July 7, 2013

The Office of Financial Aid does not award scholarships. However, if you are receiving any financial aid from our office, you will first want to contact us directly with the amounts of your scholarships. Outside monies may affect your original financial aid award, so we would like to inform you of any changes as early as possible. You can expect to receive a revised award letter with any changes made to your award caused by outside scholarships.

These links are intended to be used as a resource to help you find additional funds for your education.

William & Mary Merit Scholarships

These scholarships are financial awards given to William and Mary students with proven scholastic ability. There are three merit scholarships offered by William and Mary; each is handled through the Admission Office.

  • William & Mary Scholars – The William & Mary Scholars Award is presented each year to a small group of academically distinguished students who have overcome unusual adversity and/or are members of underrepresented groups who would contribute to campus diversity.  Many will be the first members of their families to attend college.  All applicants are considered for the award and no separate application is needed. Awards are worth the amount of in-state tuition and fees and are renewable each year as long as the recipient remains in good academic standing at the College.
  • Monroe Scholars – The James Monroe Scholars Program is a designation offered each year to the top 10-15% of all admitted students to the College of William and Mary. All first-year applicants are considered for this program and no separate application is needed. Notification is sent from the Office of Undergraduate Admission in March. Monroe Scholars receive a $3000 research stipend to explore an academic area of their choice. Other benefits to this program include: special housing option during freshman year, special consideration in the appointment of freshman advisors, priority course registration and the invitation to take part in a series of additional seminars. If an enrolling William & Mary student is not offered the Monroe Scholar designation during the admission process, it is possible for the student to become a Monroe Scholar at the end of his or her freshman year. Rising sophomores who have done exceptionally well academically (typically a cumulative GPA of a 3.8) are invited to apply for seats in the Monroe Scholars Program through the Charles Center.
  • 1693 Scholars – The 1693 Scholars Program is William & Mary’s most selective scholarship. Finalists typically rank in the top 1% of their class, score a 1500 and higher on the SAT (Critical Reading plus Math) and take the most demanding curriculum available to them. While some of the variables that influence 1693 Scholar designations are quantitative, others are more subjective. These include students’ application essays, extracurricular involvements, leadership, letters of recommendation and evidence of intellectual engagement. In conjunction with the Office of Undergraduate Admission, faculty members will administer the selection process.

    All students who apply to William & Mary through Early Decision (Nov. 1 postmark deadline) or Regular Decision (Jan. 1 postmark deadline) will be reviewed for the 1693 Scholars Program.

    The 1693 Scholars Program will provide four students per year with extensive benefits, including full tuition, general fees and room and board annually for Virginia residents and the equivalent amount annually for non-Virginia residents.