Costs, Aid & Scholarships

Presidential Scholarships are merit-based awards for high-achieving incoming first-time freshmen, available to in-state, out-of-state, and international students. These scholarships are highly competitive and awarded based on high school achievement, including your unweighted GPA, class rank, and standardized test scores if submitted. All applicants are automatically reviewed when you apply to the University, and no separate application is required. Award notification is included with your offer of admission

To be eligible, incoming freshmen must have an unweighted GPA of 3.4 or higher on a 4.0 scale. These scholarships are valid for eight consecutive, full-time fall and spring semesters toward your undergraduate degree. If you graduate in fewer than eight semesters, you will not receive funds allocated to terms in which you were not enrolled. Scholarships apply only to direct costs, such as tuition, university fees, and room and board, and have no cash value. The award amount may be adjusted or canceled if your residency or enrollment status changes, or if the total of all federal, state, and other grants or scholarships exceeds the total cost of direct expenses.

The Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Student Scholarship provides $2,000 per year, renewable for two consecutive years of full-time undergraduate study, for a total of $4,000. Transfer students who are Phi Theta Kappa members with a 3.0 GPA or higher are eligible. After applying to Montclair, students must submit their PTK Certification through the admissions portal or directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at transfermsu@montclair.edu. Scholarships must be awarded before the start of your first semester at Montclair. Awards are applied to direct costs only, including tuition, fees, and room and board, and have no cash value. If other forms of gift aid cover direct costs, the scholarship amount may be reduced.

Transfer students enrolling in Montclair’s online bachelor’s programs for 2025 are automatically reviewed for Online Program Scholarships. These awards are designed to make your degree more affordable and accessible. Recipients must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, enroll full-time, and may receive the award for up to four consecutive fall and spring semesters. Scholarships are applied toward the first undergraduate degree only, cover direct costs such as tuition, university fees, and room and board, and cannot be exchanged for cash. If direct costs are fully covered by other forms of aid, the award amount may be reduced. Scholarship amounts are contingent upon whether students pay in-state or out-of-state tuition, and any changes to residency or enrollment status may adjust the award.

Students admitted to select performing arts programs, may be awarded a talent-based scholarship by the faculty based on the strength of their audition. Available to in-state, out-of-state, and international students, awards are applied to direct costs only and cannot be exchanged for cash. Recipients must remain in the performing arts program to which they were admitted. These awards are valid for up to eight consecutive, full-time fall and spring semesters toward your first undergraduate degree. If you graduate in fewer than eight semesters, funds for unused terms will not be provided. The award amount may be adjusted if your residency or enrollment status changes, and it is in addition to any merit-based scholarships awarded by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.