The starting point
Big Ten flagship with a clean automatic-merit story for out-of-state students (Maroon & Gold and National Scholarship), tiered Presidential awards for in-state, and one of the most generous National Merit Finalist packages in the country via the Gold Scholar Award (up to $10,000/year for NMFs who name UMN first-choice). Reciprocity rates make UMN a meaningful aid story for WI, ND, SD, and Manitoba residents independent of merit.
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 9 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.
Maroon & Gold Scholarship
$2,000 – $12,000 per year for 4 years · Published range
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
GPA: Typically 3.9+ (top academic performers) · SAT: 1370+ (when submitted, superscored) · ACT: 30+ (when submitted)
Eligibility: Open to all admitted freshmen including reciprocity-state residents. Awarded automatically off the freshman application; no separate scholarship application required.
Renewal: Renewable for 4 years. Continuous full-time enrollment and renewal criteria shared with the student in the offer letter.
Other terms: UMN's flagship academic merit award for top admitted freshmen. The published thresholds are 'typical' rather than guaranteed; UMN reviews holistically. Stacks with college-specific scholarships and Honors Program awards.
https://admissions.tc.umn.edu/cost-aid/scholarships/university-wide-academic-scholarships
National Scholarship
$2,500, $5,000, $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 per year for 4 years · Published award terms
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
GPA: ~3.8+ (top OOS applicants) · SAT: 1330+ (when submitted) · ACT: 29+ (when submitted)
Eligibility: EXPLICITLY EXCLUDES residents of Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Manitoba (reciprocity states). Awarded automatically off the freshman application for all eligible OOS admits.
Renewal: Renewable for 4 years. Continuous full-time enrollment required.
Other terms: UMN's automatic OOS merit ladder. The five-tier structure ($2,500/$5,000/$10,000/$15,000/$20,000) is one of the most transparent OOS automatic ladders in the Big Ten. Critical exclusion: WI, ND, SD, Manitoba residents are NOT eligible; they receive the reciprocity tuition rate instead. South Dakota residents also receive reciprocity but the explicit exclusion list in published policy names MN, ND, WI, and Manitoba; SD families should verify with admissions.
https://admissions.tc.umn.edu/cost-aid/scholarships/university-wide-academic-scholarships
Presidential Scholarship
$1,000 – $10,000 per year for 4 years · Published range
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
Eligibility: Awarded based on academic performance, scholastic aptitude, leadership, creativity, community involvement, and contribution to diversity. Open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and Minnesota Dream Act-eligible students.
Renewal: Renewable for 4 years. Renewal conditions shared with student when the award is offered.
Other terms: Holistic award layered alongside the Maroon & Gold and National Scholarship pools. Range is wider at the bottom ($1,000) than at the top ($10,000). Often awarded to students who don't quite hit the academic-performance ceiling for Maroon & Gold but show strong leadership or community-involvement profile.
https://admissions.tc.umn.edu/cost-aid/scholarships/university-wide-academic-scholarships
