Redlands pairs a holistic Achievement Award of up to $37,000/year with three 2026-27 'Redlands Promise' tuition guarantees (full tuition for income-qualified Californians with a 3.5 GPA, an $18,000 UC-price match for Californians with a 3.0 GPA, and a $26,000 tuition cap for out-of-state students with a 3.0 GPA).
Verified Jun 20264 days ago· COWORK
Merit tiers10See requirements
Last verifiedJun 2026Analyst COWORK
Rules that bite at Redlands
The trip wires we'd flag in a custom playbook. Each is derived from Redlands's own published policy, not generic advice.
renewalThe Richard and Virginia Hunsaker Scholarship Prize: renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out
The Hunsaker Scholarship is renewable for all four years at Redlands assuming you are enrolled full-time and meet other eligibility requirements. A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.
displacementNo published displacement order
Redlands'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 Redlands
All three guarantees (full-tuition, UC guarantee, $26K in '26) explicitly exclude 'the cost of fees, room, board, books, and supplies.' With 2026-27 housing at $13,504 and the meal plan at $5,906, a 'full tuition' family still faces roughly $20,000+ in direct charges.
The Promise pages state the total grant amount for years 2-4 'will remain constant at the level from your first year,' that Redlands 'will not make up any loss of Federal or State grant money in years 2-4,' and that the amount 'does not account for any increases in tuition' — so out-of-pocket cost can rise every year.
The full-tuition Promise requires California residency, a 3.5 recalculated GPA, income of $144,700 with assets lower than $111,900, and Cal Grant A qualification; the UC guarantee requires family AGI below $300,000 (2024 tax year). High-income or out-of-state families do not qualify for these two programs.
All three Tuition Promise guarantees require completing the appropriate financial aid forms by March 2, 2026, the Hunsaker Prize requires a FAFSA by March 2nd for need-based consideration, and the Financial Aid Policies page says students receiving a University grant 'MUST reapply for financial aid by completing a FAFSA each year by March 2.'
The scholarships page warns: 'University policies limit the number and amount of institutional scholarships that students may receive.' Multiple Redlands awards may not fully add together; the award letter governs.
Redlands states outside scholarship funds are 'added to their financial aid packages; this may allow us to reduce their loans or adjust their packages' — so an outside award can trigger a package adjustment rather than reducing your bill dollar-for-dollar. Loans are named first, but 'adjust their packages' leaves the order unclear.
The Achievement Award requires a 3.0 GPA ('B average') to renew; the Music Award requires a 3.0 plus private music study and ensemble participation; Art, Creative Writing, and Theatre awards require a 2.5 GPA plus the major and departmental review. The Financial Aid Policies (SAP) page confirms 'merit and talent scholarships carry higher GPA requirements (typically 3.0)' than the 2.0 SAP floor.
Art, Creative Writing, and Theatre awards require applying to the University by the regular decision deadline (Jan. 15) plus uploading work samples after admission; Music requires a separate Conservatory application and audition. The first-year FAQ confirms: 'Students must apply by the January 15 deadline to be considered.'
The Hunsaker award ranges from $7,000 to total cost 'based upon demonstrated financial need' from the FAFSA; selected scholars without demonstrated need receive only the $7,000 scholarship (plus any Achievement Scholarship already awarded).
Who this school is for
Strong-GPA California students who qualify for a Cal Grant A can win full tuition without a separate application; out-of-state students with a 3.0 GPA get a $26,000 tuition cap. High-achieving leaders should aim for the competitive Hunsaker Scholarship Prize, which can cover full demonstrated need.
Tuition / cost of attendance: Approximately $83,950 for 2026-2027. 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.
Up to $37,000 per year
Achievement Award
ApplicationRenewable
GPA
Not stated (no published GPA cutoff)
Requirements & details+
Eligibility
Superior academic records and an unusual degree of leadership and accomplishment in school or community activities; all applicants considered during application review.
Renewal terms
Renewal policy: Academic good standing with at least a B average (3.0 GPA).
Notes
All applicants are considered automatically during the admission application review; no published GPA/test grid — award determined holistically from the application.
The Richard and Virginia Hunsaker Scholarship Prize
ApplicationRenewable
View requirements+
Eligibility
Competitive: nominated/identified during application review, invited to campus interview weekend (March 20-22; interviews March 21 only). Award amount within the range is set by demonstrated financial need via FAFSA; non-need scholars receive $7,000. Finalists who interview receive an additional $2,000.
Renewal terms
The Hunsaker Scholarship is renewable for all four years at Redlands assuming you are enrolled full-time and meet other eligibility requirements.
Notes
Main scholarships page says approximately eight incoming freshmen are selected annually; the Hunsaker FAQ page says the program hopes to enroll 10-12 Scholars each year (conflict noted in Section C).
California residents; domestic first-year CAS students entering 2026-27; full-time (12+ credits); meet income qualifications ($144,700 with assets lower than $111,900); qualify for Cal Grant A; complete FAFSA or CA Dream Act application by March 2, 2026.
Renewal terms
Your total grant amount for years 2-4 will remain constant at the tuition level from the first year. The University will not make up any loss of Federal or State grant money in years 2-4, and the total grant amount does not account for any increases in tuition in years 2-4.
Notes
Tuition only — fees, room, board, books, and supplies are NOT included. Covered by combined gift aid (state, federal, and institutional grants/scholarships), not a single institutional award. Income/asset and residency gated.
California high school seniors; domestic first-year CAS students entering 2026-27; full-time (12+ credits); FAFSA or CA Dream Act application by March 2, 2026; total family AGI below $300,000 for the 2024 tax year.
Renewal terms
Your total grant amount for years 2-4 will remain constant at the level from your first year. Total grant amount assumes no change in state or federal grant money; the University will not make up any loss and does not account for tuition increases in years 2-4.
Notes
A tuition price cap, not a stated scholarship amount: first-year tuition will not exceed $18,000 after all gift aid is applied. Fees, room, board, books, supplies not included.
Out-of-state admitted high school seniors; domestic first-year CAS students entering 2026-27; full-time (12+ credits); FAFSA by March 2, 2026 (or U of R 2026-27 Financial Aid Worksheet for undocumented students living outside California).
Renewal terms
Your total grant amount for years 2-4 will remain constant at the level from your first year. The total grant amount assumes no change in state or federal grant money; the University will not make up any loss and does not account for tuition increases in those years.
Notes
A tuition price cap: first-year tuition costs will not exceed $26,000 after all gift aid is applied. Fees, room, board, books, supplies not included.
Determined by the Art department based on samples of work (up to 12 pieces uploaded after admission); apply to the University by regular decision (Jan. 15).
Renewal terms
Academic good standing with at least a 2.5 GPA and departmental review of work; major required.
Determined by the Creative Writing department based on a writing sample (e.g., five poems; two short stories; a chapter from a novel; two personal essays; or three examples of literary journalism); apply by regular decision (Jan. 15).
Renewal terms
Academic good standing with at least a 2.5 GPA; major required.
Determined by the Department of Theatre and Dance based on a statement of interest and theatre résumé; optional performance audition (max 3 minutes) or design/production portfolio; apply by regular decision (Jan. 15).
Renewal terms
Academic good standing with at least a 2.5 GPA and department review of work; major required.
Redlands caps institutional scholarships: University policies limit the number and amount of institutional scholarships a student may receive. Outside (private) scholarships are added to the financial aid package and may lead Redlands to reduce loans or otherwise adjust the package. Under the Tuition Promise guarantees, all gift aid (state, federal, and institutional) is counted together toward the tuition guarantee, and the combined grant amount is frozen at the first-year level for years 2-4.
Scholarships page: 'University policies limit the number and amount of institutional scholarships that students may receive.' Outside scholarships: 'funds added to their financial aid packages; this may allow us to reduce their loans or adjust their packages' — loan reduction is named first but package adjustment is also possible, so the displacement order is not definitively stated. Tuition Promise pages: 'Grants and scholarships include all state, federal, and institutional awards' and 'The University of Redlands will not make up any loss of Federal or State grant money in years 2-4.'
Named awards that don’t always surface on the main financial aid page. Each one has its own eligibility rules.
Amount$5,000-Total costEligibilityNative American/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian students who demonstrate a commitment and connection to a Native community through leadership and advocacy; amount based on demonstrated financial need (FAFSA); apply through Native Student Programs.
Funded by the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation; awardees are expected to develop valuable contributions to Native communities after graduation.
Is there a separate merit scholarship application or deadline?
No separate application for the Achievement Award — 'All applicants are considered for an achievement award during the application review process.' First-year priority application deadlines are Early Action 1: November 1, Early Action 2: December 1, and Regular Decision: January 15. Talent awards (Art, Creative Writing, Theatre, Music) require applying by the January 15 regular decision deadline (Music requires a separate Conservatory application and audition).
What is the financial aid (FAFSA) deadline?
The Tuition Promise programs require the FAFSA or California Dream Act application by March 2, 2026. The first-year FAQ states 'The deadline for receipt of the FAFSA each year is March 2,' and continuing students must reapply by March 2 each year to keep University grants.
Do I automatically get full tuition with a 3.5 GPA in California?
Only if you also meet the income qualifications ($144,700 with assets lower than $111,900), qualify for the Cal Grant A, are a California resident enrolling full-time in the College of Arts and Sciences in 2026-27, and file the FAFSA/CA Dream Act application by March 2, 2026. The guarantee covers tuition only — not fees, room, board, books, or supplies.
When are Hunsaker Scholarship decisions made?
Per the Hunsaker FAQs for the 2026 cycle: RSVP by Friday, February 27, 2026; the scholarship weekend is March 20-22 with interviews on Saturday, March 21; 'Scholarship decisions and updated financial aid offers will be available by Monday, March 29.'
Will my aid stay the same all four years?
The first-year FAQ says: 'If financial circumstances remain the same, students can expect a similar level of grant assistance from the University.' Under the Tuition Promise the total grant amount is frozen at the first-year level for years 2-4 and does not rise with tuition. Merit/talent awards renew only with the required GPA (3.0 for Achievement and Music; 2.5 for Art, Creative Writing, Theatre) and, for talent awards, continued enrollment in the major.
What happens if I win an outside scholarship?
Redlands adds outside scholarship funds to your financial aid package: 'this may allow us to reduce their loans or adjust their packages.' Ask Student Financial Services (sfs@redlands.edu) exactly which aid would be reduced before counting outside money as extra.
How Redlands compares across our verified dataset
199 of 751 verified schools in our dataset use unclear or unpublished displacement.
Redlands 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.
Redlands 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.
Redlands 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 Redlands’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.
