Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to Ball State Presidential Scholarships and More

Ball State University offers a range of scholarships and financial aid options to make education accessible and affordable. This article provides an overview of the Presidential Scholarship, other merit-based scholarships, and awards available to both incoming and current students. Ball State awards about $286 million in financial aid each year, including scholarships, grants, loans, and work programs, so understanding the various opportunities is crucial for prospective and current students.

Presidential Scholarship: Recognizing Academic Excellence

The Ball State University Presidential Scholarship is a prestigious award open to outstanding high school seniors, both in-state and out-of-state. 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), provided recipients enroll in on-campus classes as full-time, degree-seeking students.

It's important to note that in certain circumstances, other financial aid you receive may result in your award being reduced. All financial aid you receive, when combined with the Presidential Scholarship, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.

Additional Awards That Supplement the Presidential Scholarship

Several awards can supplement the Presidential Scholarship, providing additional financial support to deserving students. These include:

The Whitinger Scholarship: This is the signature scholarship of the Honors College and the most prestigious scholarship awarded by Ball State. It supplements Ball State’s Presidential Scholarship to provide full tuition and required fees plus on-campus room and board for eight new Honors College students of exceptional potential each year. This scholarship covers full tuition (in-state or out-of-state), mandatory fees (those which apply automatically to all students), and on-campus room and board (a typical DeHority Complex shared double room with 14 meals per week) for eight semesters of undergraduate study. Requirements include returning a completed application by the stated deadline. Scholarship recipients are selected by a committee based on their academic ability, character, creativity, and potential for leadership. Honors College applicants who qualify for this award will receive application materials via their Ball State Applicant Status Portal. Please check your portal daily for an application notification; we send out applications each day. You must submit your completed application via your student portal by the December 6 deadline. Specific information is on the application form.

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The Ellison Scholarship: The Ellison Scholarship, in combination with the Presidential Scholarship, covers the amount of tuition and mandatory fees (student service, health, technology, and recreation fees). It also provides for on-campus room and board based on the standard, two person, 21 meal plan rate. The award is to be used for eight semesters of undergraduate study and is subject to annual review of your leadership activities and academic progress by the selection committee. Students who live off-campus are still eligible to receive an amount equal to the same rate. However, students living at home with parents and commuting are awarded $2,000 for the room and board portion of the scholarship. The Ellison Scholarship, in combination with all other federal, state, institutional and private scholarships, cannot exceed the cost of attendance established by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Additional awards can affect and reduce the total amount of the Ellison Scholarship award.

Merit-Based Scholarships: Recognizing Academic Achievement

Ball State University offers several merit-based scholarships to recognize outstanding academic achievement. These scholarships are available to both in-state and out-of-state students.

Ball State Scholars Award: Selected outstanding high school seniors are awarded a Ball State Scholars Award. The award is open to in-state and out-of-state students. 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. 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 Scholars Award, cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.
Distinction Scholarship: Selected out-of-state outstanding high school seniors are awarded a Distinction Scholarship. 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. 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.

Program-Specific and Need-Based Scholarships

In addition to the general merit-based scholarships, Ball State offers scholarships targeted towards specific programs or based on financial need.

Honors College Scholarships

The Honors College at Ball State provides several scholarships exclusively for its students, recognizing their exceptional potential and supporting their academic pursuits. These awards are renewable for a total of eight semesters, subject to an annual review of the recipient’s overall GPA, eligibility, and progress toward completing the honors curriculum.

The Wehman Scholarship: This scholarship supplements Ball State’s Presidential Scholarship to provide full in-state tuition for a new Honors College student.
The Strong Scholarship: This scholarship provides in-state tuition for a new Honors College student from Indiana pursuing a major in nursing, business, architecture, or music. This award was established by Mr. and Mrs. O.L.
The Meyer Scholarship: The Meyer Scholarship provides substantial assistance (currently $8,000 per year) to a new Honors College student who has demonstrated financial need and exceptional potential.
The Fields Scholarship: This scholarship supports new Honors College students who demonstrate financial need. This award was established by its namesakes, both longtime Muncie residents. Mrs. Fields was a graduate of Ball State, a local teacher, and past president of the Muncie Business and Professional Women's Club. Upon graduation from Muncie Central High School, Dr. Fields received a Harvard National Scholarship for undergraduate and graduate study at Harvard University and was a research chemist at DuPont Co.

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The Gilpin Scholarship: This scholarship supports new Honors College students who demonstrate financial need.
The Haave Scholarship: The Haave Scholarship is a need-based award established by Carole (Kinder) Schreiber and Arthur Schreiber, Honors College graduates who first met in an honors course taught by Prof. Haave. They fondly remember Prof. Haave as an outstanding teacher whose course had educational impact far beyond the term.
The Harding Scholarship: The Harding Scholarship for new Honors College students was established by Patricia “Trisha” Ann Harding, who earned a master’s degree from Ball State and taught middle and high school classes in Connecticut for more than 35 years.
The Hickman Scholarship: The Hickman Scholarship is a need-based award that provides support to a new Honors College student majoring in music.
The Ho Scholarship: The Ho Scholarship was established by its namesakes to support an outstanding new freshman or transfer Honors College student. Born in California, Mr. Ho enrolled and graduated from Ball State after his service in the Army during World War II. Relocating to Pasadena after military service in Korea, Mr. and Mrs.
The Walters Scholarship: This scholarship supports a new Honors College student who demonstrates strong academic potential.
The Rinker Scholarship: The Rinker Scholarship provides a $2,000 award for new Honors College students who participate in a study abroad program. Scholarships are offered to several eligible students each year. The award can be applied toward the cost of an Honors College study abroad experience (which typically ranges from $2,000 to $3,500) or another authorized Ball State undergraduate study abroad program. At the time of the award, recipients must be making regular progress toward completing the Honors College curriculum with a minimum 3.33 overall GPA.
The Trimmer Scholarship: The Trimmer Scholarship provides $2,800 per year to an Honors College student who is entering the sophomore year and pursuing a major in the arts or humanities. The award is renewable with certain conditions for a total of three years. Dr. Joe Trimmer is professor emeritus of English and director emeritus of the Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry at Ball State.
Ruebel Fellowships: Several Ruebel Fellowships are awarded annually to Honors College students who are poised to make an impact in either an international setting, in a local community, or both. A signature element of the Honors College under Dean Ruebel’s leadership was the expansion of study abroad and other innovative learning experiences.
The Lawhead Scholarship: This award honors Dr. Victor Lawhead and his wife, Doris. Dr. Lawhead was named dean of undergraduate programs at Ball State in 1958 and established what is now the Honors College that same year.
The Edmonds Scholarship: This scholarship provides $3,000 in financial assistance each biennium for an Honors College student preparing to study abroad. Drs.
Saxman Grants: The Saxman Grants support and assist Honors College students with opportunities for meaningful research and scholarly activities as undergraduates. To be considered for these grants, students must submit a declaration of intent form to the Honors College before submitting a proposal to MEHA or NCHC.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

Emens Leadership Scholarship: The Emens Leadership Scholarship is open to both in-state and out-of-state students. Fifteen new Emens Leadership Scholarships are currently awarded each year to incoming freshmen. The Scholarship is currently valued at $4650 per academic year. Most Emens Leadership Scholars also receive a Presidential Scholarship, Ball State Scholar, or a similar award that, when combined with the Emens award, approximates a full in-state tuition award. The Emens awards are for eight semesters and are subject to an annual review of the student's leadership and academic progress. The Emens Leadership Scholars form a lively community of leaders on campus. They meet as a group at least twice a year, and they support and mentor each other in their wide-ranging endeavors across campus both in and out of the classroom.

Regional Tuition Savings Programs

Ball State University also participates in regional tuition savings programs to make education more affordable for students from neighboring states.

Midwest Regional Scholarship: New undergraduate students from select states in the Midwest may qualify for dramatically reduced tuition through the Ball State Midwest Regional Scholarship. This special opportunity provides significant savings from our regular out-of-state tuition rates for full-time, on-campus enrollment. This scholarship reduces Ball State’s full-time, on-campus tuition and student services fee for qualified out-of-state residents to total no more than 150% of the full-time, in-state tuition and student services fee paid by Indiana residents. To qualify for this scholarship, new first-time undergraduate students must have a cumulative weighted high school GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale). Eligible transfer students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) at their current institution and 15 transferable credit hours.
Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP): New undergraduate and graduate students from select states may qualify for dramatically reduced tuition at Ball State through the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP). This special opportunity provides significant savings from our regular out-of-state tuition rates for full-time, on-campus enrollment. MSEP reduces Ball State’s full-time, on-campus tuition and student services fee for qualified out-of-state residents to total no more than 150% of the full-time, in-state tuition and student services fee paid by Indiana residents. To qualify for MSEP, new first-time undergraduate students must have a cumulative weighted high school GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
Regional Tuition Savings Program (Ohio & Kentucky): New undergraduate and graduate students who reside in Ohio and Kentucky may qualify for dramatically reduced tuition at Ball State through the Regional Tuition Savings program. By receiving in-state tuition, this special opportunity provides significant savings from our regular tuition rate for out-of-state students.
Provost Award (Kentucky & Ohio): This award is open to eligible new incoming freshmen from Kentucky and Ohio. This award can be applied towards institutional charges including tuition, fees, and room and board.

Additional Opportunities for Honors College Students

Honors Undergraduate Fellows Program: Through the Honors Undergraduate Fellows Program, Honors College students can partner with faculty mentors on scholarly projects and receive pay for 150 hours of work for each semester of their fellowship. Fellowship appointments may span one or two semesters, depending on the nature of the proposed project. Students may apply as early as their second semester for fellowships in subsequent semesters.

How to Apply and Maximize Your Chances

To be considered for most financial aid, you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For full scholarship consideration, submit your application and all application materials by December 1. Please check your Ball State portal for an application notification for specific scholarships.

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