USA Scholarships
Fairleigh Dickinson University Scholarships 2027
Fairleigh Dickinson University Scholarships are awarded from your admission application, and FDU says it in one line on its own scholarships page: apply for admission to be automatically considered, no separate scholarship application is needed. That single sentence shapes everything else. Incoming freshmen at the two New Jersey campuses, Metropolitan in Teaneck and Florham in Madison, are considered for merit awards worth up to $22,000 per year decided on high school GPA, renewable for four years of full-time study on the required GPA. International freshmen run on a parallel ladder, the FDU International Scholarship worth up to $24,000 a year with no SAT or ACT required, renewable up to four years. Transfer students have their own routes, including an FDU International Transfer Scholarship up to $16,000 a year and a Phi Theta Kappa award for honor society members. Around those sit smaller named grants that stack: $3,000 Global Housing Grant for students living on the Metropolitan campus, $1,500 FDU Family Grant when two or more dependent children attend together, $1,500 Children of Alumni Grant, and NCAA Division I athletic scholarships that can reach full tuition and housing. Set that against the bill. Full-time undergraduate tuition is $38,600 a year on both New Jersey campuses, and FDU estimates the international undergraduate year at $59,799 including room, board and medical insurance, so treat every award here as a discount rather than a free ride.
What are Fairleigh Dickinson University Scholarships?
Fairleigh Dickinson University Scholarships are not a contest you enter. They are attached to the admission file, and FDU puts it in one sentence on its own scholarships page: apply for admission to be automatically considered for our best range of scholarship opportunities, no separate scholarship application is needed. FDU is a private, not-for-profit university founded in 1942 with two New Jersey campuses, Metropolitan in Teaneck and Florham in Madison, and it carries one of the largest international student bodies among American universities of its size, over 1,100 students from 70 countries. That shapes the aid model. There are two parallel ladders, one for domestic students and one for international students, and you land on one of them the moment your application is complete.
On the domestic side, incoming freshmen are considered for merit scholarship awards up to $22,000 per year, decided on high school GPA and renewable for a total of four years for full-time students who keep the required grade point average. FDU does not publish a public table showing which GPA earns which amount, so the figure arrives in the admission offer rather than in advance. Treat any site quoting a fixed freshman tier with suspicion. Transfer students are automatically considered for transfer awards too, including a Phi Theta Kappa annual award for verified honor society members that renews for two years on a 3.0 GPA. Around the merit money sit grants that stack with it: the Children of Alumni Grant, the FDU Family Grant when two or more dependent children attend at the same time, and NCAA Division I athletic scholarships at the Metropolitan campus, which FDU says can be combined with academic scholarships.
The international ladder is the one FDU documents in the most detail, and it is where the published dollar figures live. The FDU International Scholarship is worth up to $24,000 a year for undergraduate freshmen, awarded on academic merit with no SAT or ACT required and renewable up to four years. Transfer students from abroad can receive up to $16,000 a year. The Global Housing Grant pays $3,000 to students who live on and attend the Metropolitan campus, judged on merit, financial need and extracurricular involvement, renewable for two years. The Family Grant and Children of Alumni Grant each pay $1,500 per person and can be held alongside a merit award. The conditions are worth reading twice: awards are made at the time of admission, will not increase afterwards, are paid across the fall and spring semesters only, cannot be used toward a summer semester, and meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee you receive one. One line on FDU's undergraduate aid page decides a lot for international applicants: international students are not eligible for federal, state or University need-based financial aid, though they remain eligible for academic scholarships and for athletic funding under NCAA guidelines.
Now put the numbers next to the bill, because that is what tells you whether any of this works for you. Full-time undergraduate tuition is $38,600 a year on both New Jersey campuses, with a $1,080 technology fee, a $140 wellness fee, a $900 new student fee for freshmen, transfers and international students, and $1,934 for health and medical insurance that can be waived with alternative cover. FDU's own estimate for an international undergraduate year in 2026-27 is $59,799, made up of $42,799 for tuition, fees and insurance and $17,000 for room and board, with the graduate year estimated at $48,000. A $24,000 award takes a real bite out of that and still leaves a gap, so plan for the remainder rather than assuming it disappears. The dates are simple to work with because the application deadline is the scholarship deadline: 1 December for a January start, 1 July for an August start, 1 May for the limited summer programmes, and 15 March for the FAFSA if you are a US student chasing need-based grants under school code 002607. Graduate applicants should go to the department instead, since Silberman College of Business runs around 25 named awards through AwardSpring and the School of Public and Global Affairs offers partial tuition scholarships with a 1 July date for domestic students. If you are comparing university award systems that work this way, the University of Detroit Mercy Scholarships guide covers another private university that awards from the admission file, the Tulane University Merit Scholarships guide shows one that does publish its ranges, and the Undergraduate International Merit Scholarship guide covers a similar international entry route. Current terms live on the FDU Scholarships page and the scholarships for international students page.
Eligibility
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✓A complete FDU admission applicationThere is no separate scholarship form for the university awards. FDU states that you apply for admission to be automatically considered for its best range of scholarship opportunities, and repeats on the undergraduate page that students are automatically considered for merit awards upon applying to the University. The admission file is the scholarship application, so the quality of that file is the whole game.
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✓High school GPA, with test scores off the tableMerit scholarship awards up to $22,000 per year go to incoming freshmen based on their high school GPA. FDU does not publish a public tier table showing which GPA earns which dollar figure, so the exact amount reaches you in the admission offer. On the international side FDU is explicit that the SAT and ACT are not required for the scholarship decision.
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✓Full-time enrolment, kept up every yearMerit awards are annually renewable for a total of four years for full-time students who maintain the required GPA. International awards renew on continued full-time enrolment, a good GPA and remaining in good standing at FDU. Drop below full-time and the award is at risk.
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✓A FAFSA by 15 March for need-based moneyFDU urges incoming students and their families to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid no later than 15 March for maximum consideration for need-based grants, with 15 April the date for returning students. FDU's federal school code is 002607. A FAFSA is also required to be eligible for many of the donor scholarships listed on the AwardSpring portal.
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✓Transfer students need the credits behind themTransfer applicants are automatically considered for transfer awards on applying. The Phi Theta Kappa award goes to verified members of the honor society and renews for two years on a 3.0 GPA. Note a difference between two FDU pages here: the undergraduate scholarships page says candidates must have earned an associate degree, while the international scholarships page asks for at least 24 credits of college-level work. Ask admissions which applies to you before you assume.
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✓International students are eligible for merit money, not for need-based aidFDU is direct about the split. International students are not eligible for federal, state or University need-based financial aid, but they are eligible for academic scholarships and for athletic funding under NCAA guidelines. So the FDU International Scholarship, the Global Housing Grant and the family and alumni grants are open to you, and the need-based grant pot is not.
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✓The New Jersey campuses, not Vancouver or WroxtonThis guide covers the awards FDU publishes for its US campuses, Metropolitan in Teaneck and Florham in Madison. FDU's Vancouver campus runs a separate scholarship scheme under Canadian terms, which sits outside what this site covers. The FDU Family Grant also states plainly that it does not apply to students enrolled at Wroxton College in England or to summer, inter-session, mini-session or other special sessions.
Benefits
- Merit scholarship award Up to $22,000 per year on high school GPA
- Renewal Annually renewable for four years, full-time, on the required GPA
- Separate scholarship application Not needed, awarded from the admission file
- Need-based FDU grants Considered after a FAFSA filed by 15 March
- Athletic scholarship Varies, NCAA Division I, Metropolitan campus only
- Donor scholarships on AwardSpring Matched on GPA and major, many require a FAFSA
- Full tuition Not covered, tuition is $38,600 a year at both NJ campuses
- Room, board and fees Not covered by the merit award
- FDU International Scholarship, freshmen Up to $24,000 per year, renewable up to four years
- FDU International Transfer Scholarship Up to $16,000 per year
- Global Housing Grant $3,000, Metropolitan campus residents, renewable up to two years
- FDU Family Grant $1,500 per person, two or more dependent children at FDU
- Children of Alumni Grant $1,500, renewable up to four years for undergraduates
- Athletic scholarships Varies, up to full tuition and housing, Metropolitan campus
- SAT or ACT Not required for the international scholarship decision
- Federal, state and University need-based aid Not available to international students
- Summer semester Not covered, awards apply to fall and spring only
- FDU Family Grant $1,500 per person, renewable up to two years for graduate students
- Children of Alumni Grant $1,500, renewable up to two years for graduate students
- Silberman College of Business scholarships 25 named awards through AwardSpring, almost $500,000 given to date
- SPGA graduate scholarships Partial, tuition only, first-year MPA, MAS, MHA or CHSA students
- Morris County Chamber of Commerce grant $100 per graduate credit hour off published tuition
- Federal unsubsidized loan $20,500 a year, $100,000 lifetime cap from 2026-27
- A published graduate merit ladder Not offered, merit money concentrates on undergraduate entry
- Grad PLUS loans Not available to new borrowers from 1 July 2026
Document checklist
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✓The FDU application for admissionThe document that earns the award, since scholarship consideration is attached to it. The application fee is $50 for first-time applicants and for anyone reapplying after a lapse of a semester or more, and it is not credited toward tuition.
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✓High school transcript or equivalentFreshman merit awards are decided on high school GPA, so this is the single biggest input. International applicants should allow extra time for certified translations and credential evaluation where their school system requires it.
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✓College transcripts, for transfer applicantsTransfer awards run on your completed college work. Keep the credit count and the cumulative GPA visible, since the Phi Theta Kappa route asks for either an associate degree or at least 24 credits of college-level work depending on which FDU page you read.
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✓Proof of Phi Theta Kappa membershipVerification of PTK membership is required for the Phi Theta Kappa award and FDU asks for the proof to be included in the application rather than sent later. Recipients must hold a 3.0 GPA to keep it, and it renews for up to two years.
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✓FAFSA, school code 002607Required for federal, state and University need-based grants, and for many of the donor scholarships on AwardSpring. File it by 15 March as a new student. International students should skip it, since federal, state and University need-based aid is closed to them.
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✓English proficiency evidenceInternational applicants are assessed on English proficiency as part of admission, and FDU runs Pathway Programs for conditional admission where a candidate is academically ready but short on the language requirement. The SAT and ACT are not part of the international scholarship decision.
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✓Financial documentation for the I-20Not a scholarship document, but the one that turns an offer into a visa. FDU publishes an estimated international undergraduate year of $59,799 and a graduate year of $48,000, and your scholarship reduces the figure you have to document for the I-20.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
How much are Fairleigh Dickinson University Scholarships worth?
FDU publishes two headline figures. Merit scholarship awards up to $22,000 per year go to incoming freshmen based on high school GPA, and they are annually renewable for a total of four years for full-time students who maintain the required GPA. International freshmen are considered for the FDU International Scholarship worth up to $24,000 per year, renewable up to four years. Below those sit fixed grants: $3,000 for the Global Housing Grant, $1,500 for the FDU Family Grant and $1,500 for the Children of Alumni Grant. International transfer students can receive up to $16,000 per year. Athletic scholarships vary and can reach full tuition and housing, but only at the Metropolitan campus under NCAA Division I rules.
Do you need a separate application for FDU scholarships?
No, not for the main university awards. FDU states on its scholarships page that you apply for admission to be automatically considered for its best range of scholarship opportunities and that no separate scholarship application is needed. The undergraduate page repeats it for merit awards and for transfer awards. Two things do need separate action. Need-based grants require a FAFSA under school code 002607, filed by 15 March for new students. Donor-funded scholarships run through the AwardSpring portal, where your GPA and major are matched automatically but other awards on the Dashboard tab need extra information from you.
What is the FDU scholarship deadline for 2027 entry?
FDU publishes application deadlines rather than separate scholarship deadlines, because awards are made at the time of admission. The January (Spring) semester closes 1 December, so 1 December 2026 for January 2027 entry. The August (Fall) semester closes 1 July, so 1 July 2027 for Fall 2027 entry. A limited set of summer programmes closes 1 May. The FAFSA priority date for US students is 15 March for new students and 15 April for returning students. Some graduate programmes set their own dates, so check the graduate application deadlines page for yours.
Can international students get scholarships at Fairleigh Dickinson University?
Yes, and FDU sets out a full ladder for them. International undergraduate freshmen are considered for the FDU International Scholarship worth up to $24,000 a year on academic merit, with no SAT or ACT required, renewable up to four years. International transfer students can receive up to $16,000 a year. The $3,000 Global Housing Grant is open to students who live on and attend the Metropolitan campus and is assessed on merit, financial need and extracurricular involvement. The $1,500 Family Grant and $1,500 Children of Alumni Grant apply too, and recipients of those grants can still qualify for merit scholarships. The one closed door is need-based aid: FDU states that international students are not eligible for federal, state or University need-based financial aid, though they can receive athletic funding under NCAA guidelines.
What GPA do you need for a Fairleigh Dickinson University scholarship?
FDU does not publish a public tier table linking a specific high school GPA to a specific dollar amount, so be wary of any site that quotes one. What the university does say is that merit awards are based on high school GPA and that the amount is set when you are admitted. Renewal thresholds are clearer. Merit awards renew annually for four years for full-time students who maintain the required GPA stated in the award letter, the Phi Theta Kappa transfer award requires a 3.0 GPA, and international awards renew on continued full-time enrolment, a good GPA and good standing at FDU.
How much is tuition at Fairleigh Dickinson University?
Full-time undergraduate tuition is $38,600 per academic year at both New Jersey campuses, Metropolitan and Florham, for students taking 12 to 18 credits a semester. Add an annual technology fee of $1,080, a University Wellness Fee of $140, a $900 new student fee for international students, new freshmen and transfers, and health and major medical insurance of $1,934 a year, which domestic students can waive and international students can waive with documented alternative cover. For international applicants FDU publishes an estimated annual cost for 2026-27 of $42,799 for tuition, fees and medical insurance plus $17,000 for room and board, giving a total of $59,799. The graduate estimate is $31,000 plus $17,000 for a total of $48,000.
Are FDU scholarships available for graduate students?
Graduate money at FDU is departmental rather than a central merit ladder. The Silberman College of Business runs around 25 named scholarships through AwardSpring and has awarded almost $500,000 to its students to date. The School of Public and Global Affairs offers partial tuition scholarships to first-year MPA, MAS, MHA and CHSA students who have completed no more than 12 credits, judged on career potential and financial need, with a B average required to keep the money and a 1 July application date for US domestic students. Members of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce get $100 off per graduate credit hour as first-time enrolling graduate students. The FDU Family Grant and Children of Alumni Grant both carry over at $1,500, renewable up to two years at graduate level.
Can FDU scholarships be combined with other awards?
Some can. FDU states that grants and athletic scholarships can be combined with academic scholarships, and the international pages repeat for the Global Housing Grant, the Family Grant and the Children of Alumni Grant that recipients can still qualify for merit-based scholarships. The limits are the ones FDU spells out on the international scholarship conditions: awards will not increase once awarded, they are paid per year across fall and spring only, they cannot be used toward a summer semester, and meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee you receive anything. Note also that the scholarships described here belong to the New Jersey campuses. FDU's Vancouver campus publishes its own separate awards under Canadian terms.
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