VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Valley City State University Foundation has allocated an additional $100,000 toward first-year student scholarships and grants in 2019-20. The $100,000 allocation comes on top of the record-setting $1.623 million the foundation allocated for 2018-19 student scholarships at VCSU.

Approximately 75 percent of the $100,000 increase will be used to add additional funds to merit scholarships, moving the renewable VCSU Leadership Scholarship from $3,000 to $3,500 annually ($14,000 over four years) and the non-renewable Clock Tower Scholarship from $2,500 to $3,000 for the first year.

VCSU will establish the Viking Grant program with the remaining $25,000 of the allocation increase. This $1,000 need-based grant will be distributed to students who do not qualify for Pell Grants and whose estimated family contribution falls between $5,800 and $10,000. Students’ eligibility for this grant is based on admission to VCSU and a completed FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid, VCSU school code: 003008).

“VCSU already offers a tremendous value for an outstanding education,” said Charlene Stenson, director for enrollment services, “and by increasing several of our scholarship levels and offering the new Viking Grant program to help students and families who often fall into an aid gap, we’re investing even more in our students to increase affordability and access to our university.”

In 2017-18, 92 percent of VCSU’s new freshmen received grants and/or scholarships.

In 2019-20, VCSU will award scholarships to first-years students at the levels below, based on cumulative high school grade point average (GPA) and ACT/SAT composite score.
• McCready Scholarship, renewable, all tuition, fees and books annually (approximately $8,500 for a North Dakota student in 2018-19, and more than $34,000 over four years)
• Presidential Scholarship, renewable, $4,000 annually ($16,000 over four years)
• Leadership Scholarship, renewable, $3,500 annually ($14,000 over four years)
• Clocktower Scholarship, non-renewable, $3,000 for first year
• Footbridge Scholarship, non-renewable, $1,500 for first year

Scholarships for transfer students, at $2,500 and $1,500 levels, are awarded based on cumulative GPA.

For more information, contact the VCSU Enrollment Services Office at 701-845-7101 or enrollment.services@vcsu.edu.