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MeritPlaybook / Take-home research

Alabama
Decision sheet

Alabama · Research checked 2026-07-14 · School research, not an aid offer

The starting point

Public flagship with the clearest automatic out-of-state merit aid table in the country. Formula-driven awards from 25 ACT upward, plus one of the richest National Merit Finalist packages available at any U.S. public university.

More than one award path. Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.

Awards to discuss

First 3 of 19 recorded awards, in chapter display order. This is a selection, not a ranking. Read the full chapter for all awards. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.

Presidential Elite Scholar

Tuition value for 8 semesters + 1 year on-campus housing + $1,500/yr supplemental + $2,000 one-time research/study-abroad allowance · Published coverage or package

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

GPA: 4.0+ · SAT: 1600 · ACT: 36

Renewal: 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

Other terms: Alabama's top automatic tier. Same package structure for in-state and out-of-state applicants.

https://afford.ua.edu/scholarships/out-of-state-freshman/

Presidential Scholarship

$28,000/year · Published amount

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

GPA: 3.5+ · SAT: 1420–1600 · ACT: 32–36

Renewal: 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

Other terms: 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.

https://afford.ua.edu/scholarships/out-of-state-freshman/

UA Scholar

$24,000/year · Published amount

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

GPA: 3.5+ · SAT: 1360–1410 · ACT: 30–31

Renewal: 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

https://afford.ua.edu/scholarships/out-of-state-freshman/

Ask before you decide

  1. Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
  2. What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
  3. How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?

Recorded stacking policy: UA's published FAQ states that external scholarships, military benefits, and college savings plans do NOT impact scholarships at UA. The cost-of-attendance cap on UA's own institutional scholarships explicitly excludes outside sources of aid.

Our unanswered questions / Family notes

Keep the sources with the decision

Full research, award details and source context: https://meritplaybook.com/colleges/alabama/merit-aid

The research date is not a guarantee that a policy still applies. Confirm current amounts, deadlines and conditions with the school before making a financial decision.