Best Colleges for 3.5 GPA + 24 ACT Merit Aid

UA Recognition Scholarship (Alabama residents)

$4,000/year

Alabama residents only. Entry tier of the in-state automatic ladder. Two qualifying bands: 3.0–3.49 GPA with a 25 ACT, or 3.5+ GPA with a 24 ACT.

Renewable: Renewable for up to 8 semesters with a cumulative 3.0 UA GPA AND completion of at least 67% of cumulative UA credit hours attempted

Non-Resident Merit Award

$40,000 total ($10,000/year × 4 years)

Entry tier of OU's non-resident automatic merit ladder for Fall 2026.

Renewable: Renewable with a 3.0 cumulative GPA, full-time enrollment, and 24 credit hours per academic year

1848 Award (Mississippi resident supplement)

$2,000/year at 3.5 GPA + 23–28 ACT; $4,000/year at 3.5 GPA + 29+ ACT

Designed to push the total resident award upward for 3.5+ GPA students. Combined with Academic Merit, top-band residents (33+ ACT, 3.5 GPA) hit $13,990/yr in total automatic aid.

Renewable: Renewable with the underlying Academic Merit Scholarship

Freshman Academic Excellence Scholarship (Mississippi residents)

$1,000–$10,500/year based on HS GPA × ACT grid (see notes for full chart)

Full 2025-2026 resident chart by HS GPA × ACT band. 3.0–3.29 GPA: 21–24 ACT = $1,000/yr; 25–29 ACT = $2,000; 30–32 ACT = $3,000; 33–36 ACT = $4,000. 3.30–3.59 GPA: 21–24 ACT = $1,500; 25–29 ACT = $2,500; 30–32 ACT = $5,000; 33–36 ACT = $6,000. 3.6+ GPA: 21–24 ACT = $3,500; 25–29 ACT = $5,000; 30–32 ACT = $8,000; 33–36 ACT = $10,500. Students scoring 34+ ACT (or SAT equivalent) additionally receive a one-year scholarship valued at the cost of their portion of a double-occupancy residence hall room on top of the FAES amount.

Renewable: Renewable for up to 8 semesters with a 3.0 cumulative college GPA and continuous full-time enrollment (12 credit hours per semester at MSU)

In-State University Assured Academic Excellence Award

$750/year at the GPA-only floor up to $3,000/year at 3.75+ GPA with 32+ ACT / 1420+ SAT. See notes for the full grid.

Full 2026-27 resident grid by HS GPA × test-score band. 3.75–4.0+ GPA: 24–25 ACT = $2,000/yr; 26–27 ACT = $2,250/yr; 28–29 ACT = $2,500/yr; 30–31 ACT = $2,750/yr; 32–36 ACT = $3,000/yr. 3.5–3.74 GPA: 24–25 ACT = $1,500/yr; 26–27 ACT = $1,750/yr; 28–29 ACT = $2,000/yr; 30–31 ACT = $2,250/yr; 32–36 ACT = $2,500/yr. 3.0–3.49 GPA: 24–25 ACT = $1,000/yr; 26–27 ACT = $1,250/yr; 28–29 ACT = $1,500/yr; 30–31 ACT = $1,750/yr; 32–36 ACT = $2,000/yr. GPA-only alternative: 3.5–4.0+ GPA without a test score = $1,000/yr; 3.25–3.49 GPA without a test score = $750/yr. Students may also receive a $250 or $500/year unmet-need bonus on top of the grid award based on FAFSA need level.

Renewable: 4-year partial tuition waiver. Renewal subject to the published GPA and full-time enrollment terms.

Arizona Tuition Award (non-resident)

$4,000–$20,000 per academic year range. Comprised of the Arizona Excellence Tuition Award and Arizona Distinction Tuition Award subtiers, which are not separately priced cell-by-cell on Arizona's published terms and conditions.

The Arizona Tuition Award is published as a $4,000–$20,000/year range, not a cell-by-cell GPA × test grid. Awards are comprised of Arizona Excellence and Arizona Distinction components that are combined at award time. The November 1 Early Action deadline is the priority window for maximum consideration. 2026-27 program names are confirmed but dollar amounts are not yet published; 2025-26 figures above should be used for modeling until Arizona publishes the new cycle.

Renewable: 8 consecutive semesters (fall + spring only). Initial offers are based on self-reported grades at admission; final awards are finalized after admissions grade verification.

AU Merit-Based Scholarships (President's / Founder's / Provost's / Dean's / AU Grant)

$12,000-$18,000

FAQ confirms: 'Each incoming freshman is automatically awarded the highest level of our merit-based scholarships that he or she qualifies for' and 'you do not need to apply for these.' Only ONE of the five awards may be received.

Renewable: Scholarships for first-time freshmen are renewable for up to 8 consecutive semesters of full-time undergraduate AU enrollment (12 or more credits each semester). Student must meet SAP to renew these awards.

Out Of State Scholarship

Amount not published

Renewable

First-Time Student Academic Scholarship (5-level grid)

$1,000-$12,000/year

Award amounts may be reduced based on funding availability. Levels 4 and 5 require on-campus housing for the FULL amount (off-campus students receive the reduced figure). Only one Academic Scholarship may be received per semester.

Renewable: Renewable for seven consecutive semesters after the first (or until degree completion), provided renewal requirements are met; awarded as funds remain available. Scholarships are for consecutive fall/spring terms only (not summer) and must be used the fall semester following high school graduation.

Achievement Scholarship

$5,000 per year ($20,000 over 4 years)

Automatic, non-competitive grid tier. No separate application. Does not stack with other grid tiers.

Renewable: Renewable for up to four years contingent on full-time enrollment and a maintained minimum cumulative institution GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Dean's Scholarship for First-Year Students

$15,000-$17,000 per year

Middle automatic academic tier for a 2.75+ GPA with a 20+ ACT. $5,000 of the award goes toward campus housing.

Renewable: Renewable up to 5 years (or 10 semesters) if the student is full-time and maintains satisfactory academic progress.

Dean's Scholarship

$14,000 per year

Renewable: Renewable automatically for up to five years with Satisfactory Academic Progress (Fall 2026 and later).

Trustee's Scholarship

Starts at $20,000/year

Amount from the front-facing freshman tuition-aid grid (the published entry-level automatic award). Affordable-Choice page corroborates the band: 'Accepted first-year students receive between $10,000 to $30,000 in academic scholarships.' Institutional-scholarships policy page lists a Trustee's tier at weighted core GPA 3.0, ACT 22/SAT 1100, 'amounts vary' — conflict noted in Section C.

Renewable: Renewable for three years for full-time students who maintain the cumulative GPA designated for the scholarship.

Coastal Scholar Award

$3,000 per year (in-state) / $7,500 per year (out-of-state)

Part of the automatic freshman merit grid.

Renewable: Renewable up to four continuous years (eight semesters); 30 credits and 3.0 CCU cumulative GPA per year, full-time enrollment required.

Promising Scholar (Automatic Merit)

$3,000 per year

Automatic for first-time freshmen; no separate application. Submit application, transcripts, and ACT/SAT scores (if applicable) by May 1. Cannot be combined with other institutional scholarships except the First Generation Scholarship.

Renewable: Renewal GPA (CSU Pueblo): 3.0. Renewable up to 3 additional years with the GPA above and full-time enrollment.

Excellence Scholarships

$13,000-$19,000

Annual values $13,000-$19,000 ($49,000-$73,000 over four years). Amounts shown are for students enrolling for the first time in Fall 2026 (the 2026-27 grid for Fall 2026-27 entry was not posted at access time; see Section C). Scholarship levels are NOT reevaluated after a comprehensive financial aid package is received.

Renewable: Catalog: merit/performance scholarships may be funded 'for a maximum of eight consecutive semesters or until graduation, whichever comes first, provided the student meets the necessary renewal criteria and Satisfactory Academic Progress guidelines.' Institutional scholarships require full-time enrollment (minimum 12 credits) and are only available fall and spring semesters.

Shield Scholarship

$15,000

Numbers given are the AVERAGE recipient profile, not a published cutoff.

Renewable: Renewal GPA/terms not stated on the scholarships & aid page.

Dean's Scholarship

$10,000

$10,000 per year. First tier reachable without test scores (3.6+ GPA test-optional). Amounts are yearly disbursements at full-time enrollment (12+ credit hours) and 'reviewed and subject to change annually.'

Renewable: Per-page renewal differs by path: the grid says students admitted without ACT/SAT must 'Maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher while enrolled at DU'; the Scholarship/Grant Agreement lists Dean's renewal as 3.00 GPA / 24 hrs.: 'Dean's Scholarship (3.00/24 hrs.)'. Earn at least 24 semester hours per year. Supports up to eight semesters.

New Mexico Freshman Academic Scholarship (In-State grid)

$2,600-$5,400 per academic year

Automatic stat-based grid (no separate scholarship application stated; reviewed from the admission file). Award and renewal length vary by ACT/SAT/GPA tier.

Renewable: May be renewed for a total of two or eight consecutive semesters with 3.0 GPA and 15 credit hours each semester. Top stat tiers renew up to four years; the lowest tiers (3.0-3.49 GPA or 20-21 ACT/1030-1090 SAT) renew the FIRST YEAR only.

Freshman Presidential Scholarship

$1,250-$3,000 per year

Automatic on stats. Award is the higher qualifying band of GPA OR ACT. Amounts shown are per year. Official transcripts must be received by the 20th day of the start semester.

Renewable: Renewable for three years after the first academic year when the student maintains a 3.0 or higher ESU GPA and completes 24 ESU credit hours each year. Spring-entry freshmen get half the award in spring and may renew for seven additional semesters.

Academic Distinction Award (Automatic Minimum)

Minimum $1,000 per year

Awarded automatically to accepted SC resident first-time freshmen who meet all three criteria. Merit-based scholarships are awarded in rounds; higher amounts are given in earlier rounds. Early application is strongly encouraged. The $1,000 is stated as the minimum; actual award may be higher depending on application timing and competition.

Renewable: Competitive academic scholarships are renewable; specific renewal GPA for this tier not published on the page. General university scholarship renewal terms referenced in award letter: limits on total scholarships/grants may apply per a signed Terms & Conditions form.

Merit Scholarships

$4,000-$12,000 per year

Headline on the page reads 'MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS (up to $12,000 annually)'; body states range $4,000-$12,000. A January 2024 FHU news article gives an older range of $3,000-$11,000 — superseded by the current page. Subject to a $15,000/yr institutional cap on total unfunded institutional aid.

Renewable: First-time freshmen and students who transfer fewer than 30 hours must maintain at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA during the first academic year; upperclassmen and students who transfer more than 30 hours must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Reviewed after each semester.

Academic Achievement Scholarship — In-State (Graduates of Louisiana High School)

$3,000-$7,683/year; top tier (28+ ACT/3.5 GPA) adds Traditional Dorm charges if on campus (page shows combined totals with TOPS of $8,539.75-$13,622.75/year)

If the 28+ ACT student resides off campus, the scholarship amount is $7,683 (the dorm-charge component applies only on campus). TOPS column is shown for illustration; TOPS eligibility is determined by LOSFA, not Grambling. Renewal requirements are not published on the page.

Renewable

Hampton University Merit Scholarship

$10,000-$25,000 per academic year

Automatic on stats: no separate scholarship application is required if the completed admission application is submitted by the Nov. 15 Early Action deadline. The deciding factor in the award amount is the standardized test score, so test-optional applicants are excluded from merit consideration. Hampton states it no longer uses named tiers (Trustee, Presidential, etc.).

Renewable: Renewable for three consecutive years beyond the first year, provided the student attains a cumulative 3.0 grade point average by the end of the spring semester each academic year.

Gamecock Advantage (Test Score + GPA)

$2,000/year

Only one GPA band published: GPA 2.00–2.49 = $2,000/yr ($8,000/4yr). Higher GPAs not listed in this test-score tier (would qualify for GPA-only tiers at higher amounts).

Renewable: Renewable for 8 semesters (4 years); must earn 24 institutional credit hours per academic year and maintain the institutional GPA listed in the scholarship contract; must be enrolled full-time (12+ hours) each semester; no summer terms.

Assured Merit Award (first-time students)

$6,000-$13,000 per year

Fully automatic. You may receive only one Assured Merit Award and JBU automatically awards the highest amount for which you qualify. The published grid: 3.8-3.89 GPA / 28 ACT / 1300-1320 SAT / 93-94 CLT = $13,000; 3.7-3.79 / 27 / 1260-1290 / 89-91 = $12,000; 3.6-3.69 / 26 / 1230-1250 / 86-88 = $10,000; 3.4-3.59 / 24-25 / 1160-1220 / 79-85 = $8,000; 3.2-3.39 / 21-23 / 1090-1150 / 67-78 = $7,000; 3.0-3.19 / 20 / 1020-1080 / 63-66 = $6,000. The 3.9+ / 29+ / 1330+ / 95+ row is 'Invited to Scholarship Competition' rather than a dollar amount (see Chancellor's/Presidential tiers).

Renewable: Academic scholarships are renewable for up to eight semesters so long as you maintain a 3.0 GPA.

Wildcat Traditions Scholarship (Kansas resident)

$2,500/year ($10,000 total)

Mid-tier Kansas resident award; the 3.50-3.69 GPA row earns Wildcat Traditions across the 22-24, 25-28, and 29+ test columns.

Renewable: Renewable up to three additional years (four years, eight semesters total) with a minimum K-State cumulative 3.0 GPA, continuous full-time enrollment, and 24 K-State credit hours per year.

Provost's Award — In-State

$3,000/year

SAT range shown as '1100-1220+' on the page. Grid labeled '2025-2026 Requirements' — stale-risk flag.

Renewable: Must maintain cumulative 3.0 GPA and complete 24 semester hours per academic year. Renewable up to four years.

Dean's Scholarship (general merit)

Starts at $5,000 per year

Middle tier of Lee's general merit scholarship. Page says it 'starts at $5,000' — the cited 24 ACT / 3.3 GPA are the AVERAGE recipient profile, not a hard cutoff Lee publishes. The award is set by the admissions/aid review of GPA + test score, not a published grid.

Renewable: Renewable for a maximum of four years or eight semesters; requires a minimum 3.0 cumulative college GPA and continuous full-time enrollment.

Purple And Gold

$2,000

One-time award

Deans Achievement Scholarships

Up to $15,000

Renewable: Maintain 2.7 GPA

Presidential Scholarship

$3,000

One-time award

Merit Scholarship Program — middle tier (in-state)

$1,500 per year

Automatic, earned at admittance; no separate application. Same renewal terms (3.25 GPA, full-time) as the other Merit Scholarship tiers.

Renewable: Renewable for all four years of the degree if a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 and full-time status are maintained.

SOAR Higher Scholarship (West Virginia Students)

Full tuition

Full tuition for WV students with 3.0 GPA and 21 ACT. Labeled 'Automatic' on page. Full tuition = $10,192/yr (2025-26 in-state rate, but WV students pay out-of-state; confirm whether full out-of-state tuition or equivalent — page says 'Full tuition' without specifying in/out rate).

Renewable: Scholarships require on-campus housing for a minimum of 4 semesters (WV section note). 50% reduction if housing requirement not met. Must be enrolled full-time.

Out-of-State Competitive Tuition Discount (Freshman)

Up to $18,326/year toward reducing non-resident tuition

This is a tuition discount (reduces non-resident tuition), not a cash stipend. Can stack with a merit scholarship (e.g., 1888 + this discount = $20,326 in aid). Limited availability.

Renewable: 3.5 cumulative GPA and pass 30 new credits per academic year. Must enroll in, and attempt, 15 new Las Cruces campus credits per semester.

NGU Academic Scholarships (Founder's / President's / Dean's)

$5,000-$12,000

Explicitly automatic: 'You don't need to apply for academic scholarships; just apply to NGU! These scholarships are automatically awarded if you qualify.' Grid is labeled 2026-2027.

Renewable: Merit scholarships are renewable for up to four years while student maintains required GPA: Founder's and President's require maintaining a 3.0; Dean's requires maintaining a 2.75.

WolfPACT unleashed — ACT 24-27 / SAT 1160-1290 grid

$7,000-$9,000 total over four years

Renewable: Same WolfPACT policies (3.0 GPA; suspension/reinstatement; 8 semesters; transfer cancellation).

Admission-Based Freshman Scholarships (Merit-Based Scholarship Chart: Provost, Dean's, Distinguished, Academic Excellence, University Scholar, Northwest Merit)

$1,000-$6,000

Provost Scholar/Dean's Scholar/etc. are mutually exclusive awards (only one). Mutually exclusive with President's Scholarship.

Renewable: Renewable to those who initially received the award as a freshman; per-tier Northwest cumulative GPA (2.75–3.50) and completion of 24 credit hours per academic year; maximum award within 4 consecutive academic years.

NNU Merit Scholarship (Fall 2026 automatic grid)

$14,000-$22,000 per year

Award is set by high-school GPA. Test scores are NOT required for the $14,000-$20,000 tiers; only the top $22,000 tier lists '4.0+ and 1100 SAT or 22 ACT'. Bands: 4.0+ and 1100 SAT or 22 ACT = $22,000; 3.8+ = $20,000; 3.7-3.79 = $18,000; 3.5-3.69 = $17,000; 3.3-3.49 = $15,000; 3.0-3.29 = $14,000. Students below 3.0 still qualify for a merit scholarship per the page note.

Renewable: Merit Scholarships are renewable as long as the student is academically eligible; the financial-aid page states renewal is based on maintaining an NNU cumulative GPA of at least 2.5.

GOLD — Prestige 2

$5,000 per semester / $10,000 per year / $40,000 total over 4 years

GOLD (test-based) tier; requires both GPA and the ACT/SAT score shown.

Renewable: Tier 1 renewal: 2.5 GPA (year 2), 2.75 GPA (year 3), 3.0 GPA (year 4); full-time status required; maximum four consecutive academic years.

Trustee's Academic

$17,000 per year ($68,000 over four years)

Awarded automatically based on academic stats; no separate application beyond admission.

Renewable: Renewable provided the student maintains a 2.0 College GPA.

Great Gorilla Scholarship Freshman

$1,000–$4,000

One-time award

Bresee Scholarship

$12,000 per year

Lowest tier of the freshman merit grid; awarded automatically on the transcript at admission, no separate application.

Renewable: Renewable for a maximum of eight (8) semesters subject to a cumulative-GPA renewal rule and continuous full-time enrollment (12+ units/semester). Exact renewal cumulative GPA for this tier to be confirmed (see Section C).

Presidential Academic Scholarship

$11,400.00 per year

Flat $11,400.00/year cash-value academic scholarship; the next tier below the Regents' award. All admitted students meeting the criteria are automatically considered (no separate application stated for the university academic scholarships), but availability is limited and awards are made based on admission date and competitiveness, so applying early matters.

Renewable: Renewable up to four years (eight semesters) provided the student earns 30 semester credit hours per academic year with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (fall and spring semesters only; summer coursework cannot be used to meet the credit load or GPA renewal requirements). Presidential scholars do not have to reside on campus to receive the scholarship.

Presidential Scholarship

Up to $26,000

Official Rollins Academic Scholarships snapshot lists Presidential Scholarships: up to 6,000/year, academic performance plus service/involvement, SAT >1180 or ACT >24 with GPA >3.0, test-optional GPA >3.5, transfer GPA >3.4, renewable with 2.8 GPA and 24 hours each year.

Renewable: Maintain 2.8 GPA; 24 credits/year

The Southeastern Honors Scholarship (fees award + housing supplement)

$2,500-$4,000/year scholarship + $1,000-$3,000/year housing supplement (by ACT tier)

Page states Southeastern 'automatically awards freshman scholarships based on a six-semester high school GPA and ACT/SAT scores' — marked automatic, though awards are 'on a funds available basis, subject to change.' The award is described as going toward university fees plus a housing supplement.

Renewable: All scholarships are awarded for eight continuous semesters provided retention requirements are met. (Specific retention GPA/credit requirements are not published on this page.) Housing supplements are only available to students who continuously live on campus beginning with their first semester of enrollment.

Academic Scholarship Grid (Presidential Distinguished, Presidential, Blue and Gold Excellence, SAU Success, Scholastic Merit, Achievement Award)

$2,000-$12,000

Presidential Distinguished pays $12,000/yr if living on campus or $11,000/yr if living off campus. Top tiers require BOTH GPA and ACT/SAT; lower tiers (Blue and Gold and below) accept ACT/SAT OR GPA. University academic scholarships are NOT stackable.

Renewable: 8 semesters. Retention (excluding AR Academic Challenge and Art/Music/Theatre): complete 27 hours with a 2.75 GPA by end of first spring, then 30 hours with a 2.75 cumulative each year; enroll in minimum 15 hours each semester; minimum 2.25 cumulative GPA at end of each fall to continue the following semester.

Presidential Scholarship

$2,500, $1,500, $750, or $500 per year

Automatic on stats: a 24 ACT OR a 2.6+ HS GPA qualifies. The page does not publish which GPA/ACT bands map to which of the four dollar amounts, so the specific tier a student receives is not knowable in advance from the official page.

Renewable: Renewable for up to four years pending SCSU GPA and course completion. The exact renewal GPA and credit-completion threshold are not published on the page.

Tiger Academic Achievement Merit Scholarship — Tier One (2025-2026 grid)

$3,000 (in-state) / $6,000 (out-of-state)

From the 2025-2026 institutional merit page (a separate, prior-year scholarship structure). Included for the explicit dollar amounts and the in-state vs out-of-state doubling pattern. The Fall 2026 scholarships page reorganizes these into the named tiers above — confirm which structure applies to the applicant's entry year.

Renewable: Renewal terms not stated for this specific stipend on the 2025-2026 institutional page; general merit renewal rules (full-time, 15 credit hours, minimum cumulative GPA) apply.

2026-2027 Institutional Scholarships (Presidential, Achieve, Islander)

$1,500-$4,000

Each tier qualifies via weighted GPA + class rank OR weighted GPA + test score. Presidential: $4,000/yr ($16,000 total); Achieve: $3,000/yr ($12,000); Islander: $1,500/yr ($6,000). Available to TX residents and non-residents (non-residents only if funds available). FAFSA is required.

Renewable: Maintain at least a 3.0 overall GPA at end of each academic year; complete 12 credit hours each Fall and Spring AND 30 TAMU-CC credit hours each academic year (fall, spring, summer); no break in enrollment; up to eight consecutive (fall/spring) semesters.

SC LIFE Scholarship (SC state portable)

$5,000/year (up to $7,500/year with STEM Enhancement)

STEM Enhancement majors: computer science, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, biology, mathematics, chemistry, physics. COA-cap stacking rule applies.

Renewable: Available up to 8 semesters. Upperclass renewal requires 30 credit hours/year and cumulative 3.0 'LIFE GPA' (all post-secondary institutions). Annual LIFE GPA evaluated at end of each summer. Must complete The Citadel's LIFE Scholarship Affidavit. SC residents only.

Speicher Scholarship

$10,000

One-time award

TruMerit Scholarship

$2,000-$10,000 per year

Truman publishes SEPARATE Missouri-resident and Out-of-State TruMerit charts (GPA × test). The live chart is an image (truman.edu/?da_image=186579) that could not be OCR'd; the live table states the overall range as $2,000-$10,000. An older 2020-21 PDF showed Missouri tiers of $2,000/$3,000/$4,000 and Out-of-State tiers of $3,500/$5,000/$7,000/$8,000 — STALE, not used as current. Out-of-State TruMerit assists with the out-of-state tuition portion and cannot be combined with other out-of-state-portion awards.

Renewable: Renewable per Scholarship Renewal Guidelines (SAP-based). Truman continues updating the TruMerit award through the June test date of senior year as GPA / ACT-SAT improve.

University Achievement Scholarship

$10,000

Third tier of the published freshman grid; flat $10,000 award (not full tuition).

Renewable: Renewal CGPA/credit attainment listed as 3.0/30 — maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA and earn 30 Tuskegee University credits within Fall and Spring each academic year.

Provost's Scholarship (2025 Freshman Academic Award)

$15,000 per year on campus / $11,000 per year off campus

Stated amount, awarded automatically on test score + GPA for Fall 2025 entrants.

Renewable: Renewable each year if eligibility requirements are met; undergrad SAP floor is a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Green And Gold Scholarship In State

$5,000

Official UAB in-state freshman scholarships snapshot lists Green & Gold Scholarship rows for 24-26 ACT/1160-1250 SAT with GPA 3.5+ and 27-29 ACT/1260-1350 SAT with GPA 3.0-3.49, each at $5,000 annually.

Renewable

Freshman Out-of-State Academic Scholarship (non-Alabama & U.S.-residing international) — GPA × ACT/SAT grid

$5,000-$22,000 per year

Fully automatic — no separate scholarship application. Lowest band (3.0-3.49) requires a test score; the test-optional column for that GPA band is blank (no award). Updated transcripts/scores received after May 15, 2026 are not considered for an upgrade.

Renewable: Four-year award (up to eight fall/spring semesters). Renew by enrolling full-time, maintaining a minimum cumulative UAH GPA of 2.5 at the end of each spring semester, and completing at least 24 UAH credit hours per academic year.

Freshman Merit Scholarships (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Lion Pride)

$1,000-$6,000

Each tier qualifies on ACT OR GPA (Platinum requires 30 ACT AND 4.0 GPA, OR Valedictorian). All amounts are 'up to' per year, PLUS up to a $1,500 housing stipend. Platinum up to $6,000; Gold up to $4,000; Silver up to $3,000; Bronze up to $2,000; Lion Pride up to $1,000.

Renewable: Four years or degree completion; enroll in 12 credit hours/semester and earn 24 hours/academic year; 3.0 GPA for Platinum/Gold/Silver and 2.5 GPA for Bronze/Lion Pride; summer may be used to meet renewal. Housing stipend valid for Lion's Den housing up to four years.

Freshman Academic Achievement Scholarship (automatic merit grid)

$28,000-$36,000

Automatic at admission, completely funded by UDallas, no additional application. Amounts are for students starting fall 2026 or later. Tuition-directed (see stacking).

Renewable: Requires full-time enrollment (12+ credits/semester) and Satisfactory Academic Progress; a 2.5 cumulative GPA is required by the end of sophomore year. GPAs of 2.0-2.4999 are prorated to 50%; below 2.0 the award is suspended.

Academic Merit Scholarship (Fall 2026 Freshman Grid)

$18,000-$30,000

Awarded automatically at the time of admission based on academic credentials; no separate scholarship application is described.

Renewable: Awards are renewable for up to three additional years provided the student continues to meet renewal criteria. Amounts remain the same value in subsequent years.

Automatic Merit Scholarships (First-Year) — GPA/Test Grid

$18,500-$25,000

Full 2026-27 first-year grid (verbatim below). Highest qualifying amount is applied; GPA-only path tops out at the Faculty/Merit tiers when no test score is used.

Renewable: Renewal terms not specified on the scholarships page (the grid lists annual award amounts).

In-State Merit Scholarships (Residential vs Commuter)

$500-$8,000 per year

Full grid (Residential / Commuter): Collegiate (4.00, 1400/30) $8,000/$2,000; Presidential (4.00, 1300/27) $6,000/$2,000; Provost (3.60, 1200/25) $4,000/$1,500; Eagle (3.25, 1100/22) $3,000/$1,000; Blue & Gray (3.00, 1000/20) $2,000/$500.

Renewable: Renewal terms not stated on this page.

Academic Recognition Scholarship

$4,500

One-time award

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

150% of in-state tuition rate

Stackable: Yes. Charges 150% of the in-state tuition rate (far below the standard nonresident rate). Residency-restricted to WUE western states/territories.

Renewable: Renewable up to 135 attempted credits with a cumulative 2.00 GPA; full-time each semester.

Nevada Resident Four-Year Scholarship Grid (Presidential / Provost / Nevada Scholars / Pack Pride / Alphie / Luna)

$750-$8,000

Award level is set automatically by an unweighted-GPA x test-score grid. Eligible students receive ONE of these awards. Transfer students are not eligible for the in-state renewable scholarships.

Renewable: Per year for up to four consecutive years or graduation, whichever is first. Maintain Nevada residency, meet federal SAP, complete 15 credits each fall/spring. Cumulative UNR GPA to maintain: Presidential 3.5, Provost 3.2, Nevada Scholars 2.9, Pack Pride 2.8, Alphie 2.8, Luna 2.8. GPA enforcement begins start of second year.

Amigo Scholarship (Non-Resident)

Approximately $23,149 per year, plus a $200 per year stipend

UNM's flagship out-of-state award: it waives non-resident tuition down to (roughly) the resident rate, so the ~$23,149 figure is the value of the out-of-state tuition reduction, not a cash check. Automatic on the published GPA/test stats. Non-resident National Scholars and Regents' winners also receive the Amigo waiver to cover out-of-state tuition.

Renewable: Renewable for 4 years (freshman). Complete 15 new credit hours with a 2.5 GPA each semester (fall and spring semesters).

Academic Awards (GPA × ACT grid)

$2,000-$8,500

GPA 3.00-3.50: ACT 20-21 $2,000; 22-23 $2,750; 24-25 $4,000; 26-27 $6,000; 28-29 $7,500. GPA 3.51-4.00: 20-21 $2,500; 22-23 $3,000; 24-25 $5,500; 26-27 $8,000; 28-29 $8,500. ACT below 20 with 3.0+ GPA: apply via General & Endowed application. 2026 amounts subject to final funding October 1, 2025.

Renewable: Awarded annually; renewal criteria not detailed on this page. No refunds on Academic or Presidential Scholarships.

Academic Excellence Gpa325 Act23

$4,500

Official USM Academic Excellence snapshot lists 3.25-4.0+ GPA, ACT 23-24/SAT 1130-1190, annual scholarship amount $4,500.

Renewable: Maintain 2.5 GPA; 15 credits/year

Border Waiver (Non-Resident)

Waives the non-resident portion of tuition (pay resident tuition rates)

Reduces a non-resident's bill to resident tuition rates (it does not pay a flat dollar amount). Limited to specific border-area Wyoming high schools.

Renewable: Renewable for up to eight semesters, as long as GPA and credit-hour requirements are met each semester (12 credit hours each semester).

Achievement Scholarship (GPA / ACT / SAT grids)

$9,000-$15,000

Program designed for first-time freshmen enrolling after January 1, 2025, with provisions applying over four years of eligibility. Transfers with <36 credits may qualify by GPA only.

Renewable: Fully renewable for three additional years as long as the student meets SAP requirements at WWU.

Winthrop Blue Line Scholarship (Out-of-State)

$1,500 per year plus an Out-of-State Tuition Waiver ($62,160 four-year value)

Waiver covers the out-of-state tuition portion (capped at $468 per credit hour in 2026-2027).

Renewable: Renewable for up to three (3) additional years as long as the student maintains financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress.