Five-Star Character Scholarship

Kindness goes places. Your rideshare rider rating could help you earn up to $5,000 per term — up to $15,000 per year — at USV. No essay required.

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Good Character. Real Opportunity.

Where else in everyday life do people regularly rate how you treat them? In rideshare, drivers rate riders. The Five-Star Character Scholarship recognizes the kindness, courtesy, and even temperament reflected in those everyday interactions — and helps you bring those qualities to your future at the University of Silicon Valley.

Program Overview

This institutional merit scholarship is for admitted students with a rideshare rider rating of 4.90 or higher across at least 50 rides. It’s for passengers, not drivers. Awards are based only on your rider rating and GPA — with no essay required.

Award Structure

Your rating determines your award tier. Your rating and GPA together determine your actual award, which may be below the tier maximum. Awards are paid per term for up to three terms per year and are set once at admission, not recalculated each term.

Tier	Current Rating	Maximum per Term	Maximum per Year (3 Terms)
Five-Star	4.98–5.00	$5,000	$15,000
Platinum	4.95–4.97	$3,500	$10,500
Gold	4.90–4.94	$2,000	$6,000

Tier	Current Rating	Maximum per Term	Maximum per Year (3 Terms)
Five-Star	4.98–5.00	$5,000	$15,000
Platinum	4.95–4.97	$3,500	$10,500
Gold	4.90–4.94	$2,000	$6,000

Master’s & Professional Certificate Students:

Students in master’s programs and professional certificate programs receive 50% of the undergraduate award amounts.

Renewal Requirements:

Maintain a 3.0 GPA, full-time enrollment, and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to renew your award.

Award Limits:

Total institutional aid may not exceed your cost of attendance.

Compliance Note:

USV will verify your rider rating, ride count, academic record, and enrollment during the admissions process before confirming your award.

Verification During Admissions

Self-report your rideshare passenger rating, ride count, and most recent GPA in this scholarship form. A rating of at least 4.90 and at least 50 rides are required. No screenshot or transcript is needed here. USV will verify your rating, ride count, and academic record later during the admissions process. Driver ratings and delivery work do not qualify.

What You’ll Need

Have the following information ready for scholarship consideration:

Your rideshare platform and rider account information

A self-reported rider rating of at least 4.90

A record of at least 50 rides as a passenger

Self-reported most recent GPA — no transcript needed for this form

Your rideshare platform and rider account information

A self-reported rider rating of at least 4.90

A record of at least 50 rides as a passenger

Self-reported most recent GPA — no transcript needed for this form

Your rideshare platform and rider account information

A self-reported rider rating of at least 4.90

A record of at least 50 rides as a passenger

Self-reported most recent GPA — no transcript needed for this form

No essay or personal statement is required for this scholarship.

Application Requirements

Self-Reported Rider Information

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A rideshare rider rating of 4.90 or higher

•

At least 50 rides as a passenger

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A rideshare rider rating of 4.90 or higher

•

At least 50 rides as a passenger

Standard Application Materials

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USV admission application and admission to the university

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First-year applicants submit high school transcripts with their USV admission application, not this form

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Transfer and master’s applicants submit college transcripts with their USV admission application, not this form

•

USV admission application and admission to the university

•

First-year applicants submit high school transcripts with their USV admission application, not this form

•

Transfer and master’s applicants submit college transcripts with their USV admission application, not this form

Eligibility

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Open to admitted first-year, transfer, master’s, and professional certificate students

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Rideshare rider rating of at least 4.90 — passenger ratings, not driver ratings

•

At least 50 rides as a passenger

•

Full-time enrollment and Satisfactory Academic Progress required

•

Open to admitted first-year, transfer, master’s, and professional certificate students

•

Rideshare rider rating of at least 4.90 — passenger ratings, not driver ratings

•

At least 50 rides as a passenger

•

Full-time enrollment and Satisfactory Academic Progress required

Frequently Asked Questions

Scholarship Application

Step 1 of 3

Your Rider Rating

Self-report your passenger rating and ride count. No screenshot is needed here. USV will verify your information later during the admissions process.

Rideshare Platform*

Enter the rideshare service shown in your passenger account. Driver and delivery ratings do not qualify.