Skip to content

The University of Memphis · Tennessee

University of Memphis Merit Aid

Memphis runs a clean GPA+test merit grid off the admission application ($2,500-$7,000/yr in-state, up to $14,000/yr out-of-state, $15,000/yr for National Merit Finalists) — but a student may hold only ONE freshman scholarship (Valedictorian excepted), and renewal requires service hours, not just grades.

Verified Jun 20264 days ago· COWORK
Merit tiers7See requirements
Last verifiedJun 2026Analyst COWORK

Rules that bite at University of Memphis

The trip wires we'd flag in a custom playbook. Each is derived from University of Memphis's own published policy, not generic advice.

  • displacementNo published displacement order

    University of Memphis's policy doesn't specify whether outside scholarships hit loans, grants, or only the COA ceiling. Get a written aid-office answer before chasing private awards.

Common merit-aid mistakes at University of Memphis

  1. Award Limitations: 'Students may receive one first-time freshman scholarship' — only the $1,000/yr Valedictorian Scholarship can stack on top of another award.

  2. Renewal is not GPA-only: 'Completion of required service hours is also necessary for scholarship renewal,' and the Honors College page notes Dean's, Provost and Presidential awards 'require a service obligation to the institution of 25-50 hours per academic year.'

  3. 'For priority consideration, freshmen students should apply to the University of Memphis by Dec. 1' — the admission application IS the scholarship application for the merit grid.

  4. Emerging Leaders ($5,500/yr) and First Scholars ($5,000/yr) require separate applications due Feb. 1 — they are not awarded from the admission application; both are Central-campus-only, and Emerging Leaders requires on-campus housing freshman year.

  5. Recipients 'must enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester and maintain good academic standing'; awards run fall/spring only and renew for at most three additional years.

  6. 'All scholarships are awarded for the academic year (fall and spring semesters only)' and renew 'for up to three (3) additional years' — eight semesters maximum, no summer disbursement.

  7. HOPE (up to $2,250/semester early years, plus Aspire/Merit supplements) requires completing the FAFSA as specified by TSAC — and HOPE stacks with a UofM merit award, so missing it leaves state money on the table.

  8. 'Updated GPA and test scores may be submitted through March 1' — superscores count, but only if they arrive by the cutoff.

Who this school is for

Freshmen with a 3.25+ GPA and ACT 22+ (or a 3.80+ GPA with no test score for the Trustee Award) who apply by December 1; out-of-state students get roughly double the in-state dollar amounts; National Merit Finalists/Semi-Finalists earn $15,000/yr either way.

Tuition / cost of attendance: Approximately $30,536 for 2025-2026. Source

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.

$2,500-$7,000 per year…$2,500-$7,000 per year ($10,000-$28,000 total)

In-State Merit-Based Scholarships (Cecil C. Humphreys Presidential / Provost / Deans / Academic Achievement / Trustee Award)

ApplicationRenewable
GPA
3.25+ (merit grid rows); 3.80+ (Trustee Award, GPA only)
SAT
1390+ (Presidential); 1300-1380 (Provost); 1160-1290 (Deans); 1100-1150 (Academic Achievement)
ACT
31+ (Presidential); 28-30 (Provost); 24-27 (Deans); 22-23 (Academic Achievement)
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Awarded based on information submitted on the UofM admissions application; priority application by Dec. 1; updated GPA and test scores accepted through March 1; superscores considered

Renewal terms

Academic scholarships are renewable for up to three (3) additional years; disbursed fall and spring only; recipients must enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester and maintain good academic standing; completion of required service hours is also necessary for scholarship renewal.

Notes

No separate scholarship application, but the page says the university 'selectively awards scholarships each year' — not marked automatic. Two pathways: GPA + test, or GPA-only for certain awards (Trustee).

Source

$5,000-$14,000 per year…$5,000-$14,000 per year ($20,000-$56,000 total)

Out-of-State Merit-Based Scholarships (Cecil C. Humphreys Presidential / Provost / Deans / Academic Achievement / Trustee Award)

ApplicationRenewable
GPA
3.25+ (merit grid rows); 3.80+ (Trustee Award, GPA only)
SAT
1390+ / 1300-1380 / 1160-1290 / 1100-1150 by tier
ACT
31+ / 28-30 / 24-27 / 22-23 by tier
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Same Dec. 1 priority and March 1 update window; awarded from the admissions application

Renewal terms

Same renewal rules: up to three additional years, 12+ credit hours/semester, good academic standing, required service hours.

Notes

Out-of-state dollar values are roughly double in-state for the same stat bands.

Source

$15,000 per year ($60,000 total)

National Merit Finalist & Semi-Finalist (High Achievement Scholarship)

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist status; same amount in-state and out-of-state

Renewal terms

Same renewal framework as other academic scholarships (up to three additional years, 12+ hours, good standing, service hours).

Source

$1,000 per year ($4,000 total)

Valedictorian Scholarship

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

Valedictorian status; uniquely STACKABLE with another first-time freshman scholarship

Renewal terms

Same renewal framework as other academic scholarships.

Notes

'Students may receive one first-time freshman scholarship, with the Valedictorian Scholarship eligible to be stacked.'

Source

$5,500 per year ($22,000 total)

Emerging Leaders

ApplicationRenewable
GPA
3.0+ cumulative high school GPA
SAT
1060+
ACT
21+
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Separate application in Tiger Scholarship Manager due Feb. 1; limited number selected; on-campus housing required during freshman year; Memphis (Central) Campus only

Renewal terms

Recipients must maintain a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA, acquire and maintain involvement in at least one campus-affiliated entity, complete ten community service hours each semester, and submit reflections for co-curricular experiences each semester.

Source

$5,000 per year ($20,000 total)

First Scholars Program

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

Incoming freshmen whose parents did not graduate from college (first-generation); separate online application due Feb. 1; Memphis (Central) Campus only; optional on-campus housing freshman year

Renewal terms

Renewable for a total award of $20,000 over four years; ongoing criteria not detailed on the page opened.

Source

$2,250 per semester…$2,250 per semester (Fr/So) / $2,850 per semester (Jr/Sr) at 12+ credit hours

Tennessee HOPE Scholarship (state lottery scholarship, hosted criteria)

ApplicationRenewable
GPA
3.0 unweighted high school GPA (alternative to test score)
SAT
1060 (alternative to GPA)
ACT
21 (alternative to GPA)
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Tennessee resident for at least one year prior to high school graduation; graduate from an eligible high school; FAFSA required; homeschool students have additional dual-enrollment pathways

Renewal terms

Administered under Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) rules; FAFSA required as specified by TSAC.

Notes

Supplements: HOPE Aspire +$750/semester (household AGI $36,000 or less); HOPE Merit +$500/semester (29 ACT and 3.75 final unweighted GPA). Amounts prorate at 6-8 and 9-11 credit hours. TN residents may stack HOPE/TSAC awards with a UofM freshman scholarship.

Source

Outside scholarship stacking policy

One first-time freshman scholarship per student — except the Valedictorian Scholarship, which can stack on top. Tennessee residents may additionally stack Memphis Promise and TSAC state awards (e.g., HOPE) if eligible. Treatment of private outside scholarships is not addressed on the pages opened.

Award Limitations (freshman pages): 'Students may receive one first-time freshman scholarship, with the Valedictorian Scholarship eligible to be stacked. Tennessee residents may stack Memphis Promise and additional awards from the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) if eligible and awarded.'

Source

Lesser-known scholarships at University of Memphis

Named awards that don’t always surface on the main financial aid page. Each one has its own eligibility rules.

AmountAmount not publishedEligibilityContinuing Honors College members in Good Standing for 1+ year; at least one Honors course in the past year; minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA; resume; preference to high merit + demonstrated need via FAFSA; deadline February 1, 2026

One-time, NONRENEWABLE award — not a four-year commitment.

Source

AmountAmount not publishedEligibilityFull-time Honors members (sophomore-senior) majoring in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Earth Sciences or Biomedical Engineering; 3.25+ cumulative GPA; community/university service; two faculty recommendations; deadline February 1, 2026

Only ONE award available per academic year; can fund a year of study, study abroad, or an international internship.

Source

AmountVariesEligibilityAdmitted high school seniors intending to enroll in Fall may apply through the myMemphis portal

Several hundred academic scholarships each year in varying amounts.

Source

AmountVaries by external programEligibilityHonors College assists well-qualified students; successful applicants generally have a 3.7+ GPA plus leadership or research

External prestige awards, not UofM-funded.

Source

University of Memphis merit aid FAQ

  • What is the scholarship deadline?

    Apply for admission by December 1 for priority scholarship consideration; the admission application is the merit application. Updated GPA/test scores are accepted through March 1. Separate applications for Emerging Leaders and First Scholars are due February 1, and the Honors College and Perryman scholarships are due February 1, 2026.

  • Is there a test-optional merit award?

    Yes — the Trustee Award ($2,500/yr in-state; $5,000/yr out-of-state) is GPA-only at 3.80+, and the university offers a 'GPA-Only Evaluation' pathway for certain scholarships.

  • How much more do out-of-state students get?

    Roughly double: e.g., the Cecil C. Humphreys Presidential is $7,000/yr in-state vs $14,000/yr out-of-state; National Merit Finalists/Semi-Finalists get $15,000/yr in both cases.

  • Can I stack my UofM scholarship with the Tennessee HOPE?

    Yes — 'Tennessee residents may stack Memphis Promise and additional awards from the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) if eligible and awarded.'

  • What does renewal require?

    Minimum 12 credit hours per semester, good academic standing, and completion of required service hours; scholarships renew for up to three additional years (fall/spring only). Emerging Leaders adds a 3.00 GPA, campus involvement, ten service hours per semester, and reflections.

  • What is the cost of attendance?

    Published 2025-2026 figures (the most recent on the COA page): in-state undergraduate on-campus total $30,536; out-of-state $35,240 (based on 12 hours). 2026-27 figures were not yet posted.

How University of Memphis compares across our verified dataset

  • 199 of 751 verified schools in our dataset use unclear or unpublished displacement.

    University of Memphis is in a recognizable cluster (199 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.

  • 199 of 751 verified schools publish no clear displacement order.

    University of Memphis is one of them. The right move is the aid-office email script below, not a guess.

  • 669 of 751 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    University of Memphis 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.

Sources used on this page

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

Compare with similar schools

Keep exploring University of Memphis merit aid