The Honors College is known for challenging students to develop their full academic and personal potential. We are also committed to supporting Marshall students in their quest to identify, plan for, and win scholarships, fellowships, and other forms of assistance that will help them in their research and creative endeavors as students, to study abroad, pursue graduate school, or aid them in their professional development. Through the links below, students will find a variety of opportunities for scholarships and other forms of support. National scholarships are merit-based and competitive. See a list of our scholarship, award, and grant recipients here.
National Scholarships
The Office of National Scholarships (ONS) at Marshall University is housed in the Honors College. The office has had demonstrable success helping both current Marshall students (both Honors and non-honors) from across the campus to navigate and ultimately win highly competitive national scholarships, fellowships, and grants. These include the Fulbright, Boren, and Gates Cambridge, which all have demanding application processes. The ONS helps all students nationally competitive programs that are a good fit with them and their professional goals. They will assist students to stay up to date with deadlines and guide them throughout the application process.
Marshall University Scholarships
Incoming, First Year Students – High school students admitted to Marshall
Honors College Scholarships
Unless otherwise stated, all scholarships, awards, and grants listed require that students be admitted to the Honors College and follow the curricular requirements of the college. Note that not all Honors students will be eligible for every award based on criteria laid out in the donor agreements for the funds that provide these scholarships.
Incoming, First-Year Students – High school students admitted to Marshall
These scholarships are only available to incoming, first-year students who accept admission to the Honors College at Marshall University as well as accept the terms of the particular scholarship offering. Typically, these students are applying as high school students. Student who are considered “current,” in that they have already matriculated at Marshall, i.e., started their degree program at the university, are NOT eligible for these scholarships. There are scholarships for current students below. In addition, they are intended for students in a four-year undergraduate program.
No Separate Scholarship Application Required
The Honors College Scholarship is awarded upon admission to the college.
| Academic Eligibility | Academic Year Award | Acceptance Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Admittance to the Honors College* | $500, renewable up to four years | 15 May 2026 |
The Honors College Scholarship is awarded for eight semesters (fall and spring) as long as the student is full-time, has not earned their first baccalaureate degree, and remains in good academic standing with the Honors College. Honors College students must also meet the following award renewal criteria:
- Successfully complete at least 30 credit hours each academic year
- Earn at least a 3.3 GPA at the end of each semester
*Students pursuing the Holistic Review admissions pathway, can receive this scholarship, but they need to submit an application for admission to the college. IF admitted, they will be offered the scholarship. Students admitted through the Invitation admissions pathway do not need to apply for admission. For more information on admission, visit the Honors College website.
Separate Scholarship Application to the Honors College Required
The scholarships in this section are for incoming, first-year students only–not current/continuing students at Marshall. These scholarships all require applications that include: Basic background information on the applicant (contact, demographics, high school information); Current 12th grade coursework (including any/all AP and Dual Credit courses); College and career plans; Important roles played in the communities of which the applicant is a part (e.g., those that demonstrate engagement, leadership, and a willingness to serve); Employment information (optional); Forms of public recognition (e.g., awards, scholarships, and honors) received; Information about particular circumstances that may affect the applicant (optional); Essay prompts (2-3) that request reflection on the mission of honors education, the applicant’s unique traits, and what the applicant wants out of their experience in the college. Generally, two (2) letters of recommendation are required from people in positions that allow them to speak directly to the applicant’s academic and other achievement and potential. Letters are due by the same date listed for the application. Applications generally OPEN on 01 October and CLOSE on 15 December, annually.
The Society of Yeager Scholars seeks exceptional applicants for an eight semester full scholarship. Recipients of the scholarship will be known as Yeager Scholars and are students in the Honors College who are provided with full tuition and fees, room and board, stipend for textbooks, a personal computer, and support for study abroad experience or (with permission) an approved internship or undergraduate research. The Yeager Curriculum includes four interdisciplinary seminars, foreign language proficiency, and study abroad at the University of Oxford in England. An application and interview process is required. Yeager Scholars must follow an specialized curriculum particular to the Yeager Program in addition to their required major program(s) and are members of the Honors College.
The qualities for admission into the Society are:
- A recommended minimum composite score of 30 on the ACT or a minimum of 1360 total on the SAT from a single test date
- A minimum 3.5 high school cumulative, unweighted GPA
- An excellent record of academic achievement in high school
- A record of notable and dynamic contributions in extracurricular activities at your school and/or in your community
- Demonstrated leadership abilities and actions in and outside the classroom
- Ambition, maturity and self-discipline
- Wide breadth of creative and intellectual strengths
| Academic Eligibility at Admission to MU | Award | Application Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| HS GPA >=3.5 & Recommended ACT >=30 or SAT>=1360 | A “full ride” to Marshall | 15 December annually |
Applicants for the Hedrick Scholarship must be West Virginia residents with first priority given to graduates of high schools in Cabell, Logan, Putnam and Wayne counties. In addition, applicants must have received a 28 ACT or 1310 SAT composite score and have an unweighted high school GPA of 3.5 or better. As many as three awards will be made annually. Applicants must be at least provisionally admitted as students at Marshall University and complete the Top Scholars application before the posted deadline. Official high school transcripts and test scores will need to be on file at Marshall in order for an award to be offered.
| Academic Eligibility at Admission to MU | Academic Year Award | Application Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| HS GPA >=3.5 & ACT >=28 or SAT>=1310 | Up to $12500, renewable up to four years | 15 December annually |
*Students who are eligible to apply for the Hedrick Scholarship are also eligible to be offered the West Virginia Promise Scholarship ($4750/year) through the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission as well as both the John Laidley Scholarship ($4500/year) and Honors College Scholarship ($500/year) through Marshall University. If able to maintain eligibility requirements, students may receive each of these scholarships for four academic years.
Submit Top Scholar Application| Academic Eligibility at Admission to MU | Academic Year Award | Application Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| HS GPA >=3.5 & ACT >=26 or SAT>=1230 | Up to $2000, renewable up to four years | 15 December annually |
The Hodges Scholar must receive the Promise Scholarship and be a West Virginia or a student in a Metro area county. The total grants and scholarships awarded, including the Virgil and Irene Hodges Memorial Scholarship, cannot exceed actual full-time semester enrollment costs, including: tuition/fees, room and board, and a book allowance. Applicants must be at least provisionally admitted as students at Marshall University and complete the Top Scholars application. Official high school transcripts and test scores will need to be on file at Marshall in order for an award to be offered.
Current (Continuing) Students – College students at Marshall
The scholarships in this section are for students who have matriculated at Marshall, i.e., they are currently enrolled in a degree program at the university. In addition to awards available to current/continuing Honors students by renewing one of the awards (listed above) through maintaining eligibility, applications through the Office of National Scholarships, or as may be available through Marshall University’s Student Financial Assistance office (both as noted above), the scholarships, awards, and grants below are available to current/continuing students through the Honors College who accept the terms of the particular offering. These are only for students who are currently enrolled full-time in courses at Marshall.
Applications generally OPEN on or near the first day of the semester in which they are due.
The recipient of the Jean McAlister Albarran Scholarship shall be a full-time undergraduate student who is a member in good standing of the Honors College. First preference to West Virginia natives and students majoring in the College of Science. Second preference to students majoring in the College of Education and Professional Development.
| Academic Eligibility | Academic Year Awards | Application Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Good standing in the Honors College | Up to $1000 | By the end of the 10th week in the Fall and Spring semester |
To apply for the scholarship, students must submit documented evidence of outstanding achievement in their area of study. All honors students may apply, but as stated in the fund agreement, first preference in each review cycle will be given to students majoring in the College of Science or the College of Education and Professional Development.
Submit Albarran Application| Academic Eligibility | Academic Year Awards | Application Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Good standing in the Honors College | TBD | TBD |
David N. Gillmore was born in Toledo, Ohio and attended the University of Toledo where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. He later completed advanced graduate courses in instructional design and technology at Michigan State University. He began his career teaching high school English and drama, a few years later joined the faculty at the University of Toledo as a television and broadcasting instructor, and then served as Production Director, Senior Director and Studio Supervisor at the Toledo Public Television station. David’s successful career in educational broadcasting took him to several states, including the opportunity to improve education and language skills in American Samoa through instructional telecommunications. While working at an educational broadcasting trade association in Washington, D.C. he met his wife, Kathleen, an attorney whose career brought the couple to Kentucky for her work at Ashland Oil, Inc. During this time David was General Manager of Instructional Television Services at Marshall University, Huntington, WV. After coming to Marshall, President Dale F. Nitzschke named David as his Executive Assistant. David was involved in many projects including Dr. Nitzschke’s development of the Society of Yeager Scholars. Upon retirement from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, David served many years as a community volunteer before passing away in October 2019. Kathleen established this scholarship in his memory.
Submit Gillmore ApplicationGrant requests should be approximately $500 but, in exceptional and fully justified cases, may be as much (but not exceed) $1000. The amount and number of awards is contingent on available funds. Honors students are encouraged to apply for the Undergraduate Creative Discovery and Research Award, which they can do through the Honors College, and to contact the Office of National Scholarships for other opportunities.
| Academic Eligibility | Academic Year Awards | Application Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Good standing in the Honors College | One-time award up to $1000 each | By the end of the 10th week in the Fall and Spring semester |
Honors Council Grants funding is intended to help meet these kinds of costs:
- Equipment, supplies, or services for research, scholarship, or creative activities
- Travel to collect data and/or conduct research or creative activity, including study abroad (for academic credit accepted at Marshall)
- Certain internships, service-learning projects, or professional development activities
Application Requirements:
- Students must be in good academic standing in the Honors College and their major program/s and be making progress toward graduating with University Honors through the Honors College.
- Discuss and review your proposal with a Faculty Mentor prior to submitting an application.
- Application elements:
- A project title;
- Detailed project description written for non-experts;
- A budget for expenses to be covered by the grant with persuasive justifications and details about other funding sources being applied to that includes how costs will be covered if additional funds are not obtained.
- A letter of support from a Faculty Mentor at Marshall University that clearly indicates the level of involvement of the faculty member in the project;
- If your project involves working with human subjects or animals, you must show that you have obtained appropriate IRB approval.
- Strong applications will detail how experiences enabled by this project will serve your academic and/or professional interests and will also describe how the work supported by a grant aligns with the college’s mission.
Details:
- Submit completed applications through the online form accessible through the button below.
- Applications should be submitted at least 30 days in advance of anticipated project spending. Students applying for travel funds should apply as much in advance of the planned travel as possible–generally not less than 45 days before travel.
- Award decisions will be based on a combination of demonstrated need, merit, and a student’s level of engagement in the community of the Honors College.
- It is expected that students awarded support through the Honors Council Fund Grant will provide the Honors College with a deliverable of some sort (e.g., short statements, reports, pictures, and/or social media entries). This could entail sharing your story of discovery upon completion to encourage other Honors students to seek to do great things.
- Award notifications will be sent to students via their MU email account.
| Academic Eligibility | Academic Year Award | Application Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Overall GPA >=2.75 | One-time award, up to $650 | 15 March annually |
Students must apply at the end of their SECOND year at Marshall (typically during the Spring semester) for awarding during their third (i.e., Junior) year at Marshall. The award will be used to support student curricular or co-curricular activities that support further development in the area of leadership under the guidance of a Faculty Mentor, who will be required to write a letter of support/recommendation for the application (sent separately). Students do NOT need to be members of the Honors College to apply.
Submit Mayer Application
| Academic Eligibility | Academic Year Award | Nomination Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Good Standing in the Honors College. | One-time award, up to $325 | By the end of the 12th week of Fall and Spring semesters |
The Undergraduate Creative Discovery and Research Scholar (UCDRS) award program provides Marshall University students with an opportunity to pursue original creative work, scholarship or research, under the mentorship of a full-time faculty member. For fall and spring awards students are provided a $1750 stipend, and up to $1,000 for travel and materials for one semester. In addition, $750 is provided for the participating faculty mentor for travel. For summer awards, a $4,000 stipend is provided to the student, and a participating faculty member can receive $1,000.
| Academic Eligibility for Submission through the Honors College | Award | Acceptance Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Good Standing in the Honors College | See Above | VARIES – Request for Proposals |
Eligibility requirements:
- Applicants must be juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0;
- Applicants must be enrolled at Marshall University for at least 12 hours during the semester in which the project is funded; and
- Applicants must have a letter of support and sponsorship from a full-time faculty member who is willing to serve as mentor for the project.
The student’s project can involve research, design, development, field study, creative work or performance.
The project should require a total commitment of 150 hours of the student’s time (i.e., 10 hours per week) over the fall or spring semester. For summer awards, the project should require a total commitment of 200-300 hours of the students time (i.e. 20-30 hours per week for 10 weeks). The project must be structured so the student can produce creative or scholarly output (e.g. a presentation, publication, exhibit, or performance) at the end of the award period.
Full details of the application format, submission requirements and the evaluation process are included in the current Request for Proposals. If you have questions, please contact the UCDRS representative for the Honors College, Heather Smith.
Undergraduate Creative Discovery and Research Scholar Award Program
Affiliated Organizational Scholarships
The Honors College is affiliated, institutionally, with different non-profit organizations that support honors education. Students in the college may be eligible for awards through these organizations.
See a list of our scholarship, award, and grant recipients here.
