A dean’s list scholarship is financial aid based on academic achievement. Eligible students typically have a minimum GPA of 3.5 or higher. These prestigious merit awards tend to go to first year undergraduate students in the top 1% to 5% of their high school class. Sometimes, with no extra application form to fill out. You may need to apply for dean’s list scholarship when applying for colleges with early action deadline if specified.
If you are a current matriculated undergraduate student, you may qualify. In many colleges, a Dean’s List is for students that receive A’s and B’s for the semester. In comparison, the President’s List is a list of all student that received all A’s for the semester.
Making the list is something to strive for. Dean’s List scholarship shows how you work hard to meet academic and personal goals. It is also a way to make an undergraduate degree program more affordable. Dean’s list students who show financial need often benefit from extra financial aid.
For instance, if you attend University of California in Irvine, the average annual cost is $14,604 according to the U.S. Department of Education. UCI Dean’s Scholars may receive up to $3,000 per year with a minimum GPA of 3.25 or higher.
10 Dean’s List Awards You Should Apply for Now
Graduating high school seniors pursuing an undergraduate degree at a specific college may be able to apply for these Dean’s List scholarships. Since some colleges limit the number of recipients, it may be smart to apply for admission early. You also might need to file a FAFSA for the academic year that you plan to enroll in.
Dean’s Scholarship – University of Pennsylvania Law
University of Indianapolis Distinguished Dean’s Scholarships
CBS/SJU Dean’s Scholarship
DePaul University Dean’s Scholarship
Concordia College of New York Dean’s Scholarship
Wilkes Dean’s Scholarship
McMurry University Dean’s Scholarship
Missouri State University Dean’s Scholarship
University of Tennessee at Martin Dean’s Scholarship
UNF Dean’s Education Advisory Council Endowed Scholarship
How To Get on the Dean’s List?
Getting onto a Dean’s list is like graduating high school with academic honors. At the end of each college semester, the school calculates your GPA and awards to those who meet the qualifications. Students whose final grade point average is higher than the group, tend to make it onto the Dean’s list.
Being on the list is a big deal and a privilege reserved for those committed to academic excellence. Landing on the list may pay off also since Dean’s List scholarships often cover a significant part of the tuition and may renew if you continue to perform well. Keep in mind, the specific requirements for all awards and honors may vary. If you believe you have what it takes, set yourself up for success with these seven tips.
7 Tips to Making the Dean’s List
Don’t skip school. As a rule, you must be a full time student and take a certain number of semester hours. Some professors also take attendance and factor that into your grades.
Find a study zone. Whether you are on campus, or remote due to Covid 19, you still need a quiet place to study free of distractions. Sometimes turning off your phone and limiting social media use may help you focus more.
Organize your time. Keep a detailed calendar of assignments and tasks that allow you to plan your time. That may help you avoid all nighters to finish term papers. Tackling the hardest assignments first also may lessen your stress level.
Study smart. For every credit hour, figure two to three hours of study per week. You might break that down into daily study sessions for certain subjects. To get on most lists you need a clean academic record with no “Cs, Ds or Fs” so make sure you find a tutor if need be.
Review before class. Spend at least 15 minutes before class to go over the material from the last class. Highlight and make notes as well as write down your questions to make sure you understand the material when the class is over.
Pause and refresh. Avoid burning yourself out. At the same time, too many extracurricular activities can jeopardize your grades. Find a good balance of your school activities and studying hard to ace your exams.
Keep your eyes on the prize. Making the list at your college may earn you scholarships, help you get into an honors program and possibly lead to potential job prospects. In some colleges it also helps you land invitations to special events like networking receptions too.
What Colleges Have Dean’s List Awards?
Community colleges, private and public state universities around the United States offer dean’s scholarships to first year students. Whether it is hard or easy to make the list depends on the minimum GPA they set for it and how much above it your grades are. Here are some colleges that offer dean’s list scholarships.
University of Pennsylvania Law School awards range from $9,000 to $120,000 scholarships. Selection looks at academic performance as well as leadership, service, life or work experience. Eligible students must also be fully engaged with the Penn Law community. The school considers all admitted law students for these Dean’s List scholarships.
New freshman do not have to fill out a separate application for DePaul University Dean’s Scholarship. But priority does go to those who apply for admission early. These Dean’s List scholarships range from $15,000 to $24,000. Although in recent years, the school granted packages of up to $38,400 per year.
University of Indianapolis Distinguished Dean’s Scholarships range form $16,500 to $22,000 per year. To qualify, you need a minimum GPA of 3.6 or above and minimum SAT total of 1270 (or ACT composite of 29). The selection committee also looks for candidates with strong college prep curriculum and show leadership. These merit awards renew if you keep up a 3.0 GPA and enroll as a full time student.
Bucknell University in Pennsylvania offers Dean’s Scholarships of $15,000 per year to prospective students with outstanding academic profiles that highlight a very rigorous curriculum, superior grades and standardized test scores with a commitment to school and civic engagement. Learn more and apply today!
This award is for U.S. high school seniors planning to enroll full time at Drury University in Missouri. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and have SAT/ACT scores of 980/21. Click here to learn more and apply today!
U.S. graduating high school seniors who demonstrate academic excellence and plan to attend DePaul University in Illinois are considered for this award upon admission.
University of Virginia College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Scholarships are available to undergraduate students who are currently enrolled as full-time students in the College of Arts & Sciences and who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4. Specific criteria vary as there are several different scholarship awards.
This award is available for high school seniors who have shown a strong overall high schoool performance and academic potential and plan to attend Fordham University in New York. All freshmen are considered when their admission application is reviewed.
This award is available for U.S. students who are attending the University of Tennessee at Martin. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.8 or higher, and an ACT score of 26 or higher.
Principia College invites first time freshmen and transfer students with a high school GPA of 3.6 and SAT 1280 / ACT 27 to apply for the Dean’s Academic Merit Scholarship valued at $10,000 per year. It renews if applicants maintain a 3.3 GPA. Click to learn more and apply today!
Rockford University in Illinois offers Deans Scholarships each fall and spring to new first year students who attend full time. Award amounts are up to 50% of tuition. Scholarships are determined at admission, and there is no separate application process, but students must submit a SAT or ACT score to be eligible.
University of Maryland offers Dean’s Scholarships which are annual merit awards ranging from $1,500 for freshman year or $4,500 per year for both freshman and sophomore years. Each fall, roughly 400 new recipients of the Dean’s Scholarship are welcomed to campus. Click to learn more and apply today!
Dean’s Tuition Scholarships from Northern Arizona University provide $4,000 per year in financial aid for NAU freshmen who have a 3.0-3.49 unweighted core high school GPA and SAT scores of at least 990 combined Math and Reading score. Awards are renewable if you maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA. Apply today!
