You have big dreams. We help make them a reality. Wheaton scholarships make your education accessible and affordable. We offer merit- and need-based scholarships and grants. Much of this gift aid is fully funded through the generosity of our alumni and private donors and does not need to be repaid.
Merit scholarships are based on academic and extracurricular achievement regardless of financial circumstances. Need-based scholarships use a student’s family income as a qualifier. Many students are awarded both types of gift aid.
We invest in your future
We are committed to making a liberal arts education accessible and affordable through privately-funded merit scholarships, grants and need-based aid. Many any of our students graduate with little to no student loans.
Most commonly awarded Wheaton
scholarships and grants
Wheaton Presidential Scholarship
The Wheaton College Presidential Scholarship is a merit-based award that recognizes incoming students for their high school academic achievement regardless of financial need. Most of our students qualify for this scholarship, with the majority in Fall 2024 expected to receive between $35,000-$45,000 per year.
There is no special application needed. If you qualify, the Office of Admission will notify you in your college acceptance letter. The Presidential Scholarship is renewable all four years as long as you remain in good academic and social standing according to Wheaton’s Honor Code.
Wheaton Grant
The college funds need-based student grants with general scholarship resources, income from endowed funds, and annual gifts from alumni, parents and friends. Award amounts vary depending on each student’s financial circumstances.
Recipients of need-based financial aid must complete a FAFSA each year, providing updated family financial information. To the extent that your family’s financial situation does not change, your award will be renewed at the same amount from one year to the next.
Other scholarships and grants
Wheaton offers a select number of awards that range from partial scholarships to those that cover full tuition or even the full cost of attendance (including housing). Following are a mix of merit- and need-based awards that adhere to certain eligibility requirements. Some require a special application.
Davis Maine Scholarship
A collaboration between the Maine Seacoast Mission and the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund, the Davis Maine Scholarship benefits first-generation students from eastern Hancock and Washington counties in Maine. This renewable four-year scholarship covers the full cost of attendance including tuition, fees, housing and meal plan at a Davis Maine partner college. Wheaton College is one of several partner institutions for this program.
Davis United World College Scholarship
Wheaton College awards up to three need-based scholarships per year to graduates of the United World Colleges (UWC). This scholarship covers the full cost of attendance at Wheaton (including tuition, fees, housing and meal plan, plus other expenses). It is renewable for all four years.
The UWC experience brings students from around the world to live and learn together in one of 18 locations on five continents. Each school selects students from different backgrounds and cultures to help them embrace different ways of thinking and promote social change through diversity. We believe diversity advances our liberal arts mission to empower our students to become critical thinkers and empathetic leaders in the global workforce.
Newbury Scholarship
The Newbury Scholarship, funded by the Newbury College Foundation, provides one to two full-tuition scholarships to eligible Boston-area students. Before its closure in 2019, Newbury College in Boston fostered the success of first-generation college students and other historically marginalized students from Boston and nearby communities. As a nationally recognized “First-gen Forward” institution, Wheaton College is proud to continue Newbury College’s legacy.
There is no application necessary. The Office of Admissions considers all potential candidates when reviewing applications to the college. In addition to this scholarship, we provide dedicated resources to advance the success of our first-generation and low-income students.
Next Genius Scholarship
Wheaton College partners with Next Genius, a Mumbai-based educational initiative that seeks to promote the importance of critical thinking. As Next Genius’ original U.S. partner, Wheaton College has awarded full-tuition scholarships to top students in India since 2014. Each year we select one of the top candidates who participate in the nationwide competition, which includes thousands of students. With more than 70 countries represented in our student body, we are pleased to have India so well represented in our incoming classes. Since the partnership began in 2014, nearly 25 students from India have joined the Wheaton community.
Posse Scholarship
In partnership with the Posse Foundation, Wheaton College awards 10 full-tuition Posse scholarships to students in the New York City area each year.
This cohort of students attends Wheaton College together as a “posse.” Through this partnership, Wheaton expands its pool of outstanding and diverse student leaders.
For over 20 years, many of our Posse Program scholars have been recognized as some of the top leaders on campus and have earned national awards including Watson Fellowships, Marshall Scholarships and Fulbrights. The Posse Foundation also has offices in and recruits students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans and Washington, D.C.
The Wheaton Pride Scholarship
Wheaton is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive community where students of all backgrounds and identities can thrive. The Wheaton Pride Scholarship, established by President Michaele Whalen, is open to all LGBTQ+ and allied students (both newly admitted and currently enrolled). To be considered, students must demonstrate financial need, service or leadership in the LGBTQ+ community, and a commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Recipients do not have to identify as LGBTQ+ to receive the scholarship. Wheaton awards two Pride Scholarships per year.
Wheaton Refugee Scholarship
Each year, Wheaton College awards more than $40 million in aid to our domestic and international refugee students seeking to advance their education. The Wheaton Refugee Scholarship does not detract from our commitment to others in our need-based applicant pool. Rather, it further expands our commitment to creating a global, inclusive and equitable community – making a liberal arts education affordable and accessible.
International student awards
International students are eligible for the merit-based Wheaton Presidential Scholarship. Additionally, Wheaton offers some need-based financial aid to international students in the form of the Judy Purdy Grant. International students seeking need-based aid must complete the International Student Financial Aid Application after you apply for admission to Wheaton. This form will be located in your admission portal.
Federal and state aid
In addition to merit- and need-based scholarships and grants funded by Wheaton College’s own financial resources, students also may be eligible for federal and state-funded aid. Need is determined by the financial information that you and your family provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). We encourage you to visit our Financial Aid Process and Deadlines page for more information or contact Student Financial Services.
An affordable liberal arts education
Earning a degree at Wheaton College is more affordable than you might think. In fact, Wheaton scholarships and other gift aid allow many of our students to graduate with little to no student loans. As a private liberal arts college with endowments funded by alumni and other donors, we’re able to offer larger scholarships and grants than public institutions. Find out how a Wheaton College education is within your reach.
Wheaton Scholarships and Awards FAQ
