To qualify for a CEW+ Scholarship, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

1) The applicant will be enrolled at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Flint, or Dearborn campus) during the year for which the scholarship is awarded and

2) The applicant must meet at least one (1) of the criteria listed below:

• The applicant has experienced a continuous and consecutive interruption in their education at any time since high school. Eligible undergraduate applicants have experienced an interruption in education of at least 24 months (2-years), and eligible graduate applicants have experienced an interruption in education of at least 60 months (5-years); * OR
• The applicant is a primary caregiver for a minor, elderly adult, or disabled adult, and caregiving responsibilities will continue into the 2026-27 school year.**

* Interruption in Education

For undergraduate applicants, the interruption in education should reflect a period of at least 24 consecutive months of non-enrollment in any program in which they earned academic credit. For graduate applicants, the interruption in education should reflect a period of at least 60 consecutive months of non-enrollment in any program in which the applicant earned academic credit.

**Primary Caregiver definition:

• Lives in the same residence at least 50% of the time and consistently assumes major responsibility for housing, health, and safety of a minor, older adult, or disabled adult; anticipates this responsibility will continue during the upcoming academic year.
• Lives in a separate residence and provides care for a minor, older adult, or disabled adult for a minimum of 20 hours per week without monetary compensation for at least the past 6 months; anticipates this responsibility will continue during the upcoming academic year.

To be considered for more than a minimum scholarship offer, graduate and undergraduate applicants must submit a complete Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Office of Financial Aid if they are eligible to do so. The U-M preferred date to submit a FAFSA for the 2026-27 academic year is March 31, 2026.

Note: If an applicant is ineligible to complete a FAFSA and still wishes to be considered for a larger scholarship, they can indicate this in the application and complete an alternate form that gathers comparable information to the FAFSA.

Students can only be identified as a CEW+ Scholarship recipient once. If you received a CEW+ Scholarship in a previous year, you may be eligible to apply for a fellowship (note: fellowships have specific eligibility requirements listed here).

Questions? Contact [email protected] or (734) 764-4355.

Application components are listed below so you can begin preparing your application at your own pace.

Summary of required information needed to complete a CEW+ Scholarship application:

Demographic information, as well as a resume and a copy of your current U-M transcript (up to Fall 2025 if enrolled)

Two Letters of Recommendation (3rd Letter Optional):
It is best to identify recommenders early and let them know the general timeline for their letters (deadline: May 5, 2026). You will be asked to provide the recommenders’ names and emails. The application system will send an automated email to your references, inviting them to use a link to upload their letter of recommendation. References who are familiar with your academic record and career aspirations are in the best position to write on your behalf. Letters of recommendation can come from a variety of sources; the CEW+ Funding Team strongly encourages including at least one letter from an academic recommender. Strong reference letters typically include:

• The length of time and the relationship through which the recommender has known you, the applicant (e.g., advisor, supervisor, colleague).
• Comments about the applicant’s strengths, academic and professional accomplishments, and potential for impact. These comments can be specific to the applicant’s chosen field or address your ability to persevere and succeed in coursework, research, and other endeavors in a university setting more broadly.
• Insights that the selection committee may not otherwise learn. Strong letters of support should complement and add to the biographical and academic information in other sections of the application.

Explanation for your Basis of Eligibility

In 100-250 words, tell us more about your eligibility for a CEW+ Scholarship.

If you are applying as a primary caregiver, share the nature of the relationship with the individual(s) you provide care for and briefly list your caregiving responsibilities.

If you are applying on the basis of an interruption in your education, tell us what led to the time away from school, how many consecutive months you were not enrolled or earning academic credit, and what you did during that time. Note: if you are applying based on the interruption in your education criterion, you will need to specify the months and years your education was interrupted and provide copies of transcripts that verify the interruption (e.g. 01/2013-09/2018).

Essay Prompts:
The following prompts correspond exactly to the essay questions on the scholarship application. Personal Statements are the lengthiest part of the application and provide the best opportunity to address CEW+ Scholarship selection criteria while telling your story in your own words.

• Personal Statement – Determination
  How have your life circumstances, experiences, and/or challenges shaped your education and career paths? Describe how you have exemplified persistence in pursuing your goals. (200-500 words)
• Personal Statement – Potential Impact
  What is your vision for success and plan for achieving your goals? How will you make an impact with the degree that you are pursuing at the personal, community, and/or global levels? (200-500 words)

CEW+ Scholarships are awarded in two phases:

Phase 1

Selection committees review scholarship applications and make recommendations based on merit. Committee members consider the following criteria in phase one of the review process:

1. Academic capacity and demonstrated scholarship
2. Clarity of goals in relation to career and life experiences
3. The potential impact of completing the applicant’s U-M degree on a personal, community, or global scale
4. Strength of motivation – evidence of sustained commitment, persistence

Phase 2

The specific amount of a CEW+ Scholarship is determined based on financial need and coordinated with each scholar’s individual aid package. Once the selection committee determines the application outcome, financial information will be requested from successful applicants in the Summer of 2026.

To ensure that you are considered for the largest possible scholarship from CEW+, all applicants eligible to submit a FAFSA must do so. The preferred U-M deadline to submit a FAFSA to your campus office of financial aid is March 31, 2026. Failure to submit a FAFSA if you are eligible means that you will only be considered for the minimum award ($1,000) in the second phase of the awarding process. Note that an alternative process is available for international and undocumented students to be considered for a larger award.

Over 80 scholarships are awarded annually, ranging from $1,000 to $11,000, with some larger scholarship awards. The average award for the 2025-26 academic year was over $8,000. Click here to view scholarship books from previous years.

Scholarships Offered

Gail Allen Scholarship
AAUW: Mary Elizabeth Bittman Memorial Scholarship
AAUW-Ann Arbor Branch: Used Book Sale Scholarship
Stuart Baggaley Scholarship

Christine Kahan Black Scholarship
Jane and Bill Bloom Scholarship
Grace A. and James D. Bruce Community Engagement Scholarship
Ruth Jeanette Buttrey Scholarship
Jean W. Campbell Scholarship
CEW+ Graduate Scholarship
Lucy Chin Scholarship
Amy Mecozzi Cho and Lawrence Cho Family Scholarship
Collegiate Sorosis Foundation Scholarship
Lucile B. Conger Alumnae Group Scholarship
Paula K. Cooper (Meyers) Scholarship*
Molly H. Dobson Scholarships
Robert Bruce Dunlap Memorial Scholarship*
Elizabeth Dusseau Scholarship & Margaret Dusseau Brevoort Scholarship
The Christine DiFalco Euritt Scholarship
Everett B. Ireland Scholarship
Margaret E. Gnegy Scholarship
Susan and Richard Gutow Scholarship
Hall-McCannell Scholarship
Beth Halloran Scholarship
Deodge Hill Scholarship
Joan P. Ireland Scholarship
Beatrice Kahn Scholarship
Caroline M. Lee Scholarship
Elsie Choy Lee Scholarship
Luera-Apgar Sustainability Scholarship
Hillary Murt and Bruce Friedman Scholarship
The Virginia Simson Nelson Scholarship
Sarah Winans Newman Scholarship
110% Scholarship*
Potential Made Possible Scholarship
Susan E. Quackenbush Scholarship
Nancy J. Quaife Scholarship
Mary Lucille Randolph and Lea King Dean Memorial Scholarship
Mary Malcomson Raphael Scholarship
Linda J. Rider Scholarship
Helen Huff Shell Scholarship
Terry L. and Patricia A. Stanley Scholarship
The Janice F. Stephens Memorial Scholarship
Margaret Dow Towsley Scholarships
Irma M. Wyman Scholarships*
Petar and Zdravka Zdravkovski Scholarship

*Select scholarships are eligible for renewal after the first year of funding.

Additional questions? Contact [email protected] or (734) 764-4355.