Home > Admissions > Financial Aid > Scholarships > Returning Student

Returning Student

Academic school Year 2025 - 26 Scholarship

Application period : January 27, 2025 to May 6, 2025

Delaware State University Foundation scholarships have been made possible by a generous commitment from donors. The Delaware State University Foundation supports students who have demonstrated a commitment to completing their education and have met various criteria as specified by our donors and scholarship awarding committee.

Returning / current DSU students and transfer students who wish to be considered for a Delaware State University Privately Funded Scholarship should review the information below.

Scholarship Application

  1. PLEASE READ:  Applying for a scholarship does not mean you will automatically be awarded a scholarship but your application will be reviewed for consideration by the scholarship committee. 
  2. You must be enrolled to apply.
  3. You can apply online at beginning January 27, 2025. Applications can be completed at: desu.awardspring.com
  4. If you have a problem with completing the application, please send an email to dsufoundation [at] desu.edu. Include your name, D100# and DSU student email address.
  5. Please list your Delaware State University email on your application. Notification of award status will be sent via email to your DSU student email account by July 30, 2025.

Scholarships will be  awarded as follow (see below):

  1. Availability of Scholarship Funds
  2. The Donor’s guidelines

Eligibility

  • Applicants must have completed a minimum of 1 semester at DSU to be considered for a returning student scholarship.
  • Must have a FAFSA Application on file.
  • Must have a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA., unless stated otherwise.
  • Must be a full-time student at DSU, unless stated otherwise

Award Information

  • Scholarships are disbursed evenly between the Fall and Spring semester of each academic year.
  • Scholarships may only be used to cover direct educational expenses billed by the University (tuition, fees, housing, meal plans, and book vouchers).
  • All scholarships funds that exceed direct educational expenses will be reduced and refunded to the donor.
  • Students who are awarded a scholarship, must send a thank you letter to the Division of Institutional Advancement via email at dsufoundation [at] desu.edu.

Alumni Legacy Scholarship

For the Alumni Legacy Scholarship, additional information is required:

  • Submit three letters of recommendation.
    • One letter of recommendation should be from an alumna/alumnus of Delaware State University.
    • Letters of recommendation should be submitted no later than May 6, 2025 to:
      The Alumni Legacy Scholarship Committee
      Delaware State University
      2nd Floor Administration Building
      1200 North DuPont Highway
      Dover, DE, 19901
      or via email to: dsufoundation [at] desu.edu.

  • Applicants must be the alumni legacy. You must have a parent or grandparent who is an alum of DSU to be eligible for this scholarship.

  • A 250-word essay is required that describes what receiving Alumni Legacy Scholarship support means to you and why you are requesting such support. Each applicant must include in their essay the name of the parent or grandparent who is an Alum of DSU. Applications will not be considered if this information is not included.

  • Also explain why you should be selected for a scholarship.

  • If you have a particular financial need, include a paragraph about this topic

REENTRY Scholarships

Osher Reentry and Crankstart Reentry Scholarships offer tuition assistance to non-traditional students enrolled at DSU. Non-traditional students are students who:

  • Nontraditional typically defines a student, minimum age 25, who is beginning or resuming his/her college education.
  • Have experienced a gap in their education of at least five years since completing high school
  •  Are starting or resuming studies toward their first baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree
  • Demonstrate financial need
  • Enrollment is a pre-condition of receiving an award.

Please visit Osher/Crankstart Reentry Scholarships for additional information on eligibility

 

List of Scholarships - Students only need to fill out one application.

Special thanks to all of our donors for making these scholarships possible.

  1. Accounting & Finance Scholarship 
  2. African School Society Endowed Scholarship 
  3. AgFirst Farm Credit Bank Scholarship
  4. Agriculture DuPont Grant Scholarship 
  5. Airway Science DRBA Retention Scholarship 
  6. AKA General Scholarship - Zeta Omega, Epsilon Iota Omega, Sigma Zeta Omega  Chapters
  7. Alumni Legacy Endowed Scholarship 
  8. Alumni Scholarship Campaign 
  9. Amos, Kent & Carmen Endowed Scholarship
  10. Anheuser Busch “Budweiser First Generation” Scholarship
  11. Archie L. Bailey Endowed Scholarship 
  12. Arsht Cannon Fund Scholarships
  13. Art Department Scholarships 
  14. Arthur Bragg Memorial Scholarship 
  15. Arts Center Gallery Scholarship Fund 
  16. AstraZeneca Endowed Scholarship 
  17. Athletics Boosters Endowed Scholarship 
  18. Athletics Endowed Scholarship 
  19. Atkins, Charles W. Scholarship 
  20. Band Scholarship 
  21. Bank of America Endowed Scholarship 
  22. Barbara W. Dorsey Endowed Scholarship
  23. Basketball Scholarship Fund
  24. Bell Atlantic Endowed Scholarship Fund 
  25. Beneficial Bank Endowed Scholarship 
  26. Bennie & Shirley Smith Endowed Scholarship
  27. Bernard S. Dorsey Endowed Scholarship
  28. Bernie L. Wilkins Scholarship
  29. Breonna Taylor Memorial Scholarship
  30. Brown Girls Endowed Scholarship
  31. Canaan Baptist Church Scholarship
  32. Carolyn Golden Hebsgaard Endowed Scholarship 
  33. Cathleen Trigg-Jones Scholarship
  34. Charles C. and Virginia L. Carson Endowed Scholarship
  35. Chemistry Scholarships 
  36. Class of 1947 Scholarship
  37. Class of 1948/1949 Scholarship 
  38. Class of 1952 Scholarship
  39. Class of 1957 Scholarship
  40. Class of 1961 Culture of Giving Fund
  41. Class of 1962 Scholarship
  42. Class of 1964 Scholarship
  43. Class of 1965 Endowed Scholarship Fund
  44. Class of 1967 Scholarship
  45. Class of 1969 Scholarship
  46. Class of 1970 Scholarship
  47. Class of 1972 Scholarship
  48. Class of 1973 Scholarship
  49. Class of 1975 Scholarship
  50. Class of 1977 Scholarship
  51. Class of 1978 Scholarship
  52. Class of 1981 Scholarship
  53. Class of 1987 Scholarship
  54. Class of 1992 Scholarship
  55. Class of 1997 Scholarship
  56. Class of 2002 Scholarship
  57. Class of 2007 Book Scholarship
  58. Class of 2007 Scholarship
  59. Class of 2008 Scholarship
  60. Class of 2011 Scholarship
  61. Class of 2012 Book Scholarship
  62. Class of 2013 Book Scholarship
  63. Cohn Family Named Scholarship 
  64. College of Agriculture and Related Sciences Scholarships
  65. College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Scholarship  
  66. Comprehensive Learning Center Scholarship 
  67. Catherine N. Cook  Scholarship 
  68. Crankstart Re-entry Scholarship
  69. Daniel T. Covington Scholarship Fund
  70. Mabel Dawson Nursing Scholarships 
  71. DC.MD.VA Alumni Facebook Group Book Scholarship
  72. DE State Lab. H.S. Book Fund - Class of  ‘47 Endowed Scholarship  
  73. Dean’s Scholarships - College of Business
  74. Charles Debnam Grad. Scholarship in Social Work 
  75. Vermell Delauder Scholarship 
  76. William B. DeLauder Endowed Scholarship 
  77. Delaware BioScience Endowed Scholarship
  78. Delaware State Grange - Agriculture Scholarship
  79. Delaware State University Trustee Scholarship Program
  80. Delmarva Power Endowed Scholarship Fund  
  81. Delta Sigma Theta Endowed Scholarship 
  82. Dennis J. Savage Memorial Scholarship
  83. Department  of Biology Scholarship
  84. Department of Education Scholarships 
  85. Department of Management Scholarship
  86. Department of Physics Scholarship 
  87. Dr. Norman Dill Memorial Endowed Scholarship 
  88. Francis A. DiMondi, Sr. Memorial Scholarship 
  89. Donald Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund
  90. Dr. Berlin & Dr. Reba R. Hollingsworth Endowed Scholarship
  91. Dr. Clorice Thomas-Haysbert Memorial Scholarship
  92. Dr. Daniel E. Coons Endowed Scholarship
  93. Dr. Derrick E. Nelson Memorial Scholarship
  94. Dr. Donald A. & Delores F.  Blakey Endowed Scholarship 
  95. Dr. Donald T. L. Byrd Endowed Scholarship
  96. Dr. Fatma Helmy Memorial Endowed Book Scholarship
  97. Dr. H.S. Dhillon Honors Endowed Scholarship 
  98. Dr. Jose and Zona Saez Endowed Scholarship
  99. Dr. Jose E. Valentini Memorial Scholarship
  100. Dr. K. Bernard Chase and Audrey Skrine Chase Endowed Scholarship
  101. Dr. Kenneth Bell Endowed Scholarship
  102. Dr. Norman Dill Memorial Endowed Scholarship
  103. Dr. Rahmanda Salamatu Campbell dba The Reading Clinic Scholarship
  104. Drew Book Scholarship
  105. DSC Legends Athletics Endowed Scholarship
  106. DSU Men’s Basketball Alumni Organization Endowed Scholarship
  107. DSUAA DC Chapter (Alice S. Coverdale Scholarship) 
  108. DSUAA Delaware Valley Chapter Scholarship 
  109. DSUAA Metropolitan New York Chapter (Lambe/Singler Scholarship)  
  110. DSUAA New Castle County Scholarship Fund 
  111. DSUAA Philadelphia Chapter Scholarship
  112. DSUAA-Kent County Chapter Scholarships 
  113. Dupont Institute Education
  114. DuPont Scholarship - STEM
  115. ECHS Scholarship Fund
  116. Edward T. Crawford Endowed Scholarship
  117. Edwin M.  Burke Memorial Scholarship 
  118. Elbert N. Carvel Scholarship 
  119. English Dept. Scholarships 
  120. Ernest Talbert, Sr. Endowed Scholarship
  121. Walter Evans Memorial Scholarship 
  122. Fatima Edwards Book Scholarship
  123. First State Constitutional Scholarship
  124. Football Scholarship Fund
  125. Frank and Linda Chick Endowed Scholarship 
  126. Frederick J. Franklin Memorial Endowed Scholarship 
  127. Fred McKenzie Scholarship
  128. Frederick and Chestene Coverdale Memorial Scholarship
  129. Friends Forever, LLC Scholarship Award
  130. Generation III Scholarship Fund 
  131. George Washington Scholarship
  132. George Floyd Memorial Scholarship
  133. William A. Gibbs Memorial Scholarship 
  134. Gilbert H.”Slew”Jackson, Jr. & Ruth T. Jackson Athletic End
  135. Harry Godt, Jr. Nursing Memorial Scholarship 
  136. Gospel Choir Scholarship Fund 
  137. William Granville, Jr. Scholarship 
  138. Barbara Guliani Scholarship for Non-traditional Students 
  139. Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Inc., Foundation Scholarship
  140. Gwendolyn Braxton Endowed Scholarship 
  141. H & B Services Scholarship
  142. Hach Scientific Foundation Scholarship 
  143. Hortense M. Priest Memorial Scholarship
  144. Major Hairston Endowed Scholarship 
  145. Halvin T. and Pauline E. Blocksom Endowed Scholarship
  146. Harriet R. Williams Memorial Scholarship 
  147. Harrison H. Short and Aleatha H. Short Scholarship
  148. Health & Human Performance Scholarship 
  149. HER Scholarship - Speer Trust 
  150. Hercules Endowed Scholarship Fund 
  151. Historic Preservation Scholarship Fund 
  152. History, Political Science & Philosophy Scholarship Fund 
  153. Holland, Wilmer, Lofland Endowed Scholarship
  154. Horace Foundation Endowed Criminal Justice Scholarship
  155. Hospitality & Tourism Management Endowed Scholarship
  156. Hunter Memorial Scholarship 
  157. I.G. Burton & Co. Endowed Scholarship
  158. Inez O. Means Endowed Scholarship
  159. International China Fund Scholarship
  160. J.P. Morgan Delaware Scholarship 
  161. James Frank and Mary J. Marshall Endowed Scholarship
  162. James Scott King Scholarship
  163. Jane Waters Bickham Endowed Scholarship
  164. Jason, William C. Scholarship 
  165. Jethro Williams Memorial Scholarship
  166. Joel & Arlene Coppadge Endowed Scholarship
  167. John A. Bernard Memorial Scholarship 
  168. John and Sherri Ridgeway Endowed Scholarship
  169. John Taylor Endowed Scholarship 
  170. Journalism Scholarship 
  171. Justin Hackley Memorial Fund
  172. Kailyn Lowry Scholarship
  173. Kappa Convergence
  174. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Endowed Scholarship
  175. James Scott King Endowed Scholarship 
  176. Kutz, Milton & Hattie Foundation Scholarship 
  177. Law Studies Program Award
  178. Lois R. Billings Memorial Scholarship Endowment 
  179. Longhorn Rose Ranch Hunt Club Scholarship 
  180. Love Jones General Scholarship
  181. Luther and Mary Ida Vandross Scholarship Fund
  182. Machen, Ronald & Ethel Endowed Scholarship 
  183. MARC Program  Scholarships 
  184. Marion E. Gibbs Endowed Scholarship
  185. Mass Communications Scholarships 
  186. Math & Computer Science Scholarship
  187. Maurice and Laverne Thomason Scholarship Fund
  188. MBNA America Scholarship 
  189. McDowell Family Scholarship Fund
  190. Michael Ingram II Endowed Scholarship Fund
  191. Michael J. Feeney Memorial Endowed Scholarship
  192. Minnie Hill Scholarship
  193. Mishoe Family Endowed Scholarship
  194. Mkombozi (Blakey) Scholarship Fund
  195. Molock, Guy & Inez Endowed Scholarship 
  196. John T. Moor & Lucille Endowed Scholarship 
  197. Morrill Act Scholarship
  198. Laverne Mosely Memorial Scholarship 
  199. Mr. and Mrs. Chester and Ramona Hart Scholarship Endowment
  200. Mrs. Marstella Harvey Endowed Scholarship
  201. Mrs. Stell Harvey Memorial Scholarship
  202. Ned W. Brown Jr. Endowed Scholarship
  203. Norman Oliver Book Scholarship
  204. Olen D. Avant Endowed Scholarship 
  205. Omega Psi Phi - Psi Epsilon Chapter Endowed Scholarship 
  206. Omega Psi Phi (Arthur E. Bragg)  Endowed Scholarsh 
  207. Osher Reentry Scholarship Program Endowment
  208. Outten, E. Stuart Endowed Scholarship 
  209. Dorothy Parler Memorial Scholarship 
  210. Peggy Cuffee Brinkley Endowed Memorial Scholarship
  211. Phillip E. and Deborah Scott Endowed Scholarship
  212. President’s Scholarship Ball Book Scholarship Account
  213. John R. Price Memorial Scholarship 
  214. Queens NY College Fund Scholarship
  215. Rebecca Twilley Gates Memorial Scholarship
  216. Reginald D. Harris Scholarship
  217. Rehoboth Beach Young People’s Assoc. Endowed Scholarship 
  218. Reverend Floreta W. Nickerson Scholarship
  219. Reverend Tommie L. Brown Memorial Endowed Book Scholarship
  220. Robert A. Young Memorial Scholarship
  221. Robert and Cecelia S. Vanderhost Endowed  Scholarship
  222. Robert Michael Hassell Sr. Endowed Scholarship
  223. Ronald T. Neal Memorial Scholarship
  224. Ruth Helen Washington Scholarship Award
  225. R. Town Services Book Scholarship
  226. Andrew Saxton Memorial Scholarship 
  227. Annie Ruth Saxton Memorial Scholarship 
  228. Scholarships for International Students 
  229. Annie R. Semple Scholarship 
  230. Shalita Middleton Memorial Scholarship
  231. SICO, The Foundation Scholarship 
  232. John Sims Endowed Scholarship 
  233. Social Work Scholarships 
  234. Donald L. Steenhagen Memorial Scholarship
  235. STEM Scholars Award for Women  
  236. Strada Scholarship Fund
  237. Student Government Association Endowed Scholarship
  238. Student Remembrance Memorial Scholarship - New Jersey 
  239. Sussex County Alumni Chapter Scholarship
  240. Arnold & Peggy Swygert - History & Political Science Scholarship 
  241. Arnold & Peggy Swygert- Social Work Scholarship 
  242. Tanya A. Haman Memorial Scholarship
  243. The Dennis Farm CLT Endowed Scholarship 
  244. The Dr. Jose and Zona Saez Endowed Scholarship 
  245. The Draper Family Endowed Scholarship
  246. The Dream.US Scholarship
  247. The Greater Detroit Michigan Alumni Scholarship Fund
  248. The Groove Phi Groove Endowed Scholarship Fund
  249. The Hardin T. And Gladys T. Watkins Endowed Scholarship 
  250. The Jerome H. Pinkett Memorial Endowed Scholarship
  251. The Joseph H. Pinkett, Sr. and Leona M. Pinkett Endowment
  252. The Mary J Marshal Memorial Scholarship Endowment
  253. The Stanley Fund Scholarships
  254. The Steven R. Ewing Endowed Scholarship
  255. The Wellington D. Swindall Book Scholarship Fund Endowed
  256. The Wilbert L. “Bunny” Miller Endowed Scholarship
  257. Thompson Hospitality Scholarship
  258. Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholarships
  259. Toyota Scholarship Fund
  260. Valerie Lyons Memorial Scholarship Award
  261. Edith P. Vincent Wellness Scholarship 
  262. Virginia & Edward Dennis Endowed Scholarship 
  263. Visual & Performing Arts Scholarships 
  264. W. DeEdwin Hursey Endowed Memorial Scholarship
  265. Elissa Walker Endowed Scholarship  
  266. Richard Walker Endowed Memorial Scholarship
  267. Charles Waples Scholarship in Math & Computer Science 
  268. Cora E. Warren Memorial Scholarship  
  269. Ulysses Washington Scholarship 
  270. Ramier Abdula Waters Memorial Scholarship 
  271. Wells Fargo Foundation Retention Scholarship
  272. Wilhelmina “Billie” West Endowed Scholarship
  273. William C. Jason Library Book Fund 
  274. William G. Conner Endowed Scholarship
  275. William J. & Reverend Shirley M. Smith, Sr. End. Scholarship
  276. William Leo & Vera Collins Murray Memorial Scholarship
  277. Rev. J.H. Williams Memorial Endowed Scholarship 
  278. Clarence E. Wilson Scholarship 
  279. Floretta Nickerson Wilson Memorial Scholarship 
  280. Wine Psi Phi Fraternity & Beta Phi Burgundy Sorority Endowed
  281. Women’s Basketball Scholarships 
  282. “Words Are a Creative Force” Memorial & Endowed Scholarships

questions

For questions or concerns, please send an email to dsufoundation [at] desu.edu.

Please note that Federal and University financial assistance is available only to U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents. Also, please be aware that scholarships, policies, guidelines, and criteria are subject to change without prior notification.

FAQs

Will scholarships cover the full cost of my education at DSU?

Delaware State University is committed to making higher education accessible, as demonstrated by our reasonable tuition for in-state and out-of-state students and in our variety of scholarships, financial aid programs, and financing plans. While we strive to make a University education affordable, virtually all students will have a combination of student and family contributions and student/parent loans in addition to any grants or scholarships awarded.

I am a high school senior looking to come to DSU in the fall. May I apply for these scholarships?

The Office of Admissions offers scholarships to incoming, first-time freshmen. The Returning and Transfer Student Scholarships are only available to returning students or those students transferring to Delaware State University from other institutions.

I have applied for admission to DSU as a transfer student, but when I try to complete the application, I get an error message indicating I am not a student. Why?

Only a transfer student whose application has been accepted by the Office of Admissions may complete the scholarship application. If your application is incomplete or has not been finalized, you may not apply.

What is the user ID and password for the application?

The user ID is your Delaware State University student ID# and the password is the PIN you use to access Student Services. If you are a transfer student and do not know your student ID# or PIN, please contact the Office of Records and Registration.

The list of available scholarships does not indicate how much each is worth. How do I know which ones to select if I don’t know how much they are worth?

The scholarships come from various sources such as endowments and private donations and the award amounts are often left to the discretion of the Scholarship Committee based upon the number of applicants, availability of funds, and overall merit and financial need of the applicants. The average scholarship recipient received a total of $2,000 in 2010–11.

When should I expect to get a refund check from my scholarships?

Scholarships may only be used to cover direct educational expenses billed by the University (tuition, fees, housing, meal plans and book vouchers). All scholarship funds that exceed direct educational expenses will be reduced. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Why do I have to complete a FAFSA?

The Privately Funded scholarships and the Alumni Legacy scholarship are awarded based upon both financial need and merit. Recipients are not required to have a high need, but some amount of need is necessary. Please do not assume your financial need is not low enough! Complete the scholarship application anyway. Students with very low need may be awarded scholarships as well as those students with high need.

I have a very high GPA. Why wasn’t I awarded any scholarships?

Make sure to read all of the eligibility requirements. Remember, you must have a valid FAFSA on file with the Office of Financial Aid. If your Student Aid Report does not contain an EFC, then your FAFSA is not valid. Also, you must have some amount of financial need. Also, many scholarships have specific eligibility requirements aside from GPA that you may not meet.

Are the scholarships open to graduate students?

Scholarships are generally only available to undergraduate students unless otherwise specified in the criteria.

I am a transfer student. How will you know my GPA?

The Scholarship Committee obtains transfer student GPAs from the Office of Admissions.

I made a mistake on my application! How can I fix it?

Please review your application for accuracy before submitting it. All applications are final once they have been submitted.