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MeritPlaybook / Take-home research

Oakwood University
Decision sheet

Alabama · Research checked 2026-07-02 · School research, not an aid offer

The starting point

Oakwood's automatic GOLD/BLUE freshman grid pays a flat 4-year merit award by GPA and test score — from $6,000 total (2.0 GPA) up to $65,000 total ($16,250/yr) for the Platinum tier (3.9+ GPA, 26+ ACT) — and stacks below outside aid under a tuition/room/board cap.

Published academic criteria. These awards are recorded as automatic on academic criteria. Match the published grades and scores, then check residency, entering year and every additional condition.

Awards to discuss

First 3 of 13 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.

GOLD — Platinum

$8,125 per semester / $16,250 per year / $65,000 total over 4 years · Published award terms

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

GPA: 3.9+ · SAT: 1260+ · ACT: 26+

Eligibility: First-time freshman; not for students who attended another college/university after high school graduation. GED-equivalent path: GED 700+/800+ depending on series.

Renewal: Tier 1 renewal: renewed for a second year with a 2.5 GPA, a third year with a 2.75 GPA, and a fourth year with a 3.0 GPA; must maintain full-time status each semester. Limited to a maximum of four consecutive academic years.

Other terms: Highest GOLD (test-based) tier. GOLD tiers require both the GPA and the ACT/SAT score shown.

https://oakwood.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023-24_OU-UndGrd-NEW-GoldBlue-scholarsh.pdf

GOLD — Premier 2

$6,000 per semester / $12,000 per year / $48,000 total over 4 years · Published award terms

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

GPA: 3.75+ · SAT: 1120+ · ACT: 22+

Eligibility: First-time freshman. GED-equivalent path: GED 650+/750+ depending on series.

Renewal: Tier 1 renewal: 2.5 GPA (year 2), 2.75 GPA (year 3), 3.0 GPA (year 4); full-time status required; maximum four consecutive academic years.

Other terms: GOLD (test-based) tier; requires both GPA and the ACT/SAT score shown.

https://oakwood.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023-24_OU-UndGrd-NEW-GoldBlue-scholarsh.pdf

GOLD — Prestige 2

$5,000 per semester / $10,000 per year / $40,000 total over 4 years · Published award terms

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

GPA: 3.5+ · SAT: 1033+ · ACT: 20+

Eligibility: First-time freshman. GED-equivalent path: GED 600+/700+ depending on series.

Renewal: Tier 1 renewal: 2.5 GPA (year 2), 2.75 GPA (year 3), 3.0 GPA (year 4); full-time status required; maximum four consecutive academic years.

Other terms: GOLD (test-based) tier; requires both GPA and the ACT/SAT score shown.

https://oakwood.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023-24_OU-UndGrd-NEW-GoldBlue-scholarsh.pdf

Ask before you decide

  1. Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
  2. What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
  3. How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?

Recorded stacking policy: Outside aid is applied FIRST and Oakwood merit fills behind it under a hard cap: institutional scholarships (including denominational tuition assistance) cannot exceed the total cost for tuition, room and board, and recipients cannot be over-awarded or receive refunds from academic awards. In practice a large outside scholarship can reduce or displace the Oakwood merit award rather than add on top of it.

Our unanswered questions / Family notes

Keep the sources with the decision

Full research, award details and source context: https://meritplaybook.com/colleges/oakwood-university/merit-aid

The research date is not a guarantee that a policy still applies. Confirm current amounts, deadlines and conditions with the school before making a financial decision.