Navigating Pace University Merit Scholarships: A Comprehensive Guide

Pace University offers a variety of merit-based scholarships to help students finance their education. These scholarships recognize academic achievements and potential, providing financial assistance to deserving students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. This article delves into the various merit scholarship opportunities available at Pace University, outlining eligibility requirements and application processes.

Internal Scholarships and Awards

Pace University provides numerous internal scholarships and awards to assist students in meeting their college expenses. Criteria for these awards may include academic merit, financial need, or a combination of both. In most cases, students do not directly apply for these awards. Instead, academic departments and the Financial Aid office identify potential candidates from university records. For detailed information, students should consult Pace University's Financial Aid department.

Dyson College Scholarships and Awards

Some Pace assistance is specifically designated for Dyson College undergraduates and graduate students. Similar to other internal Pace awards, these are typically initiated by academic departments or Financial Aid. The criteria can vary widely, including merit, need, specific majors, underrepresented groups, women, or participation in activities like study abroad programs.

External Scholarship Opportunities

Pace University students can also apply for numerous national scholarships, both governmental and private. Dyson College supports students in pursuing external awards, including prestigious private awards like the Rhodes, Mellon, Goldwater, and Udall scholarships, as well as federal awards like the Fulbright and National Science Foundation awards. Other national awards are offered by organizations such as the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.

Here are a few examples of national scholarship competitions:

Coro Fellows in Public Affairs (degree or graduate work required)
Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) (seniors or recent graduates)
Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships (sophomores and juniors)
Hertz Foundation (graduate students in physical sciences)
Henry Luce Foundation Scholarships (graduate before grant begins)
Hispanic Scholarship Fund (graduate or undergraduate)
James Madison Memorial Fellowships (senior or recent graduate)
British Marshall Scholarships (recent graduate)
Andrew W. Mellon Fellowships (senior or recent graduate)
Rhodes Scholarship (recent graduate)
Soros Fellowship for New Americans (for graduate study)
Harry S. Truman Scholarships (juniors)
Morris K. Udall Scholarships (sophomores and juniors)

Full details on eligibility and applications are available from the providers. For awards requiring an institutional representative, students should contact the Dyson College Dean's office.

Pace Law Merit Scholarships

Pace Law offers a variety of scholarships awarded based on financial need, academic merit, leadership experience, work experience, and community service. Each year, a number of first-year students are awarded merit scholarships ranging from $5,000 to full tuition. Students are automatically considered for these awards based on their application for admission, though some awards may have additional application requirements. Scholarship notifications are sent after admission.

First-Year Scholarships and Awards

After admission to the Law School, an applicant's file is automatically reviewed for scholarship opportunities. There is no separate application required for these merit-based scholarships. Awards range from $5,000 to full tuition per year, based on the applicant's promise for law study (primarily determined by LSAT score and undergraduate academic record) and potential contribution to the School of Law.

Scholarships are renewable if the recipient continues to demonstrate proficiency in their studies. To renew a merit scholarship in full, a student must achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. A student with a GPA between 2.80 and 2.99 will receive 50% of the original merit scholarship award. Students with a GPA below 2.80 will not receive any portion of their merit scholarship award for the following academic year. Scholarship renewal after the first year is based on 1L grades, and summer credits are not considered. If a student’s GPA falls below the renewal requirement at the end of the first year, they may apply for scholarship funding as the cumulative GPA increases annually. Renewal statistics can be found on the law school's 509 Report.

Haub Scholars Program

The Haub Scholars Program is a scholarship and mentorship program for students pursuing careers in environmental law. This highly selective program, funded by a gift from the family of Elisabeth Haub, is designed for students with outstanding entrance credentials and a passion for environmental law. Interested applicants should submit a 1-2 page statement of interest in the Haub Scholars Program as part of their application to the law school. The Haub Scholarship is renewable each academic year that a Scholar remains in good standing at the Pace University-Elisabeth Haub School of Law. Scholarship renewal after the first year is based on fall/spring grades, and summer credits are not considered. If a student’s GPA falls below the renewal requirement at the end of the first year, they may apply for scholarship funding as the cumulative GPA increases annually.

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Trustee Tuition Grant

Funded by the Law School, this need-based grant program typically awards students $10,000 per year on a first-come, first-served basis. The award may apply only towards tuition and may be granted only to students enrolled in six hours or more during the fall or spring semester. It is renewable each year for on-time applicants who show no substantial increase in their financial strength and are in good academic standing (2.30).

Pace Law Opportunitas Grant

This grant program, also funded by the Law School, typically awards students a range from $5,000 to $20,000 per year. The Admissions Committee considers academic promise and potential to contribute meaningfully to Pace University's mission of Opportunitas when assessing applications for this award. This award renews annually based on good standing (2.30) at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law.

ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship

The mission of the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund is to encourage racial and ethnic minority students to apply to law school. The fund awards $15,000 to each recipient, and the Law School matches the funds. Applications are available and must be filed by March 1.

Endowed Scholarships at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University offers a variety of endowed scholarships funded by generous donors to support talented students. These scholarships recognize academic excellence, promote diversity, and provide financial assistance based on merit or need.

To be considered for all available scholarships, students should:

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Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), if applicable.
Complete the Scholarship Application.

The amount of payment varies depending upon enrollment status.

First-Year Endowment Funds

The following endowment funds provide additional opportunities for scholarship awards to first-year JD candidates. Admitted students are awarded endowed scholarships based on a review of their application and financial need as demonstrated through FAFSA:

The Bettina B. Brown-Radburn ’89 Memorial Scholarship
The Columbian Lawyers of Westchester County Endowed Scholarship Fund
The Samuel Miller Scholarship
Pauline F. and William V. Garvey Memorial Scholarship
The Goldstein Family Scholarship
The Pace Law New York Partnership Endowed Scholarship Fund
The DelBello, Donnellan, Weingarten, Tartaglia, Wise & Wiederkehr Endowed Scholarship Fund
The Andrew I. Rosenblum ’81 Memorial Scholarship
The Peter John Sacripanti Endowed Scholarship Fund
The Ruderman Family Endowed Scholarship Fund
The Adam Giardina Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund
The Alfonse Sedotto Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund
The Professor Jay Carlisle Scholarship Fund
The Lawrence and Louise Ottinger Public Interest Scholarship Fund

Outside Scholarships

ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship: The fund awards $15,000 to each recipient, and the Law School matches the funds. Applications are available and must be filed by March 1.
THE Hudson County Bar Foundation Scholarship: Students must be bona fide residents of Hudson County, NJ; must demonstrate financial need; must provide two (2) current Letters of Recommendation and must account for appropriate academic standards. Deadline is April 26.
The Marshall-Motley Scholars Program (MMSP): This program aims to endow the South with the next generation of civil rights lawyers trained to provide legal advocacy of unparalleled excellence.

General Scholarship Information

Scholarships and grants are forms of gift aid, meaning recipients do not have to repay them or earn the funds by working. Recipients are eligible to receive only ONE of the Pace University awards. Scholarships are available for a maximum of 4 years from the term the student entered the University, or until the first bachelor’s degree is completed. Students enrolled in an approved 5-year combined degree program may receive 20% of their award for the 5th year, as long as they are enrolled for a minimum of 12 credits. Summer sessions are not included. These awards are applicable only to tuition charges at Pace and may not, in combination with other tuition-specific financial aid, exceed the student’s actual tuition. Renewal is automatic, provided the student maintains the minimum cumulative GPA requirement and continuous full-time enrollment for each Fall and Spring term.

Recipients must sign an award agreement form, which will be available on the Financial Aid section of their Pace Portal under the Unsatisfied Requirements section of their Home tab. Students must click the requirement to open up and review their agreement form. Students will sign electronically and submit. Copies of previously signed documents are saved in the student’s Forms History section of their Pace Forms Portal.

Scholarships for Transfer Students

Awarded to students who have graduated from one of the following Community Colleges with a 2-year Associate’s degree and a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher:

Bergen Community College
Borough of Manhattan Community College
Brookdale Community College
CUNY Guttman Community College
Nassau Community College
Suffolk County Community College - Ammerman Campus, Eastern Campus, Michael J.

Alpha Beta Gamma Scholarship

This scholarship offers $1,000 per year to incoming Transfer students who are members of Alpha Beta Gamma. To qualify, the student's Chapter Advisor must provide a letter of recommendation to the Undergraduate Admissions Office. A cumulative 3.00 QPA is required for renewal.

Phi Theta Kappa Award

This award offers $1,000 per year to incoming Transfer students who are members of Phi Theta Kappa. To qualify, the student's Chapter Advisor must provide a letter of recommendation to the Undergraduate Admissions Office. A cumulative 3.00 QPA is required for renewal.

Legacy Scholarship

This scholarship offers $1,000 per year to Freshman or Transfer students who are admitted and whose mother and/or father graduated from Pace University. To qualify, applicants for admission must apply by February 15 (for the Fall semester) or December 1st (for the Spring semester) and indicate on their Admission Application that one or both of their parents are Pace graduates. A cumulative 2.00 QPA is required for renewal.

Sibling Award

This award offers $1,000 per year to Freshman who are admitted for Fall 2022 and beyond who currently have a sibling enrolled at Pace University. To qualify, applicants for admissions must indicate on their Admissions Application that a sibling is currently enrolled. A cumulative 2.00 GPA is required for renewal.

FAFSA Incentive Award

This award offers $2,000 per year to new undergraduate students who file their FAFSAs for the upcoming academic year by February 15.

Summer Scholars Award

This award offers $3,000 per year to incoming students who have successfully completed Pace University's Summer Scholars Institute while in high school. The Office of Admissions nominates students who have demonstrated exemplary community service and who meet the following criteria:

Freshman: minimum B high school average and 1080 SAT score
Transfer student: minimum 3.0 average
Financial need

To be considered for this award, students must have an undergraduate application for admission on file by February 1st for priority consideration. Students must exhibit financial need, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application, and must have filed their FAFSA by February 15 for priority consideration. In addition, an essay or summary of work regarding community service is required as part of the application.

Athletic Aid

Pace University is a Division II school that offers athletic aid to students exhibiting exceptional athletic ability.

Pace Veterans Scholarship

Pace University offers a scholarship program to veterans from all branches of the United States Armed Forces who served in Afghanistan and/or Iraq since September 11, 2001. The Pace Veterans Scholarship grants eligible veterans a 50 percent tuition scholarship. The scholarship is open to all admitted veterans who provide a copy of their DD-214 form with the following designations:

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Operation Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Operation Iraqi Freedom Medal

To apply for this scholarship as an incoming student, students must file an application for admission for full- and/or part-time undergraduate study and provide a copy of their DD-214 with the application. Veterans who apply for the scholarship will also have the admissions application fee waived. Continuing students who have not already received the Veterans scholarship may apply for it by submitting a copy of their DD-214 to the Veterans Office.

To be eligible, a student must be admitted as a matriculated student in a degree program. There is no minimum enrollment required for receiving the Pace Veterans Scholarship. This scholarship is only available for the Fall and Spring terms until the completion of the first Bachelor's degree program. This scholarship is applicable ONLY to tuition charges at Pace and may not, in combination with other tuition-specific financial aid, exceed the student's actual tuition. Renewal is automatic, provided the student maintains Satisfactory Academic Progress and a cumulative 2.00 QPA. If this award is not renewed due to low QPA or unsatisfactory academic progress, it may be reinstated if the student achieves the required QPA or academic progress within one year.

Students receiving a Pace Veterans Scholarship may not also receive any of the following awards: Honor's Scholarship, President's Scholarship, Deans' Scholarship, Pace-WCC Transfer Student Scholarship, Trustee Recognition Award, Transfer Incentive Award, Pace Incentive Award, or Part Time Student Scholarship or Incentive Award.

Endowed Scholarships

Endowed Scholarships are made possible through the generosity of Pace alumni and friends, as well as corporations and foundations. These benefactors have a strong belief in the importance of a Pace education for a student's future success. There are over 300 endowed and restricted scholarships available.

To be eligible to apply, students must be:

Matriculated into a degree program and be enrolled for at least 6 credits per semester.
Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Have a QPA of 3.0 or above.
Demonstrate financial need, as most awards are need-based.

Students must have filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Continuing and Resuming students must also complete the Application for Pace Endowed/Restricted Scholarships. Providing as much information as possible improves the chances of being matched with an award. The priority filing date for Endowed Scholarships is June 1st. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, and awards are made according to the availability of funding. Awardees are chosen by the Deans for Students.

Tuition-Free Course for Parents

Parents of full-time matriculated undergraduate students are eligible to take one free course each fall and spring semester on a space-available basis. Registration for tuition-free courses may only take place during the first week of class. Adult education, nursing, study abroad/travel courses, and graduate-level courses are excluded from this offer. Parents will be charged for registration and laboratory fees. An application for the free course may be obtained from the Registrar's Office.

Pace Grant

The Pace Grant is available to full-time Undergraduate students matriculated in a degree program at Pace University who are U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents.

To be eligible, students must:

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. Priority is given to students who file their FAFSA by February 15 each year.
Be enrolled in at least 12 credits (full-time) per Fall and Spring semesters.
Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and a cumulative QPA of at least 2.00.

Pace Grant awards are subject to change if:

There is a change in the student's financial need.
There is a change in the student's housing status.
There is a change in the student's enrollment status.

The Pace Grant is applicable only towards tuition charges at Pace University for the Fall and Spring semesters, and it may not, in combination with other tuition-specific financial aid, exceed the student's actual tuition charges.

Tuition Tracker Grant (TTG)

Undergraduate students who have completed at least 24 credits at Pace (not including transfer credits) and who have a 3.50 cumulative QPA are eligible for a TTG. These awards of $500 per year are restricted to students taking at least 12 credits per Fall and Spring term. This grant is not available for summer terms. TTG is applicable ONLY to tuition charges at Pace and may not, in combination with other tuition-specific financial aid, exceed the student's actual tuition.

Merit Scholarship Estimator

Pace University's Merit Scholarship Estimator is designed to help families estimate the amount of merit aid granted to students based on their academic achievements. Students do not need to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for merit scholarships.

To use the estimator, students need the following information:

Current GPA
Standardized test scores if available (SAT/ACT) - Not required of transfer students

The Merit Scholarship Estimator gives estimates of your merit scholarship and does not represent a final determination of actual merit scholarship. Results are based on Pace's Cost of Attendance figures and student aid eligibility requirements. Your financial aid package will depend on your FAFSA results and your official academic information.

Sands College of Performing Arts Scholarships

Beginning with the Fall 2026 admission cycle, students admitted to the Sands College of Performing Arts will be considered for institutional scholarships through a holistic review process-distinct from that used for other academic programs at Pace.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

Pace University also offers a variety of endowed scholarships. These scholarships are made possible through the generosity of Pace alumni and friends, corporations, and foundations who believe in the importance of a Pace education.

Some of these scholarships include:

Allan J.
Angelica and Robert J.
Ann P.
Anthony A.
Anthony J.
Arthur Clark, Jr.
Barbara T. and Matthew P.
Brian E.
Byron C.
Carol K.
Casper T.
Charles H.
Charles L.
David A. and Alice M.
Classe & Francis C.
Lynne V.
Michael H.
Thomas A.
Loretta M.

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