Scholarships and Types of Financial Aid
Investing in your education is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. More than 99% of incoming undergraduate students receive financial assistance, backed by over $20 million in institutional scholarships and grants awarded annually.
First-Year Undergraduate Merit Scholarships
All first-year applicants are automatically considered for generous merit scholarships during admission review — no separate scholarship application is required.
Trustee Scholarship
$100,000 total over 4 years
Awarded to exceptionally qualified incoming first-year students demonstrating superior high school academic performance and leadership.
Presidential Scholarship
$80,000 total over 4 years
Awarded to high-achieving applicants with strong cumulative high school GPAs and rigorous college preparatory coursework.
Provost’s Scholarship
$70,000 total over 4 years
Recognizes students with solid academic records who demonstrate high promise for undergraduate scholarship and campus engagement.
Dean’s Achievement Award
$60,000 total over 4 years
Awarded to qualified first-year applicants meeting university academic scholarship benchmarks upon admission.
FIRST Robotics Alumni Scholarship ($20,000/year)
Students who participated in a high school FIRST Robotics Competition or FIRST Tech Challenge team are eligible for an annual $20,000 STEM scholarship for full-time engineering and computer science study.
Transfer Student Scholarships
We believe in rewarding the college credits you have already earned. Transfer students with 12 or more transferable credits are reviewed for automatic transfer scholarships.
Transfer Honors Scholarship
Awarded to transfer students presenting exceptional collegiate GPAs (typically 3.5 or higher) with transferable associate degree or general education coursework.
Transfer Merit Award
Awarded to transfer applicants presenting strong previous collegiate records (typically 3.0 to 3.49 cumulative GPA).
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Award
Active members of Phi Theta Kappa community college honor society receive an additional $2,000 annually, stackable on top of merit scholarships.
Graduate and International Scholarships
University of Bridgeport supports graduate scholars and global students with dedicated institutional tuition assistance.
Dean’s Graduate Scholarships
Graduate candidates entering full-time master’s programs in the School of Engineering, School of Business, or Arts & Sciences are evaluated for Dean’s scholarship awards of up to $5,000 per year based on undergraduate GPA and professional achievements.
Graduate assistantships (teaching, research, and administrative) are also available within select academic divisions.
International Student Scholarships
International undergraduate applicants are reviewed automatically for academic merit awards ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 per year. Awards are renewable annually for four years provided satisfactory academic progress is maintained.
No separate application required; scholarships are included in the official acceptance packet.
Grants and Federal Work-Study
Grants are gift aid that does not have to be repaid. Eligibility is determined by completing the annual Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Federal Pell Grant
Awarded to undergraduate students with high exceptional financial need. Annual awards provide up to $7,395 in federal gift assistance.
Federal SEOG Grant
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant provides additional federal aid awarded to students with the lowest Student Aid Index (SAI).
CT Roberta B. Willis Grant
State-funded grant for eligible Connecticut resident undergraduates attending in-state universities, awarded through FAFSA filing.
UB Institutional Need Grants
University gift aid funded by UB endowment donors to bridge demonstrated out-of-pocket financial need for admitted students.
Student Financial Services — Scholarships
Have questions about renewal criteria, merit awards, or state grants? Connect with our counseling team.