FIU First Year Merit Scholarships

About this scholarship

FIU First Year Merit Scholarships are merit-based awards for admitted first-time-in-college students at Florida International University. FIU states that it automatically considers students for these scholarships when they submit and complete the freshman admission application by the published scholarship deadline. For applicants attending out-of-state or overseas high schools, the 2026 deadline was December 3, 2025. Eligible students may include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and international students receiving an F-1 visa or another eligible visa. No additional application is required for the first-year merit review. Published awards for non-Florida residents range from $4,000 to $24,000 over four years. The award is partial funding because it reduces tuition and costs but does not cover full tuition, fees, housing, meals, health insurance, books, travel, or personal expenses. Consideration is based on the same academic records used for admission and residency status, including official SAT, ACT, or CLT test scores. Renewal requires continuous enrollment, 30 FIU credit hours per academic year, and at least a 3.00 FIU cumulative GPA.

Eligibility

• Apply as a first-time-in-college freshman to Florida International University
• Be eligible as an international student receiving an F-1 visa or other eligible visa
• Complete the admission application by the scholarship deadline
• Submit official SAT, ACT, or CLT scores by the deadline
• Be admitted to FIU
• No additional first-year merit scholarship application is required
• Maintain continuous enrollment, 30 annual FIU credits, and a 3.00 FIU GPA for renewal