Policies
General scholarship guidelines
All undergraduate students receiving Murray State scholarships/waivers/discounts are required to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year they are awarded a Murray State scholarship. International undergraduate students may be exempt from this requirement if they are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Scholarships may be used only during regular academic semesters (fall/spring). Half the total award package of each current year will be equally divided between the two academic semesters.
Four-year awards are for eight consecutive semesters or until baccalaureate degree requirements are met, whichever occurs first.
Students must be enrolled full-time at Murray State (12-semester hours undergraduate; 9-semester hours graduate) during all award periods unless stated otherwise. Contact the Scholarship Office if you do not know the enrollment requirements of the scholarship(s) you have been awarded.
Only direct expenses (“billed” tuition, room, meal plan) may be used with general fund awards. Fees for CLEP exam credit, challenge exam credit, and correspondence courses cannot be covered by general fund scholarships.
Students receiving awards requiring specific grades, or Honors College participation will be reviewed at the end of each academic year. Any student failing to comply with the requirements of the scholarship(s) will receive notification of non-renewal. Certain conditions of any possible renewal will be indicated at that time.
A student can be awarded total scholarship assistance from university general funds only up to the value of “billed” tuition and required tuition related fees, a semi-private residence room at the standard rate, and a basic meal plan. Federal need-based awards must be within the defined need. External dollar awards and/or financial aid from federal or state resources combined with Murray State scholarship awards must be within the estimated expense budget or need determined by the Financial Aid Office. Scholarship dollars may be reduced in specific cases at appropriate times.
The total amount of Murray State scholarship award for any admitted student in conjunction with other Murray State tuition adjustments, (i.e., Regional tuition, etc.) or outside scholarships may not exceed a student's cost of attendance.
Murray State University reserves the right to adjust individual scholarship awards after award letters have been mailed to effectively utilize federal and university dollars.
External scholarships
You must notify Murray State University of all external awards prior to each registration. Failure to do so may delay your class registration/fee payment process. The University retains the right to adjust individual scholarship awards to effectively utilize all external resources, Federal/State and University dollars and comply with university, state, and federal mandates.
Scholarships awarded from resources outside Murray State University as well as federal/state aid are considered in calculating the total package of award for all students. The outside awards must be reported to the Murray State Bursar's Office.
NOTE: In situations where external scholarships are not known at the time of registration, adjustments may be made after award notifications have been sent. Students should continue to check their bills on line using their myGate account.
Thank you letters
Murray State students are requested to write a thank you letter to the scholarship benefactor for each Murray State University scholarship he or she has received. Through the generosity of one or more benefactors, you have received the gift of a scholarship; and you want to express your gratitude for that gift, just as you would any other. Without the generosity of these benefactors, the scholarships would not be available. Your letter is important to our scholarship benefactors because it shows them the impact they are having on you, our student.
Instructions for submitting thank you letters are listed online in the Murray State Scholarship Manager Portal.