What scholarships are available for GMU students?

I'm planning to apply to George Mason University and want to know what scholarship options might be available for incoming students. Are there any specific GMU scholarships that I should look into or prioritize?

George Mason University (GMU) offers a variety of scholarships to help incoming students offset their tuition costs. These scholarships are categorized either as Merit-based, Need-based, or Program-specific.

1. Merit-based Scholarships: The largest and perhaps most well-known of these are the GMU Presidential scholarships. These are highly competitive and are awarded based on academic achievement during high school.

2. Need-based Scholarships: GMU also offers several need-based scholarships. Eligibility for these are determined largely by your FAFSA results, namely your Student Aid Index (SAI), a calculation which replaced the EFC in recent years. The GMU Financial Aid office will automatically consider your eligibility for these scholarships when they review your application for financial aid.

3. Program-specific Scholarships: GMU also has a variety of scholarships specific to certain programs or departments. For instance, the Volgenau School of Engineering, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and the School of Business all have their own scholarship opportunities for students in their respective programs.

Aside from these, GMU offers various other scholarships open to wider demographics, like the GMU Diversity scholarships for underrepresented students, or scholarships specifically for transfer students like the Advance Scholarship.

You can find more specific information on the scholarships offered by GMU on their financial aid webpage. Remember that scholarship deadlines can vary and it's important to prioritise preparation for these applications well in advance!