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MeritPlaybook / Take-home research

Sonoma State
Decision sheet

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

The starting point

As a low-cost CSU campus, Sonoma State publishes almost no automatic domestic merit grid — its only fixed-dollar automatic merit awards are for international (F-1) students ($2,000-$5,000 by admit GPA, first year only); domestic students compete through one need-aware scholarship application matched to 200+ named awards with no published per-award amounts.

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.

International Student President Award

$5,000 · Published amount

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

GPA: 3.60 and above (admit GPA)

Eligibility: F-1 visa, degree-seeking student; offered admission; full-time enrollment; MBA excluded due to unit requirements; final official transcripts received by Admissions by July 1 (Fall) / January 1 (Spring)

Renewal: Page describes the award only as reducing 'the cost of tuition in your first year' — no renewal language is stated, so treat as a one-year award unless the aid office confirms otherwise.

Other terms: Automatic for international (F-1) admits at this GPA band — no separate application. Domestic students are NOT eligible. Stated as a first-year tuition-reduction award.

https://international.sonoma.edu/international-students/tuition-fees-scholarships

International Student Provost Award

$3,000 · Published amount

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

GPA: 3.26 - 3.59 (admit GPA)

Eligibility: F-1 visa, degree-seeking student; offered admission; full-time enrollment; MBA excluded; final official transcripts by July 1 (Fall) / January 1 (Spring)

Renewal: Stated as reducing tuition 'in your first year'; no renewal terms published.

Other terms: Automatic for international (F-1) admits in this GPA band. Domestic students are NOT eligible.

https://international.sonoma.edu/international-students/tuition-fees-scholarships

International Student Merit Scholarship

$2,000 · Published amount

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

GPA: 3.0 - 3.25 (admit GPA)

Eligibility: F-1 visa, degree-seeking student; offered admission; full-time enrollment; MBA excluded; final official transcripts by July 1 (Fall) / January 1 (Spring)

Renewal: Stated as reducing tuition 'in your first year'; no renewal terms published.

Other terms: Automatic for international (F-1) admits in this GPA band. Domestic students are NOT eligible.

https://international.sonoma.edu/international-students/tuition-fees-scholarships

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: Sonoma State says not reporting external scholarships may result in adjustments to need-based aid, including possible repayment of funds already disbursed; the published policy does not specify whether loans, work-study, or grants are reduced first, so families should confirm the displacement order with the financial aid office.

Our unanswered questions / Family notes

Keep the sources with the decision

Full research, award details and source context: https://meritplaybook.com/colleges/sonoma-state-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.