Climb Higher Scholarship for Non-Residents (2025-2026)
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How to Apply & Deadlines
Must be admitted to WVU as a degree-seeking first-time freshman or first-time transfer student for the fall 2025 semester by August 1, 2025. Transfer students must be transferring to a WVU campus from another institution to be considered.
Students who meet the admission deadline will be considered for scholarships (or increases to scholarships if applicable) based on submission of new transcripts or ACT/SAT scores if the information is updated on their WVU student record by August 1, 2025. Test scores are automatically processed when sent to WVU. High school GPA changes are not processed automatically and require students to submit a GPA Update Request Form. Transfer GPA is calculated by WVU Admissions based on a review of transcripts received from prior institutions. Accepted credit hours and grades for transfer courses are converted to WVU's semester and grading systems and may differ from your prior institution.
Eligibility & Value of Scholarships
The Climb Higher Scholarship is offered in four levels based on an incoming high school or overall transfer GPA and in some levels an ACT/SAT score.
Please be aware that incoming students majoring in online programs of study are not eligible for institutional scholarships. Students beginning in on-campus majors will lose their institutional scholarship eligibility if they switch to an online program of study at any point.
Students initially offered this scholarship for spring 2025 or later may receive this scholarship while attending WVU at Morgantown, Keyser, or Beckley. Scholarship values differ based on the campus and will be adjusted accordingly when/if students change campuses within the WVU System.
Non-resident students receiving this level of scholarship who change to in-state tuition rates through programs such as Ohio Tuition Reciprocity or National Guard assessment (or who change to in-state tuition rates through any other program) will have this scholarship removed from their financial aid offer. Students will not be awarded a replacement scholarship. If a student changes back to non-resident tuition rates, the Climb Higher will not be reinstated.
Level 1
To be eligible for Level 1, students must have an incoming GPA of at least 3.8 and an ACT score of at least 30, or an SAT score of at least 1360.
The following amounts are per year for up to four undergraduate years or completion of a bachelor's degree - whichever comes first - as long as renewal criteria are met.
- Morgantown: $17,000
- Beckley: $12,000
- Keyser: $8,000 or $5,000 if the student qualifies for the Metro rate
The following amounts are per year for up to two undergraduate years or completion of an associate degree – whichever comes first - as long as renewal criteria are met.
- Keyser: $7,500 or $4,000 if the student qualifies for the Metro rate
Level 2
To be eligible for Level 2, students must have an incoming GPA of at least 3.8.
The following amounts are per year for up to four undergraduate years or completion of a bachelor's degree - whichever comes first - as long as renewal criteria are met.
- Morgantown: $14,000
- Beckley: $10,000
- Keyser: $7,000 or $3,500 if the student qualifies for the Metro rate
The following amounts are per year for up to two undergraduate years or completion of an associate degree – whichever comes first - as long as renewal criteria are met.
- Keyser: $6,000 or $3,000 if the student qualifies for the Metro rate
Level 3
To be eligible for Level 3, students must have an incoming GPA between 3.5 and 3.79.
The following amounts are per year for up to four undergraduate years or completion of a bachelor’s degree – whichever comes first - as long as renewal criteria are met.
- Morgantown: $11,000
- Beckley: $8,000
- Keyser: $5,500 or $2,500 if the student qualifies for the Metro rate
The following amounts are per year for up to two undergraduate years or completion of an associate degree – whichever comes first - as long as renewal criteria are met.
- Keyser: $5,000 or $2,000 if the student qualifies for the Metro rate
Level 4
To be eligible for Level 4, students must have an incoming GPA between 3.0 and 3.49.
The following amounts are per year for up to four undergraduate years or completion of a bachelor’s degree – whichever comes first - as long as renewal criteria are met.
- Morgantown: $8,000
- Beckley: $6,000
- Keyser: $4,000 or $1,500 if the student qualifies for the Metro rate
The following amounts are per year for up to two undergraduate years or completion of an associate degree – whichever comes first - as long as renewal criteria are met.
- Keyser: $3,500 or $1,200 if the student qualifies for the Metro rate