The starting point
Public flagship with one of the most competitive National Merit Finalist packages in the country — up to $146,850 (resident) or $153,450 (non-resident) over 5 years — plus an automatic Academic Achievement tier and the resident Crimson Commitment last-dollar gap-filler for Oklahoma's Promise recipients.
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 21 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.
Oklahoma State Regents' Rising Scholars (residents)
$124,850 total package value at OU (per OU's published freshman scholarship tables; the live automatic-qualifier page publishes the component values — $24,000/year cash for Fall 2026 plus a 100% resident tuition waiver — without itemizing the combined total) · Published coverage or package
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
GPA: 3.25+ · SAT: 1560+ (CR+M) · ACT: ACT sum 103+ (Reading + Math + English)
Eligibility: Oklahoma resident. Automatic qualifier through one of three pathways: (a) National Merit Scholar/Finalist, (b) U.S. Presidential Scholar designation, or (c) ACT 103+ sum (Reading + Math + English) or SAT 1560+ (Critical Reading + Math). State Regents cash scholarship ($24,000/year for Fall 2026) plus 100% public college tuition waiver.
Renewal: Renewable with a 3.25 cumulative GPA, full-time enrollment, and at least 24 credit hours per academic year (or 30 with summer funding option).
Other terms: Oklahoma State Regents' Automatic Qualifier program, administered through OU for Rising Scholar enrollees. The $24,000/year annual cash figure applies to the Fall 2026 freshman cohort specifically; prior cycles published different amounts. Institutional Nominees (not automatic qualifiers) receive $4,000/year through the same program.
https://www.ou.edu/admissions/honors/scholarships/oklahoma-state-regents-automatic-qualifier
Non-Resident National Merit Semifinalist Scholarship
$68,000 total ($17,000/year × 4 years) · Published award terms
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
GPA: 3.5+
Eligibility: Non-resident. National Merit Semifinalist status. Apply to OU by December 15.
Renewal: Renewable with at least a 2.0 overall GPA and at least 24 institutional credit hours each academic year, per OU's sitewide merit-scholarship guidelines (awards from fall 2019 onward). GPA is first checked at the end of the spring semester of the first year; missing the standard triggers a one-year probation before the award is discontinued.
Other terms: NMSF-specific tier for non-residents who do not reach Finalist status. Stacks as the same amount as the Non-Resident Award of Excellence.
https://www.ou.edu/admissions/affordability/scholarships
Non-Resident Award of Excellence
$68,000 total ($17,000/year × 4 years) · Published award terms
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
GPA: 3.5+ · SAT: 1390+ · ACT: 31+
Eligibility: Non-resident. Apply to OU by December 15.
Renewal: Renewable with at least a 2.0 overall GPA and at least 24 institutional credit hours each academic year, per OU's sitewide merit-scholarship guidelines (awards from fall 2019 onward). GPA is first checked at the end of the spring semester of the first year; missing the standard triggers a one-year probation before the award is discontinued.
Other terms: Highest non-resident automatic merit tier below the NMF package. Same dollar value as the Non-Resident NMSF Scholarship.
https://www.ou.edu/admissions/affordability/scholarships
