Centennial Scholars FAQ
Prospective students
The scholarship application opens October 1st and the application will be in the My Madison Scholarship hub
You do not have to be first gen to apply, but you need to be eligible for the pell grant.
For the 2025-2026 year, we hope to notify applicants by the end of February or early March if they have been selected for an interview. If there are complications with the 2025-2026 FAFSA then there may be a delay.
Applicants will be notified via the email address listed on their application to JMU. Please continue to check your email in the coming months from centscholarsselect@jmu.edu. If you do not see a notification in your inbox, please check your spam/junk folder.
We hope to notify incoming first-year and transfer students by the middle of April and current students by the end of May.
Incoming Centennial Scholars (First year/transfer/current students who have been accepted)
Centennial scholars can live anywhere on campus or can live in off-campus housing. However, as a first-year student, you have to live on campus. JMU Housing webpage
The next steps are to follow orientation steps that should be given to you through email. Please continue checking your inbox for updates on orientation and emails from us.
Students accepted to the program should select the "All Access" meal plan. Students who choose a more expensive meal plan (such as the "All Access Plus") will be responsible for paying the difference.
Incoming transfer students can receive up to four semesters of aid through the Centennial Scholars Program.
Incoming transfer students must have completed a 2-year degree with at least 60 credit hours to apply to CSP.
Returning/ Current Centennial Scholars
- Meet the GPA requirement.
- Have a community partner you volunteer with.
- Meet with your mentor for one one-on-ones
- Attend weekly small group. (first and second years)
- Attend workshop events
- Attend study hall hours if GPA < 3.0
By the end of each academic year, scholars are expected to meet the cumulative GPA requirement of 3.0.
- Weekly one-on-one meetings if GPA is below 3.0
- Bi-weekly one-on-one meetings if GPA is above 3.0
Refund amount is dependent on multiple factors (pell grant amount, housing plan, meal plan), and refunds are normally received sometime in the beginning of each semester.
Not as a first-year student. After your first year, you can stay on-campus or live in off-campus housing.
Centennial Scholars Program
Hours of Operation:
Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm
Summer Hours of Operation:
Mon-Thurs: 8am-5pm
Fri: 8am-12pm
