Your Best Scholarship, Right From the Start

At Baldwin Wallace, we're awarding more scholarships than ever before because we believe talented, motivated students should have every opportunity to pursue the future they imagine.

For many students, scholarships and financial aid reduce the net cost of a BW education to less than the average tuition and fees at Ohio's public universities, making a BW education more attainable than many families expect.

We've made the process simple. Your application for admission is automatically considered for merit scholarships, so there's no separate application to complete. From the moment you're admitted, we'll award you our best merit scholarship offer. Most merit scholarships — and many awards for select student groups — are renewable for up to four years.

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may unlock additional grants and need-based financial aid, making a Baldwin Wallace education even more attainable.

Details on 2027-28 Academic Year 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 or 125 credits (whichever comes first) based on good academic and social standing. Students with a double-major may be exempted from this requirement.

Students may also be eligible for need-based aid. However, the combination of federal, state and BW gift assistance will not exceed full tuition for 12-18 credits per semester and activity fees.

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.

Your Action Items

Apply for admission to Baldwin Wallace to be considered for BW merit scholarships, and complete the FAFSA to be eligible for financial assistance from outside of BW.

Apply to BW Complete the FAFSA

Making a BW Education Attainable for Families Like Yours

Students from all economic backgrounds attend Baldwin Wallace.

Income distribution for Baldwin Wallace families.

Special Awards are also Available

You may also be eligible for special awards that can be added to your merit scholarship.

Special Awards

Note: No additional application is necessary unless otherwise noted. Full-time enrollment required. Special awards are applicable to fall and spring enrollment only.

Name	Award	Criteria
Alumni Award	$2,000	Awarded to the children and grandchildren of BW graduates.
Come Live the Experience (CLE)	$5,000	Awarded to admitted liberal arts majors (BM/BME majors excluded) who reside outside of Ohio.
Visit Grant	$2,000	Visit grants are awarded to new first-year students who start in fall 2027 and visited campus by December 5, 2026. 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.
Sibling	$2,000 per sibling	Awarded to student siblings simultaneously enrolled as full-time undergraduates at BW.
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 adjusted gross income of more than $75,000 per year. Five students are selected each year.
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. 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

Alternative awards can only be received in place of merit scholarships (or equivalent awards).

Alternative Awards

Note: Full-time enrollment required. Alternative awards are applicable to fall and spring enrollment only.

Name	Award	Criteria
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.

Tuition Exchange Scholarships

Through the BW Tuition Exchange Scholarship Program, Baldwin Wallace offers undergraduate scholarship opportunities for the dependent children of eligible faculty and staff employed at participating member institutions to attend BW. Learn more about the program.

Outside Scholarships

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

Tuition and Fees

See the published tuition and fees for the current academic year. But remember, the costs listed are before subtracting merit scholarships, special awards, outside scholarships, grants, and need-based financial aid as outlined above.

Full-Time Students

2026-27 Academic Year

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

	Each Semester	Full Year
Tuition ¹	$21,000	$42,000
On-campus housing and meals ²	$7,522	$15,044
Student Activity Fee ³	$520	$1,040
Onboarding Fee (1st semester only) ⁴	$200	$200
Total (Residential)	$29,242	$58,284

Explanation of Fees

¹ Students enrolled for more than 18 credits are charged the flat rate tuition plus $1,400 per credit for each credit that exceeds 18 in that semester.

² Listed cost is the combined total for a standard double room and the prime meal plan.

³ An annual $1,040 Student Activity Fee ($520 per semester) is applied to all full-time student accounts who first enrolled at BW in fall 2024 or any term thereafter. This fee is applied to the student balance, $520 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.

⁴ 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: Conservatory of Performing Arts students in either a Bachelor of Music program or Bachelor of Music Education program will be charged a $1,664 per-semester program fee. The fee covers private lessons and program‑specific instructional resources essential to music study, including recital venues, practice rooms and pianos, and subsidized accompanist rates.
Elective Private Lesson fee: 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 $857 private lesson fee per semester.
Bachelor of Science in Engineering program fee: 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.
- Note: Current and returning engineering students should refer to the main tuition webpage for fees that apply to them.
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.
- 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 2026-27 academic year.

Part-Time Students

2026-27 Academic Year

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

	Per Credit Hour
Day Students	$1,400
Evening Students	$902
Weekend Classes	$902
Field Experience	$902
Independent Study	$902
Summer Classes (2026)	$590
Student Activity Fee (per semester) ¹	$260
Onboarding Fee (one-time fee) ²	$200

Explanation of Fees

¹ An annual $520 Student Activity Fee ($260 per semester) is applied to all part-time student accounts who first enrolled at BW in fall 2024 or any term thereafter. This fee is applied to the student balance, $260 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: Conservatory of Performing Arts students in either a Bachelor of Music program or Bachelor of Music Education program will be charged an $832 per-semester program fee. The fee covers private lessons and program‑specific instructional resources essential to music study, including recital venues, practice rooms and pianos, and subsidized accompanist rates.
Elective Private Lesson fee: 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 $857 private lesson fee per semester.
Bachelor of Science in Engineering program fee: 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.
- Note: Current and returning engineering students should refer to the main tuition webpage for fees that apply to them.
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.
- 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 2026-27 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 2026-27 academic year.

Students Entering College in Fall 2026

Prospective first-year students expecting to enroll in college in fall 2026 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 October 2025, 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.

As of December 2025, admitted students for fall 2026 enrollment are encouraged to simply file a FAFSA and receive a financial aid offer from BW rather than complete the BW Net Price Calculator. BW financial aid offers will include updated cost and scholarship information for the 2026-27 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 2027 or Later

Prospective first-year students who do not plan to enroll in college until after the fall 2026 term are encouraged to use the BW Net Price Calculator while also anticipating possible adjustments to tuition, scholarship and aid levels.