The starting point
Bethune-Cookman's institutional merit awards (Presidential, Excelsior 1 & 2, Academic Merit) are last-dollar coverage scholarships defined by what federal/state aid leaves behind and by renewal GPA (3.25-3.50) — not by published fixed dollar amounts; merit consideration is automatic on admission but the awarded amounts are not disclosed on official pages.
Selection beyond grades and scores. These awards are not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read each award's selection rules, application steps and dates. Meeting a minimum is not an award offer.
Awards to discuss
First 3 of 4 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 Scholarship
Amount not published (last-dollar: covers full-time tuition, room, board, and books not covered by federal/state aid and other non-institutional scholarships) · Published coverage or package
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
GPA: Not published as a fixed cutoff; awarded to first-time-in-college high school graduates by holistic review. Renewal requires 3.50 cumulative GPA. · SAT: Test scores must be submitted to be considered for Academic Scholarships · ACT: Test scores must be submitted to be considered for Academic Scholarships
Eligibility: High school graduates entering college for the first time
Renewal: Register for at least 12 semester hours and maintain a 3.50 cumulative GPA to renew.
Other terms: B-CU does NOT publish a dollar amount for this award. It is described as last-dollar coverage of full-time tuition, room, board, and books AFTER federal/state aid and other non-institutional scholarships are applied — so the institutional dollar value depends on the student's other aid. Highest renewal bar of the named awards (3.50).
https://catalog.cookman.edu/content.php?catoid=44&navoid=3034
Excelsior Scholarship 1
Amount not published (last-dollar tuition: covers full-time tuition after federal/state aid and other non-institutional scholarships; does NOT cover room, board, or books) · Published coverage or package
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
GPA: Not published as an entry cutoff; first-time-in-college high school graduates. Renewal requires 3.30 cumulative GPA. · SAT: Test scores must be submitted to be considered for Academic Scholarships · ACT: Test scores must be submitted to be considered for Academic Scholarships
Eligibility: High school graduates entering college for the first time
Renewal: Register for at least 12 semester hours and maintain a 3.30 cumulative GPA to renew. Under special circumstances, renewable for a maximum of 4 academic years.
Other terms: No dollar amount published. Last-dollar TUITION-only award (no room/board/books). Excelsior 1 carries the higher renewal GPA (3.30) of the two Excelsior tiers.
https://catalog.cookman.edu/content.php?catoid=44&navoid=3034
Excelsior Scholarship 2
Amount not published (last-dollar tuition: covers full-time tuition after federal/state aid and other non-institutional scholarships; does NOT cover room, board, or books) · Published coverage or package
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
GPA: Not published as an entry cutoff; first-time-in-college high school graduates. Renewal requires 3.0 cumulative GPA. · SAT: Test scores must be submitted to be considered for Academic Scholarships · ACT: Test scores must be submitted to be considered for Academic Scholarships
Eligibility: High school graduates entering college for the first time
Renewal: Register for at least 12 semester hours and maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA to renew. Under special circumstances, renewable for a maximum of 4 academic years.
Other terms: No dollar amount published. Last-dollar TUITION-only award (no room/board/books). Excelsior 2 has the lower renewal GPA (3.0). The catalog presents Excelsior 1 and Excelsior 2 in a single description distinguished only by renewal GPA.
https://catalog.cookman.edu/content.php?catoid=44&navoid=3034
Ask before you decide
- Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
- What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
- How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?
Recorded stacking policy: B-CU institutional merit scholarships explicitly combine with Florida Bright Futures, Florida Prepaid, private scholarships, and need-based assistance. However, the two largest awards (Presidential, Excelsior) are structured as LAST-DOLLAR: they only cover what federal/state aid and other non-institutional scholarships leave unpaid, so an outside scholarship or Bright Futures effectively REDUCES the institutional award rather than adding cash on top. Scholarship funds apply first to tuition and fees, then to other university debts.
Our unanswered questions / Family notes
