Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to Detroit Mercy Scholarships and Financial Aid

University of Detroit Mercy, through the generosity of private donors, awards numerous scholarships each academic year. Understanding the landscape of available scholarships and financial aid options is crucial for students seeking to finance their education. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the scholarships, grants, and other financial aid programs offered by Detroit Mercy, along with eligibility requirements and application processes.

Understanding the Basics of Detroit Mercy Scholarships

Scholarship amounts vary and are often awarded based on factors such as demonstrated academic success, major/minor, cumulative GPA, donor-stipulated criteria, and financial need. Submitting your information does not guarantee you will receive a scholarship. It is possible that if selected for a donor scholarship this may not change the total amount of your financial aid package, but the source of funding for your scholarships would change.

How to Apply

Upon completion, students can follow their application status on their dashboard. After completing each of these steps, you can see your application status on your dashboard. If your status is not listed as “submitted”, you have not fully completed your application. Once you submit your general application, you will be auto-matched with scholarships for which you may qualify. This only shows potential matches, it does not indicate that you have been awarded a scholarship.

Merit Scholarships and Grants for Incoming Students

Merit scholarships and grants for tuition are awarded to incoming students based on information provided during the application process, including grade point averages, ACT/SAT scores, as well as leadership, service, and other extracurricular activities.

Renewal Requirements

These academic scholarships and grants are automatically renewed each year for a total of four years (eight semesters, Fall and Winter). Students must maintain a solid grade-point average, based on the University’s Scholarship and Grant Renewal Policy, and continuous, full-time enrollment. These scholarships are not applied to the Summer term.

Specific Scholarship Opportunities

University of Detroit Mercy offers a range of scholarships and grants tailored to specific student populations and academic interests.

Catholic School Grant

Starting with new enrollment in Fall 2023, students who attended a Catholic school from grades 1-12 are eligible to receive $2,000 a year. Students who attended and graduated from a Catholic high school (grades 9-12 only) are eligible to receive $1,000 a year.

Community-Based Scholarship

High school students need to be a resident of the McNichols Puritan Lodge Community Counsel (MPLCC) area, which includes the boundaries of West McNichols on the north, Lodge Freeway to the south, with Livernois on the west, and Log Cabin and Idaho Streets on the east. Candidates will be invited to a scholarship interview. This award is available each year, for four years (8 semesters, Fall and Winter) of full-time undergraduate tuition. Scholars must maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average.

Theatre Performance Scholarship

Full-time freshmen pursuing a major in theatre are eligible for the Theatre Performance Scholarship. Students must be regularly accepted into the Theatre program and are invited to audition.

Campus Visit Grant

High school students who make an official visit to University of Detroit Mercy by May 1 of their senior year will be awarded the $1,000 campus visit grant upon enrollment at Detroit Mercy.

Transfer Student Grants

Transfer students are awarded grants based on academic achievement.

Jesuit Founders Scholarship

The Jesuit Founders Scholarship awards new transfer students who have been academically successful and show promise of continued excellence. Full tuition will be met with a combination of the Jesuit Founders Scholarship as well as with other federal, state, and private grants and scholarships for which the student may be eligible. Students must be unconditionally admitted to be invited to compete for this scholarship and pursuing their first bachelor's degree.

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship

The Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship is offered to new transfer students who demonstrate exceptional academic credentials and who are also members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Full tuition will be met with a combination of the PTK Scholarship and other federal, state, and private grants and scholarships for which the student is eligible. Students must be unconditionally admitted to be invited to compete for this scholarship and pursue their first bachelor's degree.

Catholic High School Grant for Transfers

Requires full-time enrollment and is awarded to transfer students who graduated from a Catholic high school. This grant is renewable for up to two years.

Theatre Grant for Transfers

Full-time transfer students pursuing a major in theatre are eligible for the Theatre Grant. This grant is renewable for up to four years.

Read also: Red Wings: 100 Years

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

A variety of scholarships may become available as gifts are made to the University. Amounts and selections vary with the terms of the scholarships. Awardees are selected by review of eligible students, and/or by review of student requests for additional funds.

CHASS International Experience Grant

A grant for students in the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (CHASS) for the summer session International Experience. Students can obtain an application from the program coordinator in CHASS. These funds are refundable to assist with travel expenses.

Ford Employee Dependent Scholarship

Scholarships awarded each year with preference to full-time, undergraduate, minority and/or female, children or spouse of current Ford employees. Award amounts vary based on amount in fund and number of qualified applicants.

Federal Grant Programs

In addition to program-specific eligibility requirements, students must also meet general eligibility requirements to be eligible for all federal grants and loans.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree. Pell Grants provide a foundation of financial aid to which other aid may be added. The Federal Pell Grant is limited to 12 semesters, or the full time equivalent of 12 semesters.

Lifetime Eligibility Limits

The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over his or her lifetime is limited by a new federal law to be the equivalent of six years (12 semesters) of Pell Grant funding.

Scheduled Award

The maximum amount of Pell Grant funding you can receive is calculated for an “award year.” An award year is a period from July 1 of one calendar year to June 30 of the next calendar year. Your “scheduled award” is partially determined by using your expected family contribution (EFC) that is calculated from the information you (and your family) provided when you filed your FAFSA. Your scheduled award is the maximum amount you would be able to receive for the award year if you were enrolled full-time for the full school year.

Percent Used

To determine how much of the maximum six years (600%) of Pell Grant you have used each year, the Department compares the actual amount you received for the award year with your scheduled award amount for that award year. If you receive the full amount of your scheduled award, you will have used 100%. Some students do not receive their entire scheduled award for an award year. If you did not receive the full amount of your scheduled award, we calculate the percentage of the scheduled award that you did receive.

Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU)

The Department keeps track of your LEU by adding together the percentages of your Pell Grant scheduled awards that you received for each award year. To view your LEU, you may log on to Studentaid.gov using your FSA ID.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

The Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is a form of federally funded gift aid. citizens, undergraduate candidates seeking a first bachelor's degree, and demonstrate exceptional need. This program gives priority to students who receive Federal Pell Grant and is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Annual awards range from $100 - $4000.

Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act

Under the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act, a Pell-eligible student whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer is eligible to receive a maximum Pell Grant for the award year. If a student believes they may be eligible for this grant, please complete the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship application in addition to the other requirements listed on the form.

State of Michigan Programs

The State of Michigan also offers several financial aid programs for eligible students.

Michigan Tuition Grant or Michigan Competitive Scholarship

The Michigan Tuition Grant or Michigan Competitive Scholarship is a State scholarship or grant that may be awarded to undergraduate students for full-time or part-time (at least half-time) enrollment. This is awarded to students who are and have been Michigan Residents for at least 2 years - parents of dependent students must also meet the residency guidelines. In addition to residency, students must have Detroit Mercy listed as the first choice on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students attending less than full-time receive prorated amounts of the full-time award. This program targets students with financial need, students must also meet a medicaid eligibility history requirement and are encouraged to complete a FAFSA. Students must apply to the State of Michigan prior to high school graduation.

Fostering Futures Scholarship

The Fostering Futures Scholarship, a State of Michigan program, provides scholarships to young adults who have experienced foster care. The State of Michigan works with individuals, community organizations, and businesses to encourage charitable contributions that go towards Fostering Futures Scholarship funds.

Tuition Grant for Children of Veterans

An undergraduate tuition program for children of certain deceased or disabled members of the United States armed forces. The program is designed to provide undergraduate tuition assistance to certain children older than 16 and less than 26 years of age who have been Michigan residents for the 12 months prior to application. To be eligible, a student must be the natural or adopted child of a Michigan veteran. Stepchildren of the veteran are not eligible. Students may receive scholarship assistance for up to four academic years for a total of up to $11,200. Awards are for an academic year with the amount determined by the student’s enrollment status.

External Scholarships

Many students receive scholarships from outside the university. These scholarships are often academic or civic in nature and may require additional certification from Detroit Mercy.

Additional Financial Aid Options

Besides scholarships and grants, Detroit Mercy offers other financial aid options to help students finance their education.

Religious Discount

Persons serving in ministerial capacities, whether ordained or laity, may be eligible for the 50% Religious Discount. Eligibility is limited to religious, clergy, laypersons serving a parish or congregation full-time, enrolled in courses directly related to their ministerial work (ex. Religious Studies). The discount is not to be combined with any other University aid or tuition discounts.

School Educator’s Discount Program

Due to a recent reduction in tuition rates for applicable programs, the School Educator’s Discount program will no longer be offered to new applicants. This tuition discount is not to be combined with any other Detroit Mercy scholarship, grant, tuition remission, or discount. Students remain eligible as long as they are in good standing, and the employee remains employed at the vendor company. This grant is available for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in programs charged at the rates listed below.

Federal Direct Student Loan Programs

Detroit Mercy participates in the Federal Direct Student Loan Programs. All Direct Subsidized ,Unsubsidized, PLUS, and Grad PLUS loans will be processed through the Federal Direct Loan Program.

Private Education Loans

Private Education Loans, also known as Alternative Education Loans, help bridge the gap between the actual cost of your education and the limited amount the government allows you to borrow in its programs. Private loans are offered by private lenders and there are no federal forms to complete. Eligibility for private student loans often depends on your credit score.

Work-Study and Non-Work Study Employment

Students are responsible for securing their own campus jobs. Participation in the work-study program is optional. A work-study offer does not guarantee employment. A student must obtain their work-study packet authorizing them to work and secure a work-study job by the deadline (contact Financial Aid for deadline dates). The University of Detroit Mercy offers Non-Work Study employment as well. These positions are similar to federal work-study although the student is not required to demonstrate need through the FAFSA.

The Goldwater Scholarship

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship is a prestigious award for undergraduate students pursuing careers in mathematics, natural sciences, and engineering.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Goldwater Scholarship, students must:

Be a full-time matriculated sophomore or junior pursuing a degree at an accredited 2- or 4-year institution of higher education.
Intend to pursue a research career in a natural science, mathematics, or engineering.
Have a college grade point average of at least a 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
Be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national for those students nominated by institutions in Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; or a permanent resident.

Key Dates

Early September to Late January: Individual internal campus deadlines are determined by each institution’s Goldwater Campus Representative.
Central Time on the last Friday in January: National Deadline.

Significance of the Goldwater Scholarship

The Goldwater Scholarship is highly regarded and has been awarded to thousands of undergraduates. Many recipients have gone on to win other prestigious awards, such as the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Fellowship, Rhodes Scholarship, Churchill Scholarship, and the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship.

The Importance of Giving Back

Alumni and friends give toward scholarships for many unique and personal reasons. For some, it’s a way to pay it forward for financial support they received while attending college. For others, it’s how they say “thank you” for a life-changing experience they had at University of Detroit Mercy.

tags: #detroit #mercy #scholarships #requirements