you should contact the chair of the academic department. Incoming freshmen should also make sure that they have declared their intended major with the Office of Admission by early February.

Study Abroad Airfare Grant

Eligible students with financial need may receive a university grant up to $600 for their study abroad airline ticket and could receive the remainder of their ticket price in an interest free university loan. Students must attend full time during either the fall or spring semester in a study abroad program. For more information and the requirements for this grant, see Financial Aid for Study Abroad.

Scholar Leader Scholarships

All upperclass students with a 3.0 cumulative GPA who are interested in exploring leadership issues and who are willing to significantly contribute to a residentially-based living-learning community are encouraged to apply for this program. The Scholar Leader program has a separate application (the deadline was Dec. 5, 2007 for 2008-2009). For more information regarding this program and to obtain an application, contact the Office of Student Affairs.

Athletic Scholarships

Miami offers athletic scholarships in the following men’s sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, swimming & diving, and track & field. Miami also offers athletic scholarships in the following women’s sports: basketball, cross country, field hockey, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. Students interested in being a member of one of Miami’s 17 intercollegiate sport teams should contact the team coach for more information.

Teacher Education Access at Miami (TEAM) Scholarships

The TEAM Scholarship through the School of Education and Allied Profession helps Ohio's teachers and administrators reduce the cost of professional/graduate course work. This scholarship provides a 50% reduction to a student's instructional, general, technology and metro fees.

To be eligible for this scholarship, the student must be an educator who is a full-time teacher or administrator in an Ohio school, holds a professional license or certificate issued by the State of Ohio, is a resident of Ohio, and the degree or course being taken is part of the educator's approved professional development plan. Applications and additional information can be obtained at www.muohio.edu/eap/team_scholarship.

Selection and Notification

The Office of Student Financial Assistance awards scholarships to incoming freshmen based on their high school academic record and their ACT/SAT test scores received by Miami University as of March 1. Students are notified of their scholarship awards in late-March.

The Office of Student Financial Assistance awards scholarships to continuing Miami students based on the results of the Returning Student Scholarship Competition. Scholarship applications are given two scores: a quantitative score based on the cumulative grade point average (GPA); a qualitative score based on the completed essays and list of activities. Students will be notified prior to July 1 of whether or not they have been awarded a scholarship.