See what Evansville (UE)'s published rules mean for your student's numbers. Takes 30 seconds.
The merit-aid verdict at Evansville (UE)
UE publishes a fully transparent automatic freshman merit grid ($18,000-$30,000 by weighted GPA or test score, whichever benefits you most) plus two Indiana income-gated 'Aces' grants that wipe out out-of-pocket tuition for families under $60,000 AGI.
Rules that bite at Evansville (UE)
The trip wires we'd flag in a custom playbook. Each is derived from Evansville (UE)'s own published policy, not generic advice.
renewalAcademic Merit Scholarships — Transfer Students (Fall 2026/Spring 2027 Grid): renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out
Amounts remain the same value in subsequent years; total of all UE scholarships/gift aid will not exceed full-time tuition equivalency. A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.
displacementDifferent aid types are displaced differently
Evansville (UE) 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.
Common merit-aid mistakes at Evansville (UE)
The freshman, transfer, and gift-aid policy pages all state: 'The total of all UE scholarships/gift aid will not exceed the equivalency of full-time tuition (12-18 credit hours/semester).' Institutional merit + special + additional awards together can never exceed tuition.
The page states: 'Students who earn one of the following scholarships will receive either that scholarship or the Academic Merit Scholarship, whichever is higher' — they replace, not stack.
TASL, Moore, National Merit Finalist, Changemaker first place, and the Aces Opportunity Grant cover tuition (and for Aces, fees) only — housing, food, and other COA items (2026-27 on-campus FR/SO COA $66,434 vs. tuition $45,800) are not covered. Only the Hoosier Aces Grant adds $10,000 toward housing/meals.
Both grids state amounts 'remain the same value in subsequent years' — the scholarship is flat for all four years while tuition can increase ('Rates are subject to change without notice').
UE's Gift Aid Policy caps total gift aid at directly billed charges plus a $2,500 book/expense allowance (tuition + fees + $2,500 for commuters). 'If a student earns gift aid in excess of the amount outlined above, UE will reduce one or more forms of University-funded gift aid by the amount of the excess.' With federal aid in the package, reductions to stay within need go: loans, work, Federal SEOG, then UE grants.
Both the Aces Opportunity Grant and Hoosier Aces Grant are only for Indiana students with family AGI under $60,000 who are eligible for Indiana state grant funding and file the FAFSA by April 15, 2026; Hoosier Aces additionally requires a 3.75 weighted GPA (or 25 ACT/1200 SAT) and a -1500 SAI.
Both grants require the FAFSA by April 15, 2026 (UE school code listed by August 1, 2026), and renewal requires refiling by April 15 every year; missing the credit-hour requirements for the on-time state award can drop the award to its year-1 value.
The renewal page warns: 'the full renewal of UE aid may require continued residency in UE-approved housing.' Several awards (Teaching Fellows, Ridgway, Changemaker first place) explicitly require on-campus residency.
The $1,000/yr Official Campus Visit award and $500/yr Changing Lives Essay award both have a May 1, 2026 deadline for Fall 2026 applicants — $6,000 of 4-year value lost if you don't visit and submit in time.
Renewal of all UE scholarships requires Satisfactory Academic Progress, which includes both a minimum GPA and earning at least 67 percent of all attempted credit hours; scholarships run a maximum of 4 years (8 semesters) or until first-degree requirements are met.
Who this school is for
Strong-GPA students who want a guaranteed, published award without competing — a 4.25 weighted GPA or 30 ACT/1390 SAT locks in $30,000/year automatically. Indiana students from families earning under $60,000 AGI can pay zero out-of-pocket tuition via the Aces grants.
Tuition / cost of attendance: Approximately $66,434 for 2026-2027. Source
Federal cost and outcome data
Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at Evansville (UE), what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.
Average annual net price by family income at Evansville (UE), academic year 2021-22
Family income
Average net price paid
$0–$30,000
$14,451
$30,001–$48,000
$12,347
$48,001–$75,000
$13,711
$75,001–$110,000
$20,735
$110,001+
$24,936
All income levels (average)
$18,499
Sticker price vs. what students actually pay
Published tuition & fees, AY 2022-23
$44,172
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$18,499
That works out to roughly a 68% discount below the federal AY 2021-22 average cost of attendance of $57,451 (College Scorecard — a separate, federally reported figure, not the published cost of attendance shown above).
Outcomes for students who enrolled here
Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
64%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
83%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$24,606 (~$261/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$53,770
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
32%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
46%
Institutional merit aid tiers
Every tier below is sourced to the school’s own published financial aid pages. Renewal terms apply only if the student maintains the stated GPA.
1060+ for named tiers (1390+ Presidential; 1280 Dean's; 1200 Faculty; 1130 Academic; 1060 Aces; below 1060 Purple)
ACT
21+ for named tiers (30+ Presidential; 27 Dean's; 25 Faculty; 23 Academic; 21 Aces; below 21 Purple)
Requirements & details+
Eligibility
Awarded on GPA or test score, whichever benefits the student most. UE is test-optional; if no scores, GPA is used. Updated test scores/GPA accepted through February 1, 2026. Domestic freshmen only.
Renewal terms
Awards are renewable for up to three additional years provided the student continues to meet renewal criteria. Amounts remain the same value in subsequent years.
Notes
Awarded automatically at the time of admission based on academic credentials; no separate scholarship application is described.
Official Campus Visit ($1,000/yr): in-person guided campus tour and admission counselor session or in-person group visit day by May 1, 2026 (Fall 2026 applicants). Changing Lives Essay ($500/yr): submit registration form and essay by May 1, 2026.
Renewal terms
Listed as renewable awards with 4-year values ($4,000 visit / $2,000 essay).
Notes
Stackable engagement awards requiring an action step with a hard May 1 deadline.
Full tuition…Full tuition (gap-filling; covers tuition and fees with other gift aid)
Aces Opportunity Grant
ApplicationRenewable
View requirements+
Eligibility
Indiana students; family adjusted gross income less than $60,000; eligible for Indiana state grant funding; FAFSA by April 15, 2026 (UE school code listed by August 1, 2026). Automatically offered — no special application.
Renewal terms
Renewed for a total of 4 years (8 fall/spring semesters; excludes summer) if student maintains SAP, files FAFSA annually by April 15, meets credit hour requirements for on-time state award, and continues to meet the AGI threshold.
Notes
A last-dollar tuition guarantee: UE scholarships + Indiana state grants + federal grants + this grant = full-time tuition and fees. Not stats-based (income/residency gate).
Full tuition…Full tuition + fees + $10,000 toward housing/meals (gap-filling)
Hoosier Aces Grant
ApplicationRenewable
GPA
3.75 (weighted) or higher (or test alternative)
SAT
minimum 1200 (alternative to GPA)
ACT
minimum 25 (alternative to GPA)
Requirements & details+
Eligibility
Indiana students; family AGI under $60,000; eligible for Indiana state grant funding; FAFSA by April 15, 2026; Student Aid Index (SAI) of -1500. Automatically offered — no special application.
Renewal terms
Renewed for a total of 4 years (8 fall/spring semesters; excludes summer) with SAP, annual FAFSA by April 15, on-time state award credit hours, continued AGI threshold, and continued -1500 SAI. If SAI/credit-hour criteria lapse, the year-1 grant amount is awarded instead.
Notes
Highest-need Indiana students with strong academics; combines with other gift aid to cover tuition, fees, and $10,000 of directly billed housing/meal costs (on-campus residents).
National Merit® Finalist standing; provide a copy of the Certificate of Merit to the Office of Admission.
Renewal terms
UE scholarships renewed for a total of 4 years (8 fall/spring semesters) for students meeting renewal requirements (page-wide statement).
Notes
Stated as 'will not pay any tuition out of pocket' — tuition only, not full cost of attendance. UE has a customized gift-aid administration policy for this program (see Maximum Gift-Aid Policies page).
Selected for College Board National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program or National First-Generation Recognition Program; provide Certificate of Recognition to the Office of Admission by February 1, 2026.
Renewal terms
UE scholarships renewed for a total of 4 years (8 fall/spring semesters) for students meeting renewal requirements (page-wide statement).
Notes
Larger than the top Presidential grid award ($30,000).
Baccalaureate to Doctor of Medicine (B/MD) Program Scholarship
ApplicationRenewable
View requirements+
Eligibility
Awarded to eight freshmen from the state of Indiana selected for the B/MD program; includes provisional admission to Indiana University School of Medicine-Evansville.
Renewal terms
UE scholarships renewed for a total of 4 years (8 fall/spring semesters) for students meeting renewal requirements (page-wide statement).
Notes
The single largest published dollar award on the freshman page; competitive/selective (8 students, Indiana only).
Changemaker Scholarships (High School Changemaker Challenge)
ApplicationRenewable
View requirements+
Eligibility
Win UE's annual High School Changemaker Challenge. First place: full tuition (must live on campus as part of a cohort). Second place: $27,000. Third place: $25,000. Fourth through Sixth place: $23,000.
Renewal terms
UE scholarships renewed for a total of 4 years (8 fall/spring semesters) for students meeting renewal requirements (page-wide statement).
Notes
Competitive; first-place winners pay no tuition out of pocket but must live on campus as part of a cohort.
Housing…Housing, meals, and a $1,500 travel grant (UE portion; Lilly covers tuition, fees, book stipend)
Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship (UE add-on)
ApplicationRenewable
View requirements+
Eligibility
Designation as a Lilly Scholar (Indiana's Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program).
Renewal terms
Not stated on the freshman page beyond the page-wide 4-year renewal statement.
Notes
For Lilly Scholars, the combined package approaches full cost of attendance: Lilly pays tuition/fees/books and UE adds housing, meals, and $1,500 travel toward Harlaxton or approved study abroad. UE has a customized gift-aid administration policy for this program.
Academic Merit Scholarships — Transfer Students (Fall 2026/Spring 2027 Grid)
AutomaticRenewable
GPA
College GPA: 3.75+ = $27,000; 3.5-3.74 = $25,000; 3.0-3.49 = $22,000; less than 3.0 = $18,000
Requirements & details+
Eligibility
Based on cumulative GPA earned at previous institution(s) at time of admission; full-time enrollment (12-18 hours/semester) in a traditional undergraduate first-degree program. Excludes international transfers and certain programs (ABSN, Transition to Teaching, etc.).
Renewal terms
Amounts remain the same value in subsequent years; total of all UE scholarships/gift aid will not exceed full-time tuition equivalency.
Notes
Distinct transfer grid; awarded at the time of admission.
All UE institutional scholarships/gift aid combined are capped at the equivalency of full-time tuition (12-18 credit hours/semester). Total gift aid from all sources (including outside scholarships) is capped at directly billed charges (tuition, fees, housing, meal plan) plus a $2,500 book/expense allowance for residents — tuition + fees + $2,500 for commuters. Gift aid above the cap causes UE to reduce its own gift aid. When federal aid is in the package and need would be exceeded, reductions happen in this order: loans, work, Federal SEOG, then UE grants. 'Special Scholarships' (TASL, Moore, Nursing, etc.) do not stack with the Academic Merit Scholarship — students get whichever is higher.
Three distinct rules: (1) institutional cap — total UE scholarships/gift aid will not exceed full-time tuition equivalency; (2) overall gift-aid cap — direct charges + $2,500 allowance; excess reduces University-funded gift aid; (3) federal coordination — if need (per FAFSA) would be exceeded, reduce loans first, then work, Federal SEOG, and UE grants. Total of all aid can never exceed the cost of education (COA).
Amount$25,000 minimumEligibilityCompletion of Early College High School programs at EVSC, Tell City HS, Perry Central HS, Southridge HS, or Warrick Pathways & Career Center, plus admission to UE.
AmountVaries; Indiana All-State participants minimum $25,000EligibilityMusic majors; audition required; based on talent, academic credentials, and department needs.
Indiana All-State (Choir, Orchestra, Band) participants receive a minimum award of $25,000.
Amount$1,500EligibilityEntering freshmen who are Vanderburgh County residents or graduating from a Vanderburgh County high school; requires on-campus residency.
What is the scholarship deadline for Fall 2026 freshmen?
Merit scholarships are awarded automatically at the time of admission; updated test scores/GPA are accepted through February 1, 2026. The Official Campus Visit ($1,000/yr) and Changing Lives Essay ($500/yr) engagement awards have a May 1, 2026 deadline (November 15, 2026 for Spring 2027 entrants), and the National Recognition Scholarship certificate is due to Admission by February 1, 2026.
Do I need to file the FAFSA to get merit aid?
The merit grid itself does not state a FAFSA requirement, but the Aces Opportunity Grant and Hoosier Aces Grant both require filing the FAFSA by April 15, 2026, with UE's school code listed by August 1, 2026, and annual refiling by April 15 for renewal.
How much is the automatic merit scholarship?
For Fall 2026 freshmen: Presidential $30,000 (4.25+ weighted GPA or 30+ ACT/1390+ SAT), Dean's $27,000 (4.00 or 27/1280), Faculty $24,000 (3.75 or 25/1200), Academic $21,000 (3.50 or 23/1130), Aces $18,000 (3.25 or 21/1060), and Purple (below 3.25 / below 21/1060) with an amount that varies. UE uses your GPA or test score, whichever benefits you most.
Can I stack multiple UE scholarships?
Additional awards (Legacy, Valedictorian, Kentucky Excellence, etc.) can be added to your merit and engagement scholarships, but 'Special Scholarships' (TASL, Moore, Nursing, Changemaker, etc.) replace the Academic Merit Scholarship — you get whichever is higher — and the total of all UE scholarships/gift aid cannot exceed the equivalency of full-time tuition.
Will outside scholarships reduce my UE aid?
Outside scholarships are added to your aid 'if at all possible,' and UE lets you accumulate private scholarships up to your directly billed charges (tuition, fees, on-campus housing, meal plan) plus a $2,500 book/supply allowance. Above that cap, UE reduces its own gift aid by the excess. If federal aid is involved and need would be exceeded, reductions go in this order: loans, work, Federal SEOG, then UE grants.
How do I keep my scholarship all four years?
Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (minimum GPA plus earning at least 67% of attempted credit hours). Scholarships renew for a total of 4 years (8 fall/spring semesters, excluding summer; 5 years for the BS/MS Healthcare Administration and BS/MS Public Health programs). Full renewal of UE aid may also require continued residency in UE-approved housing. Award amounts stay flat — they do not increase with tuition.
What does the University of Evansville cost for 2026-27?
Full-time tuition is $45,800 plus $1,614 in required fees. The published 2026-27 cost of attendance for an on-campus freshman/sophomore is $66,434 (including housing/food, books, transportation, and personal expenses); junior/senior on-campus is $68,414, off-campus $70,504, and commuter $54,784.
How Evansville (UE) compares across our verified dataset
32 of 750 verified schools in our dataset use mixed displacement.
Evansville (UE) 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.
668 of 750 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.
Evansville (UE) is one of them. The cohort minority (82 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 750 verified schools publish a dedicated National Merit Finalist package.
Evansville (UE) 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 Evansville (UE)’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.
