Best Scholarships for Transfer Students in August 2025

Transfer students are students who, for various reasons, have decided to apply to and attend a different university midway through their college education. Some transfer students make this change because of location, academics, or financial aid. 

Many transfer student scholarships aim to support transfer students financially as they switch schools and make other adjustments. Make a free profile with Bold.org and browse through transfer student scholarships, or view the hundreds of available scholarships available here. 

Use the scholarship search function to make finding the right college scholarships easier for you. There are merit scholarships, community college scholarships, and more available on Bold.org. 

Transferring colleges is more common than you might think. Some students view transferring to another college as a disruptive decision that might affect their grades, college credits, financial aid, and social life.

While transferring schools is a big decision, it’s often a positive change for the student. College students choose to transfer if they are unsatisfied with their current school. Pursuing your happiness and dreams is usually always a good decision.

If you’re considering applying to transfer schools, read this guide on transferring colleges for some insight into the process.

In addition, transfer students are not disadvantaged academically, socially, or financially. Every college will accept equivalent course credits from your previous institution.

Though you may not retain all your credits, college administrators want to work with you to ensure you aren’t behind. Most transfer students can continue right where they left off after transferring.

Financially, transfer students are eligible for federal aid and aid from their new college, just like any other student. Many transfer students also find that the social scene at their new school fits them just as well or even better.

Transferring colleges can help students find the best college for them. To help ease the financial burden of applying to college again, apply for as many scholarships for transfer students as possible.

Why do college students transfer schools?

Academics is a significant reason students choose to transfer schools. Some students are looking for a more rigorous academic program than the one they are currently enrolled in.

Some students choose to look for a less stressful academic program instead. Any students looking for a change in pace may want to consider transferring schools.

In either case, students need to get good grades and get the most they can out of their academic experience in college. In addition, since transfer students will need to reapply to colleges, good grades can improve their chances of being accepted to a new school. 

Improving your grades may also allow you to apply for merit scholarships. Merit scholarships are financial aid packages awarded to students with high scores and good academic standing. Read here about how to apply for merit scholarships.

Consider applying for merit scholarships to help make the financial transition between schools easier. Bold.org lists exclusive merit scholarships that any student with good grades can apply for. 

Another reason a transfer student may choose to apply to a different school is for social or personal reasons. It’s imperative that students feel connected with their peers to thrive during their college years. Sometimes, students prefer to be on a campus with more like-minded students, prompting their decision to transfer schools. 

Whatever the reason, hundreds of transfer students each year choose to go through the process of finding a new school. With the college application process comes the need to apply for financial aid and scholarship programs. As a transfer student, you may be eligible for transfer student scholarships you previously could not apply to.

Make sure to apply to as many scholarship programs and opportunities as possible to increase your chances of winning a few of the college scholarships that you apply to. 

Scholarships for transfer students

Browse through this list of scholarships for transfer students to find scholarship opportunities that match your needs.

1. Faith-Based Colleges No Essay Scholarship

High school and transfer students interested in a faith-based education can apply to this financial aid opportunity by March 1, 2023, to win $1,000.

1. Charity’s Alumnus Erudition Award

High school and undergraduate BIPOC first-generation students who are interested in healthcare should apply for this $500 scholarship before June 1, 2023. Applicants should have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. 

1. Advantech Intelligent Planet Scholarship

Innovative and creative high school seniors in California can apply for this $5,000 scholarship by May 1, 2023. 

1. Trudgers Fund Scholarship

High school seniors and undergraduate students who have struggled with addiction in the past may apply for this $1,000 scholarship by June 4, 2023.

1. Donovan Ghimenti Legacy Scholarship

High school, trade school, or undergraduate students in California who have struggled with mental health issues or drug abuse in the past may apply. Students should submit their application by May 1, 2023, to win $5,000.

1. Sports Lover Scholarship

High school seniors, undergraduate, or graduate students who have a passion for athletics and sports can apply by July 31, 2023, to win $500. Students must be a U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents. 

1. Learner Math Lover Scholarship

Students of any education level interested in math may apply for this $500 scholarship before July 31, 2023.

1. Tony Alviani Memorial Scholarship

High school seniors or undergraduate students who plan to study business or computer science may apply for this $500 scholarship before October 1, 2023. Students must live in Pennsylvania to be eligible. 

Is it hard to get scholarships as a transfer student?

Getting scholarships as a transfer student is no harder than as a college freshman. The college application process as a transfer student is almost identical to the college application process high school seniors go through. 

Similarly, applying for transfer scholarships is just like applying to scholarship programs as a regular college student. The only difference is that now, transfer students will be eligible to apply for transfer scholarships as well.

Transfer scholarships are financial aid opportunities that are only available to transfer students. Since these scholarship programs are made purposefully to support transfer students during their college transition, regular students cannot apply for scholarships for transfer students. 

Transfer students can also apply to all other scholarship opportunities, just like regular students. As a transfer student, you can and should apply for other scholarships, such as merit, academic, major, and more. Browse through this list of scholarships by major and apply to any you are eligible for. 

When applying for a regular scholarship, transfer students will not be judged more severely or favorably than regular students. Being a transfer student will not increase or decrease your chances of winning money from scholarship programs. 

Is it easier to get accepted as a transfer student?

In some cases, yes, it is easier to be accepted as a transfer student when compared to incoming freshman acceptance rates. Certain prestigious institutions, for example, have higher transfer student acceptance rates than their normal rates. 

The discrepancy between the transfer student acceptance rate and the regular acceptance rate can be due to many factors. For prestigious institutions, it may be because incoming freshman applications are so highly competitive that the acceptance rate becomes extremely low. 

However, every school will experience some student dropouts or transfer students every year. This means that there are now open slots in the undergraduate class— which allows students to transfer in. Looking at the student retention rate of a university may also provide some insight into student satisfaction and happiness at that school. 

Schools that have a very high retention rate may have a lower transfer student acceptance rate. Schools with low retention rates will likely be easier for transfer students to get accepted. 

While this is not always the case, transfer students should make sure to look up the transfer student acceptance rate, not the regular rates. Retention rates may indicate how satisfied students are with a certain school.

Some students plan to transfer to their ideal school instead of applying there right after high school. This might be due to a number of reasons. As mentioned, sometimes students want a chance to improve their grades first before applying to their dream school. 

What school is best for transfer students?

The university that is best for transfer students depends entirely on the needs of the individual student. As mentioned before, transfer students choose to change schools for a variety of different reasons, which are all dependent on the situation of the student.

If you’re still deciding what colleges to apply to, read this guide on how to choose a college.

Transfer students should choose the best school for them based on what they found lacking in their current school. For example, a student who feels their current school is unsupportive of students or too academically competitive could consider transferring to schools with smaller communities and more resources to promote student wellbeing.

If students choose to transfer schools because their academic interests have changed, it’s important to make sure that they transfer to a school with the academic program they want. Transfer students should undergo the same research process high school seniors undergo when applying for college.

Though it’s not difficult to transfer schools, students should not plan on transferring more than once during their undergraduate years. Attempting to transfer multiple times in four years may cause you to lose more college class credits during the transitions, setting you back in your academic career. 

As a result, students should know what they want in their secondary school and make an informed decision. Transfer students should carefully consider why they want to leave their current school and how their second school could address that problem. 

Students attending community college often choose to transfer schools. On the flip side, many current community college students previously attended a four-year college and chose to transfer away. Community college transfers make up a large part of the transfer student demographic. 

High school students might plan to attend community college for a few years before transferring to a four-year university. Some students see community college as a good stepping stone between high school and college. This can help community college students improve their grades so that their chances of being accepted at a four-year college are higher. 

Conversely, college students might transfer to a community college for location, academics, or social reasons. Community colleges are often smaller schools that have a more relaxed atmosphere. In addition, many community colleges emphasize taking care of the emotional and social needs of community college students. 

Students uncomfortable at their current school should strongly consider transferring to a different college. There is no right or wrong reason for transferring and no right or wrong school to transfer to.

Transfer students should prioritize their happiness and education when transferring schools to ensure they are satisfied with their experience at their second college. 

What GPA do you need to get a full scholarship?

Typically, a full scholarship is a very competitive financial aid opportunity since it will cover most, if not all, of your college expenses. As a result, only students who demonstrate academic excellence will be awarded full scholarships. Read more here about what GPA you need to get a full scholarship and how to get a full scholarship.

However, academic excellence is not the only criterion for receiving a full scholarship. Transfer students with demonstrated financial need may also be able to get a full scholarship.

Many schools implement financial aid policies that ensure accepted students can afford tuition. In most cases, this means the amount a student must pay in tuition will correspond to their family income. 

Students who are accepted into the university but do not have the means to pay any money towards their tuition may receive full scholarships. 

Do transfer students get the FAFSA?

Your chances of getting financial aid will not be affected by the fact that you are a transfer student. 

Transfer students can fill out the FAFSA and apply to financial aid programs like incoming freshmen. Apply to as many scholarships for transfer students and other college scholarships as you can. Contact the financial aid offices of the schools you are applying to and find out what forms they require for financial aid purposes. 

Frequently asked questions

What are scholarships for transfer students?

Scholarships for transfer students are financial aid packages that aim to support transfer students as they transition colleges. Transfer scholarships can help students afford their new school and pay for the application fees as they look for a better college.

What happens to scholarships when you transfer?

Transfer students can still apply for federal financial aid, scholarships for transfer students, and aid from their new school. However, a scholarship or package provided by their old college will be canceled when the student withdraws from that school.

Check out the Bold.org scholarship blog for more resources on college applications and financial aid!