MSU Honors College Distinction Scholarship

About this scholarship

The MSU Honors College Distinction Scholarship awards $5,000 per year to selected nonresident Honors College invitees at Michigan State University. Paid as $2,500 per semester, it may continue for eight consecutive fall and spring semesters and has a maximum scheduled value of $20,000. Eligible recipients must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States, Canada, or Mexico and must be classified by MSU as non-Michigan residents for tuition purposes. International students who do not hold one of those citizenship or residency categories are not eligible for this particular award. MSU automatically evaluates strong first-year admission applicants for Honors College invitations and related merit aid; there is no separate public Distinction Scholarship form. Fall 2027 students should submit their complete admission application and required materials by November 1, 2026, choosing Early Action for maximum scholarship consideration. The linked official Apply page provides the accepted application routes. An awardee must accept Honors College membership and complete the MSU acceptance process by May 1. Renewal depends on remaining an Honors College member in good standing, including establishing and maintaining approximately a 3.2 cumulative GPA and completing the required Honors experiences. The scholarship may combine with MSU’s Non-resident Scholarship, but not with certain larger MSU awards such as the Honors Excellence, Distinguished First-year, or Alumni Distinguished Scholarships.

Eligibility

• Apply to Michigan State University as an incoming first-year undergraduate student
• Submit the complete Fall 2027 admission application and required materials by November 1, 2026 for maximum scholarship consideration
• Enroll at Michigan State University for the semester in which the scholarship is first awarded
• Complete at least 12 credits each fall and spring semester while receiving the award
• Remain in good academic standing at Michigan State University
• Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, Canada, or Mexico
• Be classified by MSU as a non-Michigan resident for tuition purposes
• Receive and accept an invitation to the MSU Honors College
• Complete the MSU acceptance process and accept Honors College membership by May 1
• Remain in good standing with the Honors College, including its GPA and Honors-experience expectations