Scholarships

Undergraduate Scholarships

The University offers several merit awards based on academic achievement to incoming freshman who qualify for admission. These awards include Presidential Scholar Awards, Frederick Douglass Scholar Awards, and Achievement Awards and are in addition to any need-based aid to which the student may be entitled. Award amounts range from $1,000 to $6,000 per year and may vary based on the year of acceptance and residency status. Transfer students who qualify for fall admission can apply for a Transfer Presidential Scholar Award of $1,000 per year for two years. To be considered, students must have an outstanding academic record (3.5 GPA or higher) and plan to continue their education as a full-time student. Phi Theta Kappa members will receive special consideration. Students can receive additional information about these scholarships by contacting the Undergraduate Admissions Office at 518-442-5435. Scholarships Paid to the University Most scholarships awarded by the University such as University Honors, Frederick Douglass, and Athletic Scholarships, and most external donor scholarships are paid directly to the Office of Student Accounts on your behalf.  Because we receive these funds directly from the program or donor, we credit these scholarships up-front as anticipated aid on your account as soon as you or the donor informs us about them. When such scholarship checks from donors are made payable to the University, we simply credit them to your account as soon as we receive them.  When a scholarship check from a donor is made payable to you, we send out a postcard asking you to come to the Office of Student Accounts Bursar counter to endorse it and then apply the amount to your account. Scholarships Paid Directly to the Student Other scholarships, such as some external donor scholarships, are paid directly to you -- not to the Office of Student Accounts.  For this reason, they are not credited as anticipated aid on your account.  You may use the money for any education-related expense. Scholarships Can Change Your Financial Aid Eligibility If you are receiving financial aid, you must inform the University's Financial Aid Office of any scholarship you receive from any source outside the University.  If you do not, you may be overfunded with financial aid and may owe a repayment.  That is, the amount of other financial aid may be reduced because of the scholarship, resulting in a new "balance due" on your account.