Honors Scholarships at MTSU | Apply for Competitive Awards

The Honors College is also home to the Buchanan Fellowship program, named in honor of MTSU’s Nobel Prize-winning alumnus, Dr. James M. Buchanan. This prestigious scholarship is part of the program, with Middle Tennessee State University awarding the Buchanan Fellowship—the highest honor—to 20 incoming freshmen each year.

Buchanan Fellows must complete a separate application process limited to first-time freshmen. They receive a host of unique benefits, including a full tuition waiver (up to 16 hours) guaranteed for four years (excluding summers), special seminars, priority registration, a book allowance, priority consideration for study abroad, and much more.

MTSU awards the Buchanan Transfer Fellowship—the highest academic honor—to 30 transfer students each year.

Buchanan Transfer Fellows must complete a separate application process. They receive a host of unique benefits, including $3,500 per semester for in-state students and $7,000 per semester for out-of-state students, awarded for up to four semesters (fall and spring only), along with priority consideration for study abroad scholarships and more.

Use this application to apply for the Honors Freshman Scholarship, the Creighton & Elizabeth Hay Rhea Centennial Scholarship, and the Ralph & Elizabeth Gwaltney Centennial Scholarship. Below, you’ll find details for each scholarship. Since the Honors Centennial Scholarships are not available every year, check the information below to see if a Centennial Scholarship is offered for the upcoming academic year. You can stack these scholarships with other MTSU-guaranteed scholarships when applicable.

THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE COMPETITIVE: These are very competitive scholarships. Submitting this application does not guarantee acceptance because funds are limited.

First, gain admission to MTSU before completing this scholarship application. Submit a recommendation letter from a teacher or guidance counselor, along with unofficial copies of your high school and college transcripts (required for students with dual enrollment credit) and a screenshot of your ACT/SAT scores. The essay prompt in this application closely matches the MTSU Freshman Buchanan application, allowing you to reuse the same essay across multiple applications when appropriate. For details on how MTSU awards credit for AP, IB, and other credit by examination, visit MTSU’s credit by examination page.

The 2026 application will open on December 1, 2025, and close on March 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (Central Time).
Log in with your Pipeline username and password

If you have questions regarding these opportunities, please email: uhc@mtsu.edu. 

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The Honors Freshman Scholarship

This is a 4-year scholarship (eight semesters at $1,875 per semester, excluding summer) renewable each semester, provided the recipient is on track for Honors College graduation and has the requisite GPA (3.25 or higher).

Criteria:

• 27 ACT (1280-1300 SAT) and high school GPA of 3.3 or higher OR 
• 25 ACT (1200-1230 SAT) and high school GPA of 3.5 or higher OR 
• 24 ACT (1160-1190 SAT) and high school GPA of 3.7 or higher. 

Renewal Requirements

Students must maintain a 3.25 college GPA and complete the Honors College program requirements as listed below.

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The Creighton & Elizabeth Hay Rhea Centennial Scholarship

Provides $4000 per year ($2000 each semester, excluding summer) and is renewable for 5 years, provided the recipient is on track for Honors College graduation and has maintained the requisite MTSU GPA of 3.5 or higher.  Additional funds may be available for study-abroad opportunities.

Criteria

• Incoming freshmen need a minimum 3.5 high school GPA and 29 ACT
• Rutherford County residents and students pursuing a major in preprofessional studies related to health care or STEM receive preference. 

Renewal Requirements

Students must maintain a 3.5 college GPA, continue progress toward a major related to preprofessional health studies/STEM, and complete the Honors College program requirements as listed below.

**Available for Consideration for the 2026 Academic Year

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The Ralph & Elizabeth Gwaltney Centennial Scholarship

It provides $5500 per year ($2750 each semester, excluding summer) and is renewable for five (5) years provided the recipient is on track for Honors College graduation and has the requisite MTSU GPA of 3.5 or higher. 

Criteria

Incoming freshmen need a minimum 3.5 high school GPA and 29 ACT

Renewal Requirements

Students must maintain a 3.5 college GPA and complete the Honors College program requirements as listed below.

**Not available for Consideration for the 2026 Academic Year

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If students are offered one of these scholarships they must maintain the following items for continued renewal of the scholarship.

MTSU Honors College Requirements

• Students must maintain a 3.25 college GPA for the freshman scholarship. The Rhea Centennial and Gwaltney Centenennial Scholarships require a 3.5 GPA.
• Complete the Honors College program requirements, including
  • 15 hours of any level Honors classes plus
  • UH 3000 Honors Lecture Series, UH 3200 Visiting Artist Seminar, or ENGL 3635 Creative Writing Event Series; 
  • Honors interdisciplinary seminar; 
  • UH 4900 Thesis Tutorial; and
  • UH 4950 Thesis
• Students must stay on track for honors requirements each semester and complete the Thesis.

The Honors College competitively awards Martin Scholarships, granting a $2,000 stipend to each recipient. Typically, 4 to 6 scholarships are awarded annually.

Students qualify by enrolling full-time, staying on track with Honors course requirements, and maintaining good academic standing with the Honors College. The scholarship competition prioritizes sons and daughters of TVA employees, military veterans, and married students. Additionally, involvement and leadership in Honors College organizations play a significant role.

Students qualify by maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher, holding junior or senior standing, enrolling full-time, staying on track with Honors course requirements, and remaining in good academic standing with the Honors College.

Recipients of the Academic Achievement Scholarship receive $1,000 per academic year. Students qualify for the scholarship by maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher, enrolling full-time, staying on track with Honors course requirements, and remaining in good academic standing with the Honors College.

For consideration for this scholarship, a student must:

• be a junior or senior
• have an overall GPA of 3.25 grade point average on a 4.0 scale
• be majoring or minoring in Native American Studies; pursuing a thesis related to Native American Studies; OR working directly to serve the needs of Native American populations
• the application will require students to provide additional details regarding their eligibility based on this criteria

Available funds determine scholarship awards, ranging from $250 to $750. Students qualify by maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher, holding junior or senior standing, completing the application prompts, enrolling full-time, staying on track with Honors course requirements, and remaining in good academic standing with the Honors College.

This scholarship provides $350 to a junior or senior who maintains a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher, enrolls full-time, stays on track with Honors course requirements, and remains in good academic standing with the Honors College.

Dr. Elaine Good Royal and Matthew Royal fund a $400 scholarship in recognition of Dr. Lawrence R. Good. Psychology majors and minors in good standing with the Honors College receive preference.

To be eligible for consideration for this scholarship, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a full-time undergraduate student in the Honors College.
• First preference will be a student who is working towards American citizenship or is of Hispanic descent.
• Applicant must be either a junior or senior standing when the scholarship is awarded.
• Financial need, as determined by the University, is required.

Students qualify by enrolling full-time, staying on track with Honors course requirements, and maintaining good academic standing with the Honors College.

Students who meet the following criteria receive preference:

• International students of Hispanic/Latino or Asian ethnicity
• Business majors
• Students with demonstrated financial need

Students qualify by enrolling full-time, staying on track with Honors course requirements, and maintaining good academic standing with the Honors College. The University determines financial need as an additional requirement.

Students who meet the following criteria receive preference:

• School of Nursing majors or intending to pursue a career that focuses on older adult health

Students qualify by holding junior or senior classification, enrolling full-time, staying on track with Honors course requirements, and maintaining good academic standing with the Honors College. The University determines financial need as an additional requirement.

Students who meet the following criteria receive preference:

• Student working in the James E. Walker Library

This scholarship provides $1,000 per academic year. To qualify, students must enroll full-time, stay on track with Honors course requirements, and maintain good academic standing with the Honors College. Additionally, recipients must declare a major in History, Economics, or Finance. 

Students qualify by enrolling full-time, staying on track with Honors course requirements, and maintaining good academic standing with the Honors College. They must also declare a major or minor in Political Science, Pre-Law, or Education.

Students who meet the following criteria receive preference:

• Individuals who are involved in MTSU Debate or Mock Trial

Students qualify by enrolling full-time, staying on track with Honors course requirements, and maintaining good academic standing with the Honors College. This scholarship funds textbook purchases for Honors students from underrepresented populations.

The June Hall McCash and Hannah/Harris scholarship applications are available through the general Honors scholarship link. Students will need to provide information regarding their study abroad plans with the following prompts: 

• Do you plan to go on a Study Abroad Experience?
• If YES, to what country?
• If YES, which semester and year?

June Hall McCash Founder’s Award. To be eligible for consideration for this scholarship, a student must first be in good standing with the Honors College and the University. Additionally, they must be pursuing a major or minor in a foreign language and have completed at least 15 credit hours or the equivalent in foreign language courses. Furthermore, the student must maintain a grade point average of 3.25 or higher. Finally, they must plan to study abroad in a country where they can further deepen their knowledge of their chosen major or minor language.

Hannah/Harris Honors Study Abroad Endowed Scholarships: Approximately $400 (dependent upon availability of funds) will be awarded to study abroad. Students must be admitted to the Honors College full-time to qualify. Each scholarship is awarded for 1 semester or summer term. Prior recipients are not disqualified from consideration for this scholarship during subsequent years. Demonstrated economic need will be considered in the selection process. 

Other Honors Study Abroad Scholarships are available throughout the year. Click the link below to learn more.

*Not included through the online application process. Please contact your Honors advisor for additional information on how to apply for these scholarships.

Ingram-Montgomery Honors College Thesis/Research Scholarship: Winners of the Ingram-Montgomery Scholarship receive $1,000 in two $500 increments. The first increment is placed in the recipient’s MTSU student account the semester after the thesis proposal is approved. The remaining $500 increment is awarded upon completion and approval of the recipient’s thesis. The Honors Dean and Associate Dean will review applications using the following criteria: quality and focus of request, soundness of methodology, pre-request research, working bibliography, potential for development as a thesis, and potential for producing an original contribution to the field of study. 

Marilyn M. and Philip M. Mathis Honors Research Award. Provides support for current students presenting research at academic conferences and conventions.

June McCash Honors Enrichment Scholarship. This scholarship provides additional support to students in the University Honors College who seek to give papers or presentations at scholarly conventions, study abroad, or secure funds for research. 

Awards will be made to students from any academic discipline who intend to study and intern at the Yunus Center in Bangladesh. If safety or security concerns make studying at the Yunus Center impossible, then awards may instead be granted to students participating in an international exchange or study abroad program focused on socioeconomic enterprise opportunities in third-world countries. Additionally, students must intend to travel to such a country for at least four weeks to study and/or work on these issues. Furthermore, preference will be given to native-born U.S. citizens to help broaden their experience and understanding of the global economy.