Whitinger Scholars Program
Scholarship Sponsored by Ball State University
Whitinger Scholarship Overview
The Whitinger Scholarship is the signature scholarship of the Honors College and Ball State’s most prestigious undergraduate award. It is granted each year to eight incoming Honors College students of exceptional promise and supplements other merit awards to provide comprehensive financial support. The scholarship recognizes academic excellence, leadership potential, and character while honoring a notable alumnus of the university. Recipients receive benefits that enable full-time study and residence on campus for the typical duration of an undergraduate degree.
Description: A merit-based award for eight new Honors College students that supplements Ball State merit scholarships to cover outstanding tuition, mandatory fees, and on-campus room and board.
History of the Award: The scholarship honors Dr. Ralph J. Whitinger, a 1929 Ball State graduate who served as the first president of the Ball State University Foundation.
- Signature scholarship of Ball State’s Honors College
- Awarded to eight new students annually
- Recognizes academic ability, leadership, and character
Award Amount
The Whitinger Scholarship covers full tuition (in-state or out-of-state), mandatory fees, and on-campus room and board for up to eight semesters. Typical housing coverage is a shared double in the DeHority Complex with the 14-meal-per-week plan included. If a recipient holds another Ball State merit award, that award is applied to tuition and fees first; the Whitinger Scholarship then covers remaining tuition and fees plus room and board. The intent is to eliminate major direct educational expenses for selected students during their undergraduate study.
Award Value: Full tuition and mandatory fees plus on-campus room and board for eight semesters; other Ball State merit awards are applied before Whitinger benefits are allocated.
- Covers tuition (in-state or out-of-state) and mandatory fees
- Includes on-campus room and board for eight semesters
- Coordinates with other Ball State merit scholarships
Criteria
Recipients are chosen by a committee that evaluates applicants on academic achievement, character, creativity, and leadership potential. Applicants must submit a completed scholarship application by the published deadline and meet institutional admission requirements. Selection emphasizes both scholastic performance and demonstrated potential for impactful engagement within the university community. The Honors College and Ball State admission decisions are prerequisites for final scholarship consideration.
Eligibility: Applicants must apply to the Honors College by the priority deadline, be accepted to Ball State and the Honors College, maintain a high school GPA of approximately 3.85 or higher, and be a U.S. citizen or resident of Puerto Rico.
- Committee selects recipients based on academics and leadership potential
- Requires completed application by the stated deadline
- Admission to Ball State and the Honors College is required
How to Apply
Qualified Honors College applicants receive Whitinger Scholarship application materials through the Ball State Applicant Status Portal. Applicants should monitor their portal daily because application notifications are issued regularly and must be completed online. Completed applications must be submitted via the student portal by the published December deadline; the application form provides specific instructions and required materials. Self-nominations or nominations/applications submitted by schools will not be accepted.
Application Timeline: Application materials are delivered via the Applicant Status Portal; submit the completed application through the portal by the December deadline and meet the Honors College priority deadlines described on the application.
- Application distributed through the Ball State Applicant Status Portal
- Check the portal daily for the application notification
- Submit the completed application via the portal by the published deadline