Scholarships for Transfer Students

Around 2 in 5 students transfer colleges in the U.S. each year. Discover the best scholarships for transfer students and how to apply for them.
By
portrait of Staff Writers
Staff Writers
Read Full Bio

Writer

The staff writers for BestColleges collaborate to deliver unique, student-driven content on topics such as career development, college life, and college planning....
Published on April 7, 2022
Edited by
portrait of Hannah Muniz
Hannah Muniz
Read Full Bio

Editor & Writer

Hannah Muniz is a senior editor with BestColleges, specializing in college planning, test prep, student life, and sponsored content. She previously worked as a freelance writer, composing articles on the SAT/ACT, higher education, language learning, ...
Learn more about our editorial process

www.bestcolleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Turn Your Dreams Into Reality

Take our quiz and we'll do the homework for you! Compare your school matches and apply to your top choice today.

Many students transfer colleges in the U.S. each year. According to a report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, around 2 in 5 first-time undergraduates in the fall 2011 cohort transferred colleges within the first six years.

But college — and transferring colleges — can get pretty expensive. So can transfer students get scholarships? The answer is yes!

Many scholarships specifically target transfer students, especially those looking to transfer from a two-year college to a four-year university.

Keep reading to learn how to apply for transfer scholarships, what kinds of scholarships are available, and how institutional transfer scholarships work.

What Do You Need to Apply for a Transfer Scholarship?

Most transfer scholarship applications are similar to regular college scholarship applications.

Common application materials include a personal essay and official college transcripts. Some scholarship programs may require you to demonstrate financial need, while others may ask you to highlight your achievements in things like art, sports, leadership, and public service.

Many scholarships for transfer students require a letter of recommendation from an advisor or mentor as well.

Popular Scholarships for Transfer Students

The list below introduces some popular scholarships for college transfer students. All aim to offer financial assistance to students transferring from two-year colleges to four-year institutions.

You can find more scholarships by searching online, reaching out to local organizations, and checking schools' official websites.

AICPA Foundation Two-Year Transfer Scholarship

Chevron Down

Who's Eligible? Offered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), this scholarship is geared toward transfer students who have an associate degree in business, accounting, finance, or economics and who plan to major in accounting at a four-year university. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA and be an AICPA Student Affiliate member.

Award Amount: $5,000

Deadline: March 15, 2022

View Scholarship

Darrel Hess Community College Geography Scholarship

Chevron Down

Who's Eligible? This scholarship program, offered by the American Association of Geographers, targets students who are enrolled in a two-year college and have completed at least two courses in geography. You must plan to transfer to a four-year university as a geography major. Two scholarships will be awarded.

Award Amount: $1,500

Deadline: Dec. 31, 2022

View Scholarship

Guistwhite Scholarship Program

Chevron Down

Who's Eligible? To be eligible, students must be active members of Phi Theta Kappa (the official honor society for community college students), have at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA, and plan to transfer to an accredited four-year college or university.

Award Amount: $5,000

Deadline: Dec. 2022

View Scholarship

Hites Transfer Scholarship

Chevron Down

Who's Eligible? To apply for this scholarship, you must be a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and plan to transfer from a two-year college to a four-year college in pursuit of a bachelor's degree. You'll also need a minimum 3.5 GPA.

Award Amount: $7,500

Deadline: Dec. 2022

View Scholarship

Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship

Chevron Down

Who's Eligible? Applicants must be current students at an accredited U.S. community college with plans to enroll full time in a bachelor's program at a four-year college or university. You must also have a cumulative 3.5 GPA or higher and demonstrate significant financial need.

Award Amount: Up to $55,000 per year

Deadline: Jan. 10, 2022

View Scholarship

META Oro Scholarship

Chevron Down

Who's Eligible? The META Foundation's goal is to provide financial support to underserved Latino/a students in Southern California. Latino/a students who are currently enrolled in a two-year college and plan to transfer to a four-year university are eligible to apply. Applicants must also demonstrate financial need and have a 3.0 minimum GPA.

Award Amount: Up to $2,000

Deadline: March 2022

View Scholarship

New England Transfer Association Scholarships

Chevron Down

Who's Eligible? Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA and be on track to earn an associate degree from a two-year New England college or university. You must also plan to transfer to a four-year New England college or university for a bachelor's degree. Up to six scholarships are awarded each year.

Award Amount: $1,000

Deadline: April 4, 2022

View Scholarship

NYSTAA Transfer Student Scholarships

Chevron Down

Who's Eligible? Students who earned an associate degree at any two-year college that's part of the New York State Transfer and Articulation Association (NYSTAA) and who plan to transfer to a four-year NYSTAA member school are eligible for one of six scholarships. You must also have a minimum cumulative 3.5 GPA.

Award Amount: $1,000

Deadline: March 23, 2022

View Scholarship

Tau Sigma National Honor Society Scholarships

Chevron Down

Who's Eligible? Applicants must be members of Tau Sigma, an honor society specifically for college students who transfer to a four-year college or university. Students can join Tau Sigma if they display exemplary academic performance in their first semester at their new school. You can apply for the scholarship in the fall after joining Tau Sigma. Each Tau Sigma chapter selects a member to nominate for the award.

Award Amount: $500-$5,000

Deadline: Varies

View Scholarship

TheDream.Us's National Scholarships for Community College Graduates

Chevron Down

Who's Eligible? These scholarships support undocumented students with significant financial need. To be eligible, you must have earned or be about to earn an associate degree from a community college and plan to transfer to a four-year institution. You must also have at least a 3.0 GPA.

Award Amount: Up to $33,000

Deadline: March 7, 2022

View Scholarship

What Colleges Offer Scholarships for Transfer Students?

Many four-year U.S. colleges and universities offer special scholarships for students transferring into the school.

For example, Appalachian State University offers several scholarships for transfer students with various award amounts. Last year, the University of South Florida provided transfer scholarships to more than 5,000 students, with an average award amount of $2,646.

Before you apply somewhere as a transfer student, check with the schools you're considering to see whether they offer any transfer student scholarships and how to qualify for them.

Note that many schools automatically consider you for a transfer scholarship when you apply for admission.


Feature Image: Hill Street Studios / DigitalVision / Getty Images

BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Compare Your School Options

View the most relevant schools for your interests and compare them by tuition, programs, acceptance rate, and other factors important to finding your college home.