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Cameron scholarships and merit aid

Two prices: the posted one, and yours.

Posted price$27,098per year · 2025-2026 · cost of attendance
Yours?depends on the rules below

The short answer

Cameron awards automatic merit on admission. Cameron does not publish a GPA or test chart, so you cannot self-calculate the dollars.

Where does your student land?

Verified Jul 2026
4 school sources to explore

Published rules, with the school sources close at hand. Confirm the details before you count on an award.

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The award collection

Published scholarships

These amounts and requirements come from the school’s own published pages. Open an award to see who qualifies and how to keep it.

Where does your student land?

  1. PLUS Scholarship (Presidential Leaders and University Scholars)Full tuition waiver (up to 18 credit hours/semester) + room waiver (scholar's portion of a double room in Shepler Center) + $400/semester stipend in Year 1 + $250/semester stipend in Year 2Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    PLUS Scholarship (Presidential Leaders and University Scholars)

    Full tuition waiver (up to 18 credit hours/semester) + room waiver (scholar's portion of a double room in Shepler Center) + $400/semester stipend in Year 1 + $250/semester stipend in Year 2

    Variable or qualified amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 or higher
    SAT
    Not stated separately; ACT 20 minimum cited
    ACT
    Minimum ACT composite score of 20
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for PLUS Scholarship (Presidential Leaders and University Scholars)

    Who qualifies

    Oklahoma resident; resume; one-page essay; three letters of recommendation (two from high school administrators/officials, one speaking to leadership); interview process; approximately 25 scholars selected per cohort

    How to keep it

    Renewable for up to 4 years contingent on signing and fulfilling a contract. Academic requirements: Year 1 – 2.5 GPA each semester and overall + complete 30 credit hours by year end; Years 2-4 – 3.0 GPA each semester and overall + 60/90/degree credit hour milestones by year ends. Also requires 16 service hours/semester, full-time enrollment (12-18 hrs/semester), campus involvement, and mandatory leadership training. At the completion of each semester, PLUS advisors objectively measure and subjectively evaluate each student's contribution. Failure to meet any requirement may result in loss of scholarship.

    Worth knowing

    Competitive/application-based, NOT automatic. Award is a tuition WAIVER (covers tuition only up to 18 hrs/semester, NOT full COA) plus a separate room waiver for Shepler Center double room. Stipends ($400/semester Yr 1, $250/semester Yr 2) are cash awards on top. Application opens January 5, 2026 via AwardSpring portal. Deadline extended to 11:59 p.m. February 9 (per incoming-freshman page) / listed as February 3, 2026 on the PLUS landing page — slight conflict, see Section C. Requires formal admission to Cameron University.

  2. Institutional Tuition Waivers (Freshman — Automatic Match)Amount not published (varies by waiver; applied against tuition charged)AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Institutional Tuition Waivers (Freshman — Automatic Match)

    Amount not published (varies by waiver; applied against tuition charged)

    Variable or qualified amountAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Based on high school GPA (unweighted GPAs used for freshman applicants per portal page)
    SAT
    SAT scores used in matching
    ACT
    ACT/SAT scores used in matching
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Institutional Tuition Waivers (Freshman — Automatic Match)

    Who qualifies

    Must be officially admitted to Cameron University. Automatic match occurs from admissions application data; no separate application required for initial match.

    How to keep it

    Renewal terms not published on the pages retrieved. The portal (cameron.awardspring.com) could not be fully accessed. Contact aid office for specific waiver renewal GPA requirements.

    Worth knowing

    Per the Scholarships and Tuition Waivers page: 'Once you have been officially admitted, you are automatically matched to any Cameron Scholarships and/or Tuition Waivers that you are eligible to receive. A general scholarship application is completed on your behalf with the information you provided on your Admission Application, with your prior academic information (GPA, test scores, etc.).' Tuition waivers are NOT cash awards — they offset tuition only and cannot be applied to fees, housing, or other charges. Some waivers cannot be stacked; if stacking is permitted, waivers cannot exceed tuition charged. Specific named waiver tiers and dollar amounts were NOT published on the pages accessed; the AwardSpring portal requires a CU login.

  3. Institutional Tuition Waivers (Transfer — Automatic Match)Amount not published (based on transfer retention GPA per types page)AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Institutional Tuition Waivers (Transfer — Automatic Match)

    Amount not published (based on transfer retention GPA per types page)

    Published award termsAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Transfer retention GPA used in matching (per types page: 'transfer retention grade point averages')
    SAT
    Not stated as required for transfer waiver matching
    ACT
    Not stated as required for transfer waiver matching
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Institutional Tuition Waivers (Transfer — Automatic Match)

    Who qualifies

    Must be officially admitted to Cameron University as a transfer student (6+ college credit hours attempted at another institution). Same automatic-match process applies.

    How to keep it

    Renewal terms not published on the pages retrieved.

    Worth knowing

    The types page states waivers are based on 'high school grade point average, ACT/SAT scores, high school class rank, and transfer retention grade point averages.' Transfer students with prior college GPA are matched separately. Specific amounts not published publicly.

  4. Institutional Scholarships (Competitive/Departmental — AwardSpring Portal)Amount not published (varies by individual scholarship)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Institutional Scholarships (Competitive/Departmental — AwardSpring Portal)

    Amount not published (varies by individual scholarship)

    Variable or qualified amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Varies by scholarship
    SAT
    Varies by scholarship
    ACT
    Varies by scholarship
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Institutional Scholarships (Competitive/Departmental — AwardSpring Portal)

    Who qualifies

    Must be fully admitted to Cameron University. Apply via cameron.awardspring.com. Priority deadline: February 1 each year. Some scholarships require supplemental materials (resume, essay, letters of reference). Unweighted GPAs used for freshman applicants.

    How to keep it

    Individual renewal terms not published publicly; set by department/committee.

    Worth knowing

    Cameron University has 'over 100 scholarships' and has 'awarded over half a million dollars.' Applications reviewed by departments and committees in spring; students notified if selected. Scholarships are 'cash awards' applied toward total balance (distinct from tuition waivers). The portal could not be accessed without CU login credentials.

Lights up against Cameron's published cutoffs. Not an award offer; confirm with the financial aid office. Award terms and residency rules change; some awards differ for in-state and out-of-state students. Always confirm at the school’s source page.

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  • “it told me what to ask and what the renewal GPA looked like, which I was not going to find on my own”Melissa

The fine print

Renewal rulePLUS Scholarship (Presidential Leaders and University Scholars): renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out

Renewable for up to 4 years contingent on signing and fulfilling a contract. Academic requirements: Year 1 – 2.5 GPA each semester and overall + complete 30 credit hours by year end; Years 2-4 – 3.0 GPA each semester and overall + 60/90/degree credit hour milestones by year ends. Also requires 16 service hours/semester, full-time enrollment (12-18 hrs/semester), campus involvement, and mandatory leadership training. At the completion of each semester, PLUS advisors objectively measure and subjectively evaluate each student's contribution. Failure to meet any requirement may result in loss of scholarship. A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.

What makes Cameron different

Cameron University (Lawton, OK) offers automatic tuition-waiver merit awards matched from admissions data plus the selective PLUS scholarship covering full tuition (up to 18 hrs/semester) and a room waiver; institutional scholarships also available via AwardSpring portal with a February 1 priority deadline.

Merit tiers42 based on grades or scores
First-year students with school awards6%First-year students, CDS 2024-2025
Research checkedJul 2026By our research team

More than one award path

Separate the two paths.

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

  1. Match the published criteria

    Use all requirements together, including residency and the entering class.

  2. Check the application dates

    Confirm the current admission and scholarship deadlines directly with the school.

  3. Know what happens next year

    Check renewal, credit requirements and how other aid affects the award.

The fine print / Three questions to carry forward

Before you count on it.

Does it apply to us? Confirm the entering year, residency and every eligibility condition.

Can we keep it? Check renewal GPA, credits and how long the award lasts.

Can we combine it? Ask how outside scholarships and other school awards change the offer.

Take Cameron's decision sheet

A printable research summary, source links and room for your questions.

See what could change an award

What families often miss

  1. Tuition waivers at Cameron cover ONLY tuition charges — they cannot be applied to fees, housing, food, books, or other COA components. For example, the PLUS scholarship's 'full tuition waiver' only offsets tuition (up to 18 hrs/semester); students still owe all fees and non-room living expenses. The in-state full-time COA is $27,098 (2025-2026); tuition & fees alone are $7,540, so a tuition-only waiver leaves substantial unmet need.

  2. PLUS is a competitive, application-based scholarship requiring a resume, essay, three letters of recommendation, and an interview. Only approximately 25 students are selected per cohort. It is NOT awarded automatically upon admission.

  3. The PLUS application deadline is in early February (listed as February 9 extended deadline on the freshman page and February 3, 2026 on the PLUS landing page for the 2026 cycle). Missing this date forfeits eligibility. The AwardSpring portal opens January 5, 2026.

  4. Some Cameron tuition waivers explicitly cannot be stacked. Where stacking is permitted, combined waivers cannot exceed the tuition charged. A student should not assume they will receive multiple stacked waivers.

  5. ALL external scholarship payments must be reported to and included in the student's financial aid package. Failure to report can cause an over-award and may require repayment of other aid.

  6. PLUS scholars must sign a contract and meet semester-by-semester GPA requirements (2.5 in Year 1; 3.0 in Years 2-4), credit-hour milestones (30/60/90/graduation), 16 service hours/semester, full-time enrollment, campus involvement, and leadership training attendance. Advisors evaluate each student each semester; failure to meet any requirement risks losing the scholarship.

  7. As of 2026-06-04, the Cameron COA page displayed 2025-2026 figures. No 2026-2027 COA had been published. Treat all dollar figures as estimates subject to change.

  8. Cameron distinguishes resident waivers from non-resident waivers. A non-resident/Texas-county tuition waiver waives only the DIFFERENCE between in-state and non-resident rates; the student still owes the in-state tuition amount plus all fees. Oklahoma-resident waivers work differently (waive the designated tuition amount credited against in-state rate).

  9. The priority deadline for the CU Scholarship Application Portal is February 1 each year. Institutional scholarships reviewed by departments are prioritized for students who apply by this date. Late applicants may miss consideration for many awards.

See costs and school data

Who this school may work for

Oklahoma residents who are incoming freshmen or transfer students seeking automatic tuition-waiver awards based on GPA and ACT; high-achieving Oklahoma-resident freshmen with 3.0+ GPA and ACT 20+ who want to compete for the prestigious PLUS scholarship covering full tuition and room.

Published yearly cost: Approximately $27,098 for 2025-2026. 2025-2026 figures (no 2026-2027 COA published at retrieval): $27,098 in-state on-campus, $36,518 out-of-state on-campus. Confirm 2026-2027 with the aid office. Source

Cost and graduation facts

Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at Cameron, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.

Average annual net price by family income at Cameron, academic year 2021-22 — in-state, Title-IV aid recipients only
Family incomeAverage net price paid
$0–$30,000$8,752
$30,001–$48,000$10,555
$48,001–$75,000$11,919
$75,001–$110,000$16,504
$110,001+$15,808
All income levels (average)$10,912

Sticker price vs. what students actually pay

Published tuition & fees (in-state), AY 2022-23
$7,095
Published tuition & fees (out-of-state), AY 2022-23
$16,515
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$10,912

That works out to roughly a 45% discount below the federal AY 2021-22 average cost of attendance of $19,862 (College Scorecard — a separate, federally reported figure, not the published cost of attendance shown above).

Cameron is a public school; Scorecard's net price figure covers in-state, Title-IV-aid-recipient payers only — there is no comparable federal figure for out-of-state students.

Outcomes for students who enrolled here

Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
31%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
67%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$21,500 (~$228/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$40,118
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
56%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
28%
See other scholarships and cost examples

If your student brings another scholarship

Tuition waivers are subject to anti-stacking rules: some cannot be stacked at all (only the highest-value waiver applies), and when stacking is permitted, combined waivers cannot exceed the tuition charged. Scholarships (cash awards) reduce loans/work-study first when total aid equals financial need or COA. Total aid cannot exceed COA; need-based aid is capped at unmet financial need. All external/outside scholarships must be reported to the aid office and are included in the financial aid package.

Scholarships page states: 'If the aid you are offered is equal to your financial need or cost of attendance, we must reduce your aid (starting with loans and federal work-study) by the amount of your scholarship.' Outside scholarships sent by third parties must include student ID and semester designation. Bureau of Indian Affairs (tribal) funding is included in the award overview and may be estimated to avoid over-award.

Source

More school data

From the Cameron Common Data Set 2024-2025:

Merit penetrationHow likely is merit aid here?From Cameron’s Common Data Set: the share of first-year students who receive institutional merit and the average dollar amount when they do.
6%of admitsget merit
Average award$2,438Covers ~9% of $27,098 cost of attendance

At Cameron, roughly 1 in 17 first-year admits receive institutional merit aid. The average award is $2,438 — about 9% of total cost.

As filed in Cameron's CDS Section H2A: of 501 first-time, full-time degree-seeking freshmen, 31 had no financial need and received institutional merit (non-need) scholarship or grant aid, averaging $2,438. Across all full-time degree-seeking undergraduates: 159 of 1,896, averaging $2,172. Athletic awards are excluded per the CDS definition.

Receive institutional merit6%First-year students, Common Data Set 2024-2025
Average merit award$2,438Across recipients, Common Data Set 2024-2025

Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025 (verified 2026-07-23)

Other Cameron scholarships worth checking

These awards can be harder to find. Each one has its own rules.

AmountAmount set by federal program (not stated on CU page)EligibilityEnrolled in eligible program; meets academic achievement requirements; agrees to TEACH Grant service obligations; must submit TEACH Grant Application to Office of Financial Aid.

Non-need-based federally sponsored program. Converts to a loan if service obligation is not met. Mentioned on types page.

Source

AmountAmount not published (state-determined, need-based)EligibilityOklahoma residents; high-need majors; enrolled at least half-time (6 hours); must complete FAFSA early (funds limited).

Need-based state grant, not merit-based. Covers tuition costs. Not merit aid but commonly confused.

Source

AmountAmount not published (tribe-determined)EligibilityStudents receiving educational funding from their tribe. Must have FAFSA on file or notify aid office of intent not to apply. Must submit Financial Needs Analysis (FNA) form each semester.

External third-party funding included in financial aid package. May be estimated in advance to avoid over-award.

Source

Cameron merit aid FAQ

  • What is the priority deadline for institutional scholarships at Cameron University?

    February 1 each year (priority deadline for the CU Scholarship Application Portal at cameron.awardspring.com).

  • Is the PLUS scholarship automatic if I meet the GPA and ACT requirements?

    No. PLUS is competitive and application-based. Meeting the minimum 3.0 GPA and ACT 20 requirements makes you eligible to apply, but you must also submit a resume, essay, and three letters of recommendation, and be selected through an interview process. Only approximately 25 students receive the scholarship per cohort.

  • Does the PLUS tuition waiver cover my full bill at Cameron?

    No. The PLUS scholarship covers tuition (up to 18 credit hours per semester) and the room charge for a double room in Shepler Center plus cash stipends, but it does NOT cover fees, food, books, transportation, or personal expenses. The 2025-2026 in-state COA for a full-time on-campus student is $27,098; tuition and fees account for $7,540 of that total.

  • What GPA must I maintain to keep the PLUS scholarship?

    A 2.5 GPA each semester and overall in Year 1; a 3.0 GPA each semester and overall in Years 2, 3, and 4. Falling below these thresholds risks losing the scholarship.

  • Are there automatic merit awards for freshmen who do not apply for PLUS?

    Yes. Once officially admitted, Cameron automatically matches students to any tuition waivers and scholarships they qualify for based on GPA, ACT/SAT scores, and class rank from their admissions application. Specific award names and amounts are listed in the AwardSpring portal (requires CU login).

  • Can I stack multiple Cameron tuition waivers?

    Some waivers cannot be stacked at all — only the highest-value waiver applies. Where stacking is permitted, combined waivers cannot exceed the tuition charged.

  • Do I need to report outside scholarships?

    Yes. All institutional and external scholarships and tuition waivers must be included in your financial aid package. Students who receive assistance from outside sources must report it to the Office of Financial Aid. If total aid equals or exceeds your need or COA, loans and work-study are reduced first.

  • What is the 2026-2027 Cost of Attendance at Cameron?

    Not yet published as of 2026-06-04. The most recent COA available is 2025-2026: $27,098 in-state on-campus (full-time undergraduate) and $36,518 out-of-state on-campus. Contact the Office of Financial Aid at (580) 581-2293 for 2026-2027 figures.

See sources and other schools

How Cameron compares

  • 145 of 749 verified schools in our dataset use loan-first displacement.

    Cameron is in a recognizable cluster (145 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.

  • 665 of 749 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    Cameron is one of them. The cohort minority (84 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

Sources used on this page

Every claim is checked against Cameron’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

Compare with similar schools

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