The starting point
DRAFT: OC publishes a fully automatic 2026-27 merit grid ($4,000-$14,000 keyed to GPA + ACT/SAT/CLT, with no-test paths) plus a National Merit package covering tuition, fees, room AND meal plan, a stackable $3,000 church-activity award, and a 50%-tuition Heritage Guarantee for Church of Christ students.
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 6 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.
Academic Merit-Based Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen 2026-27 (Trustee's / Founders' / President's / Dean's / Eagle / Maroon & Gray)
$4,000-$14,000 per academic year · Published range
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
GPA: See grid (3.0 with scores; 3.5 no-score for Dean's; 3.0 no-score for Eagle; 2.5 for Maroon & Gray) · SAT: 1390 / 1300 / 1200 / 1100 by tier · ACT: 31 / 28 / 25 / 22 by tier
Eligibility: CLT accepted (94 / 86 / 78 / 72); 'A higher test score may offset a lower GPA'; automatically applied from the OC application — no additional application
Renewal: Continuing eligibility: Trustee's 3.0 cumulative GPA; Founders' and President's 2.8; Dean's 2.6; Eagle 2.4; Maroon & Gray 2.0. Academic eligibility requirements apply after the first semester.
Other terms: Full grid in excerpt; unweighted HS GPA is used.
https://www.oc.edu/admissions/financial-services/scholarships
Transfer Student Scholarship
$5,000-$10,000 per academic year · Published range
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
GPA: $10,000 at 4.0; $9,000 at 3.75-3.99; $8,000 at 3.5-3.74; $7,000 at 3.0-3.49; $5,000 at 2.5-2.99 (cumulative GPA from all colleges attended)
Eligibility: Transferring more than 15 credit hours completed after high school senior year; applied automatically from official transcripts
Renewal: Requirements: maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5.
https://www.oc.edu/admissions/financial-services/scholarships
National Merit Finalist Scholarship
Full tuition (up to 17 credit hours/semester), mandatory fees, room and meal plan · Variable or qualified amount
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
Eligibility: National Merit Finalist standing; select OC as first-choice university with the National Merit Corporation
Renewal: Renewable over a 4 year consecutive period; maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA as an OC student.
Other terms: Broader than full tuition — includes mandatory fees, room, and meal plan.
https://www.oc.edu/admissions/financial-services/scholarships
