Tuition, Financial Aid and Scholarships for First-Year Students

2025-26 Academic Year Merit Scholarships

For new students starting in fall 2025: Merit scholarships and awards are based on a student's cumulative weighted high school grade point average (GPA) and the merit level is established at the time an admission decision is made. Merit scholarship levels are established annually and scholarships are renewable for up to four years at the same level as initially received. Students initially enrolling for January 2025 should contact the BW Admission Office for information regarding merit scholarships.

ACT/SAT Test Scores

Standardized test scores (ACT/SAT) are not required for admission to BW, regardless of a student’s cumulative high school grade point average, and are not factored into a student’s merit scholarship eligibility.

Disbursement of Scholarships

Scholarships and awards are credited in two equal amounts to billing statements beginning fall semester. If a student is only enrolled for one semester during an academic year, then only half of the scholarship or award will be credited.

Eligibility

A completed BW admission application is the only document needed to determine scholarship and award qualifications. Only full-time students are eligible for these awards. Scholarships are renewable up to four years based on good academic and social standing.

Students may also be eligible for need-based aid. However, the combination of federal, state and BW gift assistance will not exceed full tuition.

Students eligible to receive scholarships and special awards include U.S. citizens, dual U.S. citizens, green card holders, eligible non-citizens who qualify to file a FAFSA, and residents of most U.S. territories. Foreign nationals and DACA students should review scholarships for international students.

Special Awards

Additions to Merit Scholarships

Special awards that can be added to merit scholarships. No additional application is necessary unless otherwise noted. Full-time enrollment required.

Name	Award	Criteria
Alumni Award	$2,000	Awarded to the children and grandchildren of BW graduates.
Sibling	$2,000 per sibling	Awarded to student siblings simultaneously enrolled as full-time undergraduates at BW.
Heritage	$3,500	Awarded to admitted underrepresented, underserved students who will enrich BW's cultural diversity. View the U.S. Department of Education’s list of race/ethnicity definitions.
Come Live the Experience (CLE)	$5,000	Awarded to admitted liberal arts majors (BM/BME majors excluded) who reside outside of Ohio.
BW Visit Grant (Fall 2025 start students)	$2,000	Visit grants are awarded to new first-year students who start in fall 2025 and visited campus by December 2, 2024. Guaranteed for four years or completion of a bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first. Visit grants cannot exceed $8,000 ($2,000 per year), regardless of the number of times a student has visited. Learn more.
Governor's Merit Scholarship	$5,000	The GMS provides financial assistance to high school seniors in Ohio graduating in the top 5% of their class The scholarship can be used to cover expenses such as tuition and fees, books, and room and board. It is renewable for four years of full-time instruction at BW. Learn more.
Griffiths Scholarship	$2,000 - $8,000	Awarded to admitted Conservatory of Performing Arts students who demonstrate outstanding musicianship and talent in the audition process. Scholarship announcements are made after March 15. Renewable up to four years, based on a cumulative GPA of 3.0+ and enrollment in the Conservatory.
Say Yes Choice Grant	$5,000	Awarded to students attending eligible schools within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Students must have an adjustable gross income of more than $75,000 per year. Five students are selected each year.
Boesel Award – Business Majors	Varies	Awarded to a limited number of outstanding students who plan to complete a major in the school of business at BW. The number and amount of awards vary. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0+ at BW. Renewable for up to four years. Full-time enrollment required.
BW Marching Yellow Jackets Scholarship	Varies	Awarded to undergraduate students who become members of the BW Marching Yellow Jackets. The first year of participation is worth $500 per year, growing $100 each year a student maintains their participation in the band. Students do not need to audition or major in music but need to register for band camp. Learn more.
Choose Ohio First STEM	Up to $6,500	Awarded to full-time applicants who are Ohio residents with a minimum high school GPA of 3.0. Women, first-generation students, economically disadvantaged, or historically underrepresented minorities are highly encouraged to apply. Must be pursuing a STEM major (see link below for more info). Applications and recommendations are reviewed after the deadline. The priority consideration deadline is February 1. The final deadline is March 15. Learn more about Choose Ohio First STEM Scholarships.

Alternatives to Merit Scholarships

Special awards that can only be received in place of merit scholarships (or equivalent awards). Full-time enrollment required.

Name	Award	Criteria
Community-Based Awards	$15,000	BW has partnered with a select number of organizations in Northeast Ohio to offer awards for first-year students, valued at $15,000 per year. Students receive the higher total of either their community-based award or their BW academic merit scholarship (or equivalent award such as the Yellow Jacket Success Grant or RaiseMe micro scholarships received in place of a merit scholarship). Learn more.
RaiseMe	Up to $15,000	Although BW is no longer actively partnering with RaiseMe, any micro scholarships earned through July 1, 2023 with a total value of up to $15,000 per year will be honored for first-year students. Students receive the higher total of either their micro scholarships or their BW academic merit scholarship (or equivalent award such as the Yellow Jacket Success Grant or a community-based award received in place of a merit scholarship). Learn more.
Ministerial	Up to 50% of tuition	In honor of BW's Methodist history, BW offers a Ministerial Award to dependent students (ages 17 to 23) of ordained United Methodist ministers who are full members of an annual conference. May be received in combination with other BW awards when, the total amount of all BW awards, including the Ministerial Award, equals no more than 75% of tuition.
Say Yes Scholarship	Up to full cost of tuition	Awarded to students attending eligible schools within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Students must demonstrate a household adjustable gross income of less than $75,000 per year and their household income must remain below this threshold to renew the award.
Sage Scholars Tuition Rewards	Full cost of tuition	Awarded to students who are members of the Sage Scholars Tuition Rewards program. Students are awarded the full cost of tuition at BW (four years of full-time attendance at BW).

Special awards are applicable to fall and spring enrollment only.

Outside Scholarships

The financial aid office maintains a list of scholarships and resources outside of the BW community.

Tuition and Fees

Full-Time Students

2024-25 Academic Year

Students are considered full-time at BW when they take 12-18 credit hours per semester.

	Each Semester	Full Year
Tuition	$19,416	$38,832
On-campus housing and meals ¹	$6,887	$13,774
Student Activity Fee ²	$500	$1,000
Onboarding Fee (1st semester only) ³	$200	$200
Total (Residential)	$27,003	$53,806

Explanation of Fees

¹ Listed cost is the combined total for a standard double room and the prime meal plan.

² An annual $1,000 Student Activity Fee ($500 per semester) is applied to all full-time student accounts who first enroll at BW in fall 2024. This fee is applied to the student balance, $500 each semester, and is eligible for financial aid support. This fee is not refundable. The fee is used to enhance the quality of activities that directly benefit students, including programs, services, student facility improvements, and events. These activities enrich the student experience, build community, and help students stay on track toward graduation.

Note: Current and returning students should refer to the main tuition webpage for fees that apply to them.

³ A one-time $200 Onboarding Fee for first-year and transfer students provides access to online, virtual and in-person orientation and onboarding programs that ensure a successful start at BW. This fee is applied to the student balance and is not eligible for financial aid support. This fee is not refundable.

Program Fees

The following fees are not listed above and apply to full-time students described below:

Conservatory (Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Music Education) full-time program fee: Beginning with the 2024-25 academic year, Conservatory of Performing Arts students in either a Bachelor of Music program or Bachelor of Music Education program will be charged a $1,600 per-semester program fee to cover the cost of private lessons.
Elective Private Lesson fee: Beginning with the 2024-25 academic year, students who are not enrolled in either a Bachelor of Music program or Bachelor of Music Education program and elect to take a private lesson will be charged an $800 private lesson fee per semester.
Bachelor of Science in Engineering program fee: Beginning with the 2024-25 academic year, first-year and transfer students who enter the engineering program will be charged an annual program fee to cover the cost of student materials and supplies. Engineering students will also be charged a one-time toolkit fee. During the 2024-25 academic year, the annual engineering program fee is $250 and the one-time toolkit fee is $150.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program fee: An additional fee is administered for each of the student's final five semesters in the BSN program. Items covered by the fee include: books (in the final five semesters), stethoscope, lab supplies, lab coat, uniforms, graduation items, and exit exams. Students who originally enroll at BW in fall 2024 will be charged $880 per semester. Note: Current and returning BSN students should refer to the main tuition webpage for fees that apply to them.

Cost of Attendance

View cost of attendance details for the 2024-25 academic year.

Part-Time Students

2024-25 Academic Year

Students are considered part-time at BW when they take 1-11 credit hours per semester.

	Per Credit Hour
Day Students	$1,295
Evening Students	$834
Weekend Classes	$834
Field Experience	$834
Independent Study	$834
Summer Classes (2024)	$545
Student Activity Fee (per semester) ¹	$250
Onboarding Fee (one-time fee) ²	$200

Explanation of Fees

¹ A $500 Student Activity Fee ($250 per semester) is applied to all part-time student accounts who first enroll at BW in fall 2024. This fee is applied to the student balance, $250 each semester, and is eligible for financial aid support. This fee is not refundable. The fee is used to enhance the quality of activities that directly benefit students, including programs, services, student facility improvements, and events. These activities enrich the student experience, build community, and help students stay on track toward graduation.

Note: Current and returning students should refer to the main tuition webpage for fees that apply to them.

² A one-time $200 Onboarding Fee for first-year and transfer students provides access to online, virtual and in-person orientation and onboarding programs that ensure a successful start at BW. This fee is applied to the student balance and is not eligible for financial aid support. This fee is not refundable.

Program Fees

The following fees are not listed above and apply to part-time students described below:

Conservatory (Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Music Education) part-time program fee: Beginning with the 2024-25 academic year, Conservatory of Performing Arts students in either a Bachelor of Music program or Bachelor of Music Education program will be charged an $800 per-semester program fee to cover the cost of private lessons.
Elective Private Lesson fee: Beginning with the 2024-25 academic year, students who are not enrolled in either a Bachelor of Music program or Bachelor of Music Education program and elect to take a private lesson will be charged an $800 private lesson fee per semester.
Bachelor of Science in Engineering program fee: Beginning with the 2024-25 academic year, first-year and transfer students who enter the engineering program will be charged an annual program fee to cover the cost of student materials and supplies. Engineering students will also be charged a one-time toolkit fee. During the 2024-25 academic year, the annual engineering program fee is $250 and the one-time toolkit fee is $150.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program fee: An additional fee is administered for each of the student's final five semesters in the BSN program. Items covered by the fee include: books (in the final five semesters), stethoscope, lab supplies, lab coat, uniforms, graduation items, and exit exams. Students who originally enroll at BW in fall 2024 will be charged $880 per semester. Note: Current and returning BSN students should refer to the main tuition webpage for fees that apply to them.

Cost of Attendance

View cost of attendance details for the 2024-25 academic year.

Estimate Your Cost of Attendance

Net Price Calculator: The BW Net Price Calculator is designed to give prospective first-year students and families an estimate as to what kind of financial support they may be eligible to receive while attending Baldwin Wallace University. Please note: the calculator is currently programmed to use cost and scholarship information for the 2025-26 academic year.

Students Entering College in Fall 2025

Prospective first-year students expecting to enroll in college in fall 2025 are encouraged to use the BW Net Price Calculator. Merit scholarships and awards within the net price calculator are based on a student's cumulative weighted high school grade point average (GPA)

Beginning in December 2024, students may reduce the time needed to use the BW Net Price Calculator by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is the first step necessary to receive a financial aid offer from BW. After filing a FAFSA, students will receive their Student Aid Index (SAI), which can then be plugged into the BW Net Price Calculator, reducing the time needed to complete the calculator from 20 minutes to about five minutes. Although students may input their SAI into the BW Net Price Calculator, as of December 2024, admitted students are encouraged to simply file a FAFSA and receive a financial aid offer from BW rather than complete the BW Net Price Calculator. Financial aid offers for the fall 2025 entry term will begin being processed in January for admitted students who have filed a FAFSA. BW financial aid offers will include updated cost and scholarship information for the 2025-26 academic year.

As noted above, merit scholarships and awards within the net price calculator are based on a student's cumulative weighted high school grade point average (GPA).

Students Entering College in Fall 2026 or Later

Prospective first-year students who do not plan to enroll in college until after the fall 2025 term are encouraged to use the BW Net Price Calculator while also anticipating possible adjustments to tuition, scholarship and aid levels.

Tuition, Financial Aid and Scholarships for First-Year Students

Federal ID Code

Generate Estimate For Your BW Academic Merit Scholarship

Generate Estimate For Special Awards

Your Total Estimate For Scholarships And Special Awards

Award Breakdown

2025-26 Academic Year Merit Scholarships

ACT/SAT Test Scores

Disbursement of Scholarships

Eligibility

Additions to Merit Scholarships

Alternatives to Merit Scholarships

Tuition and Fees

2024-25 Academic Year

Explanation of Fees

Program Fees

Cost of Attendance

2024-25 Academic Year

Explanation of Fees

Program Fees

Cost of Attendance

Estimate Your Cost of Attendance

Students Entering College in Fall 2025

Students Entering College in Fall 2026 or Later