Freshman Scholarships

Wayne State believes in recognizing and rewarding the potential of every student from the moment they are admitted. That’s why we offer a range of scholarships right at the point of admission. Incoming freshmen are awarded automatic admission-based scholarships.

Admission-based scholarships have an admission application deadline of May 1 to guarantee scholarship awards. For students who complete their admission application after May 1, scholarships will be awarded contingent upon available funding. 

Admission-based scholarships are applied to tuition charges only and cannot be combined/stacked with most other scholarship awards. Should you apply and be selected for a merit, talent, or program-based scholarship at a later date, Wayne State College will honor the scholarship of the largest value per year.

Available admission-based scholarships

• Wildcat Promise - Valued at $1,000 and renewable for two years.
• Wildcat Commitment - Valued at $1,000 and renewable for four years.
• Dean's Commitment - Valued at $2,000 and renewable for four years.
• Dean's Excellence - Valued at $3,000 and renewable for four years.
• President's Commitment - Valued at $4,000 and renewable for four years.
• President's Excellence - Valued at $5,000 and renewable for four years.
• International Student Award - Valued at $2,000 and renewable for four years.

How admission-based scholarships are awarded

Scholarships are based on self-reported or verified GPA and/or ACT/SAT scores provided at the time of admission.

• If no GPA, award is offered on the basis of self-reported or verified ACT/SAT scores.
• If no ACT/SAT scores, award is offered on the basis of self-reported or verified GPA.
• If no GPA or ACT/SAT score is provided at the time of admission, award will not be offered until GPA or ACT/SAT score is received.

Wayne State College considers GPA on a standard unweighted 4.0 scale. Any GPA submitted on alternate scales will be recalculated to a 4.0 scale.

Wayne State College considers highest ACT single composite test score (with or without STEM score) on file at the time of application. Wayne State recommends students planning to study in a STEM-related field or pre-professional program take the science portion of the ACT. Some STEM-related scholarships and programs may require it.

To renew scholarships each year, certain requirements must be met.

Review regulations and renewal requirements

Want to see how your GPA or test scores could impact your cost?
Use our Net Price Calculator to get a personalized estimate, including automatic merit scholarships based on your academic profile.

→ Estimate your cost at WSC

Admission-based scholarship reconsideration

Wayne State College Office of Admissions will automatically reconsider increased GPA and/or test scores received through May 1, 2026. Updated transcripts must be sent directly from your school to the Wayne State College Office of Admissions via email, electronic transcript delivery systems (Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, etc.), or postal mail. Improved ACT/SAT scores can be received off of high school transcripts, sent directly from ACT or SAT, or sent via email.

Note: Submitting updated GPA or test scores does not guarantee a change in your admission-based scholarship offer. Award adjustments will be made only if it benefits the applicant; however, Wayne State College reserves the right to decrease or remove an offer if it is proven that application information was intentionally falsified.

Students will be notified of revised offers via email and U.S. postal mail.

Admission-based scholarship regulations and renewal requirements

• Scholarships are awarded based on academic information provided at the time of application.
• Scholarships are applied to tuition charges only and cannot be combined or stacked with other tuition awards.
• When your scholarship starts depends on your first semester of attendance: 
  Fall: Scholarship will begin in the fall semester.
  Spring: Scholarship will begin in the spring semester with seven semesters of award honored. 
  Summer: Scholarship begins the following fall semester. Awards do not apply to summer session courses.
• The award must be used in the first semester after it has been offered. Failure to do so will result in the award being voided. Consideration may be given to extenuating circumstances.
• To remain eligible for the scholarship, you must be enrolled full-time (defined as a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester) in an undergraduate program and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5.
• Should you leave Wayne State College at any time, your scholarship will be void.
• To keep your scholarship, you must follow the student code of conduct.
• Students will be notified at the end of each spring semester if they are unsuccessful in maintaining the requirements of the scholarship. If a scholarship is not renewed and extenuating circumstances exists, the student can appeal this action to the Assistant Director of Financial Aid.
• For questions about scholarship renewability, please contact the Financial Aid Office at [email protected] or 402-375-7229.