Scholarships & Assistantships

Awards for undergraduate music talent scholarships and graduate assistantships, and tuition waivers are determined in March prior to enrollment at Cleveland State.

Undergraduate Music Talent Scholarships

The School of Music offers talent-based music scholarships to qualified incoming freshmen, transfer students, and current students, regardless of major, in return for participation in School of Music ensembles. Applicants must demonstrate a high level of achievement in their performance at the audition. Competition for the Music Talent Scholarship is keen. For best consideration, you should audition no later than March 15, prior to your anticipated enrollment at Cleveland State.

Talent scholarships may be applied as payment to cover tuition and fees, with the exception of applied music fees. Questions about the Music Talent Scholarship should be directed to Kate Bill in the School of Music/Admissions at 216-687-5039 or music@csuohio.edu.

Graduate Assistantships, Stipends & Tuition Waivers

For qualified graduate students, the School of Music offers graduate assistantships, stipends, and tuition waivers in the following areas: accompanying, composition, departmental support, computer lab, music education, music history, and music performance. In order to qualify for these funds, students must be accepted as regular degree-seeking graduate students and must have a cumulative 3.0 grade point average.

Awards are determined based on availability each academic year. Tuition grants are for one to eight credits. The deadline to apply for a graduate assistantship or tuition grant is March 15 prior to your anticipated enrollment at Cleveland State. Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Victor Liva, v.liva@csuohio.edu, Coordinator of Graduate Studies.

School of Music Endowed Scholarships

Awarded by the School of Music Faculty

Bettie Allen Dorsey Music Scholarship - Awarded on an annual basis. Amount of award varies annually. Recipient/s must be piano and/or voice majors in the CSU School of Music - Preference will be given to physically challenged students. In the absence of student's meeting this criterion, recipients may be students with demonstrated financial need, as determined by the appropriate University officials. Recipients must be students at CSU working towards an undergraduate degree. This award is renewable for each of four years of undergraduate study at CSU. Qualified Candidates must be accepted to Cleveland State University and the Department of Music.

Janice A. Holkenborg Endowed Scholarship in Music - Awarded on an annual basis. Amount of award varies annually. Must be currently enrolled at or admitted to attend CSU as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student. Must be pursuing a major in the Music Department with a preference for studying a wind instrument. Must demonstrate successful academic performance with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Financial need may be considered. Scholarship is renewable and students may receive for a maximum of two years. Student holding the scholarship in one year shall have preference in subsequent years.

W. Benoy Joseph Endowed Scholarship for Music and Theatre – amount varies annually.

This scholarship will be awarded in the fall semester to a senior. The scholarship will alternate between Theatre (even years) and Music (odd years). The Scholarship will be given during the fall semester to a recipient who represents the following: Undergraduate senior majoring in music or theatre within two semesters of graduation. Has demonstrated financial need. Has a minimum 2.5 GPA. Strong preference for a student pursuing a career interest in the marketing or management of the Arts. Next available for Music in Fall 2025.

Bain Murray Award for Music Composition – Amount varies annually. The recipient must be a student studying music composition at CSU. No application process. Eligibility is determined and recipients are selected by a faculty committee.

Leonard and Joan Terr Ronis Memorial Scholarship – Amount varies annually. The recipient must be a student studying piano at CSU. The student need not be majoring (or minoring) in piano, and the student need not be a member of Mu Phi Epsilon. Awarded on the basis of talent, effort, demonstrated improvement and active performance. No application process. Eligibility is determined and recipients are selected by a selection committee.

WMMS Scholarship in Music Fund - Amount varies annually. Qualified Candidates must be accepted to Cleveland State University and the School of Music. No application process. Eligibility is determined and recipients are selected by a faculty committee.

William R. Martin Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Voice – Amount varies annually. Recipients must be currently enrolled at or admitted to the university and must be studying voice in the School of Music, with a strong preference for a vocal performance major. Applicants must demonstrate successful academic performance with a minimum 3.0 University GPA. Financial need may be considered. The Martin Scholarship is renewable for up to two years. No application process. Eligibility is determined and recipients are selected by a faculty committee.

Nancy W. McCann Endowed Music Scholarship – Amount varies annually. The Nancy W. McCann Endowed Music Scholarship will be awarded by the Director of the School of Music, in consultation with the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Office of Financial Aid, in accordance with University policy, subject to the following criteria: Recipients must be currently enrolled as either a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in the School of Music with the goal of obtaining his or her degree from the University. Preference will be given to applicants who show talent/potential in the classroom and in performance; and financial need may be considered in awarding the scholarship. No application process.

George Yunis Future Rock Star Scholarship – Amount varies annually. The George Yunis Future Rock Star Scholarship shall provide financial assistance to university students, specifically to talented Cleveland area students who wish to pursue an academic route toward a career in the rock music industry. The funds will assist one incoming first year college student each year with a scholarship of $2,500 per year and shall be applied to the cost of tuition. Eligible recipients in accordance with university policy, subject to the following criteria: Recipients must be in good academic standing, be enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, and be pursuing an undergraduate degree in Rock and Popular Music at the CSU School of Music. The scholarship may be renewed for as long as the recipients meet the eligibility criteria. Recipients must demonstrate financial need. Eligibility is determined and recipients are selected by a faculty committee.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKzeie37WGM

Dr. Judith A. Eckelmeyer Endowed Graduate Scholarship in Music – Amount varies annually. Candidates for the Scholarship shall be currently enrolled at or admitted to the University as a Graduate student in Music. Candidates must be pursuing a Master's degree in the Music Department and enroll as a full-time student (8 credit hours per semester) in the terms in which they receive the Scholarship. Financial need shall be a criterion for determining a recipient of the Scholarship. Candidates must initially demonstrate a strong academic record by having earned a minimum grade point average of 3.2 grade point average from an accredited undergraduate institution in the U.S.; recipients of the Scholarship must earn a minimum grade point average of 3.2 in terms for which they receive the Scholarship. The Eckelmeyer Scholarship is renewable. Students may receive the Scholarship for a maximum of two years. A recipient of the Scholarship in one year shall have preference in subsequent years.

Questions about Endowed Music Scholarships may be directed to Kate Bill, 216-687-5039 or m.c.bill@csuohio.edu.