Best Colleges for 3.5 GPA + 34 ACT Merit Aid

Presidential Scholarship

$28,000/year

Admitted National Merit Semifinalists with a 3.5+ GPA after junior year are automatically eligible at the Presidential tier per UA's National Merit page.

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

Spirit of Auburn Presidential Scholarship

$11,000/year ($44,000 over 4 years)

Fall 2026 restructure: 4.0 GPA students with a 35-36 ACT receive the higher Presidential Excellence Award; this Presidential Scholarship tier covers 3.5+ GPA students at 33-36 ACT who do not qualify for the Excellence award. Note: Auburn's general scholarships index lists this tier at $11,500/year while the dedicated first-year scholarship page lists $11,000/year ($44,000 over 4 years); using the dedicated first-year page as authoritative. conflict_found — verify directly with Auburn Financial Aid before relying on a specific figure.

Renewable — Renewable for up to 8 semesters with a minimum cumulative, unadjusted 3.0 Auburn GPA and 24 Auburn credit hours earned per academic year

Non-Resident Award of Excellence

$68,000 total ($17,000/year × 4 years)

Highest non-resident automatic merit tier below the NMF package. Same dollar value as the Non-Resident NMSF Scholarship.

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

STEM Major Non-Resident Scholarship

$8,000 total ($2,000/year toward the non-resident fee)

Renewable — Renewable over 4 years

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.

Presidential Scholarship

Full in-state tuition (Kentucky residents) OR full out-of-state tuition (non-residents) for up to 4 years

Presidential is UK's top automatic tier. Non-residents receive the non-resident variant (full out-of-state tuition). Residents receive the in-state variant (full in-state tuition). Students who clear Presidential stats are the core pool for Singletary competitive review.

Renewable — Renewable for up to 4 years subject to the published GPA and enrollment terms

President's Scholarship

$7,500/yr

Grove City's top automatic merit tier. Unlike the competitive Trustee Program, this tier is automatic for any admitted undergraduate with a 3.5+ HS GPA plus a qualifying SAT, ACT, or CLT score, with no separate application. CLT is accepted at parity with SAT and ACT.

Renewable — Renewable with a 3.3 cumulative GPA.

Chancellor's Tuition Scholarship (in-state)

Up to $8,000/year (up to $4,000/semester) toward UNL tuition for up to four years

Selection is on a holistic review on top of the academic floors. Stacks with departmental and Honors awards subject to UNL's COA cap.

Renewable — ≥ 12 UNL credit hours per semester (registered by the sixth day of classes), 24 successfully completed credits per year, and a 3.500 cumulative GPA. National Merit Scholars receive an additional $500 stipend from the National Merit Corporation funded by the Cooper Foundation.