Financial Aid

Types of Aid: Scholarships

Scholarship applications for 2023/2024 are now closed.  All qualified continuing MSU-Northern students are automatically entered for 2023-2024 academic year scholarships.  If you DO NOT plan to attend MSU-Northern Fall 2023 and/or Spring 2024, please click here to opt out. 

Scholarships for continuing students by area:

The 2023-2024 application deadline was February 3, 2023.

Scholarships requiring additional applications:

Other Awards and Waivers

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Awards

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Awards will be available for each academic year. Only legal residents of the following states may be considered for WUE Scholarships at Montana State University-Northern: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). WUE recipients must also be US Citizens or permanent residents.

Students who apply for admission, and meet the WUE parameters below, will be offered the WUE award which is worth approximately $40,000 over a four year period. WUE award recipients will be billed at a tuition rate which is only 150% of the resident tuition. New freshmen may retain their WUE Award (which is a tuition rate) for up to four academic years (8 semesters). Students who are awarded a renewable WUE Award must agree to abide by the standards listed below:

• Continuous full-time enrollment during fall and spring semesters at MSU-Northern
• Maintenance of good academic standing
• Maintenance of permanent residency in qualifying state

Students may apply by filling out the paper application, or online at https://www.msun.edu/admissions/wue.aspx

American Indian Tuition Waiver

The American Indian Tuition Waiver is available to Montana residents who are at least one-quarter American Indian blood or are enrolled members of a state of federally recognized Indian tribe which is located within the boundaries of the State of Montana. Students must also demonstrate financial need. For more information contact the MSU-Northern Office of Financial Aid at (406) 265-3787.

Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship

Criteria:  Awarded to undergraduate students who are Pell Grant eligible (EFC $0 - 5,876) and whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer.  The student must have been less than 24 years old or enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of the parent or guardian's death.

Value:  Maximum Pell Grant of $6,895 and EFC of zero will be used to package all Federal Student Aid, without regard to the student's FAFSA EFC. 

If you believe that you may meet the eligibility requirements for the Federal Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship, please fill out the application and provide the required documentation.

Honorably Discharged Veteran Tuition Waiver

Criteria:

• You are a resident of the State of Montana;
• You have received an Honorable discharge for service in active duty for other than training purposes;
• You elected to become eligible for V.A. education benefits (title 38/Ch 30 or 32), but your benefits have expired or were exhausted;
• You are meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined by your campus;
• If served after Vietnam, are enrolled in your initial certificate, associate or baccalaureate degree.

Please see the application for more details.

Montana National Guard Tuition Waiver

A student who is a member of the MT National Guard is eligible for a tuition waiver, provided the student:

• Is a bona fide member of the MT National Guard at the start of each semester for which the student is enrolled;
• Is certified as a MT National Guard member in good standing who has completed Initial Entry Training;
• Has applied for Military Federal Tuition Assistance prior to each eligible semester; • Does not hold a baccalaureate degree or higher;
• Maintains Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy used in administering federal financial aid; and
• Has an outstanding tuition balance after applying all other sources of aid .

MT National Guard members who do not meet the residency requirements provided in BOR Policy 940.1 but do meet the criteria listed above, are eligible for in-state tuition status for purposes of applying the tuition waiver under this policy. See the guidelines and more details in the application.

Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) Awards

QUALIFICATIONS: You may qualify for this waiver if you meet the following criteria:

• You are a resident of the State of Montana and will be attending a Montana University System campus;
• Your parent or spouse was a Montana Firefighter or Peace Officer that was killed in the course and scope of employment.

Please see the application for more details.

Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) Awards will be available for each academic year. Only legal residents of the following states may be considered for WRGP Scholarships at Montana State University-Northern: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). WRGP recipients must also be US Citizens or permanent residents.

Students who apply for admission, and meet the WRGP parameters below, will be offered the WRGP award which is worth approximately $20,000 over eight semesters. WRGP award recipients will be billed at a tuition rate which is only 150% of the resident tuition. Duration of the WRGP tuition rate is until completion of the program, provided that the student remains in good academic standing. If a student seeks to change his/her designated program, they will need the approval of MSU-Northern in order to determine the impact on their WRGP award. Students who are awarded a renewable WRGP Award must agree to abide by the standards listed below:

• Continuous full-time enrollment during fall and spring semesters at MSU-Northern
• Maintenance of good academic standing
• Maintenance of permanent residency in qualifying state

Students may apply by filling out the paper application, or online at https://www.msun.edu/admissions/graduate.aspx

There are also many scholarship web searches, check out some of the following links.