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Scholarships for First-time Freshmen

Northwest offers a wide variety of scholarships for first-time students. We've listed them here based on the application process, from automatic scholarships that the University will determine based on your application for admission, to private scholarships that require you to call for information. Please look through all these pages to see what you're eligible for (for instance, scholarships for your intended major, or for scholarships from your hometown).

Admission-based scholarships have admission application deadline of May 1 to guarantee scholarship awards. For students who complete their admission application after May 1, scholarships will be awarded contingent upon available funding.

The criteria listed on these pages is for initial awarding as a first-time student at Northwest Missouri State University. To review the renewal requirements for the scholarship(s) you have been awarded, please visit Scholarships for Current Students.

Please note: The downloadable .PDFs are 508 compliant.

Northwest offers a wide variety of scholarships for first-time students. We've listed them here based on the application process, from automatic scholarships that the University will determine based on your application for admission, to private scholarships that require you to call for information. Please look through all these pages to see what you're eligible for (for instance, scholarships for your intended major, or for scholarships from your hometown).

Admission-Based Freshman Scholarships (for freshmen entering fall 2024 and later)

Merit-Chart

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The President's Scholarship and Admission-Based Freshman Scholarships are mutually exclusive; they do not "stack" and cannot be combined.

View renewal information

Admission-Based Freshman Scholarships (for freshmen entering summer 2024 and earlier)

Merit-Chart

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The President's Scholarship and Admission-Based Freshman Scholarships are mutually exclusive; they do not "stack" and cannot be combined.

View renewal information

President's Scholarship (for freshmen entering fall 2024 and later)

Requirements:

  • ACT: 27-36 and minimum 3.85 GPA
  • Accepted for admission by the 3rd Thursday of January - Must be enrolled in Fall
  • Must attend Northwest's Presidential Scholars' Day

Award Amount (fall/spring):

  • $10,000
  • Competitive; 8 awarded
  • Notification to students by the first week of March

The President's Scholarship and Admission-Based Freshman Scholarships are mutually exclusive; they do not "stack" and cannot be combined.

View renewal information

President's Scholarship (for freshmen entering summer 2024 and earlier)

Requirements:

  • ACT: 27-36 and minimum 3.75 GPA
  • Accepted for admission by the 3rd Thursday of January - Must be enrolled in Fall
  • Must attend Northwest's Distinguished Scholars' Day

Award Amount (fall/spring):

  • $8,000
  • Competitive; 10 awarded
  • Notification to students by the first week of March

The President's Scholarship and Admission-Based Freshman Scholarships are mutually exclusive; they do not "stack" and cannot be combined.

View renewal information

Bearcat Advantage (for non-Missouri residents entering fall 2024 and later)

Requirements:

  • Out-of-State Students with a minimum 2.75 GPA
  • Stackable with merit-based freshman scholarships.

Award Amount (fall/spring):

  • Estimate: $8,052 (100% reduction in the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition based on an estimate of 30 credit hours for the fall/spring semester)

Maximum Award:

  • 132 total Northwest credit hours earned

 

View renewal information

Bearcat Advantage (for non-Missouri residents entering summer 2024 and earlier)

Out of State Awards

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Maximum Award:

  • 132 total Northwest credit hours earned

 

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Northwest A+ Scholarship

Requirements:

  • First-time freshman
  • Minimum 3.25 GPA
  • Attend an A+ eligible Missouri high school and indicate A+ on admission application
  • Actual award made upon confirmation of completed A+ requirements

Award Amount:

  • $1,500
  • May receive in addition to other Northwest automatic scholarships
  • Limited number awarded
  • Only available to students beginning in the fall semester

 

View renewal information

TeamMates Scholarship

Requirements:

  • Minimum cumulative high school 2.5 GPA
  • Must have a TeamMates+ Mentor and been in TeamMates for a minimum of 3 years
  • Must apply for admission before Jan. 15 and enroll as a full-time student in the fall
  • Must submit FAFSA no later than Jan. 15 and be Pell Grant eligible

Award Amount (fall/spring):

  • Up to $1,000
  • Competitive; 1 awarded

 

View renewal information

Northwest Pathways Scholarship (for freshmen entering fall 2024 and later)

The Northwest Pathways Scholarship is a $1,500 annual award provided to entering first generation freshmen with at least a 2.75 high school GPA who graduated from select high schools in a four-state region. 

Requirements:

  • First-time freshman
  • First generation student1
  • Minimum 2.75 high school GPA
  • Graduate from select high schools2 in Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas

1Northwest defines first-generation students as those whose parents did not finish a bachelor’s degree.

2View a full list of Northwest Pathways high schools

Award Amount:

  • $1,500 (fall/spring)
  • May receive in addition to other Northwest automatic scholarships

 

View renewal information

Multicultural Scholarship (for freshmen entering fall 2023 and earlier)

Multicultural scholarships

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 Eligibility: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, U.S. citizen or a graduate from eligible high schools. Non-immigrant students are not eligible. For further information, contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Assistance at 660.562.1363.

Graduates of the following Missouri high schools may also be considered for the Multicultural Scholarship.
  • African-Centered College Prep Academy
  • Allen Village High School
  • Alta Vista Charter
  • Central Academy of Excellence
  • Confluence Preparatory Academy
  • Construction Careers Center
  • De LaSalle Charter School
  • Ewing Marion Kauffman School

  • Hazelwood East High School
  • Hogan Preparatory Academy
  • Jennings High School
  • McCluer South-Berkeley High
  • Miller Career Academy
  • Normandy High School
  • Northwest Academy of Law
  • Riverview Gardens Sr. High
  • Soldan International Studies
  • Sumner High School
  • University Academy-Upper
  • Vashon High School

 

View renewal information

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Scholarship

Requirements:

  • First-time freshman
  • Accepted for admission by May 1
  • Actual award made upon confirmation that the IB Diploma has been earned

Award Amount (fall/spring):

  • $1,000
  • May receive in addition to other Northwest automatic scholarships
  • Maximum of 20 awarded
  • One year, nonrenewable scholarship

Show-Me Scholars Scholarship

Requirements:

  • First-time freshman
  • Attend a high school that participated in the Show-Me Scholars Initiative and indicate participation on admission application
  • Accepted for admission by May 1

Award Amount (fall/spring):

  • $500
  • May receive in addition to other Northwest automatic scholarships
  • Return scholarship contract by June 2nd
  • One year, nonrenewable scholarship

Missouri Saving for Tuition (MOST) Scholarship

Northwest offers a $500 scholarship to first-time freshmen students whose families have established an account in the student's name in the Missouri Saving for Tuition (MOST) Program. Twenty-five nonrenewable scholarships will be provided. Families will be responsible for providing documentation of at least two years participation in the MOST Program by submitting a statement from MOST indicating an active account for the student. This documentation, including the student's Northwest ID number, must be postmarked no later than March 1. Recipient selection will be based on need, as determined by the results of the FAFSA. Please indicate on admission application.

Documentation should be sent to:

The Office of Scholarships & Financial Assistance
Northwest Missouri State University
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468

Or faxed to: 660.562.1674

Northwest Foundation and Major-Specific Scholarships

To be considered for a variety of scholarships awarded by individual campus departments, students are encouraged to complete the Standard Scholarship application each year. These scholarships are funded by our Northwest Foundation, departments, and private donors. The Standard Scholarship Application is available September 1 through February 1, award decisions are made during the month of February, and awarded scholarships are distributed the following academic year. Please note, only for the 2024-25 aid year, this submission deadline is being extended to April 1, 2024. Students can complete the application by logging into to CatPAWS, click the Student tab, and then select the Standard Scholarship Application box.

Search major-specific scholarships


Read the Northwest financial aid and scholarship disclaimer »