Scholarships

We are committed to recognizing superior talent and service, regardless of financial need, as we seek to assemble a student body that will benefit from and contribute to Dickinson’s distinctive characteristics—global engagement, hands-on learning, exploration of environmental sustainability and an outstanding network of accomplished alumni. All applicants, based upon credentials, are considered for Dickinson’s merit-based scholarships, which recognize top students in the incoming first-year class and are maintained for four years by full-time enrollment and a minimum 3.0 GPA.

The John Dickinson Scholarship

$20,000 per year
The John Dickinson Scholarship is worth $80,000 for eight semesters of full-time study at the college. It is Dickinson’s highest recognition for academic achievement and leadership. Recipients are top students in a challenging high-school curriculum, demonstrated through significant advanced coursework and most grades at the A (4.0) level. They have SAT scores of 1350+ (Critical Reading plus Math) or an ACT composite score of 31+ and show evidence of leadership in school or community activities.

The Benjamin Rush Scholarship

$15,000 per year
The Benjamin Rush Scholarship is worth $60,000 for eight semesters of full-time study at the college. Recipients are strong students in a challenging high-school curriculum, demonstrated through significant advanced coursework and most grades at the A (4.0) level. They have SAT scores of 1350+ (Critical Reading plus Math) or an ACT composite score of 31+ and show evidence of leadership in school or community activities.

The John Montgomery Scholarship

$10,000 per year
The John Montgomery Scholarship is worth $40,000 for eight semesters of full-time study at the college. Recipients have strong grades in a challenging high-school curriculum and demonstrate exceptional talent in any of a variety of areas, including the performing or studio arts, foreign-language acquisition, independent research or writing, leadership on a regional or national level, etc.

Students may hold only one of the above three scholarships.

Special Opportunities

Stafford Scholarship

$3,000
The Inge Paul and John R. Stafford Scholarship funds the John Dickinson Scholarship ($20,000 per year) for a superior student in the life sciences and provides an additional $3,000 in total research support to be used any time during the scholar’s four years at Dickinson. Stafford scholars are advised by a faculty mentor and have multiple research opportunities. We expect that this experience will prepare Stafford scholars to be competitive for prestigious postgraduate awards, such as the Fulbright and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute fellowships and, ultimately, a career in research or medicine. Recipients meet John Dickinson Scholarship requirements and demonstrate a strong interest and intention to major in the life sciences.

National Merit Finalists

$2,000 per year
John Dickinson, Benjamin Rush or John Montgomery scholars who are National Merit Finalists and who designate Dickinson as their first-choice college with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation by March of their senior year will be eligible to receive a supplemental scholarship of $2,000 per year, in addition to their John Dickinson, Benjamin Rush or John Montgomery scholarship.

Public Service Fellowship

In this innovative program, exceptional high-school graduates earn tuition credits of up to $40,000 while working to improve the society in which they live. Each year of meaningful public-service work--including service as a Global Citizen Year Fellow--earns participants a $10,000 credit toward their tuition at Dickinson. Upon matriculation, Public Service Fellows receive priority consideration for positions as resident advisors, community advisors and other opportunities to further reduce tuition and fees and gain additional leadership experience. Learn more.

Community College Partnership Program

Recognizing that the path to a four-year degree can be blazed not only from high school, Dickinson has established a Community College Partnership Program that goes well beyond the passive articulation agreements found between most community and four-year colleges. Dickinson’s collaboration allows students to reduce total educational expenses by attending one of our region’s five top community colleges during their first two years. While there, they participate in an honors program and receive academic advising from Dickinson staff. After successful completion of the program, the students transfer to Dickinson for their final two years and receive a $15,000 scholarship for each of their two remaining years. Dickinson has partnered with two community colleges in Maryland—Howard Community College and Montgomery College—and three in Pennsylvania—Montgomery County Community College, Northampton Community College and Harrisburg Area Community College. Learn more.

Yellow Ribbon Program

Dickinson’s historic mission of educating engaged citizens and leaders has driven participation in a government program allowing post-9/11 United States veterans—and in some cases, their dependents—to enroll with significantly reduced tuition. Eligible students admitted to the program can receive Dickinson grants and scholarships which, when coupled with educational grants from the VA and other sources, means veterans can attend Dickinson tuition-free. They may also receive a stipend for books and supplies. This initiative opens new doors for veterans and provides them with unprecedented access to higher education. Learn more.

National Science Foundation Grant

Through a generous multi-year grant from the National Science Foundation, Dickinson will offer a research-based program designed to broaden participation of underrepresented students in science, technology and math. The program is designed for students who aspire to become leading research scientists and will offer the chance to experience science through the excitement of research. Each recruited cohort will participate in a four-week summer bridge program before their first-year and participate in on-going research with a faculty member and advanced science student. Learn more.

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