The starting point
Fresno State is a low-cost public CSU (resident tuition ~$6,838/yr) whose merit money is almost all competitive and application-based — there is NO automatic GPA/test merit grid — but its flagship Smittcamp Family Honors College President's Honors Scholarship is a genuine high-value cohort award ($6,000/yr plus a ~$6,175 housing stipend for 2025-26), and a few colleges run named four-year awards (Craig Business Scholars up to $20,000; two Patagonia full-rides in Environmental Sciences).
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
The 3 awards in this school's research. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.
Smittcamp Family Honors College — President's Honors Scholarship (PHS)
$6,000 per year ($3,000 per semester), plus a Housing Stipend of $6,175 for on-campus scholars (2025-2026), total value $12,175 · Published coverage or package
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
GPA: Apply with a minimum 3.8 high school GPA (weighted or unweighted, grades 9-11) OR rank in the top 10 percent of the graduating class
Eligibility: First-time freshman only (not matriculated full-time at any college/university); transfers do not qualify. Highly competitive — about 500 apply and 50 are accepted. Requires the SFHC application, official transcript, and two-to-three recommendation letters.
Renewal: Up to a maximum of eight semesters. Must keep full-time status (minimum 12 undergraduate units) and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 for Semesters 1-2, 3.35 for Semesters 3-4, and 3.50 for Semesters 5-8. Dollar value is set annually by the Honors Council and may change year to year.
Other terms: This is Fresno State's flagship, high-value merit award and the only honors COLLEGE in the CSU system that admits President's Scholars as a cohort. It is NOT automatic — it is a separate competitive application with its own December deadline, distinct from the general scholarship application. The $6,000 PHS plus the $6,175 housing stipend (for scholars who live on campus) totals $12,175 for 2025-2026; future years are set by the Honors Council. Scholars must also complete required Honors G.E. courses and ~70 hours of community service over four years.
https://fresnostate.academicworks.com/opportunities/31420
Craig School of Business — Business Scholars
Up to $20,000 over four years (incoming freshmen) or up to $10,000 over two years (transfer/existing students) · Variable or qualified amount
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
Eligibility: Declared/intended business major; requires a separate Business Scholars application in addition to the general University scholarship application. Specific eligibility criteria, GPA thresholds, and deadlines are not published on the annual-scholarships page.
Renewal: Stated as a four-year award (freshmen) or two-year award (transfers) contingent on remaining in good standing with program requirements; exact per-year amount and renewal GPA are not published on the page.
Other terms: A college-specific four-year merit award for business students. The page gives only the ceiling totals ('up to $20,000' / 'up to $10,000') with no per-year breakdown, no GPA cutoff, and no deadline — those must be confirmed with the Craig School / University Scholarship Office. Not automatic; a separate application is required.
https://craig.fresnostate.edu/scholarships/annual-scholarships.html
Patagonia Scholarship (College of Science and Mathematics — Earth & Environmental Sciences)
Full-ride: covers annual tuition, on-campus community-style university housing, meal plan, and a book stipend (two awards; specific dollar value not published) · Published coverage or package
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
Eligibility: Incoming freshmen who demonstrate intent to major in Environmental Sciences. Preference for applicants who have demonstrated an interest in African American or Native American cultures. Awarded to two qualified students.
Renewal: Page does not state the number of years covered or renewal terms.
Other terms: A genuine full-ride for incoming freshmen, but narrowly scoped: only two awards, Environmental Sciences intent required, and a stated cultural-interest preference. The page describes coverage (tuition + on-campus housing + meal plan + book stipend) but publishes no fixed dollar figure, so the amount is described in coverage terms, not a number.
https://csm.fresnostate.edu/arc/scholarships.html
