Diversity Scholarships

MSUM offers a variety of diversity scholarships for current and incoming students. Students can apply for these scholarships through the online scholarship application October 1-February 1.

Access, Opportunity & Success Scholars Diversity

This scholarship is available to new freshman and new transfer students, seeking their first Bachelor's degree, admitted to MSUM from an underrepresented or underserved population, US citizen or permanent resident.  Eligible students identify as African American/Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic/Latino.

Preference will be given to students pursuing their first college degree.  Financial need will be considered in the selection process.  Financial need is determined through the FAFSA.  If you have not completed a FAFSA already, you can do so at www.fafsa.gov. 

Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress and be registered for at least 12 credits per semester.

Diversity - ODI Scholarship

This scholarship is available to students from an underrepresented or underserved population who meet the following conditions:  identify as African American/Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, and/or Hispanic/Latino; undergraduate or graduate student; US Citizen or Permanent Resident.

Must complete at least 12 credits per semester and maintain at least a 2.00 GPA or higher every semester. May be renewed for subsequent semesters, contingent upon funding.

Earl, Violette and Louise Warner Diversity

This scholarship is available to students who identify as Hispanic/Latino; undergraduate or graduate student; US Citizen or Permanent Resident.

Must complete at least 12 credits per semester and maintain at least a 2.00 GPA or higher every semester. May be renewed for subsequent semesters, contingent upon funding.

Elvina Loftness Native American

This scholarship is designated for American Indian or Native American students of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of South Dakota.  In memory of Palma Nelson Loftness.

Must complete at least 12 credits per semester and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA.  May be renewed for subsequent semesters, contingent upon funding.

George Soule

This scholarship is available to American Indian students (tribal enrollment is not required).

Must complete at least 12 credits per semester and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA every semester. May be renewed for subsequent semesters, contingent upon funding.

Helen Roberti Diversity

This scholarship is available to American Indian students (tribal enrollment is not required). Must be a Full time student.

May be renewed for subsequent semesters, contingent upon funding.

James and Yvonne Condell Scholarship

Available to undergraduate students seeking their first undergraduate degree, from a culturally diverse background, who are either entering freshmen or transfer students with high academic standing and accomplishments. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or refugee candidate to apply. The Scholarship is competitive; selection is based on the applicant's strengths and attributes. The scholarship is for $3,000 per year, renewable based on maintaining a cumulative minimum GPA of 3.0 at the end of each spring semester. If awarded, this replaces any academic scholarship previously awarded.

This scholarship is awarded as funds become available.

Financial need is determined through the FAFSA. If you have not completed a FAFSA already, you can do so at www.fafsa.gov.  FAFSA results must be received by the scholarship application deadline date.

Joseph Thorman Hispanic

This scholarship is designated for Hispanic students from South Texas.  Freshman applicants must have graduated in the top 25 percent of their class, and upperclassmen must have a minimum GPA of 3.5.

Must complete at least 12 credits per semester and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA every semester.

Kathryn Collitan Native American

This scholarship is available to American Indian students (tribal enrollment not required), with preference given to students in the Honors program.

Must complete at least 12 credits per semester and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA. May be renewed for subsequent semesters, contingent upon funding.

MSUM Diversity

This scholarship is available to students from an underrepresented or underserved population who meet the following conditions:  Identify as African American/Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, and/or Hispanic/Latino; undergraduate or graduate student; US Citizen or Permanent Resident.

Must complete at least 12 credits per semester and maintain at least a 2.00 GPA or higher every semester. May be renewed for subsequent semester, contingent upon funding.

Rainbow (LGBTQ+)

MSUM students who identify as LGBTQ+, and are leaders in the LGBTQ+ community are eligible for this scholarship.

The LGBTQ+ Rainbow Endowed Scholarship was founded in 1999 by Minnesota State University Moorhead alumni, faculty and staff. The endowment recognizes students’ affirmation of LGBTQ+ identity and encourages service and leadership to the LGBTQ+ community.

Attach a 250-500 word essay describing your service to or leadership in the LGBTQ+ community within the past two years.

External Scholarships

  • Page Education Foundation Grant
    The Page Education Foundation provides educational grants to students of color throughout Minnesota, helping them realize their potential and value education.
  • The Gates Scholarship
    The Gates Scholarship is a highly selective, full scholarship for exceptional, Pell-eligible, minority, high school seniors. Starting in 2018, the scholarship will be awarded to 300 top student leaders each year with the intent of promoting their academic excellence through college graduation, and providing them with the opportunity to reach their full potential.
  • Buick Achievers Scholarship
    Funded by the GM Foundation, the Buick Achievers Scholarship Program awards up to $25,000 per year, for up to four or five years, to 50 college students. Over the course of the scholarship’s existence, the program has helped more than 3,400 students achieve their dream of attending college.
  • The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
    The JRF scholarship is awarded to outstanding high school graduates who plan to earn a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college or university. Additional fellowships are given to JRF Scholars to pursue opportunities to work and study abroad, and for post-graduate education.
  • National Society of High School Scholars Foundation
    NSHSS Foundation scholarships have been created to help reduce financial barriers for high school students as they prepare for upcoming careers in STEM majors (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), business, economics, public policy, and environmental science and sustainability. The scholarships are targeted towards high school seniors, or rising college freshmen, who belong to groups generally under-represented in these careers.

African American/Black Student Scholarships

Asian/Pacific Islander Student Scholarships

Hispanic/Latino Student Scholarships

American Indian/Alaska Native Student Scholarships

First Generation Student Scholarships

  • Scholarships.com List of Scholarships for First Generation Students
    Listing of numerous scholarships available to first generation college students.
  • Mercedes Benz Drive Your Future Scholarship
    Provides ‘First in Family’ opportunities for high school seniors who are the first members of their immediate families to matriculate. The scholarship is open to high-achievers that combine stellar academic performance with extracurricular success. Every year MBUSA awards dozens of these scholarships to academically motivated, financially needy college students. The program expects recipients to return the favor by serving their communities as volunteers, activists and community advocates.

Pell Grant Eligible Student Scholarships

  • Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
    The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, thereby gaining skills critical to our national security and economic competitiveness. The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.