Financial Aid & Scholarships
Financial Aid
If you have what it takes to be a W&M student, our Office of Financial Aid will help you find a way to pay for it. Through a combination of financial aid options including grants, loans and work study —we'll make sure you graduate with as little debt as possible.
Gateway William & Mary
W&M has a long-standing commitment to meet 100 percent of the demonstrated financial need of undergraduate Virginians. Gateway William & Mary is a financial aid plan that goes beyond this commitment. Undergraduate Virginians whose families earn less than $40,000 per year may qualify for these funds. Qualifying students will be given a financial aid package that covers most, if not all of their expenses through grants. Learn more about Gateway William & Mary.
Scholarships
The William & Mary Scholar Award is presented each year to a small, select group of students who have overcome unusual adversity and/or would add to the diversity of the campus community. All applicants are considered for the award and no separate application is needed. Awards are worth the amount of in-state tuition and fees and are renewable each year as long as the recipient remains in good academic standing at the College.
The James Monroe Scholars Program is a designation offered each year to the top 10-15% of all admitted students to the College of William & Mary. All applicants are considered for this program and no separate application is needed. Notification is sent from the Office of Undergraduate Admission in March. Monroe Scholars receive a $3000 research stipend to explore an academic area of their choice. Other benefits to this program include: special housing option during freshman year, special consideration in the appointment of freshman advisors, priority course registration and the invitation to take part in a series of additional seminars. If an enrolling William & Mary student is not offered the Monroe Scholar designation during the admission process, it is possible for the student to become a Monroe Scholar at the end of his or her freshman year. Rising sophomores who have done exceptionally well academically (typically a cumulative GPA of a 3.8) are invited to apply for seats in the Monroe Scholars Program through the Charles Center.
The Murray Scholars Program is William & Mary's most selective scholarship. Finalists typically rank in the top 1% of their classs, score a 1500 and higher on the SAT Critical Reading and Math (ACT equivalent: 34 or higher) and take the most demanding curriculum available to them. While some of the variables that influence Murray Scholars designations are quantitative, others are more subjective. These include students' application essays, extracurricular involvements, leadership, letters of recommendation, and evidence of intellectual engagement. In conjunction with the Office of Undergraduate Admission, faculty members will administer the selection process. All students who apply to William & Mary through Early Decision (Nov. 1 postmark deadline) or Regular Decision (Jan. 1 postmark deadline) will be reviewed for the Murray Schoalrs Program. The Murray Scholars Program will provide four students per year with extensive benefits, including full tuition, general fees, and room and board annually for Virginia residents and the equivalent amount annually for non-Virginia residents.
The Sharpe Community Scholars Program is available to all admitted applicants. Sharpe Scholars are chosen for their demonstrated leadership potential, community involvement, and desire to explore important public questions and issues.
W&M offers athletic scholarships in most varsity sports. Applicants interested in athletic scholarships should contact the coach directly to begin the recruitment process. Please refer to the Athletic website for more information: http://www.tribeathletics.com/.
William & Mary encourages students to seek outside scholarships. Local scholarships tend to be far less competitive since many of them offer smaller amounts of money. Be mindful however, that several small scholarships may add up to a substantial amount! Check with your guidance counselor, the newspaper, greek organizations, your parents’ employers or religious bodies in your area for scholarship opportunities and deadlines. Below is a listing of national scholarships; several target students of color:
