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Office of Financial Aid
at 302-857-6250

 

  Inspire Scholarship
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Welcome

It is with great pleasure that we offer the Inspire Scholarship for Delaware high school graduates to attend Delaware State University. As an institution of higher education created and supported by the First State, this scholarship will enhance DSU’s efforts to fulfill its mission of providing students with a meaningful and relevant education. I am confident that the Inspire Scholarship will help make the dreams and aspirations of Delaware’s young people become a reality.


Dr. Harry L. Williams, president
Delaware State University

Requirements

The Basics:

  • Be regularly admitted and enroll in the fall semester immediately following graduation from a Delaware public or non-public high school
  • Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale, as indicated on the student's official high school transcript
  • Complete the FAFSA by March 15 and accept all forms of financial aid for which the student is eligible, except for loans
  • Have no felony convictions
  • Complete 10 hours of community service, as defined by the institution, each semester at DSU

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The Details:

The Inspire Scholarship is available to Delaware high school graduates with excellent credentials to attend Delaware State University. The intent of this program is to offset the cost of tuition, thereby increasing the number of Delawareans who attend college and complete degree programs. The scholarship program is subject to available funds appropriated by the Delaware General Assembly. Inspire scholarship recipients must continue to make excellent academic progress toward a degree and must complete at least ten hours of community service per semester.
 
1.     A student must be admitted and attend classes at Delaware State University no later than the fall semester immediately after the student's graduation from a Delaware public or non-public high school.

To be eligible for the Inspire Scholarship program, a student must satisfy Delaware residency requirements as set forth in Delaware State University’s residency policy and be enrolled full-time on a degree-seeking basis. Students with a disability must comply with Delaware State University’s academic accommodation policy.

A student must graduate from a Delaware public or non-public high school with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale as indicated on the student's official high school transcript. Home-schooled students will abide by the same standards as public and non-public Delaware high school graduates.

2.     The student must not have been convicted of any felony, and the student and parent/legal guardian or relative caregiver must certify such fact. If a student has felony charges pending, the student and parent/legal guardian or relative caregiver will sign a certification that if the student is convicted of a felony, the student, parent/legal guardian or relative caregiver will notify the Office of Financial Aid at Delaware State University, and the student will no longer be eligible for the Inspire Scholarship.
3.     A student must satisfy admission standards as determined by Delaware State University and must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program.
4.     A student must complete 10 hours of community service, as defined by the institution, per semester.
5.    A student must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA The DSU school code is 001428), and accept all appropriate forms of financial aid for which the student is eligible including, but not limited to, the Federal Pell Grant, financial aid programs administered by the Delaware Higher Education Commission, and financial aid programs administered by Delaware State University, except for loans.  If other forms of financial aid (not including loans) cover full tuition, the Inspire Scholarship will NOT be awarded. If financial aid funds do NOT cover full tuition, the Inspire Scholarship will be awarded to cover the difference up to the maximum of $3,000 per year.

A student should apply for financial aid by the priority deadline date of March 15 of each year. Students meeting the March 15 priority deadline will be given first priority for the Inspire Scholarship in the event the number of eligible scholarship recipients exceeds funding appropriated by the Delaware General Assembly. 

       6.     A final official academic transcript must be received by the Office of Admissions at Delaware State University no later than June 30 of each year to verify graduation and   final cumulative GPA.

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How to Apply

To apply, follow these steps*

 

  1. Apply for financial aid by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the priority deadline of March 15 to the federal processor (FAFSA available after January 1). The DSU school code is 001428.
  2. Submit a complete Application for Admission with a one-time, non-refundable $35 application fee to attend the fall semester. Paper applications may be requested by phone, mail, via the Web (www.desu.edu/admissions), or from your high school counselor. Apply early for admission!
  3. Provide official scores from the SAT/ACT tests to the Office of Admissions at Delaware State University.
  4. Submit your final official high school transcript by June 30 to the Office of Admissions.
  5. Upon completion of the above requirements, the Office of Financial Aid will notify you of your Inspire eligibility.

* The Inspire Scholarship will be subject to available appropriations for each fiscal year.

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How to Maintain Eligibility

Listed below are the requirements to maintain eligibility in the Inspire Scholarship program.

  1. A student must complete 12 or more eligible credits in both fall and spring semesters. The student must make steady satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, earning no fewer than 24 credit hours required for full-time status in each academic year.
  2. A student must maintain continuous full-time enrollment for both the fall and spring semesters in each successive academic year, unless granted an exception for cause by the University Scholarship Council.
  3. A student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 calculated on a 4.0 scale. Cumulative grade point average will be verified the day after summer session grades are reviewed to determine eligibility for the upcoming academic year.
  4. The student and parent/legal guardian or relative caregiver will notify the Office of Financial Aid if at any time during the award period there are felony charges pending against the student, and the student and parent/legal guardian or relative caregiver will sign a certification that if the student is convicted of a felony at any time during the award period, the student, parent/legal guardian or relative caregiver will notify the Office of Financial Aid, and the student will no longer be eligible for the Inspire Scholarship.
  5. Students are eligible to participate in the Inspire Scholarship program for a period not to exceed six (6) continuous semesters, whether or not Inspire payment is made. Summer sessions are not included in the six semester calculation.
  6. The Inspire Scholarship will not pay for courses or other post-secondary units previously paid or taken in excess of the requirement for completion of a bachelor’s degree.
  7. A student must complete 10 hours of community service, as defined by the institution, per semester.
  8. Students are not eligible for Inspire Scholarship payment for summer session classes and will be personally responsible for payment of summer session classes.
  9. To maintain eligibility for the Inspire Scholarship during the next academic year, the student should reapply for financial aid by March 15 of each year.                                      

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