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Scholarship access, calendar simplified to improve student experience
| Author: Eric Baerren | Media Contact: Aaron Mills
Students can now use one portal to find all Central Michigan University scholarships for which they qualify. The office that oversaw the change also shifted the application calendar so students will know next year’s total aid package while registering for classes.
Applications for most scholarships through the university, colleges and departments for the 2026-27 academic years opened Oct. 1 and will close Nov. 30 through the updated Scholarship Universe.
The changes mean students can more easily find qualifying scholarships and apply online, said Sarah Kassabian-Larson, director of the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Before access was centralized, some scholarships would get only a few applications.
Previously, students would have to physically look at what scholarships were available through college and department websites, she said. Through Scholarship Universe, they can easily find and apply through the portal.
There is also an option to search for scholarships available outside CMU.
The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid also aligned the scholarship application calendar to the FAFSA calendar. This change allows students to complete their financial aid forms together.
In addition, it allows the university to provide students with a complete picture of their individual financial aid packages in time for class registration in February and March, she said.
So far, there are approximately 3,800 applications completed for the university’s 800 scholarships available, she said.
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