All admitted students, regardless of nationality, are considered for academic/merit scholarships for which they are eligible. In general, admitted students awarded scholarships have excellent academic credentials and exhibit exceptional leadership skills.

Most merit-based scholarships do not require an application for financial aid. However, we strongly encourage merit award candidates to complete the forms required for need-based aid, if they believe that they may need financial aid in addition to their merit award. Merit award recipients who have applied for need-based financial aid will be considered for any need-based aid for which they qualify beyond the amount of the merit award.

FRESHMAN MERIT AWARDS

The Admissions Committee makes all merit-based scholarship decisions and notifies students at the time they are admitted or shortly thereafter. Your admissions application is your application for a merit-based scholarship. No separate application is required for the following merit awards:

• AU Presidential Scholarship
• AU Deans’ Scholarship
• AU Leadership Scholarship
• Frederick Douglass Scholarship

FRESHMEN MERIT AID BASICS

Who is eligible?

Eligible candidates demonstrate academic excellence and rank within the top 10 to 15 percent of AU’s admitted students.

How much can I receive?

Some students may be eligible for the following scholarships. Requirements and application details are outlined below.

• Frederick Douglass Distinguished Scholars Program

  Eligibility: Please visit the program’s webpage for detailed information.

• United Methodist Scholarship

  Eligibility: Children of an active, ordained Methodist minister. Applicants must submit a letter identifying themselves as the children of a Methodist minister. Contact Jennifer Baron Knowles, Kay Spiritual Life Center Assistant Director at [email protected] or at 202-885-3321.

• Athletic Scholarships

  Eligibility: Outstanding freshman and transfer athletes. Contact Athletics at 202-885-3000.

• Tuition Exchange Scholarships

  Tuition Exchange, Inc. is an organization with over 600 member schools that have come together to offer tuition benefits to the families of their employees. In order to qualify to apply for the Tuition Exchange Scholarship, students must have a parent that is employed at one of the member institutions and meets their employer’s eligibility requirements.

  At American University, Tuition Exchange (TE) is a competitive, merit-based scholarship. To apply for the scholarship, parents of students applying to the university must contact their university’s Tuition Exchange Liaison Officer (TELO). Their TELO will submit the application for TE on the family’s behalf. The deadline to submit the TE application is the same as the admissions deadline your student is applying for:

  • Early Decision 1 freshman applicants: November 15
• • Early Decision 2 and Regular Decision freshman applicants: January 15

  Tuition Exchange is a competitive scholarship based solely on academics. TE applicants are ranked based on high school academics and then the top students in that pool are chosen to receive the scholarship. Last year, 7% of students that applied for TE at American University received the award. For the 19-20 academic year the award is a set amount of $37,000 per year and is not a full tuition scholarship. The scholarship can be applied towards AU Abroad programs but will not cover summer semesters.

  Continuing students (students that have already been at AU for at least one year) are also allowed to apply for the scholarship year to year. The process for these students is the same as for freshman applicants except that the due date to apply is always January 15.

  Students that receive TE must meet the following qualifications to be recertified each year:

  1. Maintain eligibility at their home institution and submit the recertification application by January 15th of each academic year.
  2. Take at least 12 credits every semester.
  3. Complete a total of 30 credits within the academic year (fall and spring semesters).
  4. Maintain a 3.2 cumulative GPA or higher.