Alma Scholarships

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

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.

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

This award, in the amount of $1,500 per year, is for students interested in the teaching profession. Priority is given to those interested in shortage areas (e.g., mathematics, science, and special education) and members of underrepresented groups. 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 2022 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.

Responsibilities for scholarship recipients include:

• Enrolling in at least one Teacher Education course every academic year
• Being approved into the Teacher Education Program by the end of their sophomore year
• Maintaining a 3.0 GPA in Education courses and 2.75 in their teaching subject (endorsement) area(s) to continue receiving scholarship funds
• Participating in teacher recruitment and appreciation activities
• Setting an example of ethically high standards for your peers, professors, college administration, and community colleagues in both on-campus and school placement contexts
• Continuing to (a) meet eligibility requirements as outlined in the scholarship description and (b) pursue teacher certification

Scholarship recipients will be reviewed annually by education faculty to determine if the requirements of the award are being met. The scholarship will not be renewed for students who do not continue to meet scholarship requirements.

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.

Inclusive Excellence Award

$4,000/year. The Inclusive Excellence 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 2022 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, 2022 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.

Scottish Hospitality Scholarship

We love hosting students on campus so much that we have a specific scholarship for those who visit!

The Scottish Hospitality Scholarship is $1,000 and renewable for a total of $4,000 over four years. To qualify, students must schedule an individual in-person visit through admissions, including a talk with an admissions representative, and a campus tour.

Group visits, athletics visits, weekend events, and game-day visits are excluded. Exceptions are made on case-by-case basis for out of state visitors who cannot get to campus. Visits must take place after March 1 of a student’s junior year and the deadline is August 1 prior to enrollment for fall term and December 1 prior to enrollment for winter term.

Kim Kaye Scholarship

Students have the opportunity to receive up to $16,000 in their four years to attend Alma College.  During each camp session of the summer, up to five athletes will receive this scholarship.  Winners will be announced during “Final Day Fun” on the last day of your respective session.  All high school athletes can be nominated however, a cheerleader can only win once during his or her time at Champion.  (Example: A freshman is nominated and wins their first year at Champion.  They cannot win again in the sophomore, junior, or senior year).

Coaches: Athlete(s) must attend a Champion overnight camp the summer they are your athlete and the reference and application must be completed in the same school year. If your athlete does not receive a scholarship this year, they may re-apply each year he or she attends Champion.

How To Nominate

Step 1:  The coach will need to fill out the referral form.

By completing this form, if the athlete chooses to attend Alma College, they will receive $1,500 per year for up to 4 years.  Totaling $6,000.

Step 2:  The athlete(s) needs to fill out the application for the scholarship.

The Breakdown

• Coach refers athlete to attend Alma College:  $1,500 per year for up to 4 years totaling $6,000
• Athlete wins the Kim Kaye Scholarship:  $2,500 per year for up to 4 years totaling $10,000

Both scholarships together are worth $4,000 per year for up to 4 years totaling $16,000 in total scholarships received.

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.

Detroit Promise Scholarship

Kalamazoo Promise Scholarship