Financial Aid

Alma Scholarships

Alma College provides many financial aid opportunities for you throughout your college career. See what financial aid opportunities are available to you below.

Merit Awards 2021-22 Academic Year 

Scholarship Average GPA Amount
Achievement Award <3.40 $21,000/year
Tartan Award 3.400 - 3.749 $22,000/year
Dean’s Scholarship 3.750 - 3.999 $23,000/year
Presidential Scholarship 4.00 +  $25,000/year

Scholars Summit: Freshmen earning Presidential, Dean’s, or Tartan Scholarships will be invited to attend Scholars Summit, where they will interview for additional scholarship funds. Transfer students with a college GPA of 3.0 or higher will also be invited to interview on an individual basis. These distinguished awards range up to $4,000 per year.

Transfer Scholarships:
 Scholarships are available for transfer students who demonstrate academic achievement at their previous undergraduate institution or community college.

Performance Scholarships

Performance Scholarships are available to talented students in art, dance, music (both vocal and instrumental), theatre and Scottish Arts.

Students demonstrating exemplary performance in any of these areas may be eligible for Distinguished awards, earning up to full tuition. All funds are awarded at the discretion of the fine and performing arts faculty, and students’ intended major or minor is not a consideration. Please see below for basic information on each scholarship and links to more detailed requirements.

Students are only eligible to receive one scholarship per year in this category. If students are offered an award from more than one department, they must select one. Students may continue to participate in multiple areas regardless of their scholarship selection. If offered a distinguished award it will replace standard performance awards previously offered.

Audition deadline for all performing arts scholarships is February 1st. 

Art and Design
$1,500/year. The Department of Art & Design awards scholarships to talented artists in any medium via portfolio submission.

Dance
$1,500/year. The Dance Department awards scholarships to talented dancers through a group or individual audition process. See the criteria and the current year’s audition dates.

Dance Team 
$1,500/year. Awarded upon acceptance to incoming students (first year & transfer) who compete on the dance team. Interested? Students should complete the
Dance For Alma Form and/or contact Coach Tracy Burton at burtonte@alma.edu. 


E-sports Scholarship:
$1,500/year. Awarded upon acceptance to incoming students (first year and transfer) who compete on the E-sports team. Interested? Students should complete the Esports Interest Form and/or contact Coach Chris Gaumond at gaumondcm@alma.edu.

Music
$1,500/year. The Music Department awards scholarships both instrumentalists and vocalists through an audition process. Auditions are scheduled on an individual basis; for details, see the department’s audition and scholarship information.

Theatre
$1,500/year. The Theatre Department awards acting scholarships through an audition process and technical theatre scholarships via portfolio submission. Auditions are scheduled on an individual basis.

Scottish Arts Scholarship
$1,500/year. For students demonstrating a high level of accomplishment in Highland dancing or piping (regardless of intended major).

Experiential Learning Awards

Need a little help funding your dream research project or study abroad experience? Various programs are available to help you take your learning to the next level.

Currie Scholars Program
A generous grant from Eleanor H. Currie has enabled the College to establish a Currie Scholars program beginning in fiscal year 2001. Qualified sophomores and juniors may apply for this program, which will provide a stipend of $2,500 plus waiver of room charges for the summer (if work is done on campus) to support scholarly or creative projects in collaboration with a faculty mentor.

Contact Carla Jensen P: (989) 463-7421 E:jensencr@alma.edu

David B. Kinney Scholarship Program
Supported by a generous gift from the family of attorney and social activist David B. Kinney, class of 1943, Alma College is pleased to offer a grant of up to $2,500 to support student research related to, in Mr. Kinney’s words, “independent and original study of any items, persons or societal trends relating to the birth or endurance of our precious Bill of Rights.” Proposals which clearly cross-disciplinary boundaries and/or require travel to research sites are strongly encouraged.

Contact Carla Jensen P: (989) 463-7421 E:jensencr@alma.edu

The Posey Global Leadership Fellows Program
The Posey Global Leadership Fellows Program seeks to cultivate the next generation of global leaders by promoting innovative experiential and research opportunities anywhere in the world.

Contact Derick “Sandy” Hulme with questions at (989) 463-7387.

Alma Venture Program
The Alma Venture Program provides recipients with financial support for applied learning experiences such as Spring Term, research projects, off-campus study, internships and more. Check out some recent experiences and see what the Alma Venture Program can do for you!

Contact Carla Jensen with questions at (989) 463-7421.

Other Alma Scholarships

Available for students meeting specific criteria or those interested in specific areas of study. Please note that some of these scholarships are automatically awarded based on set criteria, while others require an application and have a deadline. Many of these are only awarded to incoming freshman and transfer students. Most of these awards are renewable in future years if all scholarship, award, or grant requirements are still being met. Follow the links that are provided for more information.

*Criteria: Entering Freshmen Only Renewed Annually For Those Who Qualify


Community College Connection Scholarship:
$2,000/year. For transfer students from select community colleges are eligible.

Religious Leadership Scholarships

Each year, a limited number of scholarships are awarded to entering Alma College students who excel in spiritual and/or interfaith leadership, creativity, and service. Students may receive either the Spiritual Life Award or the Interfaith Leadership Award. Students may apply for each but are only eligible to be granted one award. Each scholarship is $1,500/year, renewable annually for a maximum of $6,000. Award winners are required to participate in either the Spiritual Life Leadership Cohort or the Interfaith Leadership Cohort. These groups will meet with the Chaplain and current members of the program to determine an individualized plan for participation in spiritual life on campus. Additionally, the cohorts are guided by current members (who are previous award winners) to convene the group at least twice each semester to advise, support and guide the Chaplain and Chapel staff for programming, events, and religious life clubs and activities. Upon meeting these requirements, award winners will be eligible to renew their award for the following year. Deadline to apply is March 1. 

Future Teacher Scholarship:

The Future Teacher Scholarship, in the amount of $1,500 per year, is awarded to applicants who intend to pursue teacher certification in a shortage area (e.g., mathematics, science, and special education) or are members of underrepresented groups in the current teaching workforce. Applicants should be able to demonstrate potential for academic excellence and a commitment to the teaching profession.

Prospective students that intend to start at Alma in fall 2021 are eligible to apply.  Current Alma students are not eligible to apply for this specific scholarship.  Please reach out to our financial aid office for any scholarship questions you may have. Deadline to apply is March 1. 

Heritage Need Based Grant:
This grant is awarded to students who demonstrate financial need based on the FAFSA data.  Students must file a FAFSA each year to be reviewed for this grant.  A student must have financial need and be enrolled in at least 12 credits.  This award can change year to year and it is possible a student could be ineligible if there is no need. 

Legacy/Referral Award:
Prospective students who ultimately attend Alma and are referred to Alma College by an alumnus, faculty, staff member, current student or friend of the college receive the Alma College Referral Award which provides $1,500 per year for 4 years ($6,000 in total) in the name of the individual who referred them to the college. To be eligible, students can be referred at any time prior to their acceptance to the college

*Please note, parental referrals of their own student cannot qualify for the Referral Award. However, students with qualifying alumni legacy connections will qualify for the Alumni Award. If you have any questions regarding the Referral Scholarship, please contact the Office of Admissions at 1-800-321-ALMA.

Opportunity Award:
$2,000/year. The opportunity award is available for students from underrepresented backgrounds including members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Students are automatically considered for the award upon acceptance.Those in the LGBTQIA+ community will need to self-disclose to their admissions representative upon acceptance to the college to be eligible.

Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship:
$2,000/year. For transfer students who have been selected as Phi Theta Kappa scholars at their community college.

S-STEM Scholarship: 
Only incoming Fall 2021 Freshman or Transfer Students May Apply

Alma College offers a limited number of STEM scholarships to incoming students. The awards, up to $5,000 per year, are available for students majoring in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).Majors eligible for the scholarship include Biochemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Psychology, Integrative Physiology and Health Science, Mathematics, and Physics. Deadline to apply is January 1, 2021 at 5 p.m.

Upward Bound Scholarship:
$2,000/year. For students with at least three years of participation in Upward Bound or Upward Bound Math-Science programs. Applicants must provide a letter from program director confirming involvement by February 1.

Geographic Scholarships

Students who are entering their Freshmen year at Alma College, pending eligibility criteria, qualify for the following scholarships that are renewed annually.

Alma College Community Engagement (ACE) Scholarship
The Alma College Community Engagement (ACE) Scholarship program was created to offer access and affordability to Gratiot County’s most engaged students who desire to pursue a life-changing, liberal arts education. The program will offer up to 10 full-tuition awards annually to graduating high school seniors. Full tuition is covered using Alma College, State, and Federal Aid sources and is renewable for 4 years.

Chicago-Area Scholarship
Chicago-Area Scholarship: Supported by alumni and friends and available to students from Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties in Illinois. This competitive award is based on GPA. $3,000 annually.

Detroit Future Scholarship
Alma College offers up to 15 Detroit Future Scholarships each year to qualified students from select schools in the city of Detroit. The Detroit Future Scholarship assists substantially with financial need making a private education affordable with minimal out-of-pocket expense. Scholarship amount varies depending on financial need — Alma College will maximize the dollar amount you can receive.

Highland Award
$2,000/year. For non-Michigan residents. Students are automatically considered for the award upon acceptance.

Important Eligibility Information

Be sure to review Alma College’s policies/procedures and the academic catalog as it is your responsibility to be familiar with situations that may affect your financial aid.

Students receiving a full tuition scholarship, grant or award from Alma College or an outside provider are not eligible to receive standard Alma College merit, competitive, or additional scholarships, grants or awards. These are replaced by the full tuition award being received. This includes but is not limited to the Yellow Ribbon Program, ROTC, Detroit Promise, Kalamazoo Promise, and Alma College’s Distinguished Scholar Award (up to full tuition). Non-College financial aid will be adjusted in accordance with the rules and regulations applicable to those programs.