Scholarships

Applications for the 2025-2026 Academic Year (all scholarships) are CLOSED. Awards will be given out near the fall of 2025.

*Please note, scholarships will be awarded in Fall of 2025 for Fall 2025 and Spring of 2026. We allot all funds for Fall and Spring Scholarships and do not often have money during other times of the year*

Due to when we are distributed the funds, you may not be awarded scholarships until after the awarding semester starts/bills are due. If money is placed into your account after the semester starts, you will be given the scholarship as a refund.

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Osher Reentry Scholarship – The Bernard Osher Foundation

The Foundation requires that institutions promote the Osher Reentry Scholarship to nontraditional students. The Bernard Osher Foundation requires that the following guidelines be followed when selecting Osher scholars:

• must be seeking your first undergraduate degree
• must be applying for admission to Middle Tennessee State University, either for part-time or full-time enrollment, for the upcoming academic year
• must have been out of school for 5 or more years (cumulative) since high school
• demonstrate financial need (not necessarily on their FAFSA)
• show academic promise and commitment to obtaining a degree.

Crankstart Foundation Scholarship

The Foundation will provide scholarship awards in support of the Crankstart Re-entry which is intended to support the following students at MTSU:

• must be seeking your first undergraduate degree
• must be applying for admission to Middle Tennessee State University, either for part-time or full-time enrollment, for the upcoming academic year
• must have been out of school for 5 or more years (cumulative) since high school
• must anticipate workforce participation for a significant period of time subsequent to graduation and are ideally between the ages of 25 – 50. Ages 50+ are NOT excluded from application.
• demonstrate financial need, socio-economic status, challenges and or hardships (not necessarily on your FAFSA)
• show academic promise and commitment to obtaining a degree

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Nickell Scholarships

The Jane and Joan Nickell scholarships are funded by Marcus Nickell in honor of his two daughters who returned to college as nontraditional students to earn teaching degrees.

Jane Nickell Taylor Scholarship

This privately endowed scholarship is designed for non-traditional students undergoing life changes, who are in their final year working towards a degree.

Application criteria: You must be a student classified as a senior (at the time of scholarship award) who is in a life transition and is in need of financial assistance. You must have a 2.75 GPA or better.

Joan Nickell Bailey Scholarship

This privately endowed scholarship is designed for a senior elementary education major who is in their final year working towards a degree.

Application criteria: You must be classified as a senior who is majoring in elementary education (5th or 6th Grade preferred). You must have a 3.0 GPA or better.

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Other Scholarships

Search for other Scholarships on the WEB:

MTSU Scholarship Manager

University College Scholarships

MTSU Scholarship Guide