Scholarships

VCU’s College of Humanities and Sciences is committed to recognizing and rewarding student excellence, proudly offering 100+ scholarship awards that support its students with more than $400,000 annually.

Prospective Students

VCU has university-level scholarships for incoming first-year, out-of-state and transfer students.

CHS Scholarship Opportunities

The College of Humanities & Sciences scholarship application will reopen on Nov. 15 for the 2026-27 academic year. Applications are accepted through March 15, 2026.

Our scholarship awards are established by alumni, individuals and organizations, and recognize factors such as specific majors, financial need, academic achievement, service and leadership. These scholarships are a form of financial aid that does not need to be repaid.

Our scholarship portal lists scholarships available for students enrolled in VCU’s College of Humanities and Sciences only. The entire scholarship listing can be searched by keyword, or students can log in and complete the general application, which will generate a list of ‘Recommended Opportunities’ to consider that match GPA, major, etc.

The CHS application typically opens late in the fall and closes early in the spring for the next academic year. All CHS students are eligible to apply.

Application deadlines are noted for each advertised opportunity and may require additional information such as submitting FAFSA or VASA applications, essays, etc.

Award notifications to successful applicants are sent by mid-April. Awards are processed and disbursed toward the following fall tuition cycle.

If you have any questions regarding scholarships, email CHS Scholarships at hsscholarship@vcu.edu for additional assistance.

For financial aid questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Financial Aid and Student Financial Management Center.

Scholarship deadline
March 15, 2026
How to apply
Instructions and advice

Student Stories

Maryum Elnasseh

As a journalism and political science double major, Maryum Elnasseh is passionate about story-telling and human rights. “[My] scholarship allows me to focus all my time and energy on my academics without having to worry about the financial burden to support myself. Receiving this financial support means I can jump with full force into my academics and extracurricular activities that will further my education — in and out of the classroom.”

When Maryum is not in the classroom, you can find her working with United2Heal, a non-profit humanitarian aid organization that collects surplus medical supplies and sends them to areas in need around the world, and Alternative Spring Break, organizing volunteer trips that send more than one hundred VCU students to various sites around the country, amounting to more than 5,000 community service hours each year that address different issues. “I am incredibly grateful for the generosity of the scholarship donors for supporting the education and the dreams of students such as myself,” she said. “This gives me hope and motivates me to work even harder to make them proud.”

Dalton Huey

Dalton Huey is pursuing a double major in biology and bioinformatics with a minor in chemistry. He became especially interested in molecular biology after completing a research position at the Massey Cancer Center and another in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology on the VCU health campus.

"With [scholarship] support, I can get out a lot more from VCU, opening up many more opportunities that I would otherwise not consider due to cost," Dalton said. "One of these is the ability to enroll in the year-long capstone course in biology, "Research and Thesis," a course that is fundamental to understanding a career in research. These experiences will surely help me become a better scientist and more adequately prepare me for my future experiences in this field." Dalton has ambitions of being a neuroscience researcher focusing on substance use disorders or anxiety and depression.

Claudia Bale

An international studies major with a minor in Spanish, Claudia Bale is involved with several human service volunteer extracurriculars—Stop Child Abuse Now Child Advocacy Center, Heartland Hospice, and she serves as a volunteer EMT. This past summer, Claudia had a chance to conduct research for the Hope of Life on malnutrition through support provided by the Baldacci Experiential Learning Fund scholarship.

"I am incredibly thankful for this award, I would not be able to participate in this experience without the support. This experiential learning opportunity will allow me to better understand how to assess the efficacy of humanitarian assistance and treatment for local communities’ health care needs,” she shared. “No research into Hope of Life’s programs have been conducted thus far and so I believe my project will make a positive contribution and provide useful feedback."