Scholarships

University scholarship awards disburse in accordance with the University's financial aid award policy. Consistent with University policy, the total annual aid amount awarded to a student, including all scholarships and grants, cannot exceed cost of attendance at the University of Minnesota.

Financial aid awards (e.g., loans, work study, scholarships, or grants) may be reduced for students whose total aid exceeds the cost of their program for the academic year, as determined by the Office of Student Finance.

When you receive a scholarship from an organization outside of the University of Minnesota, your existing financial aid awards will be reviewed and adjustments may be made based on the receipt of your scholarship(s). You may see a reduction in other types of aid, such as loans, work-study, or institutional aid.

The University of Minnesota will allow you to receive the maximum benefits of any scholarships within the US Department of Education guidelines.

Many scholarships require full-time enrollment. Information on eligibility for financial aid is available.

Please include the following information with each scholarship check:

• Student's full legal name
• Student's University ID number. If the student's University ID number is not available, please include home address or the last 4 digits of their Social Security number.
• Scholarship donor's name, address, and phone number.
• Letter from donor with any scholarship stipulations. If the full scholarship is intended for a particular term, please include it on the donor's letter or the memo section of the check (e.g. "Fall only," "Check 1/2"...).
• If the check is made out to both the student and the University, the student must visit One Stop Student Services in person to endorse the check. 

Please send scholarship checks to:

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Office of Student Finance, Fiscal Unit
160 Williamson Hall
231 Pillsbury Dr. SE 
Minneapolis, MN 55455

The Regents Scholarship Program covers a portion of tuition costs for eligible University of Minnesota employees enrolled in University of Minnesota credit-bearing courses. More information on the Regents Scholarship Program is available. 

Please visit our Health Care Scholars Day page to find out more about the UMR scholarships available to incoming students and how to be considered for one: Health Care Scholars Day

UMR scholarships for continuing students are listed below. The application is made available during spring term of each academic year, typically around Spring Break. All current UMR students planning to continue studies through UMR the following academic year are encouraged to search for applicable scholarships and apply.

If you will be a new student with UMR, please see our scholarships for incoming students: Health Care Scholars Day

Continuing Student Scholarship Application

The continuing student scholarship application opens in the spring annually. Please watch the Raptor Report for specific dates when the application is open.

Leonard and Fern Anderson Scholarship

Eligibility

• Full-time, undergraduate students in their second, third, or fourth year, and graduate students are encouraged to apply.
• Three broadly-based areas of involvement will be considered for scholarship qualification:
  • Academic goals
  • Work or volunteer activities
  • Community involvement
• Candidates should be able to identify their financial need.
• Candidates should be able to demonstrate a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in high school or prior post-secondary academic coursework.

Award

• One $1,000 scholarship will be awarded.

Jim and Sue Clausen Scholarship

Eligibility

• Candidates must be enrolled in coursework offered at the University of Minnesota, Rochester with a junior status in fall 2017.
• Students who are traditional or non-traditional, full-time or part-time, and pursuing an undergraduate or professional school degree are all encouraged to apply.
• In accordance with the donors' wishes, a plus factor will be given to students pursuing a health-sciences degree.
• Additionally, a plus factor will be given to applicants from Steele and Olmsted counties in Minnesota, then to students from the state of Minnesota.
• Scholarships will be awarded based on financial need as well as merit.

Award

• One $1,000 scholarship will be awarded.

Kereakos Family Scholarship

Eligibility

• Candidates must be planning to attend or are already enrolled in a health-sciences program at the University of Minnesota, Rochester.
• Traditional and non-traditional, full-time and part-time students who are taking courses for credit are encouraged to apply.
• Candidates must meet one of the following criteria:
  • Have earned a minimum of 12 credits at Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Have immigrated to the United States. This includes:
• The spouse of an individual who has immigrated to the United States, or
• The child of a parent(s) who has (have) immigrated to the United States, or
• The first generation descendents of immigrant parents who were born in the United States.
• Candidates should have an established home address in southeastern Minnesota.
• Candidates with financial need will take precedence.
• Three broadly-based areas of involvement will be considered for scholarship qualification:
  • Volunteer activities
  • Community involvement
  • Work history

Award

• Three $500 scholarships will be awarded.

In Memory of Katherine Marchesani Scholarship

Eligibility

• Candidates must be enrolled in coursework offered at the University of Minnesota, Rochester with a junior or senior status in fall 2018.
• Candidates must submit an original poem for consideration of scholarship.

Award

• One $500 scholarship will be awarded.

Women Supporting Success through Education

Eligibility

• Traditional and non-traditional, full-time and part-time, undergraduate and graduate students who are taking a minimum of three semester credits are encouraged to apply.
• Selected candidates may use the funds to support their education. Examples of appropriate use include:
  • Childcare
  • Fees
  • Books
  • Transportation
  • Other expenses directly related to pursuing higher education
• Scholarship funds are not designated for tuition costs. Depending on the use of the funds, the recipient may be liable for tax on certain portions of the award.
• In accordance with the donors' wishes, a plus factor will be given to female students who have demonstrated financial need.
• Three broadly-based areas of involvement will be considered for scholarship qualification:
  • Reasons for seeking degree, licensure, or certificate
  • How the applicant plans to use the degree, licensure, or certificate to benefit self and others
  • Financial need

Award

• Three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded.
• Funds may be used for education-related expenses, but may not be applied to tuition.

Elaine Case and Bill Wiktor Scholarship

Eligibility

• The purpose of the Fund is to provide financial support to students at the University of Minnesota Rochester who are pursuing the emerging health technologies pathway. This award may be renewable to the recipient, provided the recipient demonstrates satisfactory progress toward a degree and continues to meet the criteria of the award.
• Students are eligible to be considered for this award if they are:
  • attending the University of Minnesota Rochester;
  • undergraduate degree seeking students
  • studying towards a degree in the area of health sciences and focus is emerging health technologies.

Award

• One $750 Scholarship

Diversity Home Health Group Scholarship

Eligibility

• To be awarded to a UMR student in their sophomore, junior, or senior year who demonstrates financial need and academic merit. The student must be pursuing a degree in the health, science, and/or medical field and maintain a GPA of 3.2.

Award

• One $500 Scholarship

UMR Results Foundation Housing Scholarship

Eligibility

• To provide one UMR student a one-year (non-renewable) housing scholarship. Must live in on-campus housing for academic year 202-2023

Award

• One $3,500 Scholarship

Cooperative scholarships 

Cooperative scholarships are often given to University of Minnesota students, but they are administered and awarded by outside agencies or organizations.

• Horatio Alger Association Scholarship 
• Minnesota Indian Scholarship Program
• Page Foundation Scholarship
• Wallin Scholarship
• Tillman Military Scholars Program
• Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Military Scholarships. For more information, contact the University of Minnesota ROTC departments below:
  • Military Science (U. S. Army)
  • Aerospace Studies (U. S. Air Force)
    • National U.S. AFROTC website
  • Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corp

Additional campus-wide resources

Multiple scholarships may be listed under each resource link. Pay special attention to campus requirements for eligibility purposes. Some scholarships listed are not available to University of Minnesota, Rochester students and will be noted as such, but many are.

• Disability Resource Center scholarships
• Freshman scholarships 
• Gender and Sexuality Center for Queer and Trans Life resources
• Graduate Fellowship Office 
• Graduate Assistant Employment Office
• Learning Abroad Center Study Abroad Scholarship Search
• Office for Equity and Diversity (OED) scholarships
• U Promise scholarship 

Several websites provide information on scholarships that are available nationwide. A few of them are listed below:

• The College Board
• College Express Search
• Fastweb!
• FinAID: The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid
• Scholarships.com: Free College Scholarship Search & Financial Aid resource
• Thomson-Peterson's Financing Education
• USNEWS financial aid 
• Study Abroad Funding from IIE Passport

For information about outside assistance programs available for some professional admissions exams, please visit the following links:

• AAMS (MCAT) Fee Assistance Program
• GRE Fee Reduction Program

A letter of thanks to your donor(s) is one of the best ways to convey your gratitude and let them know the impact their generosity is having on you.

Guidelines to help you craft your letter:

• Brevity is key, but tell the donor(s) about yourself and the impact their generosity has on your education and future goals.
• Be genuine and sincere in your tone, and try to show your personality.
• Acknowledge your enthusiasm and excitement about receiving the scholarship.
• Grammar and spelling should be correct, so be sure to proofread.
• If you choose to handwrite your message, please make sure it is neat and legible.
• Above all, convey your message of thanks clearly and concisely.

Consider sharing your background:

• Hometown
• Family background
• Experiences and life situations that led you to pursue a degree at the UMR

Include information about your current situation:

• Degree(s) and study plans
• Involvement and/or activities both on- and off-campus
• Research and/or internships in which you have taken part, or plan to

Describe how the scholarship support will help you meet, or exceed, your educational goals.

Finally, consider including your future plans:

• What you hope to accomplish while a UMR student
• Plans for after graduation, i.e. graduate school or career aspirations

If you have questions about your scholarship, please contact the college/department that awarded the scholarship. You may also contact us.