Prospective LEAD Students
Since its founding, there have been 856 LEAD Scholars. Here’s what it takes to join the 2025 cohort.
Prospective LEAD Students
Since its founding, there have been 856 LEAD Scholars. Here’s what it takes to join the 2025 cohort.
In an effort to provide access and opportunity, the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan* offers a select number of merit-based scholarships through the LEAD Scholars program. Thanks to generous donors, the LEAD Scholars program supports admitted undergraduate students of the University of Michigan who embody leadership, excellence, achievement, and diversity.
Leadership
We support admitted U-M students who have demonstrated leadership experience, and who intend to continue to serve as leaders in the U-M community.
Excellence
We support admitted U-M students who demonstrate high merit and excellence in academics.
Achievement
We support admitted U-M students who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments.
Diversity
We support admitted U-M students who have diverse perspectives from their unique life experiences, which may include, but is not limited to, life experience as a member of an underrepresented demographic group.
LEAD Scholars receive a minimum scholarship of $5,000 per year for U-M students on the Ann Arbor campus. The scholarship is renewable for a total of four years (eight semesters, fall and winter, undergraduate degree only).
In addition to the scholarship award, LEAD Scholars become part of a greater community with opportunities for networking with alumni, career guidance, and study groups that promote the connection and success of LEAD Scholars.
*The LEAD Scholars program is administered by the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, which is an independent 501(c)(3), separate from the University of Michigan, with Tax ID 23-7206591.
LEAD Scholars Program Eligibility and Requirements
To be considered for the LEAD Scholars program, applicants must:
- Be admitted to the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus as a first-year undergraduate degree-seeking student for Fall 2025.
- Be a domestic student who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. International students are not eligible.
- Submit two brief essays:
- One essay explaining how they exemplify all of the four pillars of LEAD: leadership, excellence, achievement, and diversity.
- One essay explaining how they plan to contribute to the LEAD Scholars community and represent all of the four pillars to the broader University of Michigan community.
- Have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.5+.
- Submit the name, title, and school email address of a teacher or counselor who may submit a recommendation for the applicant regarding how the applicant demonstrates the four pillars of LEAD: leadership, excellence, achievement, and diversity.
- Provide their University of Michigan financial award letter.
Application Deadlines and Dates
Round 1
All application materials, including the letter of recommendation, must be submitted by Feb. 24 to be considered for the first round of LEAD Scholars Fall 2025 selections.
Round 2
All application materials, including the letter of recommendation, must be submitted by April 21 to be considered for the second round of LEAD Scholars Fall 2025 selections.
Final Decisions
All applicants will be notified if they were selected for the LEAD Scholars program by May 12.
For questions about the LEAD Scholars program or the selection process, please contact [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
Click here to see the full breakdown of academic performance guidelines for the LEAD Scholars program.
Yes. You do not need to have already paid your enrollment deposit to apply for the LEAD Scholars program. You just have to be admitted to U-M (postponed students must wait to apply for LEAD until they have been officially admitted to U-M).
You can find your U-M ID number in the application verification email sent to you by the U-M Admissions Office.
The LEAD Scholars selection committee does not receive any essays that you may have written for your U-M Common Application. You can submit them with your LEAD application if they are relevant to our essay prompts.
The LEAD Scholars program is merit-based, and students of all financial backgrounds are eligible. We require all applicants to submit their University of Michigan financial award letter. This allows us to assess any remaining out-of-pocket expenses such as tuition and room and board.
If you have also applied to a Preferred Admission program and are still awaiting a decision, for the purpose of the LEAD application, please choose the school/college you are currently admitted to. If that changes during the LEAD selection process, just let us know.
For those who applied for first-round consideration, scholarship offers will be emailed in late March. For those who applied for second-round consideration, scholarship offers will be made on a rolling basis throughout the month of April. Scholarship offers will conclude by late April.
If you applied for the first round and did not receive an offer, you will continue to be considered throughout the process. No need to reapply.
If you have questions about the LEAD Scholars program and/or the selection process, please contact [email protected].
Looking for Additional Scholarship Opportunities?
Many of our alumni clubs and affiliate groups also offer scholarships to incoming and continuing U-M students from their regions. Find a club near you.