What is a Scholarship?

A scholarship is a form of financial assistance provided to a student on the basis of academic merit and/or financial need. Scholarships typically give a student a greater opportunity to attend college while reducing costs associated with education such as tuition, student loans and textbooks, etc.

Endowed Scholarship

Endowed scholarships are held in perpetuity by Fairleigh Dickinson University. A Board-approved "pay-out" rate determines the portion of the earnings that may be awarded to students as scholarships. Scholarship assistance is directed toward the students accounts to help cover tuition. The balance of the interest is reinvested in the fund to ensure future growth. Endowed scholarship funds are established with a minimum of $25,000. Scholarship awards begin one year after the fund has been endowed.

Restricted Scholarships

Gifts to fund restricted scholarships are fully expended for student financial assistance. Fund restricted scholarships are accepted with a minimum of $10,000 over a maximum of five years. Gifts received after December 31st are held for the following academic year.

General and Named Scholarships

Gifts to fund restricted scholarships are fully expended toward student financial assistance. A fund restricted scholarship would be awarded on a yearly basis. Here, there are two choices: If the total donation is less than $1,000, the gifts will go into the general scholarship fund. A named scholarship requires a $1,000 annual donation that is renewable for at least a period of five years.

Charter Day Scholars

Each year since 1990, Fairleigh Dickinson University has honored an individual in recognition of professional leadership and community contributions. Support from Charter Day enables a number of students to attend the University as Charter Day Scholars. These undergraduate students exhibit significant leadership on campus and in the larger community, and earn cumulative grade point averages of a least 3.0. Charter Day Scholars show a personal commitment to developing the same leadership qualities Charter Day honorees have shown.

William Randolph Hearst Foundation

The Hearst Endowed Scholarship fund provides financial assistance to nontraditional students participating in the Equal Opportunity Fund (EOF) at Fairleigh Dickinson University. The University's EOF students come to higher education with disadvantage backgrounds - economically and educationally. Financial issues, work schedules, children, spouses and other obligations place additional stress on these students, some of whom are older and returning to school for the first time.