Scholarships for Students with Low GPA 2024/2025June 10, 2024 by

In most cases, scholarships are offered mainly to students with high GPAs. This makes a lot of sense, as the high grades are often indicative of high potential and dedication to hard work. But what about students with low GPA scores? No, they’re not limited to obtaining athletic scholarships.

There are actually some scholarships out there that work for students even when their GPA scores are relatively low. Some of these scholarships don’t even take the GPA into account.

Here are some examples:

American Intercontinental University Scholarships

American InterContinental University (AIU) currently has 2 campuses in the US, with one in Atlanta and another one in Houston.

The school is famous for its open-door policy for incoming students. It’s not surprising that scholarships for students here might not require a high GPA.

Army ROTC Scholarships

These scholarships can allow you to study in any of the many universities in the US. More than a thousand participating universities are part of this program.

The requirements are simple:

  • Be a U.S. citizen

  • Be at least 17, and under 31 in year of commissioning

  • Have a high school diploma or equivalent

  • Have a high school GPA of at least 2.50, unweighted if you’re in high school while applying

  • Have taken the SAT or ACT

  • Take the current Army physical fitness test

  • Meet the physical weight and height requirements

  • Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard

Ashford University Scholarships

The school is now known as the University of Arizona Global Campus. It’s an online university run in affiliation with the University of Arizona.

It’s a popular online school with more than 31,000 students. Several scholarships are available for students even with low GPA, including:

  • Entrepreneurship Scholarships

  • NEU Scholarships

  • Senior Project FSBT Scholarships

Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship Program

This is a scholarship program offered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. As such, students are given the opportunity to study abroad (and then presumably join the US Department of State afterwards).

This is for undergrads in good standing at an accredited institution in the US. And it’s also eligible for students in 2-year or 4-year programs.

Colorado Technical University Scholarships for All

Colorado Technical University has more than 23,000 undergraduates and about 2,700 postgrads, though the vast majority of their students (92%) are fully online. With its 100% acceptance rate, it’s not surprising that its scholarships are also non-discriminatory towards students with low GPA.

While the grants and scholarships are offered with a rather long list of conditions, none of them require a high GPA.

Corinne Jeannine Schillings Foundation Scholarship

This is a scholarship open to undergrads who want to study abroad. The benefits include an award amount of $1,000.

This is available for students who are recipients of the Girl Scout Silver or Gold Award, and who have a 3.0 GPA.

David Letterman Scholarship

Retired talk-show host David Letterman actually created this scholarship for “C” students, because he believes that grades aren’t all that matter. Dave believes that all students have their own abilities and strengths.

This is for Ball State students with a media major or minor, and applicants must submit a creative project. This can be writing, research, interactive media, computer graphics, or websites.

The eligibility criteria include:

  • Have between 30 and 102 total credit hours at the end of the fall semester before applying

  • Have a major or minor in media

  • Be enrolled in at least 12 hours of media courses at the time of applying

  • Continue as a full-time student the semester after receiving the scholarship

DELL Scholars Program

All over the US, 500 students receive a Dell Scholarship each year, and this includes non-monetary support. The list of eligibility requirements includes a minimum of just 2.4 GPA.

The benefits include:

  • $20,000 Scholarship

  • Personalized, Multi-Faceted Support

  • A Laptop Computer

  • Chegg credits ($500 annually for 4 years) to be used for textbook purchases and rentals

  • Scholars Resource Network for support with various life circumstances such as stress and debt

  • Access to teletherapy service

E-waste Scholarships without GPA

Available to high school (from freshmen to seniors), college, or graduate students, the E-waste scholarships by Digital Responsibility don’t care about GPA at all.

The scholarship focuses on e-waste, referring to used electronics that are nearing the end of their useful life, and are then discarded, donated or given to a recycler.

Simply write the most compelling 140-character message addressing the “worst thing about e-waste” and if you win, you get the $1,000 award.

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

This is also open to high school, college, and graduate students, including adults. You’re eligible if you’re a legal resident of the US and you’re currently in school or planning to attend college or grad school.

The award is $1,000 and it is given to the applicant who submits the most compelling personal statement.

Purdue Global University Scholarships

Among these scholarships is the Returning Student Relief Grant. This was developed to encourage withdrawn students who meet eligibility requirements to reenroll in Purdue University Global (formerly Kaplan University) and complete their program of study.

The grant clears the student’s outstanding debt (maximum $4,500) if they are owed directly to Purdue Global.

Undergrad recipients need a minimum CGPA of 2.5 at the time of withdrawal, while it’s a CGPA of 3.0 for graduate students.

Regis University Scholarships

The many available scholarships for students include the ones that even low-GPA students might receive. These include:

  • Helen McLoraine scholarships

  • External scholarships

  • Federal TEACH grants

St. Leo University Scholarships

Some of the scholarships here do not have stringent GPA requirements.

The Catholic Promise Scholarship, for example, offers a $3,000 award for graduates of Catholic high schools who have a GPA of at least 2.3.

There is also the Global Citizen Award, for which all international students are automatically considered.

Western Governor’s University Scholarships without GPA

These scholarships include:

  • Year of You scholarships

  • First Responders Scholarships

  • WGU Alumni Master’s Scholarships

Instead of the GPA, these scholarships may instead be based on the answers you give on the scholarship application, or on the interview.

Other Universities & Colleges That Accept LOW CGPA

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Southern Illinois University

Bridgewater State University

Central Connecticut University

California State university-Los Angeles 

Carolina State university – 

Delaware State University

Winona State University

Upper Iowa University

Wayne State College

Norfolk University

Cleveland University Kansas City

Barclay College

Louisiana State University Center of health-Shreveport

Westfield State University

Hastings College

University of Tennessee-Martin

University of Southern Indiana

Longwood University

Wheaton College

San Francisco Bay University

Troy University

Indiana State University

Bemidji State University

Colorado Christian University

Illinois State University

Moorhead State university

North Carolina Central University,

Loras College

Bradley College

Nicholls state College

University of Massachusetts Boston

There are actually some scholarships out there that work for students even when their GPA scores are relatively low. Some of these scholarships don’t even take the GPA into account. If you’re facing challenges due to lower grades but have a compelling story to tell or unique experiences to share, writing a strong scholarship essay can make a significant difference. By improving your essay writing skills and effectively communicating your strengths, you can enhance your chances of securing financial aid. Exploring strategies for scholarship essay writing can empower you to present your qualifications effectively. Despite not having a high GPA, you still have an opportunity to pursue higher education through these alternative pathways

Conclusion

It can be disheartening for plenty of students who apply for scholarships that often, a high GPA is part of the requirements. This is the type of requirement that closes a lot of doors to numerous students.

But grades aren’t everything, and that’s an obvious truth.

You can just see for yourself when you closely examine the graduating class of 10 years ago. The most successful people in life aren’t necessarily the ones who attained the highest grades in the class.

You can compensate for your low GPA and still get additional support for your continuing education, with some hard work and dedication. There are many scholarships out there that require a more reasonable GPA score, and some don’t take the GPA into account at all.

Just look at all the examples we listed, and see if any of these apply to your circumstances. Apply as to as many scholarships as you can, and you might just receive some scholarships.

The doors to university aren’t all closed, even if you have a low GPA. These scholarships are proof of that truth!

If you have a good GPA, you can explore our list of fully funded scholarship here.

List of Universities in Canada that accept low GPA
  1. University of Canada West, Vancouver
  2. Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops
  3. Memorial University, Newfoundland
  4. University of Regina, Regina
  5. Crandall University, New Brunswick
  6. Royal Roads University, Colwood
  7. St. Paul University, Ottawa
  8. University of Prince Edward Island
  9. St. Mary’s University, Halifax
  10. Brandon University, Brandon

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