Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach) Scholarships (2026–2027)

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Last Updated on October 31, 2026
What This Page Covers:
  • Tuition, housing, and average family net price
  • Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
  • Flagship and hidden-gem awards
  • Honors and stacking strategy

📊 Admissions Snapshot

  • Acceptance Rate: ~62%
  • Middle 50% ACT: 24-30
  • Middle 50% SAT: 1170-1360
  • Average GPA: N/A

The quick read on Daytona Beach: About 7,900 undergraduates, and most of them are chasing a career in aviation or aerospace. Embry-Riddle admitted about 62% of its 12,079 first-year applicants for fall 2025, and two out of three freshmen came from outside Florida. The middle half of enrolled freshmen scored 1170 to 1360 on the SAT or 24 to 30 on the ACT, and the average weighted high school GPA was 3.99. Embry-Riddle only reports weighted GPAs, which is why the snapshot above shows N/A.

One correction to the FAQ at the bottom of this section: it says private schools charge everyone the same rate. Daytona Beach is the exception. Students who graduated from a Florida high school pay $43,608 in tuition instead of $45,888, which is $2,280 less every year. It’s based on where your student finished high school, not on where your family lives today.

Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →

📌 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach) at a Glance

Average Net Price
$42,976/year
Average paid.
Automatic Merit
Not published; first come, first served
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
7 opportunities
1 automatic · 2 competitive · 4 hidden gem
Merit Evaluation
Holistic Review / Varies
Merit depends on profile rigor.
Testing Policy
Test-optional (scores help merit)
Scores optional for automatic merit
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Mar 15 • FAFSA: Mar 1
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach (Read This First)

  • Test-optional for admission is not test-optional for money. Embry-Riddle says strong scores may qualify your student for more merit, and Bright Futures won’t pay a dime without a qualifying score.
  • Nobody tells you the merit numbers. Embry-Riddle doesn’t publish scholarship tiers, cutoffs, or dollar amounts. You find out what you got when the award letter shows up.
  • Merit money is first come, first served. January 15 is the fall admission priority date. A student who applies in March is fishing in a smaller pond.
  • The biggest awards wipe out the small ones. Golden Eagle and Diamond Eagle scholarships replace all other Embry-Riddle scholarships and grants, including the $1,000 summer camp grant.
  • Flight training is billed separately. Pilots should budget $20,000 to $30,000 a year in flight fees while they’re actively flying, on top of tuition.
  • Need-based help is thin. In the latest federal data, families earning under $30,000 still paid about $36,000 a year after grants.

FAQ

Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach) is test-optional for admission, but scholarships can work differently (see the next question).

Do you need test scores for scholarships at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach)? Test-optional for admission, but Embry-Riddle says strong SAT or ACT scores may qualify a student for additional merit scholarships, and Bright Futures requires a score.

What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 24-30; SAT: 1170-1360.

Average net price? About $42,976/year after aid.

Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.

Sources:
CollegeReadyParent FL state aid guide: https://collegereadyparent.org/florida/
Embry-Riddle - Boeing Scholars Program: https://erau.edu/admissions/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/boeing-scholars
Embry-Riddle - Scholarships: https://erau.edu/admissions/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships
Embry-Riddle Summer Camps - Parent Information: https://summercamps.erau.edu/parents
Embry-Riddle Alumni - Alumni Grants: https://alumni.erau.edu/invest-in-future-eagles/alumni-legacy-grant
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

💰 Cost of Attendance at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach): 2026–2027 Rates

Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.

📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach) has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.

Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,300 to $3,100 more than the in-state total below. $1,300 to $3,200 more than the out-of-state total below.

In-State: billed cost per year
$62,664
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees $45,534
Housing & meals (typical) $17,130
Total billed cost $62,664
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$64,944
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees $47,814
Housing & meals (typical) $17,130
Total billed cost $64,944

That is $2,280 more per year than Florida residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.

Average federal net price: $42,976 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.

Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.

✈️ The Line Item That Isn’t on This Table: Flight Training

If your student is in a flight degree like Aeronautical Science, flight training is paid as you go, separate from tuition. Embry-Riddle’s own page gives two estimates. One says to budget $20,000 to $30,000 per year while actively flying. The FAQ on the same page says $23,000 to $33,000 a year for the first two years, then $10,000 to $15,000 for the third. Either way, a pilot’s real yearly bill can land north of $90,000 in the heavy flying years. Students who stop flying over breaks usually spend more overall, because they lose proficiency and have to repeat lessons.

FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach

Why do some students pay less tuition than others?
Embry-Riddle has a separate rate for students who graduated from a Florida high school: $43,608 a year in tuition instead of the standard $45,888. That’s $2,280 a year, or a little over $9,000 across four years. In the table above, the “In-State” column is that Florida high school graduate rate. It depends on where your student finished high school, not on whether your family holds Florida residency.

How much does flight training add?
Flight costs are not part of tuition and are paid as your student flies. Embry-Riddle tells families to budget roughly $20,000 to $30,000 a year while flying, with the first two years running heaviest. ROTC scholarships and most institutional aid don’t touch flight fees, so treat this as its own budget.

Do we have to buy the biggest meal plan?
No. Embry-Riddle’s official cost sheet uses the 21-meal plan at $8,200 a year, but the minimum required plan for on-campus students is the 14-meal plan at $6,730. The table above uses the required plan, so it runs about $1,470 lower than Embry-Riddle’s own estimate.

Is the average net price really around $43,000?
Yes. The latest federal figure for students who got grant aid is $42,976 a year. What surprises families is how little that drops with income. Families earning under $30,000 still paid about $36,000 a year, and families earning $48,000 to $75,000 paid about the same. Merit and Florida state aid do most of the heavy lifting here, not need-based grants.

Does my student have to live on campus?
Yes. First-year students are required to live on campus for their first two years, unless they’re 21 or older. Housing in the table is a double room at $10,400 a year.

Are there other fees we should plan for?
Engineering students pay an extra $674 a year, and everyone pays a one-time $175 orientation fee. Every student is also billed for health insurance (about $1,982 for 2025-26) unless you submit a waiver showing comparable coverage during the waiver window. Don’t miss that window if your student is on your plan.

Is any major cheaper?
Yes. Aviation Maintenance Science has its own tuition rate of $25,844 a year, about $20,000 less than the standard rate. Certification fees run extra.

Sources:
https://erau.edu/admissions/tuition-and-costs
https://erau.edu/academics/colleges/daytona-beach-college-of-aviation/flight/flight-course-costs-and-payment
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=133553

📅 Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)

  • Summer before senior year: A six-day residential summer camp at Daytona Beach unlocks a $1,000 grant if your student enrolls.
  • By December 1: Students admitted by this date can be invited to apply to the Honors Program.
  • January 15: Fall admission priority date. Merit is first come, first served, so this is the real deadline for scholarship money.
  • March 1: FAFSA priority date for need-based aid, including Florida’s FSAG grant.
  • March 15: Boeing Scholars and special-interest scholarship applications are due.
  • August 31 after graduation: Last day for Florida students to file the Florida Financial Aid Application for Bright Futures.

Parent rule of thumb: treat January 15 as your real deadline, even if your student is still comparing schools.

Automatic Merit Scholarships: Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach

Every newly admitted first-year student is considered for merit automatically, based on GPA, test scores, and class rank. There’s no separate application. Here’s the catch: Embry-Riddle doesn’t publish its tiers or dollar amounts, so nobody can tell you ahead of time what a 3.8 and a 1300 will earn. What we do know is that the top awards are called Golden Eagle and Diamond Eagle, that money goes out first come, first served, and that sending a strong SAT or ACT score can only help.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidAutomatic
Bright Futures Florida Academic Scholars
📅 Deadline: FFAA by Aug 31 after graduation; test by the same date
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 5 yrs)
$6,360/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~29 ACT✎ ~1330 SATFlorida resident; 3.5 weighted GPA in 16 core credits; 29 ACT / 1330 SAT / 95 CLT; 100 service or paid work hours; FFAA by Aug 31 after graduation; no FAFSA needed
✚
Stacking & Combining
At a private Florida college FAS pays a flat $212 a credit hour in 2026-27, about $6,360 for 30 hours, instead of a share of tuition. Stacks with the college's own merit and with EASE. Renewal takes a 3.0.
💡
Strategic Detail
Paid per credit hour at Embry-Riddle as a private college, so the dollar figure is far below what Bright Futures pays at a Florida public university.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
3.5 students with a 29 ACT who logged the service hours and filed the FFAA. The hours are the quiet killer: a 1400 SAT does nothing without 100 documented hours, and the hours have to be in before graduation.
State AidAutomatic
Bright Futures Florida Medallion Scholars
📅 Deadline: FFAA by Aug 31 after graduation; test by the same date
✓ Renews (2.75 GPA, 5 yrs)
$4,770/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~24 ACT✎ ~1190 SATFlorida resident; 3.0 weighted GPA in 16 core credits; 24 ACT / 1190 SAT / 82 CLT; 75 service hours or 100 paid work hours; FFAA by Aug 31 after graduation; no FAFSA needed
✚
Stacking & Combining
At a private Florida college Medallion pays $159 a credit hour in 2026-27, about $4,770 for 30 hours. Stacks with the college's own merit and with EASE. Renewal takes a 2.75.
💡
Strategic Detail
Paid per credit hour at Embry-Riddle as a private college, so the dollar figure is far below what Bright Futures pays at a Florida public university.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
3.0 students with a 24 ACT and the service hours. The 1190 SAT is the number that catches people: a 1180 with a 3.9 GPA gets nothing from Bright Futures, and there is no GPA-only path.
State AidAutomatic
Effective Access to Student Education Grant
📅 Deadline: Set by each college
✓ Renews (2 GPA, 5 yrs)
$3,500/yr
✔ Stackable
Florida resident at an eligible private nonprofit Florida college; 12 credit hours every term; not need-based; up to nine semesters; deadline set by each college
✚
Stacking & Combining
$3,500 a year for 2026-27 for being a Floridian at a private Florida college, no grades or income test. EASE Plus adds a stipend for upper-level students in teaching, nursing, allied health, agriculture, cyber security, and digital arts. Stacks with Bright Futures and the college's aid. Renewal takes a 2.0.
💡
Strategic Detail
Embry-Riddle was one of 15 private colleges a 2025 House budget proposal would have cut from EASE using new performance metrics, and its aid site lists EASE only under the Worldwide campus. The 2026-27 state budget funds EASE for 38,272 students, so confirm the $3,500 appears on the Daytona Beach aid offer before counting on it.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Every full-time Florida resident at a participating private college. The two ways to lose a term are dropping below 12 hours and a state funding shortfall, which prorates the spring payment.
State AidAutomatic
Florida Student Assistance Grant
📅 Deadline: No separate application. File the FAFSA early, because each college awards from a fixed allocation until it runs out.
✓ Renews (2 GPA, 5 yrs)
$200–$3,260/yr
✔ Stackable
Florida resident undergraduate with substantial financial need on the FAFSA (Student Aid Index of 9,984 or less for 2026-27) at a participating private Florida college. The college sets each award from its state allocation.
✚
Stacking & Combining
$200 to $3,260 a year in 2026-27, set by the college from a fixed state allocation. Stacks with Pell, EASE, Bright Futures and the college's own aid. Talented Twenty students get priority.
💡
Strategic Detail
Embry-Riddle's grants page names FSAG as the Florida grant for Daytona Beach students. The amount depends on the college's allocation and the student's need.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Florida students with the lowest Student Aid Index who file the FAFSA early. The money is first come, first served at most private colleges, so a February filer has a far better shot than a June filer.
State AidAutomatic
Benacquisto Scholarship
📅 Deadline: NMSC first-choice designation deadline, then the college deadline
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Florida resident National Merit Finalist who also receives an NMSC, corporate-sponsored, or college-sponsored National Merit award; name the college as first choice with NMSC before the offer is mailed; non-residents have not been accepted since 2022-23
✚
Stacking & Combining
At a private Florida college Benacquisto pays an amount equal to the cost of attendance at a Florida public university, minus Bright Futures and the National Merit award, not Embry-Riddle's full price. Stacks with Bright Futures by design.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Florida National Merit Finalists who list Embry-Riddle as first choice with NMSC and also receive an NMSC or corporate-sponsored National Merit award. Embry-Riddle does not list a college-sponsored National Merit award, so that route is not available here.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Embry-Riddle Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate application. Apply for admission by the January 15 priority date, because Embry-Riddle awards scholarships first come, first served.
✓ Renews
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Every newly admitted first-year student is considered automatically, based on GPA, SAT or ACT scores and class rank. Scores are optional for admission, but Embry-Riddle says strong scores may qualify a student for additional merit money.
💡
Strategic Detail
Embry-Riddle does not publish tiers, cutoffs or dollar amounts. The top awards are named Golden Eagle and Diamond Eagle, and they replace all other Embry-Riddle scholarships and grants, including the $1,000 Summer Programs Grant. Most institutional scholarships are not stackable. Bright Futures, EASE, FSAG and outside scholarships still layer on top, up to the cost of attendance. Renewal terms appear in the award letter.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who apply early with a strong transcript and send SAT or ACT scores. The middle half of enrolled freshmen scored 1170 to 1360 on the SAT or 24 to 30 on the ACT. The award letter arrives shortly after admission, and its size is the first real signal of where a student landed.
Data last verified Oct 30, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

Note: Florida students can stack Bright Futures, EASE, and FSAG on top of Embry-Riddle’s merit award. At a private college, Bright Futures pays a flat amount per credit hour, about $6,360 a year for Academic Scholars and $4,770 for Medallion Scholars, far less than it pays at a Florida public university.

Automatic Merit FAQs (Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach)

How much merit money will my student get?
Embry-Riddle doesn’t say ahead of time. There’s no published grid, so the award letter that arrives shortly after admission is the first real number you’ll see. That’s why it pays to apply early and to run the Daytona Beach net price calculator before falling in love.

What are Golden Eagle and Diamond Eagle scholarships?
They’re Embry-Riddle’s top merit awards. They come with a trade-off: they replace all other Embry-Riddle scholarships and grants. A student who earns one won’t also keep the summer camp grant or other smaller Embry-Riddle awards. State aid and outside scholarships are separate and still count.

Should my student send SAT or ACT scores?
If the scores are good, yes. Embry-Riddle is test-optional for admission, but it says strong scores may qualify a student for more merit. Florida families have a second reason: Bright Futures requires a qualifying score, 1190 SAT or 24 ACT for Medallion, and 1330 SAT or 29 ACT for Academic Scholars.

Is there a deadline for automatic merit?
Not a hard one, but money is handed out first come, first served. Apply for admission by the January 15 priority date so your student is reviewed while the scholarship budget is still full.

Can my student stack automatic merit with other Embry-Riddle awards?
Mostly no. Embry-Riddle says most institutional scholarships are not stackable. What does stack: Bright Futures, EASE, FSAG, Pell, and outside scholarships, up to the total cost of attendance.

Does Florida’s EASE grant apply at Embry-Riddle?
EASE pays $3,500 a year to Florida residents at eligible private Florida colleges, and the 2026-27 state budget funds it for over 38,000 students. Embry-Riddle was on a 2025 list of schools that a House budget proposal would have cut, so confirm the $3,500 actually shows up on your Daytona Beach aid offer.

Sources:
https://erau.edu/admissions/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships
https://erau.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/first-time-students
https://summercamps.erau.edu/parents
https://erau.edu/admissions/financial-aid/types-of-aid/grants

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach doesn’t run a big essay-and-interview competition for full rides. The real competitive money for new students comes from two places: the Boeing Scholars Program for future pilots and maintenance pros, and a handful of special-interest scholarships for kids already competing in rocketry, robotics, cyber, or drone soccer. Both need a separate application, and both are easy to miss.

✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Embry-Riddle?

Aid Type Stacks with Merit? Parent Translation
Golden Eagle / Diamond Eagle Replaces These top awards replace every other Embry-Riddle scholarship and grant.
Other Embry-Riddle scholarships Usually not Embry-Riddle says most institutional scholarships are not stackable. Ask before counting on two.
Bright Futures, EASE, FSAG Yes Florida’s state money is separate and layers on top of Embry-Riddle’s award.
ROTC scholarships Yes, up to cost Embry-Riddle may add “assurance” money, but ROTC plus university aid can’t exceed the cost of attendance, and neither covers flight fees.
Outside scholarships Yes Students can receive outside money up to the cost of attendance, so apply for every aviation scholarship you can find.

The Boeing award is the one to circle on the calendar. It pays for two years, keeps your student in a small cohort with Boeing mentors and facility visits, and the application is short. Most students who miss it simply never knew it existed.

App Required
Boeing Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: 03-15
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 2 yrs)
$5,000–$7,500/yr
✘ Not stackable
New incoming students headed for aviation careers, with special interest in aeronautical science and aviation maintenance science. Full-time enrollment (12 or more credits) each term is required.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the Daytona Beach Boeing Scholars application by March 15 of the year the student enrolls. Recipients are notified by mail and the award appears in ERNIE.
💡
Strategic Detail
Pays for two years and renews for year two with a 3.0 cumulative GPA and full-time enrollment. The Boeing Scholars page lists a flat $7,500 a year while the Daytona Beach scholarship listing gives $5,000 to $7,500, so plan on the low end. Scholars stay in a cohort with Boeing mentoring, facility trips and possible internships. Embry-Riddle does not say how it combines with merit, so ask financial aid before counting on both.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming aviation and aviation maintenance students who send the short separate application before March 15. Boeing picks the cohort in early spring, and students who skip the form are never considered.
App Required
Special-Interest Scholarships (ARC, CyberPatriot, FIRST, VEX, Drone Soccer)
📅 Deadline: Varies by award; confirm on each application form
Non-Renewable
Varies
✘ Not stackable
High school participants in the American Rocketry Challenge, CyberPatriot, FIRST, VEX or U.S. Drone Soccer who are entering Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Daytona Beach application for the competition the student took part in: American Rocketry Challenge, CyberPatriot, FIRST, VEX or U.S. Drone Soccer. Each form is on the Embry-Riddle scholarships page.
💡
Strategic Detail
Embry-Riddle lists these applications but does not publish award amounts for the Daytona Beach campus. Most institutional scholarships are not stackable, so ask how any award combines with the automatic merit scholarship.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students already competing on a rocketry, robotics, cyber or drone soccer team. The pool is limited to competitors and the forms are short, so a student who qualifies faces far less competition than for general merit.
Data last verified Oct 30, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs

How much is the Boeing Scholars award?
Embry-Riddle’s own pages disagree. The Boeing Scholars page says $7,500 a year for two years, while the Daytona Beach scholarship listing says $5,000 to $7,500 a year. Plan on the low end and be pleasantly surprised.

When is the Boeing application due, and who should apply?
March 15 of the year your student enrolls. It’s for new students headed into aviation careers, with special interest in aeronautical science and aviation maintenance science. Year two renews with a 3.0 cumulative GPA and full-time enrollment.

What are the special-interest scholarships?
Separate applications for students who competed in the American Rocketry Challenge, CyberPatriot, FIRST robotics, VEX robotics, or U.S. Drone Soccer. Embry-Riddle doesn’t publish the amounts for Daytona Beach, but the applicant pool is limited to competitors, which works in your student’s favor.

Does Embry-Riddle offer a National Merit scholarship?
Embry-Riddle doesn’t list a college-sponsored National Merit award. Florida National Merit Finalists can still unlock the state’s Benacquisto Scholarship by naming Embry-Riddle as their first choice with NMSC and winning an NMSC or corporate-sponsored award. At a private college, Benacquisto pays about what a Florida public university would cost, not Embry-Riddle’s full price.

Can my student win Boeing and keep their merit scholarship?
Embry-Riddle doesn’t say. Since most institutional scholarships don’t stack and the top merit awards replace other aid, call financial aid before you count on both.

Sources:
https://erau.edu/admissions/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/boeing-scholars
https://erau.edu/admissions/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships

🧠 Parent Strategy: The Money Is in Year Two

Embry-Riddle’s donor scholarships run from $500 up to $20,000, but they pay out the year after your student applies. That makes them a sophomore-year plan, and a good one. Here’s how to work it:

  1. Once enrolled, log into ERNIE and fill out the donor scholarship application.
  2. Fill in every field, not just the required ones. Many funds have narrow criteria like a hometown, a major, or a club.
  3. File the FAFSA every year, since some funds require financial need.
  4. Reapply every year. Donor awards don’t renew on their own.

Parent translation: freshman year is about merit and state aid. Sophomore year is when donor money can close the gap, but only if your student applies.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These are the smaller awards most families never hear about: a camp grant, two alumni grants, the donor pool, and the extra money Embry-Riddle may add for ROTC scholarship winners. None is huge alone, but they add up.

App Required⚠ Sophomore Only
Donor-Funded Scholarships (ERNIE Application)
📅 Deadline: Varies
Non-Renewable
$500–$20,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 SophomoreEnrolled Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach students. Criteria vary by fund; some require financial need on the FAFSA, others do not.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with merit and grants up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Log in to ERNIE and complete the donor scholarship application. Only starred fields are required, but filling in every field lets the committee match the student to more funds. Reapply every year.
💡
Strategic Detail
Awards range from $500 to $20,000 and are paid in the fall and spring of the following academic year, so this is money for year two and beyond. Not automatically renewable.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Current students who fill out every optional field. Many of these endowed funds have narrow criteria like a hometown, major or club, and the committee can only match a student to a fund if the application says so. Embry-Riddle tells students to apply even without leadership activities.
Automatic
Summer Programs Grant
📅 Deadline: No application. Complete a six-day residential summer program at the Daytona Beach campus before enrolling.
Non-Renewable
$1,000
✘ Not stackable
Completed any six-day residential Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach summer program and enrolls full time at the Daytona Beach campus.
💡
Strategic Detail
Paid as $500 in the fall and $500 in the spring of freshman year. A Golden Eagle or Diamond Eagle scholarship replaces this grant.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who attended a six-day residential summer camp at the Daytona Beach campus in high school. Day camps and athletic camps do not count, and a student only gets one grant no matter how many camps they attended.
Automatic
Alumni Legacy Grant
📅 Deadline: Varies
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,500/yr
✔ Stackable
Son or daughter of an Embry-Riddle alumnus enrolling full time at the Daytona Beach or Prescott campus.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Embry-Riddle says a Golden Eagle or Diamond Eagle scholarship replaces other Embry-Riddle grants, so confirm it on the award letter.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children of Embry-Riddle graduates who check the box on the application. It is not competitive, so the only way to miss it is to forget to mention the parent.
App Required
Alumni Endorsement Grant
📅 Deadline: Varies
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
New incoming full-time undergraduates endorsed by an Embry-Riddle alumnus before their first semester.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Embry-Riddle says a Golden Eagle or Diamond Eagle scholarship replaces other Embry-Riddle grants, so confirm it on the award letter.
📄
How to Apply
Ask an Embry-Riddle graduate to submit the endorsement before the student's first semester begins.
💡
Strategic Detail
Worth up to $4,000 over four years. It must be in place before the first semester; current students are not eligible.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming students who know any Embry-Riddle graduate: a pilot, an engineer, a family friend, a coach. The alum just signs an endorsement, and a student can receive only one.
Automatic
ROTC Scholarship Assurance (Air Force, Army, Navy)
📅 Deadline: No separate application. Win a national ROTC scholarship, then ask the Daytona Beach financial aid office what assurance funding it will add.
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Incoming students holding a national Air Force, Army or Navy ROTC scholarship at the Daytona Beach campus.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Embry-Riddle funding plus ROTC funding cannot exceed the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Embry-Riddle may add scholarships, need-based grants and awards for Air Force ROTC three-year and Army ROTC four-year or three-year advanced designee scholarship holders. The Navy unit says the university may provide some assistance after the FAFSA. No dollar figure is published, and none of the ROTC scholarships covers flight fees.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: High school seniors who win a national Air Force or Army ROTC scholarship and choose Daytona Beach. The assurance money is at the financial aid office's discretion, so get the amount in writing before committing.
Data last verified Oct 30, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

❓ Hidden Gems FAQ

Is the summer camp grant real money?
Yes. A student who completes any six-day residential summer program at the Daytona Beach campus and then enrolls full time gets $1,000, split $500 each semester of freshman year. Day camps and athletic camps don’t count. If your student earns a Golden Eagle or Diamond Eagle scholarship, that award replaces this grant.

We know an Embry-Riddle graduate. Does that help?
It can. Children of alumni get the Alumni Legacy Grant, $1,500 a year. Any alum can endorse a new student for the Alumni Endorsement Grant, $1,000 a year for up to four years. That could be a pilot you know, a coach, or a family friend. The endorsement has to be in before the first semester starts.

Who can apply for donor scholarships?
Embry-Riddle students apply through ERNIE, and awards are paid the following academic year, so plan on this money starting in year two. Embry-Riddle says to apply even if your student has no leadership or honors activities, because some funds don’t require them.

What does Embry-Riddle add for ROTC scholarship winners?
Students arriving with an Air Force ROTC three-year scholarship, or an Army ROTC four-year or three-year advanced designee scholarship, may get extra “assurance” money from Embry-Riddle. It’s at the financial aid office’s discretion, and no dollar figure is published. ROTC scholarships at Embry-Riddle don’t cover flight fees, so pilots still need a plan for those.

Is there a sibling discount?
An older Embry-Riddle page mentioned a sibling grant, but it doesn’t appear on any current Embry-Riddle page. Ask financial aid directly before you count on it.

Sources:
https://erau.edu/admissions/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships
https://summercamps.erau.edu/parents
https://alumni.erau.edu/invest-in-future-eagles/alumni-legacy-grant
https://erau.edu/student-experience/military-and-veterans/rotc/daytona-beach/air-force
https://erau.edu/student-experience/military-and-veterans/rotc/daytona-beach/army

Honors Program at Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach has an Honors Program, not a separate Honors College, and it’s selective. Roughly the top 6 to 7% of incoming students get in. Students can’t simply apply. Admissions identifies students who meet the cutoffs and invites them to apply, and then the program looks at essays, recommendations, leadership, and service.

  • Baseline to be invited: 1360 to 1390 SAT or 29 to 31 ACT, plus at least a 3.75 unweighted GPA
  • Timing: Students admitted to Embry-Riddle by December 1 are eligible. Students admitted December 2 to February 1 may be invited if spots remain.
  • Perks: Honors housing freshman year, priority registration, small seminars capped at 24, an Honors Center, and an Honors notation on the diploma
  • Staying in: 3.20 cumulative GPA and a 2.75 semester GPA

Honors Program Scholarships

This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.

Straight talk: There is no scholarship for being in the Honors Program. Embry-Riddle says so plainly. The reason families still care is overlap: the Honors cutoffs line up closely with Embry-Riddle’s top merit awards, so many Honors students also land the biggest automatic scholarships.
Why Apply Early Matters Twice
  • December 1: Being admitted by this date keeps the Honors door open.
  • January 15: Applying by the priority date puts your student in line before the merit budget thins out.
  • May 1: Housing application and deposit are due by this date to get a spot in Honors housing.

Honors Program FAQs (Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach)

Can my student apply to Honors on their own?
No. Students who meet the baseline test scores and GPA, and who are admitted by December 1, are invited to apply. If your student meets the numbers and hasn’t heard anything, call admissions.

Does Honors add extra classes?
No. The 24 to 27 Honors credits are built into the degree, replacing general education courses and some major courses rather than adding to them.

Can a pilot or ROTC cadet do Honors too?
Yes. Embry-Riddle says some of its strongest Honors students have been in ROTC or athletics. It just takes time management.

If my student doesn’t get in as a freshman, is there a second chance?
Yes. Students with a 3.8 or higher GPA and fewer than 60 credits may be invited to apply in the fall of their second year. It’s competitive, but possible.

Do Honors students have to live in Honors housing?
It isn’t strictly required, but Embry-Riddle considers it central to the program and strongly encourages it.

Sources:
https://erau.edu/academics/academic-experience/daytona-beach-honors-program

⭐ College Specialty

Embry-Riddle isn’t a regular university with an aviation department. Aviation and aerospace are the whole point. The Daytona Beach campus sits right next to Daytona Beach International Airport, and students fly, build, and test from their first semester. If your kid has known since middle school that they want to fly airplanes or design them, this is one of the few places built entirely around that.

Nationally Known Programs:
Aeronautical Science (flight) is the biggest major on campus, and students graduate with Commercial and Multi-Engine Instrument ratings and more than 190 flight hours. Aerospace Engineering ranks #6 in the country among schools that offer a Ph.D., in the latest U.S. News undergraduate engineering rankings.
  • Engineering beyond aerospace: Mechanical engineering is the third most common degree here, with civil, electrical, computer, and software engineering all tied to aviation and space work.
  • Aviation Maintenance Science: A hands-on path to FAA certification, with its own lower tuition rate.
  • Air Traffic Management and Uncrewed and Autonomous Systems: Career-focused programs for the control tower and the fast-growing drone industry.
  • Meteorology, Space Physics, and Human Factors: Smaller science programs that put students into weather, space, and safety research early.
  • ROTC: All three branches are on campus, and Air Force Detachment 157 produces more officers than any other Air Force ROTC unit in the country.

The campus also earns some broader recognition. In the latest U.S. News rankings it was #2 among Regional Universities in the South, #1 among private schools in that group, and #9 for undergraduate teaching in the South.

✅ Wrapping It Up

Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach is a specialist, and you pay specialist prices. For the right kid, the one who wants to fly for an airline, build rockets, or work a control tower, it’s hard to find a campus more focused on getting them there. The money side takes some homework, though. Merit is real but secret until the award letter arrives, need-based help is thin, and flight training adds a second bill that can rival tuition.

The families who make it work tend to do the same few things. They apply by January 15, send strong test scores, and file the Boeing application before March 15. Florida families also stack Bright Futures, EASE, and FSAG, and every family goes after donor money starting sophomore year. Run the net price calculator early, and if you’re paying for flight training, build that budget before you put down a deposit.

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Leo Dimilo

Leo Dimilo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He went through the college money maze with his own daughter and built this site to give other parents the plain-English version, with no paywall and no sales pitch.

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