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Coastal Carolina University · South Carolina

Coastal Carolina Merit Aid

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.

Verified Jun 20268 days ago· CC
Merit tiers106 automatic on stats
Last verifiedJun 2026Analyst CC

Rules that bite at Coastal Carolina

The trip wires we'd flag in a custom playbook. Each is derived from Coastal Carolina's own published policy, not generic advice.

  • renewalPresidential Scholarship: renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out

    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. A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.

Common merit-aid mistakes at Coastal Carolina

  1. You can't. CCU states a student receives only ONE scholarship from the merit-based program — academic, VPA Merit-Based, and PGM Merit-Based all count as the single award. Picking up a music/arts or golf-management award does not stack on top of a Presidential/President's/Provost's award.

  2. For out-of-state recipients the award is delivered as a minimum of $500 in the named award plus a University Tuition Waiver for the remaining value — the combined amount equals the stated discount. It reduces tuition, it is not a transferable cash scholarship.

  3. Students who receive the ACM tuition waiver are not eligible for a CCU merit-based scholarship. You have to choose the better of the two — you cannot stack ACM with merit.

  4. Awards are automatic only if you're accepted by the published priority deadline (freshman assurance tied to an April 1 priority date; transfer awards July 1; admission deadlines Early Decision Oct 15, Early Action Nov 15, Regular Decision Feb 1). Apply late and the 'automatic' guarantee can lapse.

  5. CCU uses a holistic review of weighted and unweighted HS GPA plus an institutionally calculated 'core' GPA and a Rigor Score. The published profiles (e.g., 3.75 CORE GPA / 1390 SAT for Presidential) are guidelines; your exact tier is set by that review, not a single number.

  6. The 2026-27 Cost of Attendance page lists the in-state tuition line at $11,640, while the merit page describes the out-of-state Presidential value as '$19,662 per year (equal to in-state tuition).' These reference different tuition definitions; confirm the actual out-of-state Presidential dollar value with the aid office before relying on either number.

Who this school is for

Out-of-state students chasing a big tuition discount (the Presidential award erases the full out-of-state premium), plus SC residents and strong applicants who want an automatic, stat-based merit award with no extra application.

Tuition / cost of attendance: Approximately $49,736 for 2026-2027. Source

Institutional merit aid tiers

Every tier below is sourced to the school’s own published financial aid pages. Renewal terms apply only if the student maintains the stated GPA.

Where you landAutomatic merit aid by ACT compositeEach bar marks the ACT score range that qualifies for the tier.
Presidential Scholarship$6,000
ACT 31+SAT 1390+ · GPA minimum 3.75 CORE GPA
President's Scholar Award$5,000
ACT 28+SAT 1300+ · GPA minimum 3.5 CORE GPA
Provost's Scholar Award$4,000
ACT 26+SAT 1230+ · GPA minimum 3.5 CORE GPA
Coastal Scholar Award$3,000
ACT 24+SAT 1160+ · GPA minimum 3.5+ CORE GPA
Teal Scholar Award$2,000
ACT 21+SAT 1060+ · GPA minimum 3.3+ CORE GPA

Not on this ladder: South Carolina Scholar Award, Visual and Performing Arts Award, PGA Golf Management Trustee Award, PGA Golf Management University Award, PGA Golf Management Wall Award — application required, holistic, or scored on a different axis.

View as table
TierACT compositeAward
Presidential Scholarship31+$6,000 per year (in-state) / $19,662 per year (out-of-state)
President's Scholar Award28+$5,000 per year (in-state) / $13,000 per year (out-of-state)
Provost's Scholar Award26+$4,000 per year (in-state) / $10,000 per year (out-of-state)
Coastal Scholar Award24+$3,000 per year (in-state) / $7,500 per year (out-of-state)
Teal Scholar Award21+$2,000 per year (in-state) / $4,500 per year (out-of-state)
$6,000 per year…$6,000 per year (in-state) / $19,662 per year (out-of-state)

Presidential Scholarship

AutomaticRenewable
GPA
minimum 3.75 CORE GPA
SAT
1390+
ACT
31+
Requirements & details
Eligibility

5+ Rigor Score OR 1390+ SAT OR 31+ ACT; automatic for applicants accepted by the priority deadline

Renewal terms

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.

Notes

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.

Source

$5,000 per year…$5,000 per year (in-state) / $13,000 per year (out-of-state)

President's Scholar Award

AutomaticRenewable
GPA
minimum 3.5 CORE GPA
SAT
1300+
ACT
28+
Requirements & details
Eligibility

4+ Rigor Score OR 1300+ SAT OR 28+ ACT

Renewal terms

Renewable up to four continuous years (eight semesters); 30 credits and 3.0 CCU cumulative GPA per year, full-time enrollment required.

Notes

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.

Source

$4,000 per year…$4,000 per year (in-state) / $10,000 per year (out-of-state)

Provost's Scholar Award

AutomaticRenewable
GPA
minimum 3.5 CORE GPA
SAT
1230+
ACT
26+
Requirements & details
Eligibility

3+ Rigor Score OR 1230+ SAT OR 26+ ACT

Renewal terms

Renewable up to four continuous years (eight semesters); 30 credits and 3.0 CCU cumulative GPA per year, full-time enrollment required.

Notes

Part of the automatic freshman merit grid. Award level set by the holistic merit review.

Source

$3,000 per year…$3,000 per year (in-state) / $7,500 per year (out-of-state)

Coastal Scholar Award

AutomaticRenewable
GPA
minimum 3.5+ CORE GPA
SAT
1160+
ACT
24+
Requirements & details
Eligibility

2+ Rigor Score OR 1160+ SAT OR 24+ ACT

Renewal terms

Renewable up to four continuous years (eight semesters); 30 credits and 3.0 CCU cumulative GPA per year, full-time enrollment required.

Notes

Part of the automatic freshman merit grid.

Source

$2,000 per year…$2,000 per year (in-state) / $4,500 per year (out-of-state)

Teal Scholar Award

AutomaticRenewable
GPA
minimum 3.3+ CORE GPA
SAT
1060+
ACT
21+
Requirements & details
Eligibility

1+ Rigor Score OR 1060+ SAT OR 21+ ACT

Renewal terms

Renewable up to four continuous years (eight semesters); 30 credits and 3.0 CCU cumulative GPA per year, full-time enrollment required.

Notes

Entry tier of the automatic freshman merit grid.

Source

$1,000 per year (in-state only)

South Carolina Scholar Award

AutomaticRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

Top 10% class ranking without meeting other award criteria; South Carolina residents only (no out-of-state value)

Renewal terms

Renewable up to four continuous years (eight semesters); 30 credits and 3.0 CCU cumulative GPA per year, full-time enrollment required.

Notes

In-state only; the merit table lists no out-of-state amount for this award. Awarded to SC residents in the top 10% of their class who don't otherwise meet a higher award's criteria.

Source

$3,000 per year…$3,000 per year (in-state) / $7,500 per year (out-of-state)

Visual and Performing Arts Award

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

Awarded through the Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) merit-based program; counts as the student's single merit award (cannot stack with academic merit)

Renewal terms

Renewable up to four continuous years (eight semesters); 30 credits and 3.0 CCU cumulative GPA per year, full-time enrollment required.

Notes

A VPA-program merit award. Per CCU's FAQ a student can receive only one merit scholarship, including the VPA Merit-Based and PGM Merit-based scholarships.

Source

$5,000 per year…$5,000 per year (in-state) / $13,000 per year (out-of-state)

PGA Golf Management Trustee Award

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

For students in the PGA Golf Management (PGM) program; counts as the student's single merit award

Renewal terms

Renewable up to four continuous years (eight semesters); 30 credits and 3.0 CCU cumulative GPA per year, full-time enrollment required.

Notes

PGM-program merit award (top of three PGM tiers). Cannot be combined with an academic merit award.

Source

$4,000 per year…$4,000 per year (in-state) / $10,000 per year (out-of-state)

PGA Golf Management University Award

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

For students in the PGA Golf Management (PGM) program; counts as the student's single merit award

Renewal terms

Renewable up to four continuous years (eight semesters); 30 credits and 3.0 CCU cumulative GPA per year, full-time enrollment required.

Notes

Middle PGM tier.

Source

$3,000 per year…$3,000 per year (in-state) / $7,500 per year (out-of-state)

PGA Golf Management Wall Award

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

For students in the PGA Golf Management (PGM) program; counts as the student's single merit award

Renewal terms

Renewable up to four continuous years (eight semesters); 30 credits and 3.0 CCU cumulative GPA per year, full-time enrollment required.

Notes

Entry PGM tier.

Source

Outside scholarship stacking policy

CCU merit awards do NOT stack with each other — a student receives only ONE award from the merit-based scholarship program (academic, VPA, or PGM). Out-of-state recipients receive a minimum $500 named award plus a University Tuition Waiver for the remaining value. Students on the Academic Common Market (ACM) tuition waiver cannot also receive a merit award. No published policy was found describing how third-party OUTSIDE/external scholarships displace institutional merit aid.

Per the merit-based scholarship FAQ: 'a student is able to receive only one scholarship from the merit-based scholarship program. This includes the VPA Merit-Based and PGM Merit-based Scholarships.' Per the Merit Award Policy, tuition assistance may come from only one listed program and ACM recipients are excluded. The out-of-state award is delivered as 'a minimum of $500 in the named award and a University Tuition Waiver for the remaining value.' The interaction with external/private outside scholarships is not addressed on CCU's merit pages.

Source

Lesser-known scholarships at Coastal Carolina

Named awards that don’t always surface on the main financial aid page. Each one has its own eligibility rules.

Amount$2,000-$4,000/yr in-state; $4,500-$10,000/yr out-of-stateEligibilityAutomatic for qualified transfer students with 30+ transferable hours and a cumulative GPA in the published bands (roughly 2.90-3.24 up to 3.50 and above).

Transfer-only; renewal duration is shorter than the freshman 8-semester cap (three to seven semesters based on transferred credits). Transfer priority deadline July 1.

Source

AmountUp to $5,000/yr plus a possible book allowance (state-set; verify current value)EligibilitySouth Carolina residents meeting the SC Commission on Higher Education LIFE eligibility (GPA/SAT-ACT/class-rank criteria). State of South Carolina award, not a CCU institutional award.

State merit award administered under SC CHE rules; this is separate from CCU's institutional merit grid. Confirm current amount and eligibility on che.sc.gov and CCU financial aid before relying on it.

Source

Coastal Carolina merit aid FAQ

  • Do I have to apply separately for a CCU merit scholarship?

    No. 'After a student has been accepted to CCU, they are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. There is no separate application process.' Just apply for admission by the priority deadline.

  • What's the deadline to be guaranteed a merit award?

    Students accepted to CCU by the priority deadline are assured the scholarship if they meet the requirements — an April 1 priority date for freshmen and July 1 for transfer awards. Admission deadlines are Early Decision Oct 15, Early Action Nov 15, and Regular Decision Feb 1.

  • Can I stack two CCU merit awards?

    No. 'A student is able to receive only one scholarship from the merit-based scholarship program. This includes the VPA Merit-Based and PGM Merit-based Scholarships.' You also can't combine a merit award with the Academic Common Market tuition waiver.

  • How do I keep my merit award each year?

    Meet the annual renewal requirements — 30 credits and a 3.0 CCU cumulative GPA — while enrolled full-time (12-18 credit hours) each fall and spring. Freshman awards renew for up to four continuous years (eight semesters).

How Coastal Carolina compares across our verified dataset

  • 19 of 751 verified schools in our dataset use no-displacement displacement.

    Coastal Carolina is in the small minority (19 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.

  • 669 of 751 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    Coastal Carolina is one of them. The cohort minority (82 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 Coastal Carolina’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

Compare with similar schools

  • USC Upstate merit aid — South Carolina public university — compare automatic merit, amounts, and stacking.
  • Winthrop merit aid — South Carolina public university — compare automatic merit, amounts, and stacking.
  • South Carolina merit aid — South Carolina public university — compare automatic merit, amounts, and stacking.
  • Clemson merit aid — South Carolina public university — compare automatic merit, amounts, and stacking.

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