West Virginia Scholarships

Competitive institutional scholarship for West Virginia residents graduating from a West Virginia high school who are admitted to WVU Morgantown as first-time freshmen by January 20, 2026. Twenty freshmen are selected annually by a scholarship committee from applicants meeting minimum credentials of a 3.80 high school GPA and ACT 30 or SAT 1360. Eligible students receive additional application materials by mail starting in early November. The scholarship provides $15,000 per year for up to four undergraduate years. Recipients must remain in an on-campus degree program and meet institutional renewal requirements.

West Virginia's annual 529 Day sweepstakes awarding one $10,000 SMART529 account contribution. A parent or legal guardian submits one online entry per eligible child age 17 or younger during the May entry window. Both child and parent must be West Virginia residents. No purchase or SMART529 contribution is required to enter. The winner is announced on National 529 Day each May.

Undergraduate students with at least one year of college completed, or graduate students, at accredited U.S. institutions whose daily lives are guided by spiritual values may apply. Preference goes to candidates residing in or attending schools in Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Maryland, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $7,000 and may be renewed for subsequent years. Apply with three autobiographical essays, three letters of recommendation, an official transcript, and an in-person interview. Applicants must also demonstrate financial need. Albert and Toni Roothbert established the Fund to support students whose actions reflect strong moral and spiritual values.

Highest automatic merit tier of the Climb Higher Scholarship for first-time freshmen or first-time transfer students admitted to WVU Morgantown by August 1, 2026. No separate application is required; WVU reviews the admission application and official transcripts automatically. West Virginia residents with an incoming GPA of at least 3.8 and an ACT score of at least 30 or SAT of at least 1360 receive $5,000 per year at Morgantown for up to four years. Non-residents at the same level receive $17,000 per year. Recipients must maintain institutional renewal requirements including a 2.75 overall GPA and 30 earned credit hours per academic year.

The Mary Ann Sharp Scholars fund supports nursing students from Harrison County, West Virginia, pursuing a bachelor's degree in nursing at Fairmont State University. The scholarship provides nearly five thousand dollars to help cover junior and senior year costs for high-potential students who may face financial disadvantage. Four juniors and two seniors from Harrison County are eligible each cycle. The fund honors Mary Ann Yambrick Sharp and is administered through the Fairmont State Foundation. Students apply through Fairmont State's general scholarship application and must be enrolled in the BSN program at Fairmont State to be considered for this county-restricted nursing award.

West Virginia residents pursuing a NAAB-accredited architecture degree who demonstrate strong architectural ability, passion for the profession, and potential for success may apply for AIA West Virginia Foundation for Architecture scholarships. Eligible students include those who have completed six or more semesters in a NAAB-accredited Bachelor of Architecture program, or who are enrolled or accepted in a NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture program. Recipients receive $4,000. The number of awards varies with available funding. Projects demonstrating sustainable principles or environmental technologies may receive special consideration, and awardees are invited to the AIA West Virginia Design Awards Gala Dinner. Submit a completed application and portfolio. Semi-finalists are invited for an interview and portfolio presentation. Since 1986, AIA West Virginia has awarded more than $324,300 to 139 architecture students in the state.

Automatic merit scholarship for first-time freshmen or first-time transfer students admitted to WVU Morgantown with an incoming GPA of at least 3.8. WVU considers eligible applicants automatically upon admission with no separate scholarship application, essay, or recommendations required. West Virginia residents receive $3,500 per year at Morgantown for up to four undergraduate years. Non-residents at this level receive $14,000 per year. Students must be admitted by August 1, 2026 for fall entry with all supporting documents received by the deadline. Renewal requires a 2.75 overall GPA and 30 earned credit hours each academic year.

The Victory Bell Scholarship is the top tier of Fairmont State's in-state Traditions Scholarship program for first-time freshmen. West Virginia residents who enter Fairmont State directly from high school with a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or higher receive three thousand seven hundred fifty dollars per year toward tuition and fees. Students are automatically considered when they complete the Fairmont State admissions application and submit a high school transcript by the admissions deadline. No separate scholarship application or ACT or SAT score is required under the current GPA-based model. The award renews for up to eight semesters when recipients maintain a 2.75 overall GPA and complete at least thirty credit hours per academic year.

Automatic merit scholarship for first-time freshmen or first-time transfer students admitted to WVU Morgantown with an incoming GPA between 3.5 and 3.79. WVU automatically reviews admission applications and does not require a separate scholarship form. West Virginia residents receive $2,500 per year at Morgantown for up to four years or until a bachelor's degree is completed. Non-residents at this level receive $11,000 per year. Applicants must be admitted by August 1, 2026 for fall 2026 entry. Recipients must maintain a 2.75 overall GPA and earn at least 30 credit hours per academic year to renew.

The Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters, the association of AP member television and radio stations across Virginia and West Virginia, awards annual scholarships to students pursuing degrees in broadcast journalism. The association offers two $2,000 scholarships, one to a student at a Virginia school and one to a student at a West Virginia school (the 2026 cycle awarded $1,000). Applicants must be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate studies at a college or university in Virginia or West Virginia at the time of the application deadline, and the recipient must be able to attend the VAPB Awards Luncheon as the association's guest. The application requires a completed form, resume and an essay of at least 200 words on why the student wants the scholarship, with finalists interviewed virtually. The 2026 deadline was January 25; 2027 applications open in December.