Montana's STEM Scholarship Program

 

Montana's STEM/Healthcare Scholarship Program

General Information

Montana’s STEM/Healthcare Scholarship Program is designed to provide an incentive for Montana high school students to prepare for, enter into, and complete degrees in postsecondary fields related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics and healthcare. The goal of this program is to increase the number of STEM/Healthcare degree recipients participating in Montana’s workforce. View the STEM Fact Sheet and access the FAQ page.

THE  MONTANA  STEM/HEALTHCARE  APPLICATION  WILL  OPEN  DECEMBER 1, 2023

IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE:
Information regarding scholarships awarded by our office is subject to change based on final Legislative budget approvals. Funding for these scholarships is not guaranteed and final approval for scholarship awards may be determined after the application period has ended.

In addition, criteria noted for each scholarship is used as a minimum starting point for consideration, the final number of scholarships may be limited. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee selection.

Eligibility requirements

To receive $1,000 for the first academic year at a qualifying campus

  • Must be a resident of the state of Montana per Board of Regents Policy 940.1
  • Must apply the year they graduate from a high school accredited by the Montana Board of Public Education
  • Must obtain a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.25
  • Must complete 4 years of college prep math and 3 years of college prep science while in high school
  • Must apply to and be accepted by one of the eligible campuses (listed below)
  • Must be seeking a first certificate, or 2-year, or 4-year degree
  • Must declare a qualifying STEM or Healthcare major
  • Must be enrolled a minimum of full-time (12+ credits) each semester at a qualifying campus
  • Must enroll the first fall semester immediately following high school graduation

STEM/Healthcare Application process

Applying is a multi-step process. Students must complete each of the following steps by the deadline for their application to be considered complete;

  1. Apply to and be accepted by one of the eligible campuses

  2. Apply online AwardMontana.mus.edu 

  3. Print the Math and Science Certification page from the application, have it signed by the High School Counselor/Designee

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS THAT MUST BE UPLOADED TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION IN THE PORTAL

    • Copy of official 7th semester high school transcript reflecting all classes from freshman year through the first semester of senior year* including cumulative GPA (request from your high school in early February)
    • Copy of College Acceptance Letter or Acceptance email
    • Math and Science Certification page, signed by the High School Counselor/Designee
*If a student took high school math or science courses while in middle school and they are not reflected on the high school transcript, the middle school transcript must also be uploaded

Qualifying STEM/Healthcare Majors

List of accepted STEM Majors

STEM/Healthcare Scholarships may be used at the following campuses

MSU Bozeman UM Missoula Flathead Valley CC Salish-Kootenai
Gallatin College MSU Missoula College UM Miles CC Blackfeet CC
MSU Billings MT Technological University Dawson CC Little Big Horn
City College MSU Highlands College of MT Tech   Aaniiih Nakoda
MSU Northern UM Western   Chief Dull Knife
Great Falls College MSU Helena College UM   Stone Child
  Bitterroot College   Fort Peck CC

Scholarship retention

Renewing recipients that meet the following requirements may receive $1,500 for the second year, $1,500 for the third year and $2,000 for the fourth academic year

  • Must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) per academic year
  • Must continue to declare a qualifying STEM or Healthcare majors
  • Must be continuously enrolled a minimum of full-time (12+ credits) each semester at a qualifying campus
  • Must complete a minimum of 30 credits after two semesters, 60 credit hours after four semesters, and 90 credit hours after six semesters
  • Do not need to apply for renewal; all renewal requirements will be confirmed by the campus
  • All renewals are contingent upon continued Legislative funding; in the event sufficient funds are not
    available to fully fund the program, scholarships will be prorated accordingly.
  • EARLY GRADUATES - If a student notifies OCHE prior to their last semester before graduation that they will receive their bachelor's degree in less than 4 years, and the campus confirms this status, OCHE will pay the remaining scholarship amount during the student's final semester.

Scholarship Award Process

  • Once awards are announced High School Counselors/Designees will be notified, in addition, ALL recipients of these scholarships will be notified by mail
  • If awarded, each recipient must accept or decline the offered scholarship, please be sure to return the information promptly
  • Applicants not chosen to receive a scholarship will be notified by email

Transferring STEM/Healthcare Scholarships

With proper notification, STEM/Healthcare Scholarships may be transferred to other eligible campuses. Please sign into the Award Montana Portal to fill in the Campus Change form on the top tab

Appeals

Initial scholarship award determinations are not subject to appeal; however, recipients may appeal termination or non-renewal of their awards to the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE) based on extenuating circumstances.  The Commissioner’s decision is final.

Extenuating circumstances include, but are not limited to:

  • Documentable serious illness, injury, and/or recovery that prevented a student from attending class
  • Documentable death or serious illness of an immediate family member
  • Documentable significant trauma that impaired a student’s emotional and/or physical health
  • A leave of absence for a student participating in active or inactive duties in the United States military, including the National Guard and Reserve of the Armed Forces
  • Other difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

 

Contact Award Montana

Do you have questions about scholarship applications or need help getting started? Don’t hesitate to get in touch.

EmailAwardMontana@montana.edu

Phone: 1-800-537-7508

Award Montana