Discontinued Scholarships

This scholarship is no longer being awarded after the 2017 Fall Semester.

Ball State’s Academic Recognition Scholarship qualifies eligible minority, out-of-state high school seniors who have maintained a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) for the equivalent of in-state tuition rates. This scholarship is worth more than $60,000 over the course of four years.

Students receiving this award are still responsible for paying the equivalent of in-state tuition rates and fees.

This scholarship is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study (ten semesters for students in an undergraduate major that requires a fifth year to complete) at Ball State, and is renewable if your cumulative grade point average (GPA) is 2.0 or higher at the end of each academic year.

This scholarship may be applied only to institutional charges. All financial aid you receive, when combined with the Academic Recognition Scholarship, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.

You must enroll in on-campus classes as a full-time, degree-seeking student to be eligible for this scholarship.

Academic Recognition Scholarship recipients are not eligible to also receive the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP) award.

To accept this prestigious scholarship, you must submit an Enrollment Confirmation Form with your $100 nonrefundable enrollment deposit to Ball State's Office of Admissions by May 1 or two weeks after acceptance notification.

If you have questions about this scholarship, please call the Office of Admissions at 800-482-4278 (toll-free), 765-285-8300, or TTY users only 765-285-2205.

The Ball State Fast Track Scholarship is awarded to participants in the Ivy Tech Fast Track program.  This scholarship is no longer being awarded after the 2017 Spring Semester.  Students who have previously been awarded the Fast Track Scholarship will continue to be eligible to renew it pending the student meets the renewal criteria listed below. 

The scholarship pays up to $1,500 per year ($750 per semester) for up to seven semesters or 120 credit hours.

To be eligible, you must:

• be an Indiana resident
• complete the required 15 credit hours in the Fast Track program during the fall semester with a 3.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) or better
• be an undergraduate enrolled in on-campus classes as a full-time degree seeking student

To renew the scholarship, you must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0. If the grade point average drops below the required 3.0 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative grade point average is raised to a 3.0 or above at the end of any subsequent semester, the award can be reinstated upon request.

Selected outstanding high school seniors are awarded a Ball State Rising Cardinal Award. The award is open to in-state students. This award pays for institutional charges for tuition, fees, and room and board.  This scholarship is no longer being awarded after the 2021 Spring Semester. 

For Those Awarded 2020-21

• In-state students can receive $2,000 a year ($1,000 a semester) for a total of $8,000.

In certain circumstances, other financial aid you receive may result in your award being reduced. All financial aid you receive, when combined with the Ball State Rising Cardinal Award, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance. Ball State Rising Cardinal recipients must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. If the GPA drops below 3.0 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 3.0 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The award is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study (ten semesters for students in an undergraduate major that requires a fifth year to complete). Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, degree-seeking students.

This scholarship has been discontinued and is no longer available for new students.  Current students who have been awarded will continue to receive the scholarship under the original terms of the award.

Ball State University offers a variety of scholarships to high-achieving students based on their admissions application, test scores, academic performance, and other factors. Not all students who meet the minimum qualifications will be offered a scholarship. The number of scholarships awarded each year is dependent on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the size and quality of the incoming freshman class. There is no additional application required for these scholarships and recipients will be notified as they are selected.

The Ball State STEM Scholarship is awarded to a select group of Indiana Presidential Scholarship recipients enrolled in approved STEM degree programs. This award supplements the Presidential Scholarship and pays up to $3,000 per year ($1,500 per semester).  All financial aid you receive, when combined with the STEM Scholarship, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance. The scholarship is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study (ten semesters for students in an undergraduate major that requires a fifth year to complete). Recipients must be enrolled in on-campus classes as full-time degree seeking students.

Renewal: If the student changes majors to a degree not classified as STEM, the award will not be renewed. The student must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0. If the grade point average drops below the required 3.0 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative grade point average is raised to a 3.0 or above at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request.

Ball State University's Beneficence Scholar Award is no longer awarded.  Prior recipients still enrolled must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.  If the GPA drops below 3.0 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed.  However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 3.0 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request.  The grant may be received for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study.  Recipients must be enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, degree-seeking students.  This scholarship may only be applied to institutional charges.  All institutional grants and awards you receive, when combined with the Beneficence Scholar Award, can't exceed the total cost of attendance.

To learn more, contact the Office of Admissions at askus@bsu.edu or 800-482-4BSU.

Ball State's Distinction Scholarship for selected outstanding high school seniors who live in-state are no longer being awarded after the 2020 Fall Semester.

• In-state students can receive $2,500 a year (maximum of $1,250 a semester) for a four-year total of $10,000.

In certain circumstances, other financial aid you receive may result in your award being reduced. All financial aid you receive, when combined with the Ball State Distinction Scholarship, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.  Distinction Scholars must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If the GPA drops below 2.5 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 2.5 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The scholarship is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study (ten semesters for students in an undergraduate major that requires a fifth year to complete). Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, degree-seeking students.

Selected out-of-state high school seniors are awarded an Impact Grant. This award may pay institutional charges for tuition, fees, and room and board. In certain circumstances, other financial aid you receive may result in your award being reduced. All financial aid you receive, when combined with the Impact Grant, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.  This scholarship is no longer being awarded after the 2022 Spring Semester. 

For Those Awarded 2021-22

• Out-of-state students can receive $11,000 a year (maximum of $5,500 a semester) for a four-year total of $44,000.

In certain circumstances, other financial aid you receive may result in your award being reduced. All financial aid you receive, when combined with the Impact Grant, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.  Impact Grant students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If the GPA drops below 2.5 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 2.5 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The grant is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study (ten semesters for students in an undergraduate major that requires a fifth year to complete). Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, Bachelor's degree-seeking students.

For Those Awarded 2021-22

• International Undergraduate students can receive $6,000 a year for a four-year total of $24,000.

Ball State International Distinction Scholarship students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If the GPA drops below 2.5 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 2.5 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The award is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study. Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, degree-seeking students. 

For Those Awarded 2021-22

• International Undergraduate students can receive $4,000 a year for a four-year total of $16,000.

Ball State International Achievement Scholarship students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If the GPA drops below 2.5 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 2.5 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The award is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study. Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, degree-seeking students.

For Those Awarded 2021-22

• International Undergraduate students can receive $8,000 a year for a four-year total of $32,000.

Ball State International Honors Scholarship students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If the GPA drops below 2.5 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 2.5 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The award is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study. Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, degree-seeking students.

For Those Awarded 2021-22

• International Undergraduate students can receive $2,000 a year for a four-year total of $8,000.

Ball State International Recognition Scholarship students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If the GPA drops below 2.5 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 2.5 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The award is awarded for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study. Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, degree-seeking students.

These scholarships have been discontinued and are no longer available for new students.  Current students who have been awarded will continue to receive the scholarship under the original terms of the award.

National Recognition Scholarships 

National Recognition Scholarships, sponsored by Ball State, are awarded each year to National Merit finalists who select the university as their first choice institution.  This unrestricted scholarship is worth at total of $20,000 over four years ($2,500 per semester over eight semesters) and can be combined with other Ball State scholarships.

The scholarship is for eight semesters of undergraduate study, requires full-time enrollment (12+ credit hours) in on-campus courses, and is renewable if a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average (GPA) is maintained.  While there is no application required, eligible students must submit a copy of their National Merit Finalist letter to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

National Hispanic Recognition Scholarships

National Hispanic Recognition Scholarships, sponsored by Ball State, are awarded each year to National Hispanic finalists who select the university as their first choice institution.  This unrestricted scholarship is worth at total of $20,000 over four years ($2,500 per semester over eight semesters) and can be combined with other Ball State scholarships.

The scholarship is for eight semesters of undergraduate study, requires full-time enrollment (12+ credit hours) in on-campus courses, and is renewable if a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average (GPA) is maintained.  While there is no application required, eligible students must submit a copy of their National Hispanic Finalist letter to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

The program is available only for students who started at Ball State by Spring 2019. New students starting after Spring 2019 will not be eligible.

*As of Summer 2025 a new Reciprocity program is in place, learn more about this program.

All current students receiving these discounts will remain eligible for them during their enrollment including undergraduate and graduate studies at Ball State.  Should the student stop continuous enrollment in fall and spring semesters and resume enrollment at a later date, the tuition agreements will not be reinstated.  If a student has an approved leave of absence and maintains satisfactory academic progress, they will continue to receive this award.

Ball State offers in-state tuition to students from 14 counties in Ohio. This agreement allows legal residents of Allen, Auglaize, Butler, Darke, Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Mercer, Paulding, Preble, Putnam, Shelby, Van Wert, and Williams counties in Ohio to attend Ball State and save more than $66,000 over four years compared to the usual out-of-state rate. The in-state rate is automatically calculated based on the student’s county of legal residence so no application is required.

The Opportunity Grant is no longer awarded.  Selected out-of-state high school seniors are awarded an Opportunity Grant. Prior recipients still enrolled must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If the GPA drops below 2.5 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, the scholarship will not be renewed. However, if the cumulative GPA is raised to a 2.5 at the end of the fall or summer semester, the award can be reinstated upon request. The grant may be received for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study. Recipients must enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, degree-seeking students.  This scholarship may only be applied to institutional charges.  All institutional grants and awards received, combined with the Opportunity Grant, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.

This scholarship has been discontinued and is no longer available for new students.  Current students who have been awarded will continue to receive the scholarship under the original terms of the award.

The Presidential Room and Board Award targets a select group of Indiana residents who have been awarded a Presidential Scholarship and have financial need.

The award pays up to $3,000 a year ($1,500 per semester) toward any university room and board charge (i.e. residence hall room and board, university apartment rent, and commuter meal plan) for up to eight semesters. You must be an undergraduate student enrolled full-time in on-campus classes and seeking a degree.

To renew the award, you must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0. If your GPA drops below 3.0 at the end of the spring semester of any academic year, your scholarship will not be renewed. However, if your cumulative grade point average increases to a 3.0 or above at the end of the fall or summer semester, your award can be reinstated upon request.