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Top Scholarships for Transfer Students in March 2024

Written by Will Geiger

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

Full Bio

Learn about our editorial policies

Updated: March 1st, 2024

According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, more than one third of college students will transfer to another college. While students will transfer for many reasons, some students are transferring to save money. Regardless of why you are transferring, there are some great scholarships for transfer students that are available!

These scholarships for transfer students are generally applicable for students who intend to transfer to four year colleges or universities. Also note that some states will have special scholarships for community college students who are transferring to an in-state university. You can check with the financial aid office at your in-state university!

You can also keep on reading to learn everything you need to know about scholarships and financial aid as a transfer student.

Read More
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Scholarship Review Process

The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:

  • The scholarship requires a fee to apply
  • The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
  • The scholarship requires paid membership in an organization (with certain exceptions for reputable trade organizations and others)
  • Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
  • The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
  • The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
  • The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
  • There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
  • The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
  • There is no available contact information

If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!


* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system.
** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements.
***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.

Learn about our editorial policies
33 scholarships
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$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Scholarships360

Exclusive
1 award worth $10,000
Deadline Jun 30, 2024
Grade Level All Grade Levels

Offered by Scholarships360

Exclusive

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high…Show More

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high…Show More

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high school student who hopes to go to college, a graduate student who’s in a master’s program, or an adult learner who wants to return to school, you are eligible for our no essay scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to students who get the most out of Scholarships360 scholarships and content. You will be a strong applicant if you apply to scholarships with the Scholarships360 platform. Finalists for this scholarship will be interviewed about their process for funding their education.Show Less

1 award worth $10,000
Deadline Jun 30, 2024
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Apply

$2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Sallie Mae

Easy Application
1 award worth $2,000
Deadline Mar 31, 2024
Grade Level HS Upperclassmen, College & Graduate Students

Offered by Sallie Mae

Easy Application

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for…

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for…

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for school.

1 award worth $2,000
Deadline Mar 31, 2024
Grade Level HS Upperclassmen, College & Graduate Students
Apply

Making the Leap Scholarship for Transfer Students

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Scholarships360

Exclusive
1 award worth $500
Deadline Jan 31, 2025
Grade Level College Students

Offered by Scholarships360

Exclusive

The “Making the Leap” Scholarship is open to undergraduate students who are transferring to another educational institution in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. We know…Show More

The “Making the Leap” Scholarship is open to undergraduate students who are transferring to another educational institution in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. We know…Show More

The “Making the Leap” Scholarship is open to undergraduate students who are transferring to another educational institution in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. We know that getting from point A to point B isn’t always straightforward, and that sometimes there are twists, turns, and unexpected detours along the way. If you’re a transfer student making the leap to another school, you probably know what we’re talking about. Switching educational institutions can be challenging, which is why we’re offering a $500 scholarship to help one outstanding transfer student. See the “Application Information” section below for details regarding the short answer response. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their response and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We look forward to reading your application!Show Less

1 award worth $500
Deadline Jan 31, 2025
Grade Level College Students
Apply

$40,000 BigFuture Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by The College Board

Easy Application
Multiple awards worth up to $40,000
Deadline Mar 31, 2024
Grade Level High School Sophomores & Juniors

Offered by The College Board

Easy Application

Open to US-based high school students in the class of 2025 and 2026 - no essay, no minimum GPA, and no citizenship requirements.

Open to US-based high school students in the class of 2025 and 2026 - no essay, no minimum GPA, and no citizenship requirements.

Open to US-based high school students in the class of 2025 and 2026 - no essay, no minimum GPA, and no citizenship requirements.

Multiple awards worth up to $40,000
Deadline Mar 31, 2024
Grade Level High School Sophomores & Juniors
Apply

AICPA Foundation Two-Year Transfer Scholarship Award

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA)

40 awards worth $5,000
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level College Underclassmen

Offered by Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA)

Are you a student looking to transfer from a two-year to a four-year college to complete your degree in accounting or a related field? Further,…Show More

Are you a student looking to transfer from a two-year to a four-year college to complete your degree in accounting or a related field? Further,…Show More

Are you a student looking to transfer from a two-year to a four-year college to complete your degree in accounting or a related field? Further, are you an AICPA Student Affiliate Member? If so, consider applying for the AICPA Foundation Two-Year Transfer Scholarship Award! Each year, the scholarship awards $5,000 to multiple applicants who hold (or have applied for) AICPA Student Affiliate Membership, are looking to pursue a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license, and are currently completing courses at a two-year college/university and planning to transfer with a declared intent to major in accounting or an accounting-related field at a four-year college/university in the upcoming school year. If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

40 awards worth $5,000
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level College Underclassmen
Get Started

Niche $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Niche

Easy Application
1 award worth $10,000
Deadline Mar 31, 2024
Grade Level All Grade Levels

Offered by Niche

Easy Application

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year

1 award worth $10,000
Deadline Mar 31, 2024
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Apply

Malcolm Baldrige School of Business Scholarship

Offered by Connecticut Community Foundation

Multiple awards worth $1,000
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level College Students

Offered by Connecticut Community Foundation

The Malcolm Baldrige School of Business Scholarship annually grants one-time awards of $1,000 or more to first-year or transfer students pursuing a full-time undergraduate degree…Show More

The Malcolm Baldrige School of Business Scholarship annually grants one-time awards of $1,000 or more to first-year or transfer students pursuing a full-time undergraduate degree…Show More

The Malcolm Baldrige School of Business Scholarship annually grants one-time awards of $1,000 or more to first-year or transfer students pursuing a full-time undergraduate degree at the School of Business at Post University's main campus in Waterbury, Connecticut. To apply, interested students must provide two letters of support from teachers, guidance counselors, or community leaders who have had direct interactions with the student. In addition, applicants must submit an essay on how "an organization can benefit from emphasis on quality." If you're a student at Post University's School of Business, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

Multiple awards worth $1,000
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level College Students
Get Started

U.S. Western Digital STEM Scholarships

Offered by Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Multiple awards worth up to $5,000
Deadline Apr 1, 2024
Grade Level College Underclassmen

Offered by Silicon Valley Community Foundation

The U.S. Western Digital STEM Scholarships are a fantastic opportunity for students from underrepresented populations who are currently attending a two-year university and will be…Show More

The U.S. Western Digital STEM Scholarships are a fantastic opportunity for students from underrepresented populations who are currently attending a two-year university and will be…Show More

The U.S. Western Digital STEM Scholarships are a fantastic opportunity for students from underrepresented populations who are currently attending a two-year university and will be transferring to a four-year university in the upcoming school year to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM major. This scholarship is particularly aimed at those from underrepresented populations and those who are experiencing financial need or hardship. If you're an underrepresented minority pursuing a STEM major at a community college (with will be transferring to a four-year), we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

Multiple awards worth up to $5,000
Deadline Apr 1, 2024
Grade Level College Underclassmen
Get Started

$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Bold.org

Easy Application
1 award worth $25,000
Deadline Apr 1, 2024
Grade Level All Grade Levels

Offered by Bold.org

Easy Application

Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.

Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.

Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.

1 award worth $25,000
Deadline Apr 1, 2024
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Apply

Martin Achievement Scholarship

Offered by University of Washington

Multiple awards worth $5,000 - $41,000
Deadline Apr 6, 2024
Grade Level College Freshman

Offered by University of Washington

The Martin Achievement Scholarship is for first-year community college students wanting to eventually transfer to the University of Washington, Seattle. Applicants must be Washington state…Show More

The Martin Achievement Scholarship is for first-year community college students wanting to eventually transfer to the University of Washington, Seattle. Applicants must be Washington state…Show More

The Martin Achievement Scholarship is for first-year community college students wanting to eventually transfer to the University of Washington, Seattle. Applicants must be Washington state residents, have earned a minimum of 15 community college transfer credits at a community college in the state of Washington by the scholarship application deadline, and have demonstrated signs of exceptional ability in sciences, engineering, math, business, humanities, social sciences, music, art (all academic disciplines are supported), leadership and/or service to the community. Please note that students must apply for this scholarship nearly 1.5 years in advance of when they would hope to transfer to UW. With that said, if you're a Washington state first-year community college student with dreams of being a Husky, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

Multiple awards worth $5,000 - $41,000
Deadline Apr 6, 2024
Grade Level College Freshman
Get Started

Darrel Hess Community College Geography Scholarship

Offered by American Association of Geographers

2 awards worth $1,500
Deadline May 10, 2024
Grade Level College Underclassmen

Offered by American Association of Geographers

Are you a community college student planning to transfer to a four-year institution as a geography major? If so, you might be interested in the…Show More

Are you a community college student planning to transfer to a four-year institution as a geography major? If so, you might be interested in the…Show More

Are you a community college student planning to transfer to a four-year institution as a geography major? If so, you might be interested in the Darrel Hess Community College Geography Scholarship! The scholarship is open to students from community colleges, junior colleges, city colleges, or similar two-year educational institutions who will transfer as geography majors to four-year colleges and universities. The American Association of Geographers offers the program Darrel Hess, author of McKnight’s Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation, funds it. The AAG looks to “provide students, educators, practitioners, and partners with the resources they need to enter the field, develop their careers, and form professional friendships that can last a lifetime.” Every year, they choose two eligible applicants to earn $1,500 to be used for any educational expenses. If you are passionate about obtaining your geography degree, we encourage you to apply!Show Less

2 awards worth $1,500
Deadline May 10, 2024
Grade Level College Underclassmen
Get Started

$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by CollegeXpress

Easy Application
1 award worth $10,000
Deadline May 1, 2024
Grade Level High School Freshmen, Sophomores & Juniors

Offered by CollegeXpress

Easy Application

Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

1 award worth $10,000
Deadline May 1, 2024
Grade Level High School Freshmen, Sophomores & Juniors
Apply

Montana University System 2 Plus 2 Honor Scholarship

Offered by Montana University System

Multiple awards worth Undergraduate tuition waiver at select Montana University System schools
Deadline Jun 30, 2024
Grade Level College Sophomore

Offered by Montana University System

Are you a Montana resident who has earned an associate's degree from a Montana community college (see full list of eligible schools under "Eligibility Information")…Show More

Are you a Montana resident who has earned an associate's degree from a Montana community college (see full list of eligible schools under "Eligibility Information")…Show More

Are you a Montana resident who has earned an associate's degree from a Montana community college (see full list of eligible schools under "Eligibility Information") and will be soon pursuing a four-year degree at U of M - Missoula, U of M - Western, Montana Tech, MSU - Billings, MSU - Bozeman, or MSU - Northern? If so, you may be eligible for the Montana University System 2 Plus 2 Honor Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship awards waivers for undergraduate tuition at any 4-year unit of the Montana University System. The scholarship may be received up to a total of four continuous (fall/spring) semesters, so long as recipients continue to hold at least a 3.4 GPA. If you've earned an associate's degree from an eligible Montana community college and will be transferring to an eligible Montana four-year university, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

Multiple awards worth Undergraduate tuition waiver at select Montana University System schools
Deadline Jun 30, 2024
Grade Level College Sophomore
Get Started

Minnesota State Workforce Development Scholarships

Offered by Minnesota State

Multiple awards worth $2,500
Deadline Varies
Grade Level College Students

Offered by Minnesota State

Are you a Minnesota resident attending one of the 26 community and technical colleges of Minnesota State? If so, you may be eligible for the…Show More

Are you a Minnesota resident attending one of the 26 community and technical colleges of Minnesota State? If so, you may be eligible for the…Show More

Are you a Minnesota resident attending one of the 26 community and technical colleges of Minnesota State? If so, you may be eligible for the Minnesota State Workforce Development Scholarships! Each year, the scholarship awards $2,500 (per academic term) to multiple eligible students pursuing the fields of Education, Public Safety, Construction, Advanced Manufacturing, Agriculture, Health Care Services, Information Technology, Early Childhood Education, or Transportation. Those who have previously received the Workforce Development Scholarship and have since transferred to one of the seven state universities of Minnesota State are also eligible. Bear in mind that preference will be shown to those with financial need. If you're a Minnesota resident attending an in-state community or technical college, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

Multiple awards worth $2,500
Deadline Varies
Grade Level College Students
Get Started

$1,000 Appily Easy College Money Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Appily

Easy Application
Monthly awards worth $1,000
Deadline Mar 31, 2024
Grade Level High School Freshman, High School Sophomore, High School Junior, College Freshman & College Sophomore

Offered by Appily

Easy Application

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be…Show More

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be…Show More

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be awarded each month.Show Less

Monthly awards worth $1,000
Deadline Mar 31, 2024
Grade Level High School Freshman, High School Sophomore, High School Junior, College Freshman & College Sophomore
Apply

Frederick Douglass Scholarship

Offered by University of Maryland, College Park

45 awards worth Varies
Expected deadline March 2025
Grade Level College Sophomore

Offered by University of Maryland, College Park

The Frederick Douglass Scholarship (FDS) is a prestigious University of Maryland - College Park scholarship for academically talented transfer students from Maryland community colleges. To…Show More

The Frederick Douglass Scholarship (FDS) is a prestigious University of Maryland - College Park scholarship for academically talented transfer students from Maryland community colleges. To…Show More

The Frederick Douglass Scholarship (FDS) is a prestigious University of Maryland - College Park scholarship for academically talented transfer students from Maryland community colleges. To be eligible, applicants must be Maryland residents with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Additionally, applicants must have earned an associate's degree from a Maryland community college or be in the process of completing 56 college credits, with the most recent 30 credits earned at a Maryland community college. If you're a Maryland resident and current or former community college student who has or will transfer to the University of Maryland, College Park, we encourage you to apply. Be proud of being a Testudo and don't miss out on this opportunity to receive financial support for your education!Show Less

45 awards worth Varies
Expected deadline March 2025
Grade Level College Sophomore
Get Started

Scholarships for Military Children Program

Offered by Fisher House Foundation, Inc.

500 awards worth $2,000
Expected deadline February 2025
Grade Level High School Seniors & College Students

Offered by Fisher House Foundation, Inc.

Are you a current or prospective college student whose parents are serving or retired from the military? If so, consider applying for the Scholarships for…Show More

Are you a current or prospective college student whose parents are serving or retired from the military? If so, consider applying for the Scholarships for…Show More

Are you a current or prospective college student whose parents are serving or retired from the military? If so, consider applying for the Scholarships for Military Children Program! The program is open to incoming and current college students at two- and four-year institutions whose parents are serving or retired from the military. The program is offered by the Fisher House Foundation, Inc, a Maryland-based nonprofit organization that focuses on building homes for military and veteran families to help them while a loved one is in the hospital. Every year, the Scholarships for Military Children Program awards $2,000 each to 500 postsecondary students whose parents have previously or are currently serving in the military. If you are from a military family and are looking for a scholarship opportunity, we encourage you to apply!Show Less

500 awards worth $2,000
Expected deadline February 2025
Grade Level High School Seniors & College Students
Get Started

$5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Christian Connector

Easy Application
1 award worth $5,000
Deadline May 31, 2024
Grade Level High School Freshmen, Sophomores & Juniors

Offered by Christian Connector

Easy Application

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian…

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian…

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian university or college.

1 award worth $5,000
Deadline May 31, 2024
Grade Level High School Freshmen, Sophomores & Juniors
Apply

Washington CPA Foundation Accounting Scholarships

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Washington CPA Foundation

Multiple awards worth $5,000 - $10,000
Expected deadline February 2025
Grade Level College Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors & Grad Students

Offered by Washington CPA Foundation

The Washington CPA Foundation Accounting Scholarships are open to students entering their junior year or higher in the upcoming Fall. This includes fifth-year, master’s, and…Show More

The Washington CPA Foundation Accounting Scholarships are open to students entering their junior year or higher in the upcoming Fall. This includes fifth-year, master’s, and…Show More

The Washington CPA Foundation Accounting Scholarships are open to students entering their junior year or higher in the upcoming Fall. This includes fifth-year, master’s, and PhD candidates, as well as community college transfers. So, if you’re transferring from a community college to a 4-year college or university accredited in Washington State, you’re eligible, too! Applicants must be attending a college or university that is accredited in Washington State. The Washington CPA Foundation, the organization offering the scholarships, is looking for students who are involved in on-campus, off-campus, or community activities. To apply, you’ll need to submit three essays of 500 words, résumé, unofficial transcripts, and a letter of recommendation. If you’re a past scholarship recipient, don’t hesitate to re-apply!Show Less

Multiple awards worth $5,000 - $10,000
Expected deadline February 2025
Grade Level College Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors & Grad Students
Get Started

CIEF Scholarships in Architecture

Offered by Construction Industry Education Foundation

Multiple awards worth up to $4,000
Expected deadline February 2025
Grade Level College & Graduate Students

Offered by Construction Industry Education Foundation

Are you a minority student from California majoring in architecture? If so, consider applying for the CIEF Scholarships in Architecture! The scholarships are open to…Show More

Are you a minority student from California majoring in architecture? If so, consider applying for the CIEF Scholarships in Architecture! The scholarships are open to…Show More

Are you a minority student from California majoring in architecture? If so, consider applying for the CIEF Scholarships in Architecture! The scholarships are open to minority students with a permanent California address pursuing a postsecondary degree in architecture. The program includes two types of scholarships: a five-year scholarship leading to a Bachelor's or Master's in Architecture and a Community College Scholarship for students who plan to transfer to a Bachelor's or Master's of Architecture Program from a community college. The scholarships are funded by the Construction Industry Education Foundation (CIEF) to help increase the representation of minorities in the Architecture profession. The foundation works to “introduce and engage high school students and young adults to the rewarding careers available in the built environment.” Every year, recipients of the “bachelor’s or master’s in architecture” scholarship earn $4,000 per year while “Community College scholarship​” recipients receive $2,000 per year. If you are a minority student passionate about obtaining a degree in architecture, we encourage you to apply!Show Less

Multiple awards worth up to $4,000
Expected deadline February 2025
Grade Level College & Graduate Students
Get Started
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How to win scholarships for transfer students

Like any type of scholarship, transfer student scholarships are highly competitive and the vast majority of opportunities receive way more applications than they can give awards to. For this reason, it’s important to put together compelling applications in order to maximize your chances of winning. One of the best ways to do this is doing some research into the organization offering the scholarship, and giving the scholarship listing a close read. Try to find what values and principles they are looking for in a candidate, and emphasize these in your application.

It’s also important to fine-tune your essays in order to maximize your chances. We can help you through this process with a collection of guides on assembling scholarship applications. These include guides on how to write a winning scholarship essayhow to write about yourself, and how to tailor your writing to 250 or 500 word limits. We can also walk you through the steps of making a scholarship resume, and give you tutorials on answering some of the most common scholarship prompts.

You should also be sure to contact the financial aid and admissions offices at schools you are considering transferring to, in order to see if they offer any scholarships for incoming transfers. Finally, don’t forget about local scholarships! Local scholarships have a much lower number of applicants, so you have a higher chance of winning. Try looking at some local community organizations to see if they offer any opportunities.

Resources for transfer students & students considering transferring

The process of transferring schools can be complicated and involves a lot of choices. Luckily, we have some guides to help you through. Check out our guides on how to transfer colleges, how to transfer from a community college to a four-year university, and how to write a transfer essay. It’s important to use a different focus in your transfer essays than you did in your initial admissions essay, and this guide will help you with those differences. Finally, don’t forget to fill out the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile for your prospective school!

Also see: Can you transfer into an ivy league school?

Transfer scholarships from honor societies

There are several academic honor societies out there that offer transfer scholarships to students. If you are a member in any of the organizations or are considering membership, these scholarships can be a great opportunity.

Phi Theta Kappa

Phi Theta Kappa is a national honor society with over 3.8 million members. They offer a whole host of transfer scholarships for members, which you can access through their PTK Connect portal. Some are based on GPA whereas others may depend more on financial need and other extracurricular achievement.

Tau Sigma

Tau Sigma is a national honor society exclusively for transfer students. They run several scholarship programs, including ones for international students who are transferring schools. If you are looking to pursue your bachelor’s degree at a different college, don’t forget to check out Tau Sigma!

How does transferring affect financial aid?

When considering whether to transfer schools, it’s important to investigate how the decision would affect your financial aid. You will have to go through the financial aid process with your new school and see how much money they can offer you. Remember, institutional need-based and merit-based financial aid will not transfer with you.

Transferring does not affect your Pell Grant or federal loans, but all other forms of institutional aid will change, and some renewable private scholarships may not transfer. So, if you already are on a private scholarship, make sure to be in touch with the servicers to ensure that the scholarship awards would transfer to your new school.

Frequently asked questions about scholarships for transfer students

Can transfer students get full merit scholarships?

Transfer students may be eligible for full merit scholarships, but this will vary from college to college. It is best to check with the specific college you are looking at. If you talking about private scholarships, most of these awards will not cover full tuition, room, and board. To get an idea of what full scholarships are, and how they differ from full rides, check out our article on the subject

How do transfer scholarships work?

Transfer scholarships work in a similar way to other college scholarships. Students will need to complete the required application materials and apply by the stated deadline. There is nothing else that you need to worry about just because you are a transfer student! You’ll submit any materials to the college you are transferring into rather than the one you transfer from.

Do transfers get financial aid?

It depends! Just like when you applied to college the first time, your financial aid will depend on your financial need. Some colleges will offer generous financial aid for transfer students, while others may not commit to meeting 100% of demonstrated need for accepted transfer students. We always recommend talking to a financial aid officer at the college in question. Luckily, when it comes to federal aid, transfer students are just as eligible as anyone else. That means you’ll still be eligible for the Pell Grant if your finances qualify you. You can also take out federal subsidized loans, Parent PLUS loans, and more.

Do transfer students who are transferring from community colleges qualify for scholarships or financial aid?

All of the above scholarships will be available to community college students who are applying to four year colleges or universities. In fact, some states have special programs for students who transfer from in-state community colleges to in-state colleges (the NJ STARS program is one such initiative in the state of New Jersey).You will also continue to qualify for federal aid such as the Pell Grant, Stafford Loans, unsubsidized loans, and Parent PLUS loans. It’s also a good idea to reach out to the college you’re transferring into, as they might have resources for local scholarships to apply to.

What colleges give transfer scholarships?

There are a good number of colleges which offer transfer scholarships. Grand Valley State University, for example, offers transfer scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 per semester. The University of Alabama also has a wide variety of transfer scholarships, some of which range up to full tuition. Oftentimes, these programs are set up for in-state students who graduate from a community college.

Can transfer students receive Pell Grants?

Yes! Transfer students are just as eligible to receive Pell Grants as any undergraduate student. As long as you are below your Pell Grant lifetime limit, you will be eligible. However, this limit equates to about six years of full-time school, so it is very rare to exceed it.

Should transfer students use the FAFSA?

Yes! Every student should fill out the FAFSA to qualify for federal, state, and institutional aid. It’s just as important for transfer students to fill out the FAFSA as it is for students who have attended the same university throughout their whole tenure. Make sure to fill out the FAFSA before the deadline! Although transferring can be a hectic process, you want to make sure not to fall behind on FAFSA paperwork and lose out on financial aid.

When should I apply for scholarships as a transfer student?

It’s never too early to apply for scholarships as a transfer student. Whether you’re applying to transfer-specific scholarships, or any scholarship opportunity, you’ll see year-round deadlines. Remember to apply early and often to maximize your chances at earning great scholarship opportunities. A great place to start for this is our free scholarship search tool. It’ll match you with vetted scholarship opportunities custom-matched to your demographics and academic interests. Opportunities auto-update as new ones open, and you can use the tool to plan your application strategy and keep track of deadlines.

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