Salem State Grants and Scholarships

Salem State offers several institutional grants and scholarships to help offset the cost of getting your degree. Whether you're an incoming Salem State student or an upperclassman, there are opportunities for you to reduce your college expenses!

Salem State Grants

Salem State University offers several university-funded grants to undergraduate students who meet grant eligibility requirements. Unlike loans, grants are forms of aid that generally do not have to be repaid and are considered gift assistance.

Salem State University Grant 

The Salem State University Grant is a need-based grant awarded on a funds-available basis. The grant may not be awarded to a student annually. This grant is prorated based on the number of day college credits students are enrolled in. Students must also meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements.  If a student is eligible, the grant is applied automatically to their award package. 

Viking Completion Grant

The Viking Completion Grant program, generously established by Kim Gassett-Schiller '83, '18H, and Philip Schiller, aims to annually award 50 to 75 microgrants of up to $6,500 each to the university seniors with high academic merit who are most at risk for dropping out. The program will combine this financial support with ongoing coaching to encourage awardees’ successful on-time completion. 

Learn more about the Viking Completion Grant.

Student Emergency Fund

The Salem State University Emergency Funds were created through the generous donations of alumni, community members, local businesses, staff, faculty, and students to support unexpected personal financial emergencies. Applying does not guarantee you'll receive funds, as eligibility depends on various factors, including but not limited to, available funds, matriculation status, and the nature of the emergency. 

Learn more about the Student Emergency Fund.

Scholarships

Students applying to Salem State who submit a FAFSA are automatically considered for certain institutional scholarships. However, several endowed and external scholarships require a separate application. These scholarship opportunities are listed in the Viking Scholarships portal.

Several offices determine scholarship awards based on the scholarship's specific guidelines. This means that decisions could be made by an academic department, through the university's scholarship committee, or the Financial Aid Office.

Incoming Students

Salem State provides academic scholarships to certain incoming students who meet eligibility criteria. Recipients must maintain full-time enrollment (12 or more credits) and fulfill the academic progress requirements.

Current Salem State Students

Viking Scholarships

Current Salem State students are invited to apply for endowed scholarships through the Viking Scholarship Portal, where they will be automatically matched with scholarships for which they qualify. Scholarships are awarded annually to students who meet the donor’s criteria. 

The Viking Scholarship general application is open from December 1 to March 1 each year. 

Students must complete the Viking Scholarships general scholarship application to be considered. Every question on the application must be answered to be eligible for any scholarship.

Recipients will be notified of their award before the billing due date. 

Institutional Scholarships

Students who applied for a Salem State institutional scholarship will receive email notifications about their application status from the department that awards the scholarship. The Financial Aid Office will add the scholarship(s) to the student's financial aid package once we receive notification from the awarding office.

Learn more about the Viking Scholarship and Institutional Scholarship proce

Harold T. and Alice M. McCarthy Memorial Scholarship

The Harold T. and Alice M. McCarthy Memorial scholarship is a full, four-year scholarship that includes full tuition, fees, room and board, and books, and is awarded to a talented first-year student majoring in Art + Design with demonstrated financial need.

All entering first-year students who have been accepted into an Art + Design major with demonstrated financial need are eligible to apply for the Harold T. and Alice M. McCarthy Memorial Scholarship.

Learn more about the Harold T. and Alice M. McCarthy Memorial Scholarship.

Jack Welch Scholarship

Made possible by a $1 million donation from Jack and Suzy Welch, the Jack Welch Scholarship is a four-year scholarship that covers tuition, fees, and books. New recipients are chosen every year. To qualify, you must be a resident of Salem, Massachusetts, and be admitted and enrolled as a full-time student at Salem State University's Bertolon School of Business. Recipients can commute or live on campus; however, this scholarship does not cover room and board. 

Learn more about the Jack Welch Scholarship

Outside Scholarships

More scholarship opportunities can be found at the following sites:

• Fastweb.com
• Scholarships.com
• BigFuture / The College Board
• Scholarship America
• The Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund

Students who have received a scholarship from a source outside Salem State University must make a copy of the scholarship award letter and complete one of the following:

• Email a copy of the scholarship award letter to navcenter@salemstate.edu.
• Stop by in person at the Student Navigation Center to drop off a copy of the scholarship award letter.
• Mail a copy of the scholarship award letter to:
  • Salem State University
  • Attn: Student Navigation Center
  • 352 Lafayette Street
  • Salem, MA 01970