Transfer Scholarships

Group of students collaborating in Bruininks Hall

The College of Liberal Arts, in partnership with generous collegiate benefactors, offers CLA scholarships to a select number of incoming transfer students. These scholarships are awarded to transfer students who first enter CLA during a fall or a spring semester.
 

Transfer applicants with a 2.5 or higher GPA and financial need will be automatically considered for CLA collegiate scholarships. Complete the FAFSA now to be considered for need-based scholarships.

Automatic Consideration for CLA Scholarships

Upon your admission to the College of Liberal Arts, you are automatically considered for CLA scholarships based on information from your application for admission to the University of Minnesota. There is no separate application for CLA scholarships for incoming transfer students. However, because most of CLA's scholarships are awarded on the basis of both merit and need, we strongly recommend that CLA's incoming transfer students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (code 003969).

CLA scholarship recipients are selected on a rolling basis as students are admitted. Full consideration for academic scholarships is given to students who submit a complete application for transfer admission to the U of M, with a priority date of May 15. Applications submitted after that date will be reviewed on a funds-available basis.

Award notices are sent by the College of Liberal Arts to incoming transfer student scholarship recipients on a rolling basis as they are selected. The award notices are sent by email to their UMN account and also by mailed letter to their address on file. If you receive a CLA scholarship and you also applied for financial aid (via the FAFSA or equivalent), then you will receive a second email and letter in late July (for Fall admission) or early January (for Spring admission) that outlines your complete financial aid package, including grants, scholarships, loans, expected parental contribution, etc.

Instructions for accepting and keeping a CLA scholarship can be found at Instructions for CLA Scholarship Recipients.

Types of Transfer Scholarships Available

  • General CLA Scholarships: The typical transfer scholarship from CLA is a collegiate award of $1,000 to $5,000 per year for up to three years, depending on the college credits already earned. These scholarships are based on criteria established by the donors for each scholarship. For example, criteria may include scholastic achievement, consistency of academic record, extracurricular and leadership activities, major and career objectives, place of residence, financial need, etc.
  • DFRACS Scholarships: Scholarship offers are made to transfer students who have been admitted, by invitation only, to the CLA Dean’s First-Year Research and Creative Scholars (DFRACS) Program.

If you do not receive a CLA scholarship offer as an incoming transfer student, once you are enrolled in CLA you become eligible for scholarships for current CLA students that could be applied to your account the following academic year.