5 GREAT SCHOLARSHIPS AT SCHOOLS IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION OF THE USA

Great Lakes Region Scholarships

• University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, in Recognition of Scholastic Excellence
• Assistance for Out-of-State Tuition in the Great Lakes Region
• For Those with Financial Need in Ohio
• Community Support
• For the Contenders

While there are a number of national scholarships and generic grants available for incoming university students, college scholarships to specific universities are often more generous and abundant. Researching these offerings can help students refine their school search and decide to which universities they wish to apply. Below, we'll list five fantastic scholarships specifically earmarked for enrolling students at universities in the Great Lakes region.

1. University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, in Recognition of Scholastic Excellence

The number of awards for this scholarship varies from year to year, but the amount of $15,000 remains stable. It was designed with incoming freshmen specifically in mind as a way to recognize academic achievement and the hard work of scholars. The board of trustees that awards this financial benefit bases their assessment on the high school GPA of students and reviews any applicable test scores to ensure that the limited number of awards go to those most deserving of this substantial assistance.

2. Assistance for Out-of-State Tuition in the Great Lakes Region

While the award does come with a few caveats, the EMU National Scholars Program awards $15,000 to out-of-state transfers or incoming freshmen with a 3.5 cumulative GPA. Those students transferring into an applicable university must originate from states other than Ohio or Michigan. In the instance that a recipient of the award is an incoming freshmen, one of the requirements of the four-year award is that they reside on campus for the first two years of their education. Each award is designed to apply towards 15 credit hours per semester for a total of 30 hours each academic year.

Read: 30 Best Value Colleges and Universities in Michigan

3. For Those with Financial Need in Ohio

Many scholarships and grants are based on academic achievement, but there are those that offer assistance to those from less affluent circumstances. This grant program is flexible, with awards tailored to meet the degree of financial hardship of the individual. In order to be eligible, the student must demonstrate an expected family contribution of $2,190 per year and have a combined household income of less than $75,000 per year.

4. Community Support

In Wisconsin, the communities, classmates, and teachers may nominate worthy students for the Carson Scholars Fund. The competition is open to students from grade four to eleven and seeks to recognize exemplary students dedicated to improving their communities. Each school may determine how they nominate a student, but individuals should have a 3.75 GPA and engage in one or more community service endeavors. Because it is a competition, winners will receive $1,000 dollars towards their college tuition and schools are discouraged from nominating more than one student per cycle.

5. For the Contenders

The state of Michigan instituted the Michigan Competitive Scholarship program in 1964 with the goal of encouraging students in pursuit of a post-secondary degree to achieve excellence. Along with an SAT score of 1200 or higher, those wishing to apply for this scholarship must complete a FAFSA application by March 1 of the academic year prior to attendance. While it may not cover the total cost of attendance, applicants are advised that any other financial awards may reduce the amount for which they are eligible through the MCS program.

For individuals seeking to attend a school in the Great Lakes region, examining options for financial aid is an important facet of the process. General funding programs at the federal level can sometimes fail to produce sufficient funding to meet the needs of those who apply. In these cases, region or state specific college scholarships, aid programs, and grants or trusts that have been established are an excellent source of funds with which students can make scholarly ends meet.