First-year scholarships

All new freshmen who would like to be considered for scholarships must complete the University’s Freshman Application for Scholarships and file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Institutional Methodology for FAFSA-Ineligible Students form. You do not have to demonstrate financial need to receive a scholarship, but the FAFSA or Institutional Methodology allows you to be considered for supplemental funding.

Who is eligible to receive scholarships?

All new freshmen may be considered for scholarships. The general scholarship program is restricted to Nevada residents. However, other scholarship dollars may be available to non-residents.

What do I have to do to be eligible for scholarship consideration?

To be eligible for first-year scholarships, all requirements below must be met by the listed deadlines:

    1. Apply for admission. Apply for admission to the University of Nevada, Reno by February 1st of the year you will start college.
    2. Submit your high school transcripts. The University must receive your high school transcripts by February 1st of the year you will start college. Be sure to request that your transcripts are sent from your high school early enough to ensure they arrive on time.
    3. Complete the scholarship application. Complete the University's Freshman Application for Scholarships by February 15th.
    4. Complete your FAFSA or Institutional Methodology form. Complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or the Institutional Methodology for FAFSA-Ineligible Students form by February 15th.

How and when do I apply for scholarships?

Students must first apply for admission. Following the receipt of the application for admission, students will receive an acknowledgement letter. This letter provides instructions on how to activate their MyNEVADA account and how to access the scholarship application. Students must activate their MyNEVADA account in order to access the Freshman Application for Scholarships and Award, which is found by clicking on the tasks tile in MyNevada and locating the heading “supplemental forms.”

Applications for scholarships and awards are available in MyNEVADA beginning on October 1.

Presidential Scholarship

The Presidential Scholarship is awarded to those who demonstrate a combination of outstanding academic performance and excellence in the criteria listed above. The minimum grade point average for consideration is a 3.8. These awards are limited and are awarded on a competitive basis. The value of this award is $8,000 per year.

National Merit Scholarship

The National Merit is the University's most prestigious scholarship for entering freshman who are National Merit Finalists and who select our University as their first choice with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation before May 1. The value of this award is $16,000 per year.