
Out-of-State Scholarships
No matter where you’re from, Commonwealth University offers generous out-of-state scholarships to help make your college experience more affordable.
Did you know? Attending Commonwealth University can cost significantly less than many other state and private colleges — sometimes even two to three times less? That makes CU an exceptional value for earning your degree. See how our total costs compare to other institutions.
Merit Based Scholarships for First-Year Students
✱ 2025 - 2026 Academic Year
Please note: Merit based scholarships cannot be stacked.
Commonwealth University is excited to offer out-of-state students scholarships based on your high school GPA — making it easier to access a top-quality education at one of our welcoming Pennsylvania campuses.
- To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:
- Apply for admission to the Commonwealth University campus of your choice, complete your application, including all supporting documents, and pay your deposit by May 1st.
- NY Southern Tier Residents: New, first-year and transfer students residing in six New York Southern Tier counties while they are enrolled at the Mansfield campus, may be eligible to pay reduced tuition and receive eligible merit scholarship awards.
Merit Scholarship Awards
Tier | 4-Point GPA✱ | Per Year | 4-Year Total |
---|---|---|---|
Tier 1 | 3.80 - 4.00 | $9,500 | $38,000 |
Tier 2 | 3.50 - 3.79 | $8,500 | $34,000 |
Tier 3 | 3.00 - 3.49 | $7,500 | $30,000 |
Tier 4 | 2.50 - 2.99 | $6,500 | $26,000 |
Tier 5 | 2.01 - 2.49 | $5,000 | $20,000 |
Estimated Costs
The estimated cost per year for out-of-state, first-year students before financial aid and any merit award is $35,952. This amount is based on 2024-25 charges and subject to change. Scholarships amounts are for the 2025-26 academic year and budget will be assessed yearly for continuation.
Commonwealth University is proud to welcome students from around the globe with scholarships based on your high school GPA — opening doors to a brighter future for international scholars.
- To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:
- Apply for admission to the Commonwealth University campus of your choice, complete your application, including all supporting documents, and pay your deposit by May 1st.
- International students must complete their application by May 1st of the student’s senior year.
Merit Scholarship Awards
Tier | 4-Point GPA✱ | Per Year | 4-Year Total |
---|---|---|---|
Tier 1 | 3.80 - 4.00 | $9,500 | $38,000 |
Tier 2 | 3.50 - 3.79 | $8,500 | $34,000 |
Tier 3 | 3.00 - 3.49 | $7,500 | $30,000 |
Tier 4 | 2.50 - 2.99 | $6,500 | $26,000 |
Tier 5 | 2.01 - 2.49 | $5,000 | $20,000 |
Estimated Costs
The estimated cost per year for international, first-year students before financial aid and any merit award is $35,952. This amount is based on 2024-25 charges and subject to change. Scholarships amounts are for the 2025-26 academic year and budget will be assessed yearly for continuation.
Additional Scholarship Information
Visit our main Scholarships page to learn more about available scholarships.
- These funds are available for all new first-year full-time students and will be disbursed equally between the fall and spring semesters.
- These awards will be renewed annually (up to eight consecutive fall/spring semesters).
- For the first year, a student must maintain a 2.0 grade point average with 24 credits completed.
- For the second, third, and fourth years, a student must maintain a 2.5 GPA with 24 credits completed per year.
Notices
- Scholarship values are reviewed annually and subject to change.
- Scholarship funding is limited and awarded on a first come, first served basis until available funding is exhausted.
- Scholarship awards are based on information you provide in your application — including whether you’re commuting or living on campus, your state of residency, your chosen campus, and your program of study. If any of these variables change, your scholarship may be impacted.
- Merit based scholarships cannot be stacked.
Program Selectivity
- Nursing, physician assistant, and other health professions programs remain selective and have additional requirements or capacities. For these programs, it is vital that students apply as early as possible to these majors to receive early consideration for admission.
Employee Tuition Waiver
- Full tuition waiver employment benefits and other institutional tuition-specific waivers or awards may not be stacked with institutional scholarship awards and may not be used to cover fees or other costs for Commonwealth University. Partial tuition waiver employment benefits and other institutional tuition-specific scholarship awards made through Commonwealth University may be combined, with tuition waiver employment benefits applied first, to cover up to 100% of tuition.

External Scholarships
Looking for more ways to fund your education? Commonwealth University encourages students to explore a wide range of non-institutional scholarships offered by outside organizations to help reduce the cost of earning a degree.
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