Whitinger Scholars Program

Scholarship Sponsored by Ball State University

Whitinger Scholarship Overview

The Whitinger Scholarship is the signature merit award of Ball State’s Honors College and is the university’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarship. Each year it supports eight incoming Honors College students of exceptional potential by supplementing other merit aid to cover comprehensive costs. Selection emphasizes academic achievement, character, creativity, and leadership potential. The program recognizes the legacy of Dr. Ralph J. Whitinger and the role of the Ball State University Foundation in supporting student scholarships.

Description: The scholarship supplements Ball State’s Presidential Scholarship to provide full tuition, mandatory fees, and on-campus room and board for selected students.

History of the Award: The award honors Dr. Ralph J. Whitinger, a 1929 graduate and long-serving first president of the Ball State University Foundation.

• Premier scholarship for the Honors College, awarded to eight incoming students annually.
• Focuses on academic excellence plus leadership, creativity, and character.
• Named for Dr. Ralph J. Whitinger in recognition of his service to the university.

Award Amount

The Whitinger Scholarship covers the core cost of attendance by supplementing other institutional merit awards. It pays full tuition (in-state or out-of-state), mandatory fees, and on-campus room and board for up to eight semesters of undergraduate study. If a recipient holds another Ball State merit scholarship, that award is applied to tuition and fees first; the Whitinger Scholarship then covers remaining tuition and fees and the on-campus housing and meal plan portion. The benefit is designed to reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs for eligible students while they complete an undergraduate Honors curriculum.

Award Value: Full tuition, mandatory fees, and on-campus room and board (typical DeHority Complex shared double with 14 meals/week) for eight semesters.

• Covers tuition for in-state and out-of-state students.
• Includes mandatory university fees and on-campus room and board.
• Coordinates with other Ball State merit awards to maximize student benefit.

Criteria

Recipients are selected by a committee based on demonstrated academic ability, personal character, creativity, and leadership potential. Applicants must meet specified eligibility requirements and submit a completed scholarship application by the stated deadline. The Honors College uses a holistic review process to identify students who will contribute to and benefit from the Honors program. Only applicants who satisfy all eligibility conditions are considered for the award.

Eligibility: To be considered, students must apply to the Honors College by the priority deadline in November, be accepted to Ball State and the Honors College, have earned a high school GPA of 3.85 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), and be a U.S. citizen or resident of Puerto Rico.

• Selection is committee-based and holistic, not solely GPA-driven.
• Meeting the eligibility criteria is required for consideration.
• Priority Honors College application deadline is in November.

How to Apply

Qualified Honors College applicants will receive scholarship application materials through their Ball State Applicant Status Portal. Applicants should check the portal daily, as notifications are sent each day, and must submit their completed application via the student portal by the December deadline. The application form contains specific instructions and requirements; incomplete or late submissions will not be considered. Self-nominations and nominations or applications submitted by schools are not accepted.

Application Timeline: Honors College applicants should apply by the November priority deadline; scholarship application materials are distributed via the Applicant Status Portal and must be submitted by the December deadline.

• Application materials are delivered through the Ball State Applicant Status Portal.
• Monitor the portal daily and submit the completed application by the December deadline.
• Do not submit self-nominations or third-party nominations from schools.