At Lake Superior State University, scholarships are designed to provide real financial support, not just tuition discounts. Here, you can count on reliable aid and the value of your education. This helps ensure every Laker has the best experience possible.
The following scholarships are for first-time students starting in 2026-27. Information on
scholarships for other student populations can be found in the drop-down menu below or the
navigation menu to the left.
The scholarships listed in this graph are Automatic with Admission. No extra steps required. If you qualify, you will be eligible upon admission. Students can qualify for the Laker Gateway Award OR the Laker Catalyst Award.
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Award | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laker Gateway Award | GPA 3.5+
(tiers: 3.5–3.69, 3.7–3.84, 3.85+) |
$500–$1,500 | Total of 4 years |
| Laker Catalyst Award | GPA 3.5+ & ACT/SAT
(ACT 20+, SAT 1030+) |
$1,000–$3,000 | Total of 4 years |
The scholarships below require submitting the One Application. Complete it once to be considered for all these opportunities.
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Award | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presidential Scholarship | GPA 3.5+ & application (essay, video, or creative project) | One-rate tuition +base-rate housing & base-rate dining | Total of 4 years |
| Sen. Philip A. Hart Memorial Scholarship | Michigan resident, GPA 3.0+, leadership/service | One-rate tuition | Total of 4 years |
| Laker Lineage Scholarship | Child/stepchild of LSSU alumni | $2,000 | One-time |
| Anchor Award | From select rural high schools & FAFSA filed | $2,500 | Total of 2 years |
| Eastern U.P. Award | From Luce, Chippewa, or Mackinac counties | $2,000 | Total of 4 years |
For more opportunities, explore the resources listed below.
For Lakers beginning in 2025-26: Scholarship information is located at the
bottom of the drop-down menu.
Eligible students must be entering LSSU for the first time as a full-student (12 credit hours or more). Awards are based on the cumulative GPA earned at all schools prior to the start of the first LSSU semester, with a minimum of 12 earned college credits and a maximum of 124 transferred college credits at any combination of other accredited schools.
Eligibility for renewal is based on the number of transferred credits prior to LSSU and provided the recipient meets the University’s Scholarship Renewal Criteria.
Senior (88+ credits) = Two semesters of eligibility
Junior (56-87 credits) = Four semesters of eligibility
Freshman/Sophomore (12-56 credits) = Six semesters of eligibility
The following scholarships are for transfer students beginning 2026-27. Information on scholarships for other student populations can be found at (https://www.lssu.edu/admissions/financial-aid/scholarships/) or the navigation menu to the left.
The scholarships listed in this graph are Automatic with Admission. No extra steps required. If you qualify, you will be eligible upon admission.
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Award | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer Catalyst Award | Transfer students with 3.0+ GPA | $1,500 | Total of 4 years |
The scholarships below require submitting the One Application. Complete it once to be considered for all these opportunities.
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Award | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sen. Philip A. Hart Memorial Scholarship | Michigan resident, GPA 3.0+, leadership/service | One-rate tuition | Total of 4 years |
| Phi Theta Kappa Award | Member of PTK, GPA 3.5+ | $1,000 | Total of 2 years |
| Eastern U.P. Award | From Luce, Chippewa, or Mackinac counties | $2,000 | Total of 4 years |
The following scholarships are for Canadian students, located in Sault Ste. Marie, ON, beginning 2026-27. Information on scholarships for other student populations can be found at (https://www.lssu.edu/admissions/financial-aid/scholarships/) or the navigation menu to the left.
The scholarships listed in this graph are Automatic with Admission. No extra steps required. If you qualify, you will be eligible upon admission.
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Award | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lukenda Laker Award | GPA tiers: 80–84.9%, 85–89.9%, 90%+ | $500–$1,000 | Total of 4 years |
The scholarships below require submitting the One Application. Complete it once to be considered for all these opportunities.
| Scholarship | Award | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Lukenda Global Leader Scholarship | $5,000–$10,000 | Total of 4 years |
| Lukenda Community Builder Award | $3,000–$5,000 | Total of 4 years |
| Laker Exchange Advantage Award | Currency Equalization Scholarship | Total of 4 years |
The following scholarships are for students that graduated from a Lake Superior State University chartered high school, beginning at LSSU 2026-27. Information on scholarships for other student populations can be found at (https://www.lssu.edu/admissions/financial-aid/scholarships/) or the navigation menu to the left.
The scholarships listed in this graph are Automatic with Admission. No extra steps required. If you qualify, you will be eligible upon admission. Students can qualify for the Laker Charter Award OR the Laker Charter Catalyst Award.
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Award | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laker Charter Award | GPA 3.5+
(tiers: 3.5–3.69, 3.7–3.84, 3.85+) |
$1,500–$3,500 | Total of 4 years |
| Laker Charter Catalyst Award | GPA 3.5+ & ACT/SAT
(ACT 20+, SAT 1030+) |
$3,000–$5,000 | Total of 4 years |
The scholarships below require submitting the One Application. Complete it once to be considered for all these opportunities.
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Award | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presidential Charter Scholarship | GPA 3.5+, Leadership, & Project/Essay | One-rate tuition, Base-rate Housing, and Base-Rate Dining | Total of 4 years |
| Laker Opportunity Award | GPA 3.0+, FAFSA Filed, Financial Need | Base-Rate Housing and Base-Rate Dining | Total of 2 years |
To be considered, you must complete the “Incoming Student Application”. Some scholarships will also require you to complete the “Incoming Student Essay Application”
Lake Superior State University has hundreds of scholarship opportunities available. Opportunities can be a combination of general scholarships (open to all students) and departmental scholarships (restricted to students within a specific major or field of study). Designed with simplicity and the student in mind, as an admitted or enrolled student at LSSU you will have access to Scholarship Universe, an online scholarship matching software. After answering a series of questions, you’ll be able to see which scholarships you’re eligible for on the national, local, and even institutional levels. Throughout your education you’ll be able to find new scholarships and be notified if you are eligible for new opportunities as they become available.
What is Scholarship Universe?
Scholarship Universe is a state of the art scholarship matching system that maximizes opportunities for students and was developed to help students connect to as many relevant and legitimate scholarship opportunities as possible, both from outside and within the university—all in one mobile friendly site. Scholarship Universe allows students to create an academic profile that enables them to be connected with various scholarship opportunities from outside scholarship organizations as well as within Lake Superior State University.
How do I use this service as a student?
What is External vs LSSU scholarships?
External scholarships are available through organizations outside of LSSU. These are private scholarships that you are matched to and are encouraged to apply. All external scholarships have been vetted by a team of experts and are considered legitimate scholarship opportunities for our students. If you choose to apply for external scholarships that are you matched to, you will be redirected to their website to complete the application process.
LSSU and Departmental scholarships are listed as Financial Aid or under the College the scholarship falls within. For example, Nursing scholarships are listed as LSSU College of Health & Behavior under Organization. LSSU scholarships that are available will always be sorted first within the scholarship tab.
What should you know about Scholarship Universe?
ALWAYS WRITE A THANK YOU LETTER.
Scholarship donors are generous people who give to support the educational endeavors of students like you. Receiving a well written thank you letter from a student is always special and lets the donor know that his or her scholarship was greatly appreciated. We encourage you to take the time to express your gratitude and remind them why students appreciate their gifts!
Need Help
If you need assistance, please contact the LSSU Financial Aid Office at [email protected].
Donor Information