Scholarship Opportunities

VCU is developing this page as a centralized source of information about scholarship opportunities available to students.

Please check back for updates. In the meantime, please visit the following webpages:

Opportunities by College or School

Select a college or school below to view scholarship opportunities administered or promoted by that VCU unit.

Honors College

Honors College Scholarship Information

The Honors College offers a variety of merit-based and need-based scholarships to incoming freshmen, transfer and current VCU Honors College students. The VCU Office of Admissions offers a variety of merit-based, renewable four-year scholarships for incoming freshmen.

Honors scholarships are awarded by the academic year, and Honors students may apply each year. The VCU Office of Admissions scholarships are not affiliated with the Honors College. Students seeking financial aid should contact the VCU Financial Aid Office.

A huge resource for Honors students seeking to apply for scholarships is the National Scholarship Office!

The NSO recruits and prepares Honors students (and others) who are applying for (inter)nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships. Many of these awards will help Honors students and recent alumni pursue opportunities to study abroad or attend graduate school.

For Freshmen
The Honors College Scholarship Program recognizes incoming first-year Honors students who demonstrate strong academic potential and project active involvement in the Honors community. Scholarship recipients are awarded for one academic year, and receiving both disbursements of the award is contingent on maintaining good standing with the Honors College. Honors College scholarships range up to $3,000 per year and are non-renewable, although students may apply for them each year. Please note that these scholarships are separate from the merit-based scholarships offered through the Office of Admissions.

Only students accepted into the Honors College are eligible to apply for incoming freshman Honors College scholarships. The online application for Honors College scholarships for incoming freshmen opens December 15. Incoming freshmen students accepted into the Honors College may log back into the Honors College application portal to access the incoming freshman scholarship application. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on January 31, 2026. Notifications of Honors College scholarship decisions will be sent via email by early March. Please contact honors@vcu.edu if you have additional questions.

The merit-based scholarships offered through the Office of Admissions do not require a separate application. Students must only apply to the University by November 1. For more information, please visit the Office of Admissions scholarship page.

All National Merit Scholar finalists who apply to the VCU Honors College and notify of their finalist status are guaranteed admission into the VCU Honors College. Additionally, finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program who apply to VCU by November 1 and notify the National Merit Scholarship Corp. by May 31 that VCU is their first choice are eligible for a VCU Presidential Scholarship. Finalists with questions can contact Kittinun Wongsirikul or (804) 828-6528.

For Transfer Students
The Honors College Scholarship Program recognizes incoming transfer Honors students who demonstrate strong academic achievement from their transfer institution, and show active involvement in the community. Scholarship applications open in the spring, and are awarded for the start of the fall academic semester. Recipients are awarded scholarships for one academic year, and maintaining the award is contingent on maintaining good standing with the Honors College. Honors College scholarships are non-renewable, although students may compete for them each year.

For Current Students
The Honors College Scholarship Program recognizes current Honors students who demonstrate academic achievement and active involvement in the Honors community. These scholarships are granted to current Honors students who maintain good standing with the Honors College as evidenced by a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better and active Honors engagement. Recipients are awarded scholarships for one academic year, and maintaining the award is contingent on maintaining good standing with the Honors College. Honors College scholarships are non-renewable, although students may compete for them each year.

Current students, be sure to check your weekly update emails for announcements regarding scholarship applications. The timeline for scholarship applications is updated each spring. Please contact honors@vcu.edu if you have additional questions.

Honors Summer Undergraduate Research Program

The Honors College promotes discovery, inquiry, and creativity-based opportunities through mentored research experiences. To that end, the Honors Summer Undergraduate Research Program (HSURP) allows students to work one-on-one with a faculty mentor or a research team to examine various research topics across many disciplines. Additionally, it is a great way to meet fellow honors students and participate in professional development workshops and social activities.

Program Dates

May 26-July 24, 2026

A $4,000 stipend is provided in two installments over the nine-week program.

Professional Development Workshops

Resumes & Job Interview Skills
Maximizing the Library as an Undergraduate Researcher
Strategies For Increasing Success When Applying To Graduate And Professional Schools
Strategies for Making the Most Out of Undergraduate Research Conferences
Applying for Nationally Competitive Scholarships

Social Activities

VCU Outdoor Adventure Program
Museum and Park Visits
Pizza & Movie Nights

How to Apply

Each project is unique and may include running lab experiments, literature reviews, data collection and cleaning, web scraping, and statistical analysis. Application Deadline: The priority application deadline is Monday, February 9 at 11:59 p.m.

Eligibility, Requirements, & Benefits

Eligibility	HSURP is open to all majors Students must plan to be enrolled full-time during the fall semester after participating in HSURP Meet the requirements of good standing in the Honors College Letter of recommendation from faculty, academic advisor or university staff employed outside of the Honors College
Requirements	Upon receiving an offer from HSURP, students sign an agreement to fulfill the following requirements: To devote full effort to conducting the HSURP project; students must disclose plans to take summer courses, hold a job, or any involvement in activities that may conflict with HSURP before accepting the offer To update digital time sheets, detailing work done on a day-to-day basis To regularly update a blog outlining your experience with your research and your progress in the program To submit two written reflection assignments during the program To participate in weekly workshops, group meetings, social activities, etc. To present at the culminating poster symposium during the last week of the program If you have questions, contact Dr. Jacqueline Smith-Mason at jsmithmason@vcu.edu
Benefits	Participants receive hands-on research experience guided by a faculty mentor Excellent preparation to apply to a graduate or professional degree program or a national scholarship Build community with honors students Gain public speaking and presentation experience Strategies for making the most out of attending conferences Professional development opportunities (e.g., resume and interviewing skills) Social activities: museum & park visits, pizza & movie nights, exploring Richmond Stipend: $4,000

Eligibility

HSURP is open to all majors
Students must plan to be enrolled full-time during the fall semester after participating in HSURP
Meet the requirements of good standing in the Honors College
Letter of recommendation from faculty, academic advisor or university staff employed outside of the Honors College

Requirements

Upon receiving an offer from HSURP, students sign an agreement to fulfill the following requirements:

To devote full effort to conducting the HSURP project; students must disclose plans to take summer courses, hold a job, or any involvement in activities that may conflict with HSURP before accepting the offer
To update digital time sheets, detailing work done on a day-to-day basis
To regularly update a blog outlining your experience with your research and your progress in the program
To submit two written reflection assignments during the program
To participate in weekly workshops, group meetings, social activities, etc.
To present at the culminating poster symposium during the last week of the program
If you have questions, contact Dr. Jacqueline Smith-Mason at jsmithmason@vcu.edu

Benefits

Participants receive hands-on research experience guided by a faculty mentor
Excellent preparation to apply to a graduate or professional degree program or a national scholarship
Build community with honors students
Gain public speaking and presentation experience
Strategies for making the most out of attending conferences Professional development opportunities (e.g., resume and interviewing skills)
Social activities: museum & park visits, pizza & movie nights, exploring Richmond
Stipend: $4,000

Exclusive Scholarship & Housing

Honors students gain access to special housing in the Honors dorm and scholarships.