The Meridian Scholarship
SIUE's Most Prestigious Academic Award
For more than 50 years, the Meridian Scholarship has represented the highest tradition of academic excellence at SIUE. Named for the 90th Meridian West, which runs through our campus, the award points toward a journey of discovery. At SIUE, it stands as a local marker, a global connection, and a reminder that the education you pursue here can begin in one spot and reach anywhere.
Each year, a select group of incoming students is named Meridian Scholars. The scholarship supports up to eight full-time semesters of undergraduate education, including:
- Full tuition
- Most mandatory student fees and related course fees, excluding health insurance
- On-campus housing and a traditional meal plan
More Than Financial Support
Becoming a Meridian Scholar means joining a tradition that has shaped generations of SIUE students. The financial support provides students with extraordinary freedom to focus on their education, explore their interests, pursue opportunities, and make the most of their time at SIUE.
Every Meridian Scholar also becomes a member of the John Martinson Honors Program. Through honors, students join an interdisciplinary academic community and experience an education designed to connect learning in their majors with relationships, experiences, and opportunities across SIUE and beyond.
The Meridian Scholarship is an investment in what an SIUE education can make possible. Throughout this site, you will learn more about the scholarship, the honors experience that accompanies it, and what being a Meridian Scholar means at SIUE.
Ready to Apply?
The Meridian Scholarship is open to incoming first-year students who meet the eligibility requirements. We seek students with strong academic records who are ready to challenge themselves, explore new opportunities, and contribute to the SIUE community. Students from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
- Priority Application Deadline: November 15
- Final Application Deadline: December 1
Be sure to explore this website before you start your application. Application reviewers will evaluate your responses with the expectation that you have reviewed the information and guidance provided here.
