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Scholarships Designated for Eligible Transfer Students

Transfer scholarships help reduce the time and tuition it takes to earn your degree. Let NMU help you make college more affordable.

NMU offers transfer scholarships to new transfer students who meet eligibility criteria, with awards based on factors such as residency and GPA. Many of these awards are automatically considered once a student applies and is admitted.

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NMU Financial Aid

Transfer Scholarship Eligibility and Notification

New transfer students who meet NMU scholarship criteria receive a letter of notification. New transfer students who do not meet the criteria or do not receive the scholarship will not be notified.

Students who may meet the criteria after admission but prior to enrollment (due to updated transcripts) should contact the Admissions Office. Upon review, if students meet the criteria, they will receive written notification regarding the scholarship they will be awarded.

You must be enrolled full-time (12 or more credit hours) to be eligible for a transfer scholarship. Postbaccalaureate students are not eligible for transfer scholarships.

NMU Transfer Scholarship Renewal Eligibility

The following applies to renewing your transfer scholarship.

  • Renewal eligibility is reviewed annually after the conclusion of Winter semester.
  • A cumulative NMU GPA of 3.00 is required for all Wildcat Merit Scholarships and Bridge + Wildcat Merit Scholarships.
  • A cumulative NMU GPA of 2.5 is required for the Great Lakes Award.
  • A cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required for the Bridge Award for students from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana.
  • Students may receive scholarships for up to six consecutive semesters or until completion of their first bachelor's degree, whichever comes first.
  • Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy requirements.

As a re-entry student, you may have your original NMU scholarship reinstated if you:

  • were eligible for renewal at the time you left NMU.
  • are within the "consecutive semesters" timeline that began with the original awarding date of your scholarship. Semesters away from NMU do count in the consecutive semesters timeline.

2026-2027 Transfer Scholarships

Below is an overview of the current-year transfer scholarship options. Based on academic record, students entering Summer 2026 may also be eligible for one of the awards listed. 

  • Note that students who complete college-level work prior to receiving their high school diploma are considered to be entering first-year students (with credit). New freshman/first-year admission and scholarship policies apply. NMU class standing is determined after college transcripts are received and evaluated for transfer credit. Please review the Early College Credit for more information. 

  • Also note that if you enroll in a web-based or off-campus course, it may impact your eligibility for these scholarships. NMU Global Campus online students should refer to our Online Aid policies.

Michigan residents pay in-state tuition rates.

Amount

Award

College GPA (+12 Credits)

$2,000/year

Wildcat Merit Scholarship

3.0-3.24

$2,250/year

Wildcat Merit Scholarship

3.25-3.49

$2,750/year

Wildcat Merit Scholarship

3.50-3.74

$3,250/year

Wildcat Merit Scholarship

3.75-3.89

$4,500/year

Wildcat Merit Scholarship

3.90+

Michigan Resident Scholarship Sheet 2026-2027

Non-Michigan residents may be eligible for awards designed to reduce the difference between resident and nonresident tuition. 

Amount

Award

College GPA (12+ Credits)

$3,000/ year

Great Lakes Award (Available to WI, MN, IL, OH and IN students only)

2.5-2.74

$5,600/ year

Bridge Award (Available to WI, MN, IL, OH and IN students only)

2.75-2.99

$6,100/ year

Bridge + Wildcat Merit Scholarship

3.0-3.24

$6,350/ year

Bridge + Wildcat Merit Scholarship

3.25-3.49

$6,600/ year

Bridge + Wildcat Merit Scholarship

3.50-3.74

$7,600/ year

Bridge + Wildcat Merit Scholarship

3.75-3.89

$8,600/ year

Bridge + Wildcat Merit Scholarship

3.90-3.99

$9,600/ year

Bridge + Wildcat Merit Scholarship

4.0+

Non-Michigan Residents (WI, MN, IL, IN, OH only) Scholarship Sheet 2026-2027

Non-Michigan Residents (not including WI, MN, IL, IN and OH) Scholarship Sheet 2026-2027

No application is necessary for the Wildcat Merit Scholarships or Great Lakes and Bridge Awards. They are automatically awarded to admitted students who meet the GPA, enrollment term and residency criteria. The Bridge Award fills the out-of-state tuition gap.

These scholarships are for transfer students who currently attend a community college and plan to enroll at NMU. Transfer students who enter the Presidential Scholarship Competition compete for one full-ride scholarship. Additional scholarships are also awarded to participants. 

To apply for the scholarship competition, you must currently attend a community college and have at least a 3.5 GPA and 30 college credits. Registration deadlines apply. Major awards include: 

  • Harden Scholarship: Full-ride scholarship
  • Waldo Scholarship: $3,000 per year
  • Kaye Munson Scholarship: $1,000 per year
  • NMU Leadership Scholarship: $2,000 per year

Presidential Scholarship Competition

Members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society are eligible for a $1,000 per year scholarship. You should provide proof of membership, such as a copy of your PTK membership certificate, to the Admissions Office prior to the start of the semester in which the award is intended to be used.

Phi Theta Kappa Award

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Pursue an Affordable Way to Complete Your College Degree at NMU

You can reduce the time and cost of your college education through NMU transfer scholarships. Apply to NMU, send updated transcripts and connect with our financial aid office with any questions that come up along the way.

NMU Financial Aid

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