Eligibility
The Presidential Scholarship is a competitive award for Indiana residents and provides recipients with an award covering full tuition and housing costs (fall and spring semesters), along with a yearly stipend for books and meals. Any high school senior who meets the following criteria is eligible to apply for a Presidential Scholarship:
- Have a high school GPA of 4.0 at the time of application for admission to USI.
- A minimum composite ACT score of 27, an SAT score of 1280. Superscores will be considered. Students taking a test in early November can send a preliminary score report by the application deadline to confirm eligibility. Official test scores must be received by December 15th.
Selection Process
Ten Presidential Scholars will be chosen to begin classes in the coming fall semester. Selection will be based on:
- Presidential Scholarship application
- High school record (submitted to Undergraduate Admissions as part of admissions process)
- SAT or ACT scores (provided to Undergraduate Admissions via official transcript or testing agency)
- Letter of recommendation (cannot be written by a family member)
Letters must be submitted by the recommender via email to Presidential.Scholarship@usi.edu - Personal interview
Qualified candidates will be screened initially by a review committee. Finalists then will be invited for an interview and information day held in February.
Deadlines to Remember
November 22, 2024
Presidential Scholarship application and supplemental items due (transcript, test scores and letter of recommendation)
November 25, 2024
Supplemental items noted above must be submitted by 12 p.m. CDT on November 25 for consideration.
February 6-7, 2025
Interview dates
March 1, 2025
Notification of Presidential Scholarship recipients
Award Package
The Presidential Scholarship package provides recipients with an award covering full tuition and housing costs (fall and spring semesters), along with a yearly stipend for books and meals.
Students may receive the Presidential Scholarship for a maximum of 8 consecutive semesters from the date of initial enrollment, or the point at which a student earns his/her first undergraduate degree, whichever comes first. Certain renewal requirements must be met.
This will be applied as follows:
- Tuition and fees will be paid by direct credit to the student's account.
- A book allowance of $600 per semester will be credited to the student's account.
- Total board allowance equals the value of the largest meal plan offered by Food Services.
- Room allowance of an amount per semester equal to the current rate for a four-occupant suite will be paid by direct credit to the student's account after verification of a University housing contract.
Scholarship Guidelines
The USI Presidential Scholarship is renewable for a maximum of 8 consecutive semesters from the date of initial enrollment, or the point at which a student earns his/her first undergraduate degree, whichever comes first.
In order for this scholarship to be renewed, the student must maintain a cumulative USI grade point average of 3.2 (4-point scale) through 59 semester hours attempted; thereafter, the student must maintain a 3.4 cumulative GPA.
Enrollment Requirements
A minimum of 27 semester hours must be successfully completed each academic year (fall and spring). A Presidential Scholar must maintain full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 semester hours) in each regular semester (fall and spring). Scholarship coverage of summer enrollment requires special arrangements to be made with the director of Student Financial Assistance.
Receiving Other Aid
The maximum total financial award each year will not exceed the total yearly institutional cost of attendance at USI and will include all state and federal grants along with outside awards.
Scholarship Cancellation
The scholarship will be cancelled if renewal criteria are not met. Reinstatement may be considered by the advisory board if the student, at their own expense, meets renewal criteria. Minimum enrollment requirements and cumulative GPA will be evaluated at the end of the summer term.
Full details concerning scholarship guidelines are available via Student Financial Assistance.
About Our Donors
The University of Southern Indiana Presidential Scholarships are merit awards granted to selected Indiana high school students ranked first or second in their class. This prestigious scholarship program, established in 1988 to attract Indiana's brightest and best students to the University of Southern Indiana, is sponsored by the USI Foundation.
Generous gifts from University friends and alumni make the Presidential Scholarships possible. Private donations from businesses, foundations and individuals are placed in a restricted fund in the USI Foundation.
A gift of $200,000 will perpetually endow a Presidential Scholarship. Each endowment will be placed in a separate fund in the USI Foundation. Donors of endowed scholarships may choose the name of their Presidential Scholarship.
The commitment of an annual gift of $8,500 in each of the next four years will fund one full four-year Presidential Scholarship. Pledges may be paid in annual installments. These Presidential Scholarships may be named in honor of the donor or as a memorial tribute.
Special recognition is given to donors to The Campaign for Presidential Scholarships. Contributors whose annual gifts total $1,000 or more automatically qualify for membership in The President's Associates, the University's highest recognition of private donors. Those whose annual gifts total $100 or more are invited to the annual luncheon to meet the Presidential Scholars. All gifts are acknowledged in the University's annual report of private giving. Most importantly, donors have the satisfaction of joining others in recognizing and supporting these talented students, thereby enhancing the University and the State of Indiana. Please join us in continuing to build this vital program.
Support the USI Presidential Scholarship
To make a donation, contact the USI Foundation, or fill out our online giving form.