Resident High School Scholarships
High school student from Idaho
For our high school students from Idaho:
The Go Idaho! Scholarship Program recognizes our new, first-year undergraduate students, who are residents of Idaho, with a guaranteed minimum level of scholarship funding. Additional need-based funds may be available based on the results of your FAFSA, which we encourage you to complete annually.
- Students who are admitted and meet the following criteria are guaranteed to receive the level of funding listed below from a variety of U of I scholarships.
- Scholarships may come from donor-based sources, departmental awards, and/or institutional funding sources.
- This minimum funding level is guaranteed for up to four years if the student maintains a minimum cumulative 2.5 U of I GPA.
| Scholarship Funding Level |
Unweighted High School GPA |
Minimum Annual Award |
|---|---|---|
| Vandal Pride Award | 3.9 - 4.0 | $7,500 (Starting 2024-25) |
| Vandal Summit Award | 3.75 - 3.899 | $5,000 (Starting 2024-25) |
| Vandal Excellence Award | 3.4 - 3.749 | $4,000 (Starting 2024-25) |
| Vandal Merit Award | 3.0 - 3.399 | $1,000 |
Homeschool students will be considered based on their highest ACT and SAT scores.
Non-accredited Idaho High School GPAs (if provided to Undergraduate Admissions) will be considered for Go Idaho award levels. If you are an Idaho resident who went to a non-accredited out-of-state high school, your award will be based on your standardized test scores.
Student award notifications typically are sent in late December or early January, via paper award letters and email notifications.
*Note: some departmental scholarships students receive may automatically apply towards their Go Idaho! Program Scholarship and may replace an “Academic Achievement” award. If a departmental scholarship is applied after you accept an “Academic Achievement” award, the departmental monies may replace the initial award and fulfill the institution’s promise for minimum funding amounts.
The University of Idaho is a first choice for aspiring leaders from around the U.S. In fact, we are a leader among schools in the Northwest and enroll more National Merit Scholars than all Idaho institutions combined.
The Idaho National Merit Scholar program guarantees a scholarship that covers university-defined educational costs for basic tuition and fees, and housing and meals in a U of I residence hall for four years to all National Merit Finalists who declare the University of Idaho as their first-choice institution.
How do I qualify for the National Merit Scholarship?
- Achieve Finalist standing with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in your Junior year of High School through PSAT and SAT test scores.
- Be admitted as a first-year student entering directly from high school or home school.
- Submit a copy of your National Merit Finalist letter to the Financial Aid Office.
- Declare the University of Idaho as first school of choice with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation by their deadline of May 31.
What is the Value of the National Merit Scholarship?
This award covers basic registration fees/tuition and the university-defined cost for room and board for a traditional undergraduate if you live in a U of I residence hall. Fees/tuition are set by the Idaho State Board of Education in late spring, annually. The value of this award for the 2024-25 academic year is $20,588 for Idaho residents. For non-residents, a full non-resident tuition waiver (a value of $19,236) is also included. That's over $82,000 in cash scholarships, plus a full non-resident tuition waiver for non-residents, over four years! The best news is that the value of the scholarship program increases at the same rate as costs increase.
Will the National Merit Scholarship cover all my expenses?
The fee portion of the scholarship covers basic registration/tuition fees only. You will be responsible for paying any special course and lab fees.
Housing and meals fees are calculated using the university-defined cost for a double room in the Living Learning Communities (LLCs, also home to Honors Living), and an all-access meal plan for a typical undergraduate. Students may choose to live in any university-managed housing; however, depending on the actual cost for housing and meals, a student may end up owing a small amount out of pocket.
Take advantage of as many external scholarship resources as you can! It pays to search and apply. Any extra resource(s) you bring in can help pay for the great education offered at the U of I.
Although you are automatically considered for any university-based scholarships for which you are eligible, we highly recommend that you consider additional sources of funding. Speak with your U of I academic advisor and check with family employers, credit unions, churches and other community organizations to see if they offer scholarships. You can even reach out to your college department and see what departmental scholarships you may qualify for. You may also find some of the following links helpful.
Looking for Outside Scholarships? Use ScholarshipUniverse!
ScholarshipUniverse makes it easier to find scholarships outside the U of I. By answering a few simple questions, you could be matched to a variety of potential scholarships. The ScholarshipUniverse dashboard also provides a quick and convenient way to keep up with upcoming application deadlines.
Idaho State Sources
Military Sources
The United States Air Force, Army, and Navy offer a suite of government scholarships to students who participate in their ROTC programs. For more information and details, contact U of I’s Military and Veteran Services Office.