Institutional Aid

Please see the appropriate section for information regarding institutional aid.

Financial Assistance and Scholarships 

Awards range from $500 to full tuition. Scholarships, grants, loans and federal work programs offered depend on the university budget, and are dependent on students meeting program eligibility requirements. These programs are only available to full-time, undergraduate, day school students during the academic year. Check with Student Financial Services for summer eligibility. Students studying through the College of Professional Studies are eligible for a limited amount of JWU institutional aid based on a set criteria. Note: Scholarship funds are applied to the student’s account with the university in two equal disbursements by semester (e.g., a $3,000 Presidential Academic Scholarship recipient would receive $1,500 per semester).

Most admission/merit scholarships are renewable for up to four consecutive years of full-time, undergraduate, day school enrollment. 

Important Note: Student eligibility is based on a maximum total dollar amount of scholarships, grants, awards, prizes and other aid that the university will award to a single student during a given academic year. The maximum amount is determined prior to each year’s financial aid awarding process and includes both university-funded and -administered monies. Please contact Student Financial Services for further information regarding this maximum eligibility.

Business Professionals of America Scholarship (BPA)

The university offers a number of BPA scholarships to any accepted incoming student ranging from $2,000 up to $7,500. Awards are based on BPA activities and academic record, and are renewable based on continued involvement in and support of BPA. Apply for admission online and indicate membership.

Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) Scholarship

The university awards renewable scholarships of up to full tuition to accepted incoming students who participate in C-CAP’s competition events. Applications are available through C-CAP. All documentation must be submitted to C-CAP and all finalists are selected by C-CAP.

Culinary Essentials Scholarship

The university awards a number of $1,000 renewable scholarships to accepted incoming students who have participated in the Culinary Essentials curriculum. Apply for admission online and indicate your participation. Amount of scholarships awarded for participation in specific high school curricula is limited to one per student.

DECA Scholarship

The university awards a number of DECA scholarships to accepted incoming students ranging from $2,000 up to full tuition. Awards are based on DECA activities and academic record, and are renewable based on continued involvement in and support of DECA. Apply for admission online and indicate membership. The deadline for full tuition scholarship eligibility is January 1, prior to enrollment.

Early FAFSA Award

Incoming undergraduate first-year/transfer students who file their FAFSA by March 1 are eligible to receive up to $1000 non-renewable scholarship. First-year students are eligible for the award, regardless of financial need.

Employee Tuition Waiver Benefit

These scholarships are based on institutional policy, with qualifying criteria stated in the Johnson & Wales University staff handbook as well as the faculty manual pay and benefits addendum. Applications are available in Human Resources & Payroll or via the Documents & Forms page of HRpulse.

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Scholarship

The university awards a number of FCCLA scholarships to accepted incoming students ranging from $2,000 up to full tuition. Awards are based on FCCLA activities and academic record, and are renewable based on continued involvement in and support of FCCLA activities. Apply for admission online and indicate membership. The deadline for full tuition scholarship eligibility is January 1, prior to enrollment.

Family Scholarship

If two or more members of your family are simultaneously enrolled in full-time undergraduate day school degree programs at Johnson & Wales University, each enrolled student is granted as much as a $2,000 university scholarship per academic year (September–May). Whether this scholarship is renewable is contingent upon continued enrollment of both siblings in an eligible program. For more information, contact Student Financial Services.

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Scholarship

The university awards a number of FBLA scholarships to accepted incoming students ranging from $1,000 up to full tuition. Awards are based on FBLA activities and academic record, and are renewable based on continued involvement in and support of FBLA. Apply for admission online and indicate membership. The deadline for full tuition scholarship eligibility is January 1, prior to enrollment.

International Presidential Scholarship

JWU awards academic scholarships to incoming international students who demonstrate academic excellence. These awards vary and are renewable up to four years of full-time, undergraduate day school study. Eligibility is determined during the review of your admission application. For more information about scholarships, contact your JWU representative.

Johnson & Wales University Grant

This grant is offered to students upon completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and is based on the annual financial aid awarding process and the student’s financial need.

Junior Achievement (JA) Scholarship

The university offers a number of JA scholarships to accepted incoming students ranging from $1,000 up to $2,000. Awards are based on JA activities and academic record, and are renewable based on continued involvement in and support of JA activities. Apply for admission online and indicate membership.

JWU Achievement Award

The JWU Achievement Award is awarded to incoming first-year students with a high school GPA of 3.0–3.49 at the time of acceptance. Transfer students are ineligible for this scholarship.

JWU Excellence Award

The JWU Excellence Award is awarded to incoming first-year students with a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher at the time of acceptance. Transfer students are ineligible for this scholarship.

JWU Early Visit Grant

Incoming undergraduate first-year students who visit a JWU campus prior to December 31 of their senior year of high school are eligible for this up-to-$1,000 renewable scholarship. First-year domestic and international students are eligible for the award, regardless of financial need.

JWU Residential Experience Grant

Incoming, domestic, undergraduate, full-time students with exceptional financial need, may receive this grant (amounts may vary per student, per year) while living in university housing. For example, a student who lives on campus for their first three years of enrollment and then decides to reside off campus for their fourth year, will forfeit this grant. International students and students living off-campus are ineligible for these funds. Please note, this grant is applied to tuition cost (not housing or meal costs).

Lodging Management Scholarship

JWU offers a number of $1,000 renewable scholarships to accepted incoming students who have participated in the Lodging Management curriculum. Apply for admission online and indicate your participation. Amount of scholarships awarded for participation in specific high school curricula is limited to one per student.

National Academy Foundation (NAF) Scholarship

The university awards a number of $1,000 renewable scholarships to accepted incoming students who have participated in a National Academy Foundation program. Apply for admission online and indicate your participation. Amount of scholarships awarded for participation in specific high school curricula is limited to one per student.

National FFA Scholarship

Johnson & Wales University awards a number of FFA scholarships to accepted incoming students ranging from $2,000 up to $7,500. Awards are based on FFA activities and academic record, and are renewable based on continued involvement in and support of FFA. Apply for admission online and indicate membership.

Presidential Academic Scholarships

JWU awards academic scholarships to accepted incoming students who are in the top third of their class, have a 3.0 high school GPA and demonstrate academic excellence. These awards vary and are renewable up to four years of continuous full-time day school enrollment.

ProStart® Scholarship

JWU offers a number of $1,000 renewable scholarships for accepted incoming students who have participated in the ProStart curriculum. Apply for admission online. Amount of scholarships awarded for participation in specific high school curricula is limited to one per student.

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

JWU will match the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, dollar for dollar, for those students that completed the program in Providence, Rhode Island. Eligible participants must attend a JWU undergraduate full-time day program at one of our four campuses.

SkillsUSA Scholarship

The university awards a number of SkillsUSA scholarships to accepted incoming students ranging from $2,000 up to full tuition. Awards are based on SkillsUSA activities and academic record, and are renewable based on continued involvement in and support of SkillsUSA. Apply for admission online and indicate membership. The deadline for full tuition scholarship eligibility is January 1, prior to enrollment.

Technology Student Association (TSA) Scholarship

The university awards a number of TSA scholarships to accepted incoming students ranging from $2,000 up to $7,500. Awards are based on TSA activities and academic record, and are renewable based on continued involvement in and support of TSA. Apply for admission online and indicate membership.

Transfer Scholarship

Transfer scholarships are awarded to outstanding, accepted incoming transfer students who plan to continue their education at Johnson & Wales in an associate or bachelor’s degree program. These awards vary and are renewable up to four years of full-time, undergraduate day school study. The scholarship application is the application for admission to the university.

Tuition Exchange Scholarship

Johnson & Wales University extends to children of eligible employees at participating Tuition Exchange (TE) institutions the opportunity to apply for a TE scholarship. TE is a reciprocal scholarship program for qualified children of faculty and staff employed at more than 600 participating colleges and universities. A student accepted as a Tuition Exchange scholarship recipient may be awarded up to full tuition at JWU. Applications are available at the participating institution. A complete list of colleges and universities that are part of the program is available online.

Wildcat Grant

Incoming, domestic, undergraduate students who are enrolled full-time may receive this grant (up to $2500 per year) while living in university housing. For example, a student who lives on campus for their first three years of enrollment and then decides to reside off campus for their fourth year, will forfeit this grant. International students and students living off-campus are ineligible for these funds. Please note, this grant is applied to tuition cost (not housing or meal costs).

Funded/Donated Scholarships

Johnson & Wales University administers donated scholarships which are funded by businesses, individuals and professional organizations. In many cases, students must have completed at least one semester of enrollment at Johnson & Wales to be considered. These funds are awarded to eligible candidates based on established criteria.

View the complete list of JWU scholarships, get more information and download applications online.

Pre-Master's Scholarship

Students who successfully complete the Pre-Master's program with the required minimum 3.0 GPA needed to enter the MBA or M.S. program, will receive a nonrenewable $2,000 Pre-Master's scholarship awarded over the length of the program. The Pre-Master’s program is only offered on the Providence Campus.

Dean’s Scholarship

Outstanding full-time applicants to the Master of Public Health (MPH) and MS Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics (MSCND) programs will be considered for the Dean’s Scholarship during the admissions process. This scholarship offers up to $4,000 per academic year ($2,000 for fall and $2,000 for spring) for full-time study in the MPH or MSCND programs.

Enrolled students in the MPH and MSCND programs who did not receive the scholarship as incoming students will be eligible for consideration in their second year, provided they maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 at the end of their first year of full-time enrollment.

If a student is awarded multiple scholarships or grants from the university, the scholarship with the highest value will be applied to their program.