Going off to college can be an exciting and life-changing experience, but choosing the right school can be overwhelming! With such a complicated and large decision to make, it’s no surprise that many students later transfer to another school.

In fact, for one reason or another, over one-third of college students end up changing schools at some point during their academic career. Some go off in search of better academics or a more active student atmosphere while others want a cheaper school or one a bit closer to home. Another common reason for transferring schools is that some students attend an affordable community college for two years before transferring to a four-year college or university to complete their degree. For more information about this money-saving option, take a look at this article. 

Regardless of the reason, the process of transferring schools is relatively easy and painless. The process of paying for school, however, is still a major concern for many students.

How Paying for School Differs

Usually, when applying for college, incoming freshmen are automatically considered for financial aid and merit-based scholarships when submitting their admissions application. Unfortunately, many universities don’t extend that same luxury to transfer students, meaning students entering with college credits are forced to search elsewhere for financial aid.

The process of paying for school can be overwhelming for anyone, but, luckily, the process of finding scholarships for transfer students isn’t impossible.

How to Find Scholarships for Transfer Students

The best place to start is Going Merry! We match you with the scholarships you qualify for and then allow you to apply directly through our site to save you time and effort. The next step is to speak with your high school guidance office or college financial aid office. They’ll have plenty of info on local scholarships and awards that you qualify for.

For more information on the documents you’ll likely need when applying for scholarships, head on over to our step-by-step guide on how to apply for scholarships!. Now that you have all of the information, below are 25 scholarships for transfer students that you can apply for today.

General Transfer Scholarships

The following four scholarships are available to all transfer students, regardless of residency or the university you’re planning to attend. These scholarships are exclusive to transfer students, but many traditional scholarships are available to transfer students as well, so we recommend looking into other sources as well. Create an account on Going Merry to see which other scholarships you’re eligible for!

1. Transfer Times $6,000 Scholarship

Amount: $6,000

Transfer Times is an online resource that was created with the goal of helping transfer students. This $6,000 scholarship is available to students who have completed two years at a community college or technical school and are ready to take the next step in their academic career by transferring to a four-year school. This scholarship is a contest and the only requirement to enter is to fill out the online form. For more information, head on over to the Transfer Times website.

2. Tau Sigma Honor Society Scholarship

Amount: $500 to $5,000

The Tau Sigma Honor Society is an honor society created exclusively for transfer students. Their main goal is to promote the involvement and leadership of transfer students within their university. Each year, they offer scholarships for transfer students throughout the country ranging from $500 to $5,000. For more info, check out the scholarship website.

3. Pearson Scholarship for Higher Education

Amount: $5,000

Any student who is a member of Phi Theta Kappa has a shot at this $5,000 scholarship, which was created to help students planning to transfer to a four-year university from any community college. The minimum requirements are at least a 3.5 GPA and between 12 and 36 semester hours. For more information, check out the scholarship website.

4. Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship

Amount: Varies

Another scholarship for students heading to a four-year institution after attending a community college, the minimum requirement to be eligible for this transfer student scholarship is a 3.5 GPA. For more information, head over to the scholarship website.

Scholarships for Specific Universities

Some universities welcome transfer students by offering generous scholarships (a few even cover the full cost of tuition!). The best way to know if your future school has scholarships for transfer students is to look over the school’s website. Here are just a few of the many university-specific transfer scholarships!

5. Augustana Transfer Scholarships

Amount: $13,000 to $20,000

When applying to Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, transfer students are automatically considered for merit-based awards. A minimum GPA of 2.7 and 15 transferable credits are required and the awards range from $13,000 to $20,000. The best part? The reward is renewable throughout your time at Augustana. For more info, check out the scholarship website.

6. Achieving in a Community of Excellence (ACE) Scholarship – Bridgewater College

Amount: $11,500 to $15,500

With a GPA of at least 3.0 and 12 transferable credits, students are considered for these scholarships at Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Virginia. If you’d like more information, head over to the scholarship website.

7. Church of the Brethren Scholarship – Bridgewater College

Amount: $2,500 for resident students & $1,500 for commuter students

Students planning to attend Bridgewater College who are also members of the Church of the Brethren can reduce their tuition bill by up to $2,500 per year. For more information, check out the scholarship website.

8. Transfer Academic Award – Heidelburg University

Amount: $9,500 to $14,000

Transfer students planning to attend Heidelburg University at the Tiffin, Ohio campus are automatically considered for generous scholarships to help ease the cost of tuition. Candidates must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and at least 15 transferable semester hours. For more info, check out the scholarship website.

9. David Gall Memorial Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Both residents and non-residents of Ohio can apply for this $1,000 scholarship. Candidates should be planning to transfer to a member university of the Ohio transfer council, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and have at least 23 transferable semester hours. This scholarship is renewable for multiple years. For more information, head over to the scholarship website.

10. Johnson & Wales University Transfer Scholarship

Amount: Up to $10,000

Providing up to $10,000 towards tuition, this transfer scholarship is renewable for up to four years…meaning you can save some serious cash! Applicants are automatically considered on the basis of academic transcripts when submitting the admissions application. You can find out more information on the scholarship website.

11. Lycoming College Transfer Student Scholarship

Amount: $18,000 to $24,000

Automatically considered when submitting an admissions application, these scholarships for transfer students are offered to students with at least 24 transferable credit hours and a minimum GPA of 3.0. Plus, they’re renewable for up to four years! The scholarship website has more information. 

12. Minnesota State University Moorhead Transfer Scholarship

Amount: $500 to $1,000

The Minnesota State University at Moorhead welcomes transfer students by offering them $500 to $1,000 in financial aid. To be considered after submitting your admissions application, you’ll need a minimum GPA of 3.0 and at least 24 transferable credit hours. More information can be found on the scholarship website.

13. New Mexico Tech Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship

Amount: $6,000

Renewable for up to three years, this $6,000 transfer scholarship is open to members of Phi Theta Kappa planning to transfer to New Mexico Tech. You should have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and 45 transferable credits to be up for consideration with your admissions application. For more information, head over to the scholarship website.

14. Niagara University Transfer Scholarship

Amount: $8,000 to $15,000

If you’re planning to transfer to Niagara University as a full-time student and have a minimum GPA of 2.5, you’ll automatically be considered for thousands of dollars in financial aid. Plus, this awesome scholarship is renewable for up to three years! If you’d like more information, check out the scholarship website.

15. Northwood University Transfer Scholarship

Amount: $4,000 to $9,000

Northwood University provides a variety of scholarships for transfer students…and all of them come with the option to renew each year! Students with a GPA of at least 2.7 will be considered with their admissions application, but keep in mind that some scholarships have limited funds, so not all eligible students will receive an award. For more info, check out the scholarship website.

16. Award for Excellence Transfer Scholarship – Grand Valley State University

Amount: $2,000

Renewable for up to two years, this scholarship for transfer students is available to students applying to Grand Valley State University after studying at any community college in Michigan. If your GPA is at least 2.5, you’ll be automatically considered with your admissions application. You can find more information on the scholarship website.

17. Community College Excellence Scholarship – University of Alabama

Amount: Full Tuition

Paying for college just got much less stressful with this full-tuition transfer student scholarship from the University of Alabama. To be automatically considered, students should have at least a 3.5 GPA and be transferring from a community college. Check out the scholarship website for more information.

18. Transfer Achievement Scholarship – University of Kentucky

Amount: $4,000

Available to non-residents of Kentucky who are transferring to the University of Kentucky, this $4,000 award is awarded to students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and at least 24 transferable credit hours. Candidates are automatically considered upon submission of an admissions application. Check out the scholarship website for more info.

19. Frederick Douglass Scholarship – University of Maryland

Amount: Full or partial tuition

Each year, the University of Maryland awards several full-tuition and multiple partial-tuition scholarships for transfer students. All you need is a minimum GPA of 3.5 and an Associate’s degree from a Maryland community college. The scholarship website has more information.

20. Transfer Academic Achievement Scholarship – Florida International University

Amount: 50% of tuition and fees

If getting good grades is your thing and you plan to transfer to Florida International University, this transfer student scholarship will cover 50% of your tuition and fees. To get this highly-competitive award, you’ll need a minimum of 60 transferable credit hours or an Associate’s degree, a 4.0 GPA, two letters of recommendation, and a killer essay. For more information, head over to the scholarship website.

21. Loyola University Chicago Transfer Merit Scholarship

Amount: $9,000 to $17,000

Based on academic performance, transfer students applying to Loyola University are automatically considered for up to $17,000 in scholarships upon the submission of their admissions application. Please visit the scholarship website for more information.

22. Mississippi State University Compass Scholarship

Amount: $2,000

With at least 48 hours of transferable credits and a 3.5 or higher GPA, you’ll be eligible for this transfer scholarship at Mississippi State University. If you’d like to explore additional scholarship options, more are available on the scholarship website.

23. Presidential Transfer Scholarship – University of Miami

Amount: $5,000 to $16,000

Transfer students are automatically considered for this generous merit scholarship when they submit their admissions application to the University of Miami. The minimum requirement is a GPA of 3.75, but not all eligible students will receive an award. For more info, head over to the scholarship website.

24. University of Tampa Transfer Scholarship

Amount: Up to $9,000

The University of Tampa becomes a lot more affordable with the scholarships for transfer students that they offer. Students with a GPA of at least 3.0 are automatically considered when they submit their admissions application. For more information on this scholarship, head over to the school website.

25. Pathway Award – Wayne State University

Amount: $1,000

Requiring a separate application, the Pathway Award at Wayne State University is available to students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and at least 24 transferable credit hours. More information can be found on the scholarship website.

Soon you’ll be able to apply to all of these on Going Merry (let us know in the comments section if there are others we should include). In the meantime, we already have thousands of scholarships which you can apply for directly.

Just fill out your profile, see what we match you with, and click apply! It’s that easy.