Best Colleges for 4 GPA + 28 ACT Merit Aid

UA Collegiate Scholarship

$10,000/year

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 University Scholarship

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

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 University Scholarship

$52,000 total ($13,000/year × 4 years)

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.

Provost Scholarship (Kentucky residents)

$2,500/year at 3.30 GPA + 26 ACT / 1230 SAT; $5,000/year at 3.30 GPA + 28 ACT / 1300 SAT

Provost is the resident-only tier that sits below Presidential. The 28 ACT breakpoint doubles the annual award from $2,500 to $5,000, so a 27 ACT student lifting to 28 picks up $2,500/year in additional aid. The 3.30 GPA floor is consistent across both test-score tiers.

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

NAMU Dean's Scholarship (non-resident)

$13,500/year ($54,000 over 4 years)

Verified via ASU's scholarship estimator for a non-resident 3.6 GPA / 26 ACT profile (Fall 2026 amounts).

Renewable — Renewable for up to 8 consecutive semesters with a 3.0 cumulative ASU GPA and 30 ASU credit hours per academic year.

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.

Zell Miller Scholarship (Georgia residents)

100% of standard in-state tuition rate (up to $10,512/year for 2025-26)

The full-tuition tier of Georgia's lottery-funded merit ladder. Pays at a higher per-credit rate than HOPE (covers tuition rate increases up to 100%). For Georgia residents who hit the threshold, Zell Miller is the closest thing GT has to an automatic full-tuition scholarship. National Merit Semifinalists from Georgia who qualify for Zell Miller still need to apply for the GT Application for Scholarships and Financial Aid (GT App) to be considered for institutional supplements.

Renewable — Cumulative 3.30 GPA required at each post-graduation review checkpoint. If GPA falls below 3.30 but stays above 3.0, the student steps down to HOPE Scholarship rates rather than losing all state aid.

Out-of-State Volunteer Scholarship — Entry Tier

$3,000/year ($12,000 over four years)

Entry threshold is 28 ACT and 3.8 weighted GPA. Below that, OOS students do not qualify for the automatic Volunteer Scholarship and need to compete for institutional or departmental awards.

Renewable — 3.0 cumulative GPA at UT, federal SAP, full-time enrollment.

Forever Scholar (Iowa Resident)

$2,000/year × 4 = $8,000 total

Middle tier of the Iowa-resident automatic ladder. Not stackable with Loyal or True Scholar.

Renewable — Renewable for up to 4 years with full-time enrollment + cumulative ISU GPA ≥ 2.50, fall and spring only