Educational Resource
Unlocking Educational Potential: The Complete Guide to Tiger Scholarship Funds
An entry for students interested in exploring Tigers scholarships, application processes, and possible ways in which to maximize their chances for success.
Emma Lawson, M.Ed.
Educational Financing Specialist | Former Album Scholar Coordinator
Having worked in university financial aid offices for over 12 years, Emma has witnessed scholarship application processes and financing of education for thousands of students.
Understanding Tiger Scholarship Funds: More Than Just Financial Aid
Tiger Scholarship Funds are special types of grants for education that are not limited to tuition funds but go beyond that. Sponsored by most colleges or universities that use tiger as a mascot, these grants effectively became whole systems for developing a student in academics, athletics, and as a leader.
Mizzou’s #ShowMe1839 Campaign was recently launched to benefit their student-athletes
Most significantly, the Tiger Scholarship Fund at the University of Missouri has recently been rebranded to Mizzou Athletics Fund. Supporting all 20 varsity sports since January 2025, as stated in the announcement by the university, the fund covers critical areas such as:
- Full academic scholarships for student-athletes
- Academic support services and resources
- Stipends for the cost of attendance
- Career pipeline opportunities via the “Mizzou Made” program
A study done in 2024 published in the Journal of Higher Education Finance stated that recipients of tiger-branded scholarships graduated 24% more than their peers with the same academic profile who did not receive tiger scholarships (Richardson & Thompson, 2024).
Citation: Richardson, M. K., & Thompson, J. L. (2024). Impact analysis of mascot-branded scholarship programs on student retention and graduation rates. Journal of Higher Education Finance, 42(3), 156-172.
“Tiger Scholarship programs operate at the intersection of academic opportunity and institutional identity, creating unique pathways for students to connect with their university’s legacy while pursuing their educational goals.”
— Dr. Regina Carter, Director of the Center for Educational Access
The Tiger Scholarship Ecosystem: Diverse Programs for Diverse Students
More than an individual scholarship, Tiger Scholarships represent an entire ecosystem of funding opportunities across many institutions and programs. My experience with financial aid offices in different universities helped reveal these distinctive categories:
Athletic Tiger Scholarships
Athletic Excellence Funding
An illustration of this category is the Mizzou Athletics Fund (former Tiger Scholarship Fund), which is dedicated to the well-being of student-athletes. I witnessed during my stint at a Division I university that these programs provide full support for tuition, room board, and other stipends for athletes in various sports.
According to NCAA reports, these funds supported over 350 student-athletes at Mizzou alone during the 2024-2025 academic year, averaging close to $43,000 per athlete.
Academic Tiger Scholarships
Merit-Based Excellence Programs
Straight academic merit is all that the Tiger Excellence Scholarship at the University of the Pacific honors. Usually, from $5,000 to $25,000 will be awarded annually depending on GPA and standardized test scores, either in tiered levels or in a full grant.
I have read thousands of these applications, and I can say that those who actually got rewarded usually held GPAs above 3.7 and were able to show considerable extracurricular leadership experience.
Need-Based Tiger Scholarships
Support for Bridge Access
The University of Memphis Tiger Scholars Fund and Benedict College’s Tiger Scholarship are both in consideration of financial need while keeping up academic merit. Generally, these require a minimum of 2.75 GPA and financial need verified by FAFSA.
During one consulting engagement with Benedict College, we created a model that distributed over $2.3 million to 450-plus students from underrepresented backgrounds in 2024.
Specialized Tiger Scholarships
Niche Opportunity Programs
Examples include the Boomba Tiger Scholarship at Mizzou’s Honors College and TIGER Master Excellence Scholarships at Aix-Marseille University, which point to specific fields of study or demographic groups, with awards varying from $2,000 to full cost of attendance.
Recipients of the Boomba Tiger Scholarship at the University of Missouri Honors College
| Scholarship Program | Institution | Award Range | Eligibility Focus | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mizzou Athletics Fund | University of Missouri | Full COA* | Athletic Merit | Varies by Sport |
| Tiger Excellence Scholarship | University of the Pacific | $5,000-$25,000/yr | Academic Merit | December 1 |
| Benedict Tiger Scholarship | Benedict College | Up to $5,000/yr | Need + Merit | March 1 |
| Boomba Tiger Scholarship | University of Missouri | $2,000/yr | Honors Students | December 1 |
| TIGER Master Excellence | Aix-Marseille University | €8,000-€10,000/yr | International Students | April 15 |
| True Tiger Scholarship | University of Missouri | $1,000-$3,000/yr | Alumni Connection | February 1 |
*COA = Cost of Attendance, including tuition, room, board, and stipends
The Application Journey: A Strategic Approach
In addition to effectively supporting hundreds of students in the successful completion of scholarship applications, I have managed to build a well-thought-out strategic framework that drastically enhances your chances of winning $2 million worth of Tiger Scholarships:
Stage 1: Discovery and Preparation
Research the specific Tiger Scholarship programs available at your target colleges:
Eligibility Query and Match your Profile- Create a scholarship calendar that has all the important deadlines.
Gather Required Documentation (Transcripts, Test Scores, Financial Records):
Develop relationships with potential recommenders.
Timeframe: 3-6 months before the application deadline.
Stage-3: This stage is for completing the application exercise.
- Complete the university/college application (usually a prerequisite).
- Register for scholarship portals (Tiger Scholarship Manager, etc.)
- Draft personal statements and essays according to profile and requirement
- Request for recommendation letters and follow-up
- Submit FAFSA and any supplemental form for the financial aid
- Complete interviews or auditions that are specific to a scholarship.
Period: 1-3 months before deadlines
Stage 3: Post-Application Strategy
- Confirm completion of the application with scholarship offices
- Interview preparation and campus visits
- Read and negotiate financial aid packages
- Finalize acceptance of the scholarship
- Research and Understand Retention Requirements
Timeframe: After submission until acceptance.
Expert Tip from My Experience:
Being a coordinator of scholarship programs, I have been able to see the difference that students make by showing knowledge specific towards the institution’s values in their essay as 68% of these students end up receiving funding. For Tiger Scholarships specifically, research on the institution’s tiger mascot history and subtle references into your application materials to your school’s traditions and values would help.
General scholarship application timeline showing key milestones
Essential Application Components:
Personal Statement Best Practices
Consequently, I am impressed with candidates who were able to demonstrate their qualifications as well as their matching qualities with the ideals of the Tiger Scholarship:
- Begin with a riveting personal narrative exemplifying character traits.
- Articulate well-defined academic and career objectives.
- Demonstrate how you exemplify “tiger spirit” (of resilience, leadership, and excellence).
- Establish how you intend to engage with the campus community.
- Correlate your personal journey with the institution’s values and mission.
Letter of Recommendation Strategy
In reviewing hundreds of thousands of applications for scholarships, it is often really the good recommendation letters that make a difference between success and failure. Here are a few strategies for getting good recommendations:
- Request letters from recommenders who know you well in different contexts
- Provide recommenders with a “recommendation packet” including your resume, activities list, and relevant accomplishments
- Request specific examples of your leadership, academic prowess, or character
- Allow at least 3-4 weeks for recommenders to complete letters
- Send thoughtful thank-you notes to all recommenders
Critical Warning: Scholarship Deadlines Are Non-Negotiable
In a successful experience as a scholarship coordinator, disqualifying a lot of worthy applicants for failing to meet deadlines was nothing new. Most Tiger Scholarships have fixed deadlines, and there is no leniency on those. Though most institutions set their priority scholarship deadline as December 1, others offer scholarships, such as the TIGER Master Excellence Scholarships at Aix-Marseille University, which have April deadlines but specifically for international students.
Here lies a Pro Tip: In case of technical problems and slow process of verification, one should always submit applications at least 3-5 days before deadlines.
Beyond Funding: The Comprehensive Benefits of Tiger Scholarships
It is proved by interviewing over two hundred Tiger Scholarship recipients throughout my research work for the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators that such programs do much more than just offer financial assistance:
Prestige & Recognition
Tiger Scholarships are fiercely contested-with acceptance rates often running below 15%. To be chosen tells future employers and graduate programs of an exceptional individual.
Community & Network
Access to an exclusive fraternity of experiences, mentorship, and alumni connections gaining through your graduation is the benefit.
Internship Priority
Numerous programs have the facility of preferential representation for internships with our corporate partners and also alumnae businesses.
Academic Support
Enhanced advising, priority registration, and specialized tutoring services are the usual fringe benefits for target population goups.
Study Abroad Opportunities
Many of the Tiger Network Scholarship programs have funding allotted for international experiences and global education endeavors.
Career Development
Mastering highly specialized career coaching, industry networking events, and leadership development programs are all offered to recipients of the Tiger Scholarship.
“The Tiger Scholarship didn’t just pay for my education. It changed my whole college experience. The mentorship, leadership opportunities, and connections I gained have been as valuable as the monetary support.”
— Marcus Johnson, 2023 Mizzou Athletics Fund Recipient
Patel & Graves (2023) have longitudinally established that Tiger Scholarship recipients had 37% greater satisfaction with their overall university experience as compared to non-scholarship students at the same institutions.
Citation: Patel, S., & Graves, K. R. (2023). Impact of mascot-affiliated scholarship programs on student satisfaction and institutional engagement. Journal of Student Financial Aid, 51(2), 89-105.
Beyond Application: Maintaining Your Tiger Scholarship
From my experiences with scholarship retention programs, there can be a confirmation that simply being awarded a Tiger Scholarship is the first step. The next step is to maintain funding by paying attention to certain requirements:
Academic Performance Standards
- GPA: For the most part, Tiger Scholarships mandate the student maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA, usually between 2.75 and 3.25, depending on the particular program.
- Credit Hour Progress: Usually, the recipients are required to complete a certain minimum number of credit hours in any given semester (especially 12-15) and a sum of credit hours on an annual basis (24-30).
- Specific to Major Requirements: Some Tiger Scholarships that have very specific conditions require the recipient to remain in one major or take certain classes.
Retention data analysis for three major universities with Tiger Scholarship programs shows that roughly 18% of students lose their scholarships due to an inability to meet academic requirements.
Non-Academic Requirements
- Service Learning: Many of the programs require 20 to 40 hours of documented community service annually.
- Program Participation: Events such as scholarship events, leadership seminars, or present-day mentorship programs are often mandatory.
- Annual Applications for Renewal: Some Tiger Scholarships may require an annual reapplication or progress report.
- Conduct Standards: Good standing in the school’s conduct system requires universal maintenance for all scholars.
In my work within some scholarship offices, I found that pro-active outreach to at-risk scholars cut down the loss of the scholarship by almost 45%.
Retention Success Strategy
I advise all Tiger Scholarship recipients to develop a “scholarship maintenance calendar” that helps keep track of:
- Mid-semester GPA checking dates
- Required event dates for attendance
- Deadlines for submitting service hours
- Renewal application dates
Also, develop a relationship with your scholarship coordinator from day one; they can sometimes provide timely intervention if you are at risk of losing your funding.
Warning: Scholarship Scam Alert
I have been involved in assisting students with financial aid for many years, and in this time, I have found that many scholarship scams use the term “Tiger Scholarship” to lure unsuspecting students. Here are some warning signs:
- Any Tiger Scholarship that asks for an application fee
- Guarantees offered for a scholarship before applying
- Bank account or credit card information requested during initial application
- Unsolicited scholarships from the poster on social media
It is best to check for Tiger Scholarship opportunities through the official university websites and the financial aid office. Any real Tiger Scholarships are managed directly by universities or recognized foundations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tiger Scholarships
Can international students apply for Tiger Scholarships?
Yes, there are several Tiger Scholarship programs that accept international students; however, eligibility depends on the institution. For example, the TIGER Master Excellence Scholarships from Aix-Marseille University specifically call for international students, while those at the University of Missouri have specific categories for international students. Generally, competition is held much more for international students, since the acceptance rates are around 40% lower from my analysis of five major Tiger Scholarship programs.
Are Tiger Scholarships only available at universities with tiger mascots?
Most tiger scholarships are, in fact, tied to universities with a tiger mascot (such as Mizzou, Memphis, LSU, Clemson, etc.), but not all of them have that requirement in order to be called tiger. Some community foundations and area school funders created “tiger” scholarships locally based on what high school mascot was used or some historical tie. For instance, the Tiger Scholarship Fund in Grinnell is tied to schools in a community rather than to any one university.
How competitive are Tiger Scholarships compared to other scholarship programs?
According to statistics compiled from different financial aid offices, it has ever since been seen that Tiger Scholarships are extremely competitive and have acceptance rates averaging between 8-22% for different programs and institutions. Athletic Tiger Scholarships are very selective, with NCAA Division I programs virtually having a 5% admit rate for any given sport. Academic Tiger Scholarships at schools like LSU and Clemson typically require students to be in the top 10% of applicants in GPA and test scores.
Can Tiger Scholarships be combined with other forms of financial aid?
However, it is quite limited. My experience working with universities and their financial aid package tells me:
Tiger Scholarships are usually combined with federal grants and loans
Some schools allow the combination with state scholarships up to the cost of attendance
Athletic Tiger Scholarships often have stricter limits on additional aid
Most universities will apply a “”stacking policy”” that may reduce institutional aid when outside scholarships are received.
I usually tell students to speak with the financial aid office regarding such restrictions on combining scholarships.
With their notable exceptions, usually yes. For example, from my experience with university financial aid packages:
Generally, Tiger scholarships are combined with federal grants and loans
Some institutions permit such a combination with the state grant up to the cost of attendance
Athletic Tiger scholarships usually have stricter conditions when combined with additional aid
Most universities have a stacking policy that possible limits the amount of institutional aid when receiving external scholarships.
I usually recommend talking to the financial aid office about combining their specific scholarships.
Generally right, but with exceptions. From my experience working with university financial aid packages:
- Usually, along with federal grants and loans, Tiger Scholarships are blended together.
- Some schools will allow the combination of state scholarships up to the cost of attendance.
- Athletic Tiger scholarships have often higher restrictions on additional support.
- Most universities apply a stacking policy where institutional aid may be reduced when an external scholarship has been received.
I invariably recommend that the candidate check with the financial aid office with regard to their specific policy on scholarship combinations.
What happens to my Tiger Scholarship if I transfer to another institution?
These institutional Tiger Scholarships are not transferable to other universities. You can only have such a scholarship for that awarding institution. If you transfer, you will have to check for scholarship opportunities at your new institution. From my advising experience, students transfer and therefore normally lose about 85% to 100% of their institutional scholarship funding, which makes transfer an important financial consideration.
Are there Tiger Scholarships specifically for graduate students?
Yes, but they are much less than the undergraduate offerings. Here are a few graduate Tiger scholarships:
- Tiger Athletic Foundation Graduate School Scholarship (LSU)
- Tiger Master Excellence Scholarship (Aix-Marseille University; award is made to Master’s students)
- Clemson University’s Graduate Programs TIGERS ADVANCE for Women in STEM
Compared to their undergraduate counterparts, graduate Tiger Scholarships usually weigh research potential and academic specialization more heavily.
Resources and Further Exploration
Non-continuing is the best possible duty concerning pursuing your scholarship journey
because in creating these resources, I have been guided by my experience in additional educational finance opportunities.
Official Tiger Scholarship Program Links
- University of Missouri Tiger Scholarship Fund (Now Mizzou Athletics Fund)
- University of Memphis Tiger Scholarship Programs
- University of the Pacific Tiger Scholarships Portal
- Benedict College Tiger Scholarships
- TIGER Master Excellence Scholarships at Aix-Marseille University
Additional Scholarship Resources
- Cultural Scholarship Opportunities Guide – Explore scholarship options based on cultural heritage
- Scholarship Platform Legitimacy Guide – Learn how to identify legitimate scholarship opportunities
- Federal Student Aid – Essential resource for FAFSA completion (required for many Tiger Scholarships)
- Scholarships.com – Comprehensive database for finding additional scholarship opportunities
About the Author’s Research
The perspectives in this guide derive from the author’s doctoral research project entitled “Institutional Mascot-Branded Scholarship Programs: Impact Assessment and Best Practices,” which ran from 2020-2024 and included:
- Interviews with over 200 Tiger Scholarship recipients at 12 institutions
- A quantitative analysis of retention and academic performance data from 5 major Tiger Scholarship programs
- Consultation with 35 financial aid administrators and scholarship coordinators
- Review of over 1,200 successful and unsuccessful Tiger Scholarship applications
The research was presented at the 2024 National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) Conference and is forthcoming in the Journal of Student Financial Aid.
