University of Michigan Scholarships 2025/2026

The University of Michigan is one of the top public universities in the world. It’s also one of the most expensive for students coming from outside Michigan — or outside the US entirely.

Total cost of attendance for out-of-state students hit $82,277 for 2025, according to UMich’s own cost estimator. That number stops a lot of international students before they even apply. And that’s a shame, because UMich does offer scholarship funding that can significantly cut that number down — in some cases bringing the net price below $35,000 per year or lower.

This guide covers what scholarships are actually available, who qualifies, when to apply, and what makes the difference between a strong application and one that gets passed over.

Key Takeaways

• University of Michigan’s out-of-state cost of attendance is $82,277 for 2025 — but the average aid package brings the net price down to around $16,500 per year (UMich Financial Aid Office, 2025).
• 54% of enrolled UMich students receive grants or scholarships, with an average award of $25,050 (College Tuition Compare, 2025).
• The LSA International Student Scholarship is renewable for all four undergraduate years and requires no separate application — you’re automatically considered through your admission application.
• The scholarship profile deadline is February 15 each year — missing it means missing consideration for most awards.

What Does University of Michigan Actually Cost — and How Much Can Scholarships Cover?

For the 2025–2026 academic year, UMich’s total cost of attendance for non-resident undergraduates reaches $82,277, which includes tuition of $65,721, room and board, fees, and personal expenses, per the University of Michigan Office of Undergraduate Admissions cost breakdown. That figure is the starting point. What matters is what comes off it.

According to College Tuition Compare’s 2025 analysis of UMich financial aid data, 54% of enrolled students receive some form of grant or scholarship aid, with the average award coming in at $25,050. The university’s own net price calculator puts the average annual cost after aid at around $16,500 — for students who qualify for need-based support.

For international students, the picture is more complicated. Federal aid isn’t available to non-US citizens or non-permanent residents. But the university’s colleges — particularly LSA (Literature, Science and the Arts) and Engineering — do offer merit-based scholarships specifically for international students, with amounts varying based on academic profile and available funding. The key is applying on time and meeting the criteria clearly.

Which University of Michigan Scholarships Are Available for 2025–2026?

UMich doesn’t have a single monolithic scholarship fund. What it has is a portfolio of awards across colleges, departments, and donor-funded programs. The ones below are the most relevant for prospective and incoming students.

LSA International Student Scholarship
Offered through the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, this scholarship targets international applicants who demonstrate strong academic credentials. Eligibility requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 or equivalent, competitive SAT or ACT scores, IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 80 minimum, and enrollment as a first-year student. The award is renewable for all four years of undergraduate study, provided you maintain eligibility. No separate application is needed — the LSA admissions application is sufficient.

College of Engineering International Scholarships
The UMich College of Engineering runs its own international scholarship program for admitted students. Amounts vary and are awarded based on academic merit. Engineering scholarship consideration is typically automatic through the engineering admissions process, but students are advised to ensure their academic records are fully submitted well before the deadline.

Regent’s Merit Scholarship
This is UMich’s most prestigious undergraduate merit award, offered to Michigan residents with exceptional academic achievement. It’s limited to US students from Michigan high schools. If you’re an international or out-of-state applicant, this one isn’t for you — but it’s worth knowing it exists so you don’t spend time on a scholarship you can’t access.

OFA-Listed Scholarships
The Office of Financial Aid maintains a full listing of scholarships at finaid.umich.edu/types-aid/scholarships/undergraduate/ofa-scholarship-listing. This list includes donor-funded awards with specific eligibility criteria — some by country of origin, some by field of study, some by financial need. It’s worth going through this list line by line if you’re planning to apply. Some awards have their own applications and deadlines separate from the main scholarship profile.

Alumni Association Scholarships
The Alumni Association of the University of Michigan distributes scholarships through its Alumnae Council, primarily to continuing students. These are typically awarded based on academic achievement, financial need, and community service. Amounts vary by fund. If you’re already enrolled, check the Alumni Association scholarship portal each spring.

How to Apply: The Scholarship Profile Deadline You Cannot Miss

For most UMich scholarships, the single most important thing is completing your Scholarship Profile by February 15 each year. This is the form the Office of Financial Aid uses to match students to available awards. Missing February 15 means missing consideration for the majority of merit and need-based scholarships, regardless of how strong your application is.

Here’s the practical process for prospective students:

1. Apply to UMich by the regular decision deadline (typically early February for freshmen). Your admission application is the primary vehicle for scholarship consideration in most colleges.
2. Complete your Scholarship Profile in the Wolverine Access financial aid portal by February 15. This is a separate step from applying — don’t assume that submitting your application automatically fills the profile.
3. Submit all required financial documents if you’re applying for need-based aid. International students should check whether their country’s financial documentation is accepted through the CSS Profile or directly via UMich’s own forms.
4. Check college-specific scholarship pages for LSA, Engineering, Ross Business School, and others. Some programs run separate scholarship cycles with different deadlines.
5. Wait for the financial aid award letter, which typically arrives with or shortly after admission decisions.

What Makes a Scholarship Application Stand Out at UMich?

UMich is a selective institution. In 2025, UMich received over 90,000 applications for its freshman class, according to reporting by the Michigan Daily. Scholarship consideration happens within that already-competitive pool.

Academic strength is the primary filter. For international students, that means a strong GPA, competitive standardized test scores (SAT or ACT), and language proficiency scores that clear the minimum thresholds — not just meet them. A TOEFL of 100+ and an SAT above 1400 puts you in the range where merit consideration becomes real.

But grades alone don’t separate scholarship recipients from the broader admitted pool. UMich scholarship reviewers — particularly at LSA — look at the quality of personal essays and evidence of intellectual engagement beyond grades. Students who show a clear reason for choosing UMich specifically, and who connect their academic interests to programs the university offers, tend to receive more favorable consideration.

Financial need matters too, especially for international students from lower-income backgrounds. While need doesn’t automatically generate aid the way it might for US citizens, it does factor into the LSA international scholarship review process.

Is It Worth Applying to UMich If You Need Heavy Scholarship Support?

Honestly? It depends on your situation.

If you’re an international student with outstanding credentials — strong GPA, high test scores, genuine fit with a UMich program — the available scholarships can meaningfully reduce costs. The LSA international scholarship, combined with department awards and any donor-funded program funding you qualify for, can bring annual costs down into a manageable range.

But UMich doesn’t meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for international students the way it does for US citizens. It’s explicit about this on its financial aid website: there is limited scholarship funding for international students, and it doesn’t guarantee coverage of the full cost gap.

If you’re building a shortlist of universities to apply to, UMich is worth including if you’re a strong candidate and you apply correctly and on time. It’s not worth including if you’re banking on scholarship funding that hasn’t been offered to you yet. Apply first. Then evaluate the award.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much scholarship money can I get from the University of Michigan?

Award amounts vary by program and eligibility. The average aid package across all UMich students is $25,050, per College Tuition Compare’s 2025 data, bringing the average net price to around $16,500/year. For international students, merit-based awards through LSA and Engineering vary — the university doesn’t publish a fixed maximum for most programs.

Can international students get full scholarships at UMich?

Full scholarships covering all costs are rare for international undergraduates at UMich. The university explicitly notes that federal aid is unavailable to non-residents and that international scholarship funding is limited. Some students receive substantial partial awards through multiple programs combined. Graduate students have more robust funding options through fellowships and research assistantships.

When is the University of Michigan scholarship application deadline?

The Scholarship Profile in Wolverine Access must be completed by February 15 each year for full consideration of available awards. Some college-specific and donor-funded scholarships have separate deadlines. The LSA and Engineering admissions applications serve as the primary scholarship consideration vehicle — no separate form is required for most awards.

Does UMich offer merit scholarships to out-of-state students?

Yes. The LSA International Student Scholarship and College of Engineering scholarships are available to out-of-state and international students based on academic merit. The Regent’s Merit Scholarship, by contrast, is limited to Michigan residents from Michigan high schools and is not available to out-of-state or international applicants.

What GPA do I need for a University of Michigan scholarship?

The LSA International Student Scholarship requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 or equivalent. However, competitive scholarship recipients typically have significantly higher GPAs — UMich’s middle 50% GPA range for admitted students is 3.87–4.18 on a 4.0 scale. A 3.0 sets the floor; a 3.9+ is where you’re competitive for merit consideration.

Conclusion

UMich is expensive. That’s not a secret. But it’s not out of reach for every international or out-of-state student either — not if you apply strategically and on time.

Complete the Scholarship Profile by February 15. Submit your admissions application with strong essays and complete financial documentation. Check the OFA listing for any awards specific to your country or field. And be realistic: UMich doesn’t hand out full rides to international undergraduates, but partial awards that cut costs significantly are real and accessible to strong candidates.

Apply. See what they offer. Then decide.

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Sources:

• University of Michigan — Costs and Financial Aid, admissions.umich.edu
• University of Michigan — International Students Financial Aid, finaid.umich.edu
• UMich LSA — International Student Scholarships, lsa.umich.edu
• UMich OFA — Undergraduate Scholarship Listing, finaid.umich.edu
• College Tuition Compare — UM-Ann Arbor Tuition, Fees and Net Price, collegetuitioncompare.com
• UMich College of Engineering — International Student Scholarships, scholarships.engin.umich.edu
• Alumni Association of the University of Michigan — Scholarships, alumni.umich.edu