Benefits:

• Merit scholarships of up to $2,000 per year, for four years = total: $8,000.
• Scholarship will cover the cost of tuition/fees depending on financial aid eligibility, in addition to the $2,000.
• Students can apply for membership in the UHD Honors Program and Scholars Academy.

Eligibility Criteria:

• For full-time, first-time-in-college students only.
• 3.5 or higher GPA or Class Rank must be within the top 16%-25% and SAT 1080/ACT 21 or higher.

Application Process:

• Awarded to new freshman students beginning in a fall semester only.
• Students who meet the eligibility criteria above are asked to complete Essay Topic A or B (in approximately 500-600 words).
  • Topic A: Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?
  • Topic B: Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself.
• Please type your essay and email to: MeritScholarships@uhd.edu. Attaching essay as a PDF or Word document is preferred. Please include your full name and UHD Student ID number if known.
• Deadline to apply to UHD and submit essay is February 28.
• A committee reviews essay submissions for those who meet the eligibility criteria (late Spring semester), before a final list of new freshman students are identified and notified (early Summer).
• Notified students must accept the scholarship award by the deadline given.
• Students who meet the eligibility criteria and submit essay are not guaranteed a merit scholarship as institutional funds are limited and contingent upon funding from one year to the next.
• Historically, UHD awards no more than 40 Freshman Merit Scholarships each year.

Renewal Requirements:

• Must be enrolled in 15 or more college credit hours each term and complete 30 credit hours each year to renew the scholarship for subsequent years, up to four years.
• Maintain a 3.20 cumulative GPA by the end of each academic year. If your cumulative GPA drops below a 3.20 at the end of any academic year, you will no longer qualify to receive the scholarship in future semesters nor will the scholarship be reinstated in any subsequent semesters.

Benefits:

• Merit scholarships of up to $3,000 per year, for four years = total: $12,000.
• Scholarship will cover the cost of tuition/fees depending on financial aid eligibility, in addition to the $3,000.
• Students can apply for membership in the UHD Honors Program and Scholars Academy.

Eligibility Criteria:

• For full-time, first-time-in-college students only.
• 3.5 or higher GPA or Class Rank Top 15% and SAT 1170/ACT 24 or higher.

Application Process:

• The Distinguished Freshman Merit Scholarship is awarded through UHD’s University Honors Program.
• Students are encouraged to review and apply for the Honors Program, and to reach out to the department with any additional questions at honors@uhd.edu.
• Each fall the University Honors Program awards up to one dozen full four-year scholarships to highly qualified freshmen. Recipients are selected from the most qualified applicants of the fall freshmen cohort. Once awarded, the scholarships are renewable for a total of four years as long as students maintain eligibility.

Renewal Requirements:

• Must be enrolled in 15 or more college credit hours each term and complete 30 credit hours each year to renew the scholarship for subsequent years, up to four years.
• Maintain a 3.20 cumulative GPA by the end of each academic year. If your cumulative GPA drops below a 3.20 at the end of any academic year, you will no longer qualify to receive the scholarship in future semesters nor will the scholarship be reinstated in any subsequent semesters.