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Scholarships for Leaders

You served on the student council, were a member of the honor society, led the band as a drum major, were the captain of an athletic team, worked a job or cared for a family member. Leadership doesn't end with high school; that was only the beginning. Central Michigan University offers more scholarships for leadership than any college or university in the Midwest.

The Leader Advancement Scholarship

The Leader Advancement Scholarship is awarded each year to outstanding high school seniors who have distinguished themselves through a record of leadership and service. The Leader Advancement scholarship is worth $8,000 ($2,000 annually for four years).

Applications to join the fall 2025 cohort are due January 15, 2025.

To be eligible for the Leader Advancement Scholarship you must have a 3.0 high school grade point average, have a completed FAFSA on file*, and be admitted to Central Michigan University.

Leader Advancement Scholars reside in Leadership Learning Community in Merrill Hall, enroll in general education courses with a leadership emphasis, and complete the Leader Advancement Scholarship Protocol.

After submitting an application for admission, you will find a link to the scholarship application in your application portal. If you applied through the Common App, use the same email and click "Forgot Your Password" to log in for the first time. 


* Does not apply to undocumented or international students.