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Regent scholarships and merit aid

The short answer

Regent is worth checking if your student has strong grades or scores. We found 9 published awards, and 2 are based on those numbers.

Where does your student land?

Verified Jul 2026
3 school sources to explore

Published rules, with the school sources close at hand. Confirm the details before you count on an award.

The award collection

Published scholarships

These amounts and requirements come from the school’s own published pages. Open an award to see who qualifies and how to keep it.

Where does your student land?

  1. Freshman Base Merit Awards$1,000-$5,000AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Freshman Base Merit Awards

    $1,000-$5,000

    Published rangeAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    0.00-4.00+ (tiered: Chancellors 4.00+, Trustees 3.80-3.99, Presidents 3.40-3.79, Achievement 3.00-3.39, Royals 0.00-2.99)
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Freshman Base Merit Awards

    Who qualifies

    Freshman applicants with fewer than 16 transferable college credits completed after high school graduation; on-campus enrollment

    How to keep it

    A student's merit scholarship is automatically renewed each academic year if the minimum cumulative GPA requirement is met, and the student has maintained an on-campus enrollment status. GPA requirements vary by scholarship and can be found in the student's Financial Aid account under Offer.

    Worth knowing

    Award decisions are determined automatically from admissions information; no separate application. Annual totals split between fall and spring; unavailable during the optional summer semester.

  2. Freshman Booster Merit Awards$1,000-$5,000AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Freshman Booster Merit Awards

    $1,000-$5,000

    Published rangeAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    SAT
    Tiered: 1300+ ($5,000), 1200-1290 ($4,000), 1050-1190 ($3,000), 950-1040 ($2,000), 0-940 ($1,000)
    ACT
    Tiered: 28+ ($5,000), 25-27 ($4,000), 21-24 ($3,000), 18-20 ($2,000), 0-17 ($1,000)
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Freshman Booster Merit Awards

    Who qualifies

    CLT tiered: 86+ ($5,000), 78-85 ($4,000), 68-77 ($3,000), 60-67 ($2,000), 0-59 ($1,000). Test scores must be submitted by June 1 for merit award recalculations.

    How to keep it

    A student's merit scholarship is automatically renewed each academic year if the minimum cumulative GPA requirement is met, and the student has maintained an on-campus enrollment status. GPA requirements vary by scholarship and can be found in the student's Financial Aid account under Offer.

    Worth knowing

    Stacks on top of the Base Merit Award; combined maximum merit award is $10,000 per year. Regent is test optional, but submitting a score increases the merit scholarship by up to $5,000 per year.

  3. Transfer Merit Scholarships$2,500-$7,000Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Transfer Merit Scholarships

    $2,500-$7,000

    Published rangeNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Cumulative GPA at admission, tiered: Chancellors 3.75-4.0 ($7,000), Trustees 3.5-3.74 ($6,000), Presidents 3.0-3.49 ($5,000), Achievement 2.50-2.99 ($2,500)
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Transfer Merit Scholarships

    Who qualifies

    Incoming transfer students; cumulative GPA includes all prior coursework at all institutions, formatted to a 4.0 scale

    How to keep it

    Renewal terms specific to transfer merit are not stated on the transfer page; general merit renewal language on the freshman page requires minimum cumulative GPA and on-campus enrollment status.

    Worth knowing

    Page bases the award on cumulative GPA at the time of admission but does not explicitly state that it is awarded automatically with no application, so automaticOnStats is conservatively false. Updated test scores or GPAs received prior to July 1 can trigger re-evaluation via student-initiated appeal.

  4. National Merit Finalist Scholarship (National Merit Competition Scholarship)100% tuitionNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    National Merit Finalist Scholarship (National Merit Competition Scholarship)

    100% tuition

    Published coverage or packageNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for National Merit Finalist Scholarship (National Merit Competition Scholarship)

    Who qualifies

    National Merit Scholarship Finalist; Finalists should notify their Admissions Counselor during the application process

    How to keep it

    These scholarships will automatically renew each academic year if the minimum cumulative 3.3 GPA requirement for the National Merit Finalist Scholarship ... is met, and the student has maintained an on-campus enrollment status.

    Worth knowing

    Tuition only — the page states these scholarships do not apply to fees or student housing. 100% tuition is NOT a full ride.

  5. National Merit Semi-finalist Scholarship (National Merit Competition Scholarship)$10,000Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    National Merit Semi-finalist Scholarship (National Merit Competition Scholarship)

    $10,000

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for National Merit Semi-finalist Scholarship (National Merit Competition Scholarship)

    Who qualifies

    National Merit Scholarship Semi-finalist; Semi-finalists should notify their Admissions Counselor during the application process

    How to keep it

    These scholarships will automatically renew each academic year if ... a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA requirement for the National Merit Semi-finalist Scholarship is met, and the student has maintained an on-campus enrollment status.

    Worth knowing

    Tuition scholarship; does not apply to fees or student housing.

  6. Honors College Scholarship$2,000Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Honors College Scholarship

    $2,000

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    3.7 minimum high school GPA to apply
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Honors College Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Must be a high school senior, accepted to Regent for the fall semester, and submit a separate Honors College application. SAT, ACT, or CLT test scores required for Honors College consideration. AA/AS/BAS students not eligible; not available online. Deadline to apply to the Honors College: May 1, 2026.

    How to keep it

    This scholarship will automatically renew each academic year if the minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA requirement is met, and the student has maintained an on-campus enrollment status and remains in good standing with Honors College co-curricular requirements.

    Worth knowing

    $2,000 annual ($8,000 over four years), applied exclusively to tuition; the page states it may be combined with the Merit Scholarship and other financial aid.

  7. Honors Bound: The Honors College Scholarship CompetitionAmount not published (full and partial scholarships, including a full-tuition scholarship)Not automatic
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Honors Bound: The Honors College Scholarship Competition

    Amount not published (full and partial scholarships, including a full-tuition scholarship)

    Published coverage or packageNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    Open award details for Honors Bound: The Honors College Scholarship Competition

    Who qualifies

    Must apply to Regent University AND apply to the Honors College; competition held at College Preview Weekend; RSVP required (spots limited)

    Worth knowing

    Competitive event-based scholarship; specific dollar amounts for full and partial awards are not published on the page.

  8. NCFCA Scholarship50% tuitionNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    NCFCA Scholarship

    50% tuition

    Published coverage or packageNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for NCFCA Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    NCFCA Champion in a listed category (Team Policy, Apologetics, Biblical Presentation, Biographical Narrative, Duo Interpretation, Extemporaneous, Illustrated Oratory, Impromptu, Informative Speaking, Lincoln Douglas, Moot Court, Open Interpretation, Original Interpretation, Persuasive Speaking, Speech Sweepstakes); notify Admissions Counselor during application

    How to keep it

    This scholarship will automatically renew each academic year if the minimum cumulative 3.5 GPA requirement is met, and the student has maintained an on-campus enrollment status.

    Worth knowing

    On-campus undergraduate tuition scholarship for NCFCA national champions; headline lists '$34,440 Value'.

  9. Freedom Scholarship$10,000 ($5,000/year for first two years, housing only)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Freedom Scholarship

    $10,000 ($5,000/year for first two years, housing only)

    Published coverage or packageNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Freedom Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    New on-campus college students; 500-word essay on the Declaration of Independence prompt; committee selects up to 10 students per year. Deadline: May 1, 2026.

    How to keep it

    This scholarship will automatically renew each academic year if the minimum cumulative 2.33 GPA requirement is met, and the student has maintained an on-campus enrollment status.

    Worth knowing

    Covers housing expenses only — up to $5,000 each year ($2,500 per semester) for the first two years on the Virginia Beach campus; cannot be applied to tuition.

Lights up against Regent's published cutoffs. Not an award offer; confirm with the financial aid office. Award terms and residency rules change; some awards differ for in-state and out-of-state students. Always confirm at the school’s source page.

Free Merit Check

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The fine print

Renewal ruleNCFCA Scholarship: renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out

This scholarship will automatically renew each academic year if the minimum cumulative 3.5 GPA requirement is met, and the student has maintained an on-campus enrollment status. A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.

Outside awardsDifferent aid types are displaced differently

Regent treats loans, work-study, and institutional grant under different rules. The same $5,000 outside award can land against any of them depending on category.

What makes Regent different

Regent stacks an automatic GPA-based merit grid with an automatic test-score 'booster' grid (max $10,000/year combined), plus tuition-only National Merit, NCFCA, Honors, and niche awards — but caps all combined scholarships and grants at 100% of tuition.

Merit tiers92 based on grades or scores
Research checkedJul 2026By our research team

More than one award path

Separate the two paths.

Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.

  1. Match the published criteria

    Use all requirements together, including residency and the entering class.

  2. Check the application dates

    Confirm the current admission and scholarship deadlines directly with the school.

  3. Know what happens next year

    Check renewal, credit requirements and how other aid affects the award.

The fine print / Three questions to carry forward

Before you count on it.

Does it apply to us? Confirm the entering year, residency and every eligibility condition.

Can we keep it? Check renewal GPA, credits and how long the award lasts.

Can we combine it? Ask how outside scholarships and other school awards change the offer.

Take Regent's decision sheet

A printable research summary, source links and room for your questions.

See what could change an award

What families often miss

  1. Regent's Financial Aid Policy states that, with the exception of the federal Pell Grant, third-party sources authorizing such, and certain university stipend programs, 'no combination of scholarships and grants may exceed 100 percent of tuition,' and university-funded aid is only applicable to tuition charges.

  2. The page explicitly notes: 'These scholarships do not apply to fees or student housing.' Fees ($900/semester University Services Fee), housing, and food remain the family's responsibility.

  3. Submitting a test score increases the merit scholarship by up to $5,000 per year via the Booster grid; not testing caps a 4.0 student at the $5,000 base award instead of $10,000. All test scores must be submitted by June 1 for merit award recalculations.

  4. Policy #10 requires notifying Student Financial Aid of additional resources; 'your awards must be modified,' and failure to report before the first disbursement 'will result in a potentially significant lower subsequent disbursement' or repayment of aid.

  5. The page states: 'If you receive a scholarship, grant, book voucher or additional form of gift aid funded by Regent University your Regent Gap Guarantee Grant award will be reduced by the amount of your new Regent University funded award' — i.e., Regent-funded gift aid displaces the GAP grant dollar-for-dollar.

  6. Every institutional award requires maintained on-campus enrollment status, and renewal GPAs vary widely: NCFCA 3.5, National Merit Finalist 3.3, Honors College and National Merit Semi-finalist 3.0, Freedom 2.33, Homeschool/Private School/Legacy/GAP 2.0. Merit-grid renewal GPAs 'vary by scholarship' and are only shown in the student's Financial Aid account.

  7. It 'can only be applied toward campus housing,' covers up to $5,000/year for the first two years only, and is limited to up to 10 students per year selected by essay committee (deadline May 1, 2026).

  8. The Homeschool and Private School Scholarships 'will not renew after the student has received the scholarship for 4 years,' and the Church Matching Grant 'does not automatically renew. A new application must be submitted to receive matching funds.'

  9. The page states merit award amounts 'are split between fall and spring semesters and are unavailable during the optional summer semester.'

See costs and school data

Who this school may work for

Students with strong high school GPAs who also submit an SAT/ACT/CLT score win here, since the test-score booster adds up to $5,000/year on top of the base merit award. National Merit Finalists, NCFCA national champions, homeschool/private-school graduates, and Honors College admits can layer additional tuition-only awards.

Cost and graduation facts

Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at Regent, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.

Average annual net price by family income at Regent, academic year 2021-22
Family incomeAverage net price paid
$0–$30,000$20,064
$30,001–$48,000$19,327
$48,001–$75,000$17,806
$75,001–$110,000$19,148
$110,001+$22,588
All income levels (average)$19,923

Sticker price vs. what students actually pay

Total cost of attendance (sticker), AY 2021-22
$32,838
Published tuition & fees, AY 2022-23
$21,650
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$19,923

That works out to an average 39% discount off the sticker price above — both figures come from the same federal AY 2021-22 Scorecard report, not a number the school itself published.

Outcomes for students who enrolled here

Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
57%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
75%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$24,534 (~$260/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$44,498
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
51%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
53%
See other scholarships and cost examples

If your student brings another scholarship

Awards can stack (e.g., Honors stacks with merit), but with limited exceptions no combination of scholarships and grants may exceed 100% of tuition, and university-funded aid applies only to tuition charges. Students must report any outside resources, and existing awards 'must be modified.' The need-based Regent GAP Guarantee Grant is reduced dollar-for-dollar by any new Regent-funded gift aid.

Financial Aid Policy #1: except for the federal Pell Grant, third-party sources authorizing such, and certain university stipend programs, no combination of scholarships and grants may exceed 100 percent of tuition; university-funded aid is only applicable to tuition charges at Regent. Policy #10: students who receive additional aid (scholarships/grants) or other outside resources must notify Student Financial Aid and awards must be modified; failure to report before the first disbursement can mean a significantly lower subsequent disbursement or repayment. Separately, the Regent GAP Guarantee Grant is reduced by the amount of any new Regent-funded gift aid; gift aid from non-Regent sources reduces the GAP grant only as mandated by the new award's terms and conditions.

Source

Other Regent scholarships worth checking

These awards can be harder to find. Each one has its own rules.

Amount$4,000 ($1,000/year for 4 years)EligibilityAll new on-campus college students who graduate from homeschool; submit official homeschool transcript

Toward tuition. Auto-renews with minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA and on-campus enrollment; will not renew after 4 years.

Source

Amount$4,000 ($1,000/year for 4 years)EligibilityAll new on-campus college students who graduate from a private high school; submit official transcript

Toward tuition. Auto-renews with minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA and on-campus enrollment; will not renew after 4 years.

Source

AmountUp to $750/semester match ($1,500/year for fall + spring)EligibilityChurch or ministry contributes to the student's education; paper application signed by pastor/leader submitted with a church check (no personal checks/EFTs)

Does not automatically renew — a new application must be submitted each time. Submission dates: Fall August 1, Spring December 1, Summer April 1. Headline: 'up to $12,000 Value'.

Source

Amount$500/yearEligibilityGrandchild, child, or sibling of a CBN or Regent University alumnus (degree graduates)

Reviewed automatically from admissions information; auto-renews with minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA and on-campus enrollment. Headline: '$2,000 Value'.

Source

Amount$1,000/yearEligibilityDependent children of active-duty military service members, reservists, or honorably discharged veterans and retirees

Reviewed automatically from admissions information; auto-renews with maintained on-campus enrollment status. Headline: '$4,000 Value'.

Source

AmountUp to $1,000/yearEligibilityInducted PTK members (inducted before first day of classes of entry term) with minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA at time of CAS admission

Auto-renews with minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA and on-campus enrollment. Headline: '$4,000 Value'.

Source

AmountReduced tuition rate of $250 per credit hourEligibilityCollege Program Army and Navy ROTC students cross-registered at ODU and participating in all ROTC activities

Renews each year if ODU ROTC membership is maintained. Headline: '$38,880 Value'.

Source

AmountReduced tuition rate of $250 per credit hourEligibilityCurrent or former officers of NOAA or USPHS

Renews with active enrollment status. Headline: '$38,880 Value'.

Source

AmountVaries ($9,800 average value per page headline)EligibilityNeed-based; determined automatically from FAFSA information and university-set parameters; no separate application

Not merit aid. Reduced dollar-for-dollar by any new Regent-funded gift aid. Auto-renews with minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA and on-campus enrollment.

Source

Regent merit aid FAQ

  • What are the key scholarship deadlines?

    Freedom Scholarship essay: May 1, 2026. Honors College application: May 1, 2026. SAT/ACT/CLT scores for merit award recalculation: June 1. Church Matching Grant submissions: Fall August 1, Spring December 1, Summer April 1. Regent states it does not impose a FAFSA priority deadline but recommends filing at least two months before the payment deadline.

  • Do I need a separate application for the freshman merit scholarship?

    No. 'Award decisions are determined automatically using academic information gathered during the admissions process. A separate award application for merit scholarship consideration is not required.'

  • How much merit aid can a freshman get?

    Up to $10,000 per year: a base award of $1,000-$5,000 from high school GPA plus a booster of $1,000-$5,000 from SAT/ACT/CLT scores. Regent advertises freshman merit-based scholarships at 'up to $40,000 value' (four-year total).

  • Can scholarships be combined?

    Yes, within limits — the Honors College Scholarship 'may be combined with the Merit Scholarship and other financial aid' — but with limited exceptions 'no combination of scholarships and grants may exceed 100 percent of tuition,' and university-funded aid applies only to tuition charges.

  • Does the National Merit scholarship cover housing?

    No. Finalists are eligible for a 100% tuition scholarship and Semi-finalists for a $10,000 tuition scholarship, but 'These scholarships do not apply to fees or student housing.'

  • How do merit scholarships renew?

    'A student's merit scholarship is automatically renewed each academic year if the minimum cumulative GPA requirement is met, and the student has maintained an on-campus enrollment status. GPA requirements vary by scholarship and can be found in the student's Financial Aid account under Offer.'

  • Is there merit aid for transfer students?

    Yes — Transfer Merit Scholarships based on cumulative GPA at admission: Chancellors $7,000 (3.75-4.0), Trustees $6,000 (3.5-3.74), Presidents $5,000 (3.0-3.49), Achievement $2,500 (2.50-2.99). Updated GPAs/test scores received before July 1 can be used for re-evaluation by student-initiated appeal.

See sources and other schools

How Regent compares

  • 32 of 749 verified schools in our dataset use mixed displacement.

    Regent is in the small minority (32 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.

  • 665 of 749 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    Regent is one of them. The cohort minority (84 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

  • 132 of 749 verified schools publish a dedicated National Merit Finalist package.

    Regent is one of them. NMF packages typically carry their own stacking and renewal carve-outs separate from the standard automatic merit ladder; confirm those before assuming the headline NMF value is final.

Sources used on this page

Every claim is checked against Regent’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

Compare with similar schools

Keep exploring Regent merit aid

The next chapter

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