University Merit Scholarship

Take the PSAT or National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) test as a junior in high school and be named a National Merit or Achievement Semifinalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. To receive the scholarship at WVU, finalists must select WVU as their first choice.

WVU receives a roster of recipients from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation after May 1 each year and cannot include that fund in your financial aid offer until that roster has been received.

Minimum high school GPA of 3.50. Awarded to degree-seeking Morgantown students named National Merit or Achievement Finalists.

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.

Non-resident students receiving this scholarship who change to in-state tuition rates through programs such as Ohio Tuition Reciprocity or National Guard Tuition Assistance (or who change to in-state tuition rates through any other program) will have this scholarship adjusted to equal in-state university tuition. The University Merit Scholarship may be returned to the non-resident value if a student later reverts to non-resident tuition rates.

This scholarship is valued at university tuition for four undergraduate years or a bachelor's degree - whichever comes first, plus two stipends for study abroad or academic enhancement.

Students may also receive a one-time stipend of $2,500 to be used for study abroad during your freshman or sophomore years, or for on-campus housing expenses during your freshman year. To request this stipend, contact us at least two months prior to when the stipend is needed.

Student who receive the University Merit Scholarship will also be eligible for a one-time stipend of up to $3,500 to be used for academic enhancement. This stipend will be issued by the Dean’s Office for your academic program and will be available during your junior or senior years.