Do test scores matter for out-of-state merit scholarships?

At many public universities, test scores can increase scholarship amounts even when GPA is strong. Published GPA and ACT/SAT grids often show higher award tiers for stronger scores.

What is the biggest mistake families make with out-of-state scholarships?

Missing priority deadlines is the most common mistake. Even automatic scholarships frequently require applying by an earlier admission deadline to qualify for the best award tier.

Are regional tuition programs like WUE, MSEP, ACM, or NEBHE better than merit scholarships?

It depends on the student profile and major. Regional tuition programs can lower the base tuition rate without requiring high test scores, while merit scholarships may provide larger reductions for stronger academic profiles.

10 Colleges That Offer Automatic Scholarships to Out-of-State Students (2026–2027)

Q: Are automatic scholarships guaranteed if my student meets the GPA?

Base scholarship tiers are often consistent, but automatic does not always mean permanently guaranteed. Colleges may adjust awards based on funding, applicant strength, or policy changes. Applying by the priority deadline is critical.

← Back to the College & University Scholarships hub

Some public universities automatically award merit scholarships to out-of-state students — but priority deadlines matter.

When families see out-of-state tuition, the reaction is usually the same:

“Well… I guess that one’s off the list.”

I get it. The jump from in-state to out-of-state pricing can feel ridiculous — especially when you’re staring at a number that’s basically “a mortgage payment… per semester.”

But here’s what a lot of parents don’t realize: some public universities automatically award merit scholarships to non-resident students. No extra essays. No separate scholarship portal. No guessing games.

If your student meets the GPA (and sometimes test score) benchmarks, the award is simply included in the admission offer. That doesn’t mean it’s always huge — but it can be the difference between “nope” and “let’s actually run the numbers.”

What “Automatic” Really Means

At CollegeReadyParent, when I say “automatic,” I mean:

No separate scholarship application for the base award
Awarded during the admissions process
Based primarily on GPA and/or ACT/SAT
Available to out-of-state students

Important: Automatic doesn’t mean “whenever.” A lot of these require applying by November 1 or December 1. Miss that date, and the scholarship tier can shrink — or disappear.

Parent tip: if your student is even maybe interested, treat the priority deadline like a “save your spot” deadline.

Public Universities Known for Automatic Out-of-State Merit

These are schools that consistently publish clear merit programs that include non-resident students. (Click through for full breakdowns and stacking rules.)

University of Alabama – One of the clearest GPA/test score grids in the country.
University of South Carolina – Strong non-resident merit tiers (apply early).
University of Kentucky – Out-of-state merit that can dramatically lower tuition.
Oklahoma State University – Automatic awards for qualifying non-residents.
University of Kansas – Published merit tiers with a straightforward setup.
University of Missouri (Mizzou) – Non-resident merit options tied to academic benchmarks.
Utah State University – Transparent merit grid (easy to understand).
University of Arizona – Automatic consideration for admitted students.
Arizona State University – Structured merit based on academic profile.
University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) – Strong automatic merit structure for non-residents.

Another Path: Regional Tuition Discounts (That Families Miss All the Time)

Automatic merit isn’t the only way to reduce out-of-state tuition.

There are regional reciprocity programs that can bring tuition close to in-state levels — sometimes without needing sky-high test scores. These are worth checking before you rule out an out-of-state school.

WUE – Western Undergraduate Exchange (Western states)
MSEP – Midwest Student Exchange Program
ACM – Academic Common Market (Southern states: in-state tuition for certain approved majors)
NEBHE Tuition Break – New England regional tuition discounts

These programs can sometimes reduce tuition more than merit — especially if your student’s major qualifies. (And yes, the major part is the “gotcha” that trips people up.)

Here’s the Reality

Out-of-state doesn’t automatically mean “unaffordable.”

But you do have to apply early. You do have to understand stacking rules. And you do have to focus on schools that put their merit info in plain English (instead of burying it across five different web pages).

That’s why I built the scholarship tool — to make this less of a guessing game.

Want to see which schools your student might already qualify for?

Filter by GPA, ACT/SAT, state, and award size inside the free CRP scholarship tool.

Try the Scholarship Tool →

FAQs Parents Ask About Out-of-State Scholarships

1) Are automatic scholarships guaranteed if my student meets the GPA?

Usually, the base scholarship tiers are very consistent — but “automatic” doesn’t always mean “locked forever.” Colleges can adjust award amounts based on budget, applicant pool strength, or policy changes. The safest move is to apply by the school’s priority deadline and make sure you’re using the GPA the school actually uses (some recalculate “core GPA”).

2) Do test scores still matter for out-of-state merit?

At a lot of public universities, yes — test scores can increase the scholarship amount even when the student’s GPA is strong. If a school publishes a GPA + ACT/SAT grid, test scores usually move the award up a tier. If your student is anywhere close to a higher bracket, a retake can be worth real money.

3) What’s the biggest “gotcha” families miss with out-of-state scholarships?

Deadlines. Hands down. Even when the scholarship is “automatic,” the student often has to apply by an earlier date (think November/December) to be considered for the best tier. The second biggest gotcha is stacking rules — some schools let merit + need aid + departmental money stack, while others cap total awards at tuition.

4) Are WUE/MSEP/ACM/NEBHE better than merit scholarships?

Sometimes — and it depends on the student’s profile. Regional tuition programs can lower the “starting price” without requiring top scores, but they may be limited by major, campus, or available seats. Merit scholarships can be more flexible, but may require higher GPA/test score cutoffs. In practice, families often do best when they check both: regional discounts and the school’s merit tiers.

If this helped, consider sharing it with another parent who crossed a school off the list too quickly because of out-of-state pricing.