PSU Scholarships
Many different scholarships are available through Plymouth State University’s Advancement Office, Alumni Office, and various academic departments.
Annual and Endowed Scholarships
Annual and endowed scholarships are made possible through the generous support of PSU alumni and friends who have chosen to honor a family member, classmate, mentor, friend, or faculty member by helping deserving students pay for their college education.
PSU scholarship applications generally become available in March for awards for the following year. For more information on scholarships available and their criteria, requirements, and deadlines, please visit the Academic Works website.
Tutorial for using Academic Works
If additional information is needed, please contact the specific department offering the scholarship for more information. Scholarships that do not require an application are awarded by the Student Financial Services Office based on the scholarship criteria and greatest need. For questions regarding scholarships with general criteria, contact us.
Morgridge Family Opportunity Scholarship
The purpose of the Morgridge Family Opportunity Scholarship Endowment is to provide renewable scholarships for incoming freshman who are academically promising and who are Pell-eligible to reduce the amount borrowed for educational purposes. Preference will be given to students from Belknap, Coos, Grafton, Strafford, Sullivan and Carroll counties of New Hampshire and those who are first generation in their families to attend university. Students will be chosen by the MFOS scholarship committee.
Undergraduate Merit-Based Scholarships
Merit-based scholarships are assigned based on the term the student enrolls.
First Year Scholarships
| GPA | Scholarship Name | In-State (per year) | Out-of-State/NEBHE/International (per year) |
| 4.0 or Higher | Chancellor | $10,000 | $16,000 |
| 3.75 – 3.99 | Presidential | $8,000 | $15,000 |
| 3.25 – 3.74 | Dean’s | $7,000 | $14,000 |
| 2.75 – 3.24 | Aspire | $6,000 | $13,000 |
| 2.50 – 2.74 | Promise | $5,000 | $9,000 |
| 2.25 – 2.49 | Achieve | $3,000 | $5,000 |
| <2.24 | Strive | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| $2,000 On-Campus Housing Scholarship | $2,000 On-Campus Housing Scholarship | ||
Scholarships are awarded based upon your GPA at the time of decision and are not adjusted based upon final GPA. Merit scholarships are renewable for up to three additional years, at the awarded amount (for a total of eight full-time fall and spring semesters). Notification of eligibility is included in your acceptance letter. All merit awards are evenly split between fall and spring semesters. A specific cumulative GPA is required annually to renew merit scholarships, as follows: Chancellor, Presidential and Dean’s: 3.0; Aspire: 2.5; Promise and NH Strive: 2.25.
* NEBHE students will also receive a $3,000 tuition waiver. | |||
Transfer Scholarships
If you have earned more than 32 credits after high school graduation you will qualify for a transfer merit scholarship, which will be assigned based on your incoming college GPA. If you have earned 32 credits or less, you will be awarded a first-year merit scholarship, which will be based on your high school GPA.
| GPA | Scholarship Name | In-State (per year) | Out-of-State/NEBHE* (per year) |
| 3.50 – 4.00 | Presidential | $5,500 | $10,000 |
| 3.25 – 3.49 | Dean’s | $4,000 | $9,000 |
| 2.75 – 3.24 | Aspire | $3,000 | $7,000 |
| <2.74 | Promise | $2,000 | $5,000 |
| $2,000 On-Campus Housing Scholarship | $2,000 On-Campus Housing Scholarship | ||
Scholarships are awarded based upon your GPA at the time of decision and are not adjusted based upon final GPA. Merit scholarships are renewable for up to three additional years, at the awarded amount (for a total of eight full-time fall and spring semesters). Notification of eligibility is included in your acceptance letter. All merit awards are evenly split between fall and spring semesters. A specific cumulative GPA is required annually to renew merit scholarships, as follows: Presidential and Dean’s: 3.0; Aspire: 2.5.
* NEBHE students tuition charge will be $3,000 less than non-resident students. | |||
*PSU merit scholarships are awarded by the Admissions Office.
Additional Awards
PSU Visit Scholarship - $1,000
Any student who completes an "official" visit no later than the date of the February Open House preceding their year of entry will receive a $1,000 Visit Scholarship towards tuition of their first year at PSU. An official visit includes attending an Open House, Weekday Information Session, or PSU Athletic Recruitment visit. Other visits may qualify, but must be approved by the Office of Admissions. Any visits after the February Open House that precedes the student's entry year will not count.
STEM Scholarship – $1,000
Awards are made to accepted, incoming, first-year students who have declared their major in Biochemistry, Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Climate Studies, Computer Science, Environmental Biology, Environmental Science & Policy, Forensic Science, Game Design, Information Technology, Mathematical Data Sciences, Mathematics, Meteorology, or Robotics. Awards are renewable for three additional years if a cumulative 2.25 GPA is maintained and the student remains enrolled as a full-time STEM major.
New Hampshire Transfer Student Fund
This endowment provides funds for New Hampshire residents transferring to Plymouth State University. Criteria includes application for or accepted current full-time student status and minimum 3.0 GPA. The PSU Office of Financial Aid will determine the award recipient. No application is required.
Phi Theta Kappa – $1,000
Plymouth State will annually award (10) $1,000 scholarships to full-time undergraduate transfer students who enter PSU as Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) members with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. A 2.5 cumulative grade point average of all college work is required for the scholarship to be renewed. PSU reserves the right to request proof of PTK membership.
New Hampshire Governor’s Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to students who meet the following criteria: (1) Eligible for Federal PELL Grant, (2) New Hampshire residents, (3) enrolled full-time in a degree program, (4) not have been adjudicated delinquent or convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felonies or any second or subsequent alcohol or drug-related offenses under the laws of this or any other state, or under the laws of the United States, except that an otherwise eligible person who has been adjudicated delinquent or has been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a second or subsequent alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor offense shall be eligible or continue to be eligible for a scholarship after the expiration of one academic year from the date of adjudication, conviction, or plea, (5) A person shall have either graduated from high school or obtained a New Hampshire high school equivalency certificate based on the HiSet tests no more than 3 years prior to his or her application for a scholarship. Students with the NH Scholars designation will be eligible for $2,000 annually, others will be eligible for $1,000 for up to four years. NH Scholars must maintain a 2.5 GPA for annual renewal, all others must maintain a 2.0. If the student loses the award for any reason, it will not be reinstated.
Granite Guarantee
Current Granite Guarantee students will retain their current Granite Guarantee eligibility for the duration of their undergraduate careers. The New Hampshire Promise is open to eligible first-year and transfer students enrolling in fall 2027.
Outside Scholarships
Private foundations, civic organizations and others are a great resources for additional scholarship monies. In our experience, over 90 percent of the outside scholarships received by students, specifically first-year students, are obtained from organizations within their home communities. For this reason, we encourage you to check with your high school guidance office, employer, local civic organizations and religious institutions to see what scholarships are available. Many scholarship search engines are also available online.
First-Year Scholarships
| GPA | Scholarship Name | In-State (per year) | Out-of-State/NEBHE* (per year) |
| 3.75 – 4.00 | Presidential | $7,000 | $14,000 |
| 3.25 – 3.74 | Dean’s | $6,000 | $13,000 |
| 2.75 – 3.24 | Aspire | $5,000 | $12,000 |
| 2.50 – 2.74 | Promise | $4,000 | $8,000 |
| 2.25 – 2.49 | Achieve | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| <2.24 | Strive | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| $2,000 On-Campus Housing Scholarship | |||
Scholarships are awarded based upon your GPA at the time of decision and are not adjusted based upon final GPA. Merit scholarships are renewable for up to three additional years, at the awarded amount (for a total of eight full-time fall and spring semesters). Notification of eligibility is included in your acceptance letter. All merit awards are evenly split between fall and spring semesters. A specific cumulative GPA is required annually to renew merit scholarships, as follows: Presidential and Dean’s: 3.0; Aspire: 2.5; Promise and NH Strive: 2.25.
* NEBHE students will also receive a $3,000 tuition waiver. | |||
Transfer Scholarships
If you have earned more than 32 credits after high school graduation you will qualify for a transfer merit scholarship, which will be assigned based on your incoming college GPA. If you have earned 32 credits or less, you will be awarded a first-year merit scholarship, which will be based on your high school GPA.
| GPA | Scholarship Name | In-State (per year) | Out-of-State/NEBHE* (per year) |
| 3.50 – 4.00 | Presidential | $5,500 | $10,000 |
| 3.25 – 3.49 | Dean’s | $4,000 | $9,000 |
| 2.75 – 3.24 | Aspire | $3,000 | $7,000 |
| <2.74 | Promise | $2,000 | $5,000 |
| $2,000 On-Campus Housing Scholarship | |||
Scholarships are awarded based upon your GPA at the time of decision and are not adjusted based upon final GPA. Merit scholarships are renewable for up to three additional years, at the awarded amount (for a total of eight full-time fall and spring semesters). Notification of eligibility is included in your acceptance letter. All merit awards are evenly split between fall and spring semesters. A specific cumulative GPA is required annually to renew merit scholarships, as follows: Presidential and Dean’s: 3.0; Aspire: 2.5.
* NEBHE students tuition charge will be $3,000 less than non-resident students. | |||
International Scholarships
| GPA | Scholarship Name | In-State (per year) | Out-of-State/NEBHE* (per year) |
| 3.75 – 4.00 | Presidential | $11,000 | $11,000 |
| 3.25 – 3.74 | Dean’s | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| 2.75 – 3.24 | Aspire | $9,000 | $9,000 |
| 2.50 – 2.74 | Promise | $6,000 | $6,000 |
| $2,000 On-Campus Housing Scholarship | |||
| Scholarships are awarded based upon your GPA at the time of decision and are not adjusted based upon final GPA. Merit scholarships are renewable for up to three additional years, at the awarded amount (for a total of eight full-time fall and spring semesters). Notification of eligibility is included in your acceptance letter. All merit awards are evenly split between fall and spring semesters. A specific cumulative GPA is required annually to renew merit scholarships, as follows: Presidential and Dean’s: 3.0; Aspire: 2.5; Promise: 2.25. | |||
*PSU merit scholarships are awarded by the Admissions Office.
Additional Awards
PSU Visit Scholarship - $1,000
Any student who completes an "official" visit no later than the date of the February Open House preceding their year of entry will receive a $1,000 Visit Scholarship towards tuition of their first year at PSU. An official visit includes attending an Open House, Weekday Information Session, or PSU Athletic Recruitment visit. Other visits may qualify, but must be approved by the Office of Admissions. Any visits after the February Open House that precedes the student's entry year will not count.
STEM Scholarship – $1,000
Awards are made to accepted, incoming, first-year students who have declared their major in Biochemistry, Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Climate Studies, Computer Science, Environmental Biology, Environmental Science & Policy, Forensic Science, Game Design, Information Technology, Mathematical Data Sciences, Mathematics, Meteorology, or Robotics. Awards are renewable for three additional years if a cumulative 2.25 GPA is maintained and the student remains enrolled as a full-time STEM major.
New Hampshire Transfer Student Fund
This endowment provides funds for New Hampshire residents transferring to Plymouth State University. Criteria includes application for or accepted current full-time student status and minimum 3.0 GPA. The PSU Office of Financial Aid will determine the award recipient. No application is required.
Phi Theta Kappa – $1,000
Plymouth State will annually award (10) $1,000 scholarships to full-time undergraduate transfer students who enter PSU as Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) members with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. A 2.5 cumulative grade point average of all college work is required for the scholarship to be renewed. PSU reserves the right to request proof of PTK membership.
New Hampshire Governor’s Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to students who meet the following criteria: (1) Eligible for Federal PELL Grant, (2) New Hampshire residents, (3) enrolled full-time in a degree program, (4) not have been adjudicated delinquent or convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felonies or any second or subsequent alcohol or drug-related offenses under the laws of this or any other state, or under the laws of the United States, except that an otherwise eligible person who has been adjudicated delinquent or has been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a second or subsequent alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor offense shall be eligible or continue to be eligible for a scholarship after the expiration of one academic year from the date of adjudication, conviction, or plea, (5) A person shall have either graduated from high school or obtained a New Hampshire high school equivalency certificate based on the HiSet tests no more than 3 years prior to his or her application for a scholarship. Students with the NH Scholars designation will be eligible for $2,000 annually, others will be eligible for $1,000 for up to four years. NH Scholars must maintain a 2.5 GPA for annual renewal, all others must maintain a 2.0. If the student loses the award for any reason, it will not be reinstated.
Outside Scholarships
Private foundations, civic organizations and others are a great resources for additional scholarship monies. In our experience, over 90 percent of the outside scholarships received by students, specifically first-year students, are obtained from organizations within their home communities. For this reason, we encourage you to check with your high school guidance office, employer, local civic organizations and religious institutions to see what scholarships are available. Many scholarship search engines are also available online.
Scholarship Searches
Students can perform a scholarship search using various internet scholarship search databases. Competition is often more severe for scholarships identified this way, as many are available on a regional or national level.
Private foundations, civic organizations and others are a great resources for additional scholarship monies. In our experience, over 90 percent of the outside scholarships received by students, specifically first-year students, are obtained from organizations within their home communities. For this reason, we encourage you to check with your high school guidance office, employer, local civic organizations and religious institutions to see what scholarships are available.
Winning a Scholarship Quick Reference Guide provides practical advice for students on how to win a scholarship. It includes a list of the top twelve tips on winning a scholarship, a list of common scholarship application mistakes, a warning about scholarship scams, and a list of key scholarship resources.
You may also want to perform a scholarship search using a scholarship search database. Competition is often more severe for scholarships identified online, as many are available on a national level. Free Scholarship Search on the Web (FastWeb) allows you to conduct your own scholarship search.
Additional free scholarship searches online:
- BankingSense
- Cappex
- College Board
- CollegeScholarships
- FinAid
- GoCollege.com: The Collegiate Websource
- iamcollegebound.org
- Lamson Library’s Grant Research Center
- New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
- Granite Edvance Scholarship
- Scholly Scholarships by Sallie
- Scholarship Institute
- Scholarship 360
- Scholarship Coach
- ScholarshipExperts
- Scholarship Guidance
- Scholarships4School.com
- ScholarshipPoints
- Scholarships.com
- StudentScholarships.org
- Super College
*PSU does not specifically endorse any of the above resources. Links are provided for student assistance only.
