Morehouse College Institutional Awards

Morehouse College Academic Award (MCAA) Initial Award Selection: 

All initial award recipients must meet the following criteria below.  Potential award recipients must be reviewed, ranked, and selected by the respective awards review committee to be offered a Morehouse College Academic Award. 

Traditional Students: 

• Complete an Admission application based on requirements listed in the Morehouse College catalog. 

• Complete the current year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  

• Paid application fee/ fee waiver. 

• 3.4 minimum High School GPA. 

• Evaluation of 4 distinguished activities (academic, leadership, extracurricular, letters of recommendation).  

International Students: 

To lawfully enter the U.S. to study full-time at Morehouse College, you need to obtain an approved Form I-20 from the Designated School Official and then apply for an F-1 visa.  Students already within the United States are eligible to transfer their active SEVIS immigration record to Morehouse College. International students in F-1 visa status have several important responsibilities and benefits. If you have questions about any of the information provided, please contact the Office of Student Services.  

• International students are not required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 

MCAA Eligibility – International Students: 

• For determining eligibility, contact the Designated School Official within the Office of Student Services. 

Dual Citizenship Students: 

Dual citizenship status is assigned to an individual who is a national of two countries.  Specific implications related to dual citizenship should be referred to the Designated School Official for review [and consultation with the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), as needed]. 

MCAA Eligibility – Dual Citizenship Students: 

• For determining eligibility, contact the Designated School Official within the Office of Student Services. 

Non-Resident Alien (NRA) Withholding: 

Generally, NRA withholding describes the withholding regime that requires 30% withholding on a payment of U.S. source income and the filing of Form 1042 and related Form 1042-S. Payments to all foreign persons, including nonresident alien individuals, foreign entities and governments, may be subject to NRA withholding. The statutory withholding tax rate is 30%. However, the withholding tax rate may be reduced to 14% if you are a nonresident alien student, researcher, or grantee who is temporarily present in the United States with an "F," "J," "M," or "Q" visa. Additionally, scholarship/ fellowship grant income is exempted from U.S. income tax and withholding under the student articles of certain income tax treaties. 

Morehouse College Academic Award (MCAA) Renewal Requirements: 

In addition to the requirements below, all award recipients must remain in compliance with the Student Code of Conduct (Student Handbook can be found here). 

Traditional Students: 

Traditional Freshmen and Transfer Students: 

Students must meet the following criteria to remain eligible for the MCAA award: 

Must maintain a cumulative 2.75 grade point average (GPA) at the end of the first year. 

• Must earn a minimum of thirty (30) earned institutional credit hours with a maximum of thirty-six (36) credit hours per academic year.  

• Credit Hour Requirement: Though MCAA funding cannot be used to cover the cost of summer courses, a student is allowed to earn summer credit hours at Morehouse College during the summer term or an approved off-campus course. All off-campus course requests must be submitted using the Off-Campus Approval form (Off-Campus-Approval-Form-Revised-fillable.pdf (morehouse.edu).  

• GPA Requirement: Though MCAA funding cannot be used to cover the cost of summer courses, a student is only allowed to earn summer credit hours in Morehouse Summer School or other Morehouse credit-bearing programs to earn quality points. It is only by earning quality points that a student can increase his cumulative grade point average. 

• Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 

• Maintain continuous enrollment (Fall & Spring) as a full-time student at Morehouse College.  

• Exceptions may be made for readmit students on a case-by-case basis. 

Traditional Upperclassmen (Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors) Students:  

Students must meet the following criteria to remain eligible for the MCAA award: 

• Must maintain a cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA) at the end of each academic year. 

• Must earn a minimum of thirty (30) earned institutional credit hours with a maximum of thirty-six (36) credit hours per academic year.  

• Credit Hour Requirement: Though MCAA funding cannot be used to cover the cost of summer courses, a student is allowed to earn summer credit hours at Morehouse College during the summer term or an approved off-campus course. All off-campus course requests must be submitted using the Off-Campus Approval form (Off-Campus-Approval-Form-Revised-fillable.pdf (morehouse.edu).  

• GPA Requirement: Though MCAA funding cannot be used to cover the cost of summer courses, a student is only allowed to earn summer credit hours in Morehouse Summer School or other Morehouse credit-bearing programs to earn quality points. It is only by earning quality points that a student can increase his cumulative grade point average. 

• Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 

• Maintain continuous enrollment (Fall & Spring) as a full-time student at Morehouse College.  

• Exceptions may be made for seniors based on remaining credit hours needed to graduate or college approved medical withdrawals.  

• Exceptions may be made for readmit students on a case-by-case basis.  

 International students:  

Students must meet the following criteria to remain eligible for the MCAA award: 

• Must have an approved continued eligible citizenship status. 

• Must maintain a cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA) at the end of each academic year. 

• Must earn a minimum of thirty (30) earned institutional credit hours with a maximum of thirty-six (36) credit hours per academic year.  

• Maintain continuous enrollment (Fall & Spring) as a full-time student at Morehouse College.  

• Exceptions may be made for seniors based on remaining credit hours need to graduate or college approved medical withdrawals.  

• Exceptions may be made for readmit students on a case-by-case basis. 

Note for all MCAA recipients:  

• Students are responsible for covering the cost of any credit hours over eighteen (18) per semester.  

• Academic awards are renewable for a maximum of eight (8) semesters. 

• Renewal eligibility is reviewed for compliance with requirements at the end of each summer term. Recipients must meet all requirements noted above for continued eligibility.  

• Appeals for lost scholarships will be considered and reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 

Students must meet the following criteria to remain eligible for Athletic awards.  

• Must maintain a 2.0 minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA). 

• Must earn a minimum of nine (9) credit hours each semester or earn a minimum or twenty-four (24) credits hours each academic year. 

• Must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 

• Must remain in compliance with all NCAA regulations for continued eligibility.  

Note for all athletic award recipients: 

• Morehouse athletic awards are renewed on an annual basis. 

• Athletic awards will only cover up to thirty-six (36) credit hours each academic year.  

• Athletics aid may be reduced or cancelled during the period of the award if the recipient: 

• Renders themselves ineligible for intercollegiate competition. 

• Fraudulently misrepresents any information on an application, letter of intent or financial aid agreement. 

• Engages in serious misconduct warranting substantial disciplinary penalty. 

• Voluntarily withdraws from a sport at any time for personal reasons. 

• Provides written notification of transfer to the institution.  

Students must meet the following criteria to remain eligible for talent awards. 

• Students must maintain at least a cumulative 2.0 grade point average (GPA) each academic year. 

• Must participate in all required activities (including rehearsals and practice sessions) each term. 

• Complete the musical duties and responsibilities assigned by the music chair and/or the Director of the student's assigned ensemble for the duration of the academic year.  

• Complete the current year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  

Note for all Talent Award recipients: 

• Students who do not follow all guidelines noted above may not be eligible for talent awards in future terms. Extenuating circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis. 

• Talent awards are granted on a semester basis and cannot be used during summer terms.  

• Students must reapply and be approved for a talent award based on academic performance and the quality of his participation in a specified ensemble and assigned duties from the Music department each year.  

•  All recipients must be enrolled in the respective ensemble course during the semester in which the award is received. 

Vocalists: 

• Failure to perform in the following performances will result in a breach of agreement and may result in the cancellation of the Talent award and may forfeit future consideration for an award from the Music department.  

• Christmas Carol Concert 

• Christmas with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra 

• All commencement activities for Morehouse College and the Morehouse School of Medicine 

Instrumentalists: 

• Failure to perform in the following performances will result in a breach of agreement and may result in the cancellation of the Talent award and may forfeit future consideration for an award from the Music department. 

• Marching band rehearsals and performances during the fall semester.  

• Approved ensembles during the spring semester.  

• Orchestra rehearsals and performances.