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Climb Higher Scholarship

2026-2027 Academic Year Information

Application Deadlines

Must be admitted to WVU as a degree-seeking first-time freshman or first-time transfer student transferring to a WVU campus from another institution by the following deadlines:

  • First-time students entering the fall 2026 semester must be admitted by August 1, 2026. Transcripts and test scores must also be submitted by August 1, 2026.
  • First-time students entering the spring 2027 semester must be admitted by January 2, 2027. Transcripts and test scores must be submitted by January 2, 2027.

Students who meet the admission deadline will be considered for scholarships (or increases to scholarships if applicable) based on submission of new transcripts or ACT/SAT scores if the information is updated on their WVU student record by the admission deadline above for the semester you are entering. Test scores are automatically processed when sent to WVU. High school GPA changes are not processed automatically and require students to follow the GPA Update Request instructions to submit a GPA update. Transfer GPA is calculated by WVU Admissions based on a review of transcripts received from prior institutions. Accepted credit hours and grades for transfer courses are converted to WVU's semester and grading systems and may differ from your prior institution.

Eligibility Criteria

The Climb Higher Scholarship is offered in four levels based on an incoming high school or overall transfer GPA and in some levels an ACT/SAT score.

Please be aware that incoming students majoring in online programs of study are not eligible for institutional scholarships. Students beginning in on-campus majors will lose their institutional scholarship eligibility if they switch to an online program of study at any point.

Students initially offered this scholarship for fall 2026 or later may receive this scholarship while attending WVU at Morgantown, Keyser, or Beckley. Scholarship values differ based on the campus and will be adjusted accordingly when/if students change campuses within the WVU System.

Amounts for West Virginia Residents

Level 1

To be eligible, students must have:

  • an incoming GPA of at least 3.8 and
  • an ACT score of at least 30, or an SAT score of at least 1360

The following amounts are per year for up to four undergraduate years or completion of a bachelor's degree - whichever comes first.

  • Morgantown: $5,000
  • Beckley: $4,000
  • Keyser: $3,000

The following amounts are per year for up to two undergraduate years or completion of an associate degree – whichever comes first.

  • Keyser: $2,500

Level 2

To be eligible, students must have:

  • an incoming GPA of at least 3.8

The following amounts are per year for up to four undergraduate years or completion of a bachelor's degree - whichever comes first.

  • Morgantown: $3,500
  • Beckley: $3,000
  • Keyser: $2,000

The following amounts are per year for up to two undergraduate years or completion of an associate degree – whichever comes first.

  • Keyser: $1,750

Level 3

To be eligible, students must have:

  • an incoming GPA between 3.5 and 3.79

The following amounts are per year for up to four undergraduate years or completion of a bachelor’s degree – whichever comes first.

  • Morgantown: $2,500
  • Beckley: $2,000
  • Keyser: $1,500

The following amounts are per year for up to two undergraduate years or completion of an associate degree – whichever comes first.

  • Keyser: $1,200

Level 4

To be eligible, students must have:

  • an incoming GPA between 3.0 and 3.49

The following amounts are per year for up to four undergraduate years or completion of a bachelor’s degree – whichever comes first.

  • Morgantown: $1,500
  • Beckley: $1,200
  • Keyser: $1,000

The following amounts are per year for up to two undergraduate years or completion of an associate degree – whichever comes first.

  • Keyser: $750

All amounts listed above are yearly scholarship amounts as long as all renewal requirements are met.

Amounts for Non-Residents of West Virginia

Level 1

To be eligible, students must have:

  • an incoming GPA of at least 3.8 and
  • an ACT score of at least 30, or an SAT score of at least 1360

The following amounts are per year for up to four undergraduate years or completion of a bachelor's degree - whichever comes first.

The following amounts are per year for up to two undergraduate years or completion of an associate degree – whichever comes first.

Level 2

To be eligible, students must have:

  • an incoming GPA of at least 3.8

The following amounts are per year for up to four undergraduate years or completion of a bachelor's degree - whichever comes first.

The following amounts are per year for up to two undergraduate years or completion of an associate degree – whichever comes first.

Level 3

To be eligible, students must have:

  • an incoming GPA between 3.5 and 3.79

The following amounts are per year for up to four undergraduate years or completion of a bachelor’s degree – whichever comes first.

The following amounts are per year for up to two undergraduate years or completion of an associate degree – whichever comes first.

Level 4

To be eligible, students must have:

  • an incoming GPA between 3.0 and 3.49

The following amounts are per year for up to four undergraduate years or completion of a bachelor’s degree – whichever comes first.

The following amounts are per year for up to two undergraduate years or completion of an associate degree – whichever comes first.

All amounts listed above are yearly scholarship amounts as long as all renewal requirements are met. In most cases, students receiving in-state tuition rates through equivalency are not eligible for merit scholarships — including, but not limited to, programs such as Ohio Reciprocity.