For information on need-based scholarships, please view the Financial Aid web site.

The University of West Florida recognizes and rewards academic, creative, and athletic achievement by awarding scholarships on a competitive basis. Student diversity is a consideration for all scholarship awards.

Academic Scholarships for Freshmen
UWF has a number of academic scholarship programs available to students who have demonstrated high academic achievement in a Florida high school or at a Florida public community college through the Associate of Arts degree. Except as noted below, no special application is required to compete for these scholarships. Your application for undergraduate admission automatically qualifies you for consideration.

Pace Scholars - A four-year $20,000 ($5,000 per year) scholarship for full-time entering freshmen. This scholarship award is the most prestigious offered by the University to incoming freshman. To learn more about this award and how to apply, visit the Pace Scholarship Web page.

John C. Pace Jr. Honors Scholarship - A $1,000 scholarship for full-time entering freshmen renewable for three additional years if a specific grade point average is maintained ($4,000 four-year total). Selection is based on high school academic record and test scores. All newly admitted freshmen are automatically considered. No scholarship application is required. However, the admission application and all supporting credentials must be submitted to the UWF Admissions Office by February 1.

"Top Five" Academic Merit Scholarship - The University of West Florida has established new academic merit scholarships designed for the best academically prepared students from the public high schools in Florida. Students who have a class rank of number one through five after the first semester of their senior year will be awarded scholarships which will cover their tuition. These scholarships start with the fall semester 2009.Bright Futures Scholarship recipients who receive the academic merit scholarships can use the Bright Futures monies for the remaining cost, including on-campus housing, transportation, meal plan or books. For more information visit Top Five Scholarship Web page.

Presidential Scholarship - A $1,500 scholarship for full-time entering freshmen renewable for three additional years if a specific grade point average is maintained ($6,000 four-year total). Selection is based on high school academic record and test scores. All newly admitted freshmen are automatically considered. No scholarship application is required. However, the admission application and all supporting credentials must be submitted to the UWF Admissions Office by February 1.

Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program for Florida High School graduates
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is administered by the Florida Department of Education. For application procedures, specific details on requirements to qualify and amount of scholarship, please contact your high school guidance office. For additional information regarding eligibility requirements, contact the Bright Futures Hotline toll-free at 1-888-827-2004 or view the Florida Department of Education Bright Futures Web site.

Non-Florida Tuition Grants for Freshmen and Transfers
This award reduces non-Florida tuition for freshmen and transfers by approximately $5,000 per academic year. Although all admitted non-Florida residents are automatically considered, these grants are based on academic scholarship. (Alabama residents are not included since there is a differential tuition rate for Alabama residents).

Academic Scholarships for Transfers

John C. Pace Jr. Transfer Scholarship - A $1,000 scholarship for full-time entering transfers with an Associate of Arts degree from a Florida public community college. The scholarship is renewable for an additional year if a specific cumulative grade point average is maintained ($2,000 two-year total). Selection is based on the cumulative college grade point average. Priority is given to applicants from community colleges in West Florida. All newly admitted transfers with an Associate of Arts degree are automatically considered. No scholarship application is required. However, the admission application and all supporting credentials must be submitted to the UWF Admissions Office by March 1.

University Scholarship for Transfers - Details same as for John C. Pace Jr. Transfer Scholarship.

Phi Theta Kappa - A limited number of $1,200 scholarships are available for full-time entering transfers with an Associate of Arts degree from a Florida public community college. The scholarship is renewable for an additional year if a specific cumulative grade point average is maintained ($2,400 two-year total). Selection is based upon the cumulative grade point average. Priority is given to applicants from community colleges in West Florida. All newly admitted transfers with an Associate of Arts degree are automatically considered. No separate scholarship application is required. However, the admissions application, proof of Phi Theta Kappa membership, and all supporting credentials must be submitted to the UWF Admissions Office by March 1.

UWF College of Business Bright Futures Plus Scholarships – A $1,000 scholarship for full-time entering transfer students with an Associate of Arts degree from a Florida public community college ($2,000 two-year total).  To be considered for this award, applicants must also have been a recipient of the Bright Futures Scholarship upon graduation from high school, have a transfer GPA of at least a 3.5 or higher, and be a UWF College of Business major.  Deadline to apply is May 1 for the Fall Semester and October 1 for the Spring Semester. Download the College of Business Bright Futures Plus Scholarship Application (PDF) or pick a hard copy application up at the Office of Admissions (Bldg. 18) or College of Business (Bldg. 76).

Florida Undergraduate Scholar's Fund - This merit scholarship program is for outstanding Florida high school graduates. Initial and renewal awards are up to $2,350 per academic year. Applications for these scholarships are available from your high school guidance counselor or principal. Awards are made by the State of Florida.

UWF Foundation Scholarships
The UWF Foundation, Inc. was organized and incorporated in 1965 for the purpose of stimulating voluntary private support from alumni, parents, friends, corporations, foundations and others for the benefit of the University of West Florida. To learn more about scholarships offered through the UWF Foundation, visit uwf.edu/foundation/Scholarships.cfm. To learn more about the history behind the UWF Scholarships funded by charitable gifts, visit uwf.edu/foundation/ScholarshipHistory.cfm.

Athletic Scholarships
The University awards athletic scholarships in the following varsity sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. Students should contact the coach of the sport in which you wish to participate.

ROTC Scholarships
Merit scholarships are available on a competitive basis to students enrolled in the military science (Army ROTC) program. These scholarships are given on the basis of demonstrated academic ability and leadership potential. Scholarships pay tuition, textbook costs, incidental educational expenses and provide a monetary allowance of $100 a month. They do not cover room and board. Awards are available as two-, three-, and four-year scholarships. To apply for an ROTC scholarship, contact the ROTC office, (850) 474-2198.

Talent and Departmental Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships are available to full-time entering freshmen and transfer students who have extraordinary talent in fine art, music, and theatre. These are $1,000 scholarships which are renewable for three additional years (one additional year for transfer students) if certain criteria are met.

Freshman scholarship awards may total $4,000 over four years; scholarship awards for transfers may total $2,000 over two years. Awards vary based upon talent.

Academic departments may also have limited scholarship funds available from time to time. In recent years, scholarships have been awarded by a number of departments, including Accounting, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Communication Arts, Computer Science, English, History, Marketing, Nursing, Physics, and Technical and Vocational Studies. To apply for a talent or departmental scholarship, contact the chair of the department.