The starting point
Coastal Carolina automatically awards a tiered freshman merit grid worth $1,000-$6,000/yr for SC residents and up to $19,662/yr (full in-state tuition) for out-of-state students, with no separate application — but you can hold only ONE merit award.
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 10 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
$6,000 per year (in-state) / $19,662 per year (out-of-state) · Published award terms
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
GPA: minimum 3.75 CORE GPA · SAT: 1390+ · ACT: 31+
Eligibility: 5+ Rigor Score OR 1390+ SAT OR 31+ ACT; automatic for applicants accepted by the priority deadline
Renewal: Renewable up to four continuous years of enrollment (a total of eight semesters); recipients must meet annual renewal requirements defined as 30 credits and a 3.0 CCU cumulative GPA, enrolled full-time (12-18 credit hours) each fall and spring.
Other terms: Top tier of the automatic freshman merit grid. The out-of-state figure is described on the merit page as '$19,662 per year (equal to in-state tuition)'. NOTE: the 2026-27 Cost of Attendance page lists the in-state tuition LINE ITEM at $11,640 — the $19,662 merit figure appears to reference the gross/per-credit in-state tuition rate rather than the COA tuition line. Conflict flagged in Section C; verify the live out-of-state Presidential dollar value with the aid office.
https://www.coastal.edu/meritawards/
President's Scholar Award
$5,000 per year (in-state) / $13,000 per year (out-of-state) · Published award terms
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
GPA: minimum 3.5 CORE GPA · SAT: 1300+ · ACT: 28+
Eligibility: 4+ Rigor Score OR 1300+ SAT OR 28+ ACT
Renewal: Renewable up to four continuous years (eight semesters); 30 credits and 3.0 CCU cumulative GPA per year, full-time enrollment required.
Other terms: Holistic review using cumulative weighted/unweighted HS GPA and an institutionally calculated 'core' GPA; profile thresholds are guidelines, not a hard automatic cutoff for every applicant.
https://www.coastal.edu/meritawards/
Provost's Scholar Award
$4,000 per year (in-state) / $10,000 per year (out-of-state) · Published award terms
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
GPA: minimum 3.5 CORE GPA · SAT: 1230+ · ACT: 26+
Eligibility: 3+ Rigor Score OR 1230+ SAT OR 26+ ACT
Renewal: Renewable up to four continuous years (eight semesters); 30 credits and 3.0 CCU cumulative GPA per year, full-time enrollment required.
Other terms: Part of the automatic freshman merit grid. Award level set by the holistic merit review.
https://www.coastal.edu/meritawards/
