Scholarships for Returning Students

Gustavus Adolphus College offers both merit-based and need-based scholarship assistance. Merit-based scholarships do not require a student to demonstrate financial eligibility and must be awarded during the Admission process. They also may be awarded as part of a need-based financial aid package. To be renewed the student needs to maintain the established minimum standards.

Need-based scholarships are offered to students who demonstrate financial eligibility by filing the FAFSA and Gustavus Financial Aid Application. The offered amounts will vary from year to year and are determined based on your family's Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by FAFSA and availability of funds.

Renewal Criteria

Scholarship renewal criteria is based upon the year the student started attendance at Gustavus. Specific information regarding each scholarship can be found in the catalog based upon the year you entered Gustavus.

Merit Scholarships

The following scholarships are based on merit and do not require a student to demonstrate financial eligibility. They may also be awarded as part of a need-based financial aid package. You may not apply for these scholarships as a returning student. Returning student awards will be renewed at their current level in the event scholarship amounts go up.

• Presidential Scholarships represent the College’s financial commitment to academic excellence, one of our five core values. Through an interview and essay process, potential recipients will be reviewed for their previous accomplishments and potential for future success, renewable by maintaining a 3.25 cumulative grade point average starting the junior year.

• Deans's Scholarships are based on information provided in the Admission Application and recognize students who show significant academic achievement, service, or leadership in their high schools, churches, and communities. There is no GPA requirement for renewal.
  

• National Merit College-Sponsored Scholarships are awarded to students selected as Finalists in the National Merit Scholarship competition and who designate Gustavus as their first-choice college. These renewable scholarships, administered through the National Merit Foundation and based on demonstrated need, range from $1,000 to $2,000 annually.

• Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships are awarded annually to ten Phi Theta Kappa members enrolling from a community college. Winners of these $2,500 renewable awards must have completed a minimum of 42 quarter credits or 28 semester hours and have earned a college grade point average of at least 3.5.
  

Performance Scholarships

The following scholarships are based on talent and do not require a student to demonstrate financial eligibility. They may also be awarded as part of a need-based financial aid package. You may not apply for these scholarships as a returning student. Returning student awards will be renewed at their current level in the event scholarship amounts go up. Performance based scholarships also have renewal criteria set by the department as listed in the application form.

• Jussi Bjorling Scholarship
• Anderson Theatre and Dance Scholarship
• Gustavus Art Scholarship
• Gustavus Forensics Scholarship

Other Scholarships

The following scholarships are offered to students who demonstrate financial eligibility and meet the additional criteria:

• Paul L. Rucker Scholarships of up to $5,000 are available to students who bring cultural diversity to campus.

• Gustavus Legacy Scholarships up $2,500 annually are given to students whose siblings are current Gustavus students or graduates, or whose parents or grandparents are Gustavus alumni.
  

• Lutheran Leadership Award range in value from $250 to $2000 and are awarded to students whose home congregation is a member of the Gustavus Association of Congregations.

• Congregational Scholarships of up to $1,000 awarded by a student's home congregation will be matched dollar for dollar by Gustavus each year, provided that churches submit nominations to Gustavus by the priority date of May 1 each year and forward the scholarship funds to Gustavus prior to August 31. Funds received after August will only be matched 50%. Congregational Scholarships from any denomination will be matched.

• Army ROTC Scholarships are available for students wishing to become an officer in the U.S. Army: active duty, National Guard or Army Reserves.  These scholarships pay tuition, $450 a semester for books and supplies, and a monthly stipend ranging from $250 for a first-year student to $400 for a senior.  These scholarships are good for 2, 3, or 4 years and are available for incoming students as well as students already on campus.  For general information, go to http://www.goarmy.com/rotc.  Additionally, ROTC students receive a scholarship to pay room and board at Gustavus each year.

Named Scholarships

Gustavus provides over $30 million annually in merit scholarships and need based grants to students. We are able to provide this level of assistance because of the generous contributions made by our generous friends and alumni.  If a student is selected to be a recipient of a named scholarship, the Gustavus tuition grant or merit scholarship amount may be revised.  In its place, the named fund would be listed on the award.  Listed below is a sample listing of the many scholarships funded by those contributions:

• Dr. Frank Nelson Scholarship
• George and Mary Jane Patchin
• A.Y. Peterson Scholarship
• Allis Educational Foundation Scholarship
• Victor Beck Scholarship
• Cargill Foundation Scholarship
• Class of 1943 Scholarship
• First National Bank Scholarship
• Greater Gustavus Scholarship
• Clifford Hoy Scholarship
• Hickory Tech Scholarship
• Alfred Henderson Scholarship
• ING Foundation Scholarship
• Lutheran Brotherhood Endowed Scholarship

You can help this tradition of financial support for our scholarship budget.  If you are a recipient of a named fund, please write a thank you letter and submit to Ann Johnson via e-mail.  Our donors would love to hear from you.