Some colleges quietly make the price of a degree much lower — automatically. If your kid’s GPA and ACT/SAT hit the posted cutoffs, the discount is awarded without extra essays or applications. Below are 50+ public universities known for generous automatic merit. Click any school to see the full award chart, renewal rules, and stacking notes.
Not sure where to start? Use the tool we built for ourselves.
We created the CRP Scholarship Search Tool to answer one question: “Which colleges are likely to give my kid money based on their stats?”
It’s still in beta, but you can already filter by GPA, test scores, and state to uncover automatic merit, flagship scholarships, and affordable out-of-state options.
Open the CRP Scholarship Search Tool →🎓 Southeast & South
- University of Alabama — Famous for big automatic awards tied to GPA/test scores; strong nonresident discounts make a flagship price feel in-state.
- Auburn University — Assured scholarships for admitted freshmen; amounts scale with academics and renew with solid progress.
- Mississippi State University — Clear merit matrix; out-of-state students with strong stats can see most tuition covered automatically.
- University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) — Tiered automatic awards for GPA+ACT/SAT; higher bands approach full tuition.
- University of South Carolina — Automatic merit + nonresident discounts can bring the price near in-state for top applicants.
- Clemson University — Automatic out-of-state reductions for high achievers at a nationally ranked research university.
- University of Kentucky — Assured awards from strong academics; some tiers reach full tuition with simple renewal terms.
- University of Louisville — Automatic scholarships stack neatly for GPA/test bands; predictable renewal with a 3.0ish GPA.
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville — Named automatic awards (Volunteer, Provost) awarded off transcripts and scores — no extra apps.
- University of Arkansas — Automatic New Arkansan Non-Resident Tuition Award slashes OOS tuition; merit can stack on top.
- University of Central Florida — Pegasus Scholarships are automatic for admitted freshmen; higher GPAs pull higher amounts.
- Florida State University — Automatic entry awards plus larger packages for high stats; check priority dates for best consideration.
- University of Florida — Limited automatic merit at a super-selective flagship; high achievers still see meaningful discounts.
- University of Georgia — Automatic in-state programs (like Zell Miller) and strong OOS waivers tied to academic performance.
🤠 Texas & Southwest
- Oklahoma State University — Guaranteed scholarships start at modest cutoffs; higher stats unlock bigger automatic awards.
- University of Oklahoma — Automatic merit for residents and nonresidents; top tiers significantly reduce OOS cost.
- Texas Tech University — Automatic awards by GPA/test; some tiers also trigger in-state tuition for nonresidents.
- Texas State University — Assured scholarships awarded at admission; clean renewal conditions keep aid year-to-year.
- Texas A&M University — Assured awards like Academic Achievement recognize GPA/test strength; additional stacking possible.
- University of Houston — Automatic Academic Excellence Scholarships with simple renewal; honors/departmental can stack.
- University of Texas at Arlington — Automatic merit (e.g., Presidential) based on transcripts and scores, no extra forms.
- University of Texas at Dallas — Automatic Academic Excellence Scholarships; top students may reach near full tuition with stipends.
- University of Texas at San Antonio — Distinguished Presidential tiers award automatically; higher bands meaningfully cut OOS price.
- University of New Mexico — Clear automatic scholarships (including OOS options); posted GPA/test bands drive amounts.
🌾 Midwest & Plains
- University of Iowa — Automatic nonresident awards can reach five figures; simple renewal keeps aid in place.
- Iowa State University — Automatic Academic Recognition scales up as GPA/test improve; transparent chart.
- University of Kansas — Assured scholarships start around mid-20s ACT/3.25 GPA; higher tiers bring big OOS relief.
- Kansas State University — Founders/Heritage style awards are guaranteed for qualifying stats; multi-year value is strong.
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln — Automatic awards (including large flagships) bring resident and nonresident costs down.
- University of Missouri — Posted GPA/ACT bands translate to automatic scholarships; many OOS families land solid cuts.
- Michigan State University — Automatic Spartan Academic tiers for admitted freshmen; honors/departmental can layer on.
- Ohio State University — Automatic nonresident awards like National Buckeye reduce OOS tuition substantially.
- Purdue University — Automatic consideration for merit; competitive for top STEM students but predictable once admitted.
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign — Automatic awards tied to academics and major; strong students see meaningful discounts.
🌄 West & Mountain
- University of Arizona — One of the clearest auto-merit charts in the country; award jumps are easy to read by GPA/test.
- Arizona State University — New American University scholarships are automatic and renewable; strong for nonresidents.
- Utah State University — Guaranteed awards at a 3.0+ GPA with higher bands for top scores; simple renewal rules.
- University of Utah — Automatic merit from $1k+ per year; OOS tiers can bring total cost down fast.
- Colorado State University — Automatic consideration with posted GPA cutoffs; nonresident awards go up with academics.
- University of Nevada, Reno — Automatic OOS discounts plus merit tiers make UNR a sleeper value for strong students.
➕ More Universities With Automatic Merit
- Boise State University — Automatic nonresident awards (GPA-based) make Boise surprisingly affordable.
- Western Michigan University — Transparent GPA triggers; renewal is straightforward with steady progress.
- Northern Arizona University (NAU) — Posted OOS scholarships tied to GPA; predictable four-year value.
- North Dakota State University — Guaranteed merit for qualifying GPAs/tests; strong multi-year savings.
- South Dakota State University — Clear automatic tiers; OOS families often land resident-like pricing.
- University of North Dakota — Automatic awards by GPA/test band; aviation/STEM draw families nationwide.
- University of Wyoming — Nonresident awards tied to GPA make a mountain-west degree a bargain.
- West Virginia University — Automatic OOS scholarships for strong academics; check stacking with honors.
- University of Montana (Missoula) — Posted GPA thresholds map cleanly to automatic merit; solid for OOS explorers.
- University of Idaho — Automatic Go Idaho-style awards scale with GPA; simple renewal criteria.
Final Thoughts
For a lot of families, the hardest part of paying for college is just figuring out where the real discounts are. That’s why automatic merit is such a relief — no extra essays, no scavenger hunt. If your student’s GPA and test scores line up, the dollars show up. Simple.
From here, open a few of the schools that caught your eye and check the fine print: minimum GPA, whether they superscore, priority deadlines (many fall between Nov 1 and Dec 1), and renewal rules. Then layer in the other pieces — state aid, reciprocity (WUE/MSEP/NEBHE), honors perks, and department awards — to see the real price.
When you’re comparing offers, use our one-page tool to keep it apples-to-apples: College Offer Comparison Sheet (PDF). The goal isn’t chasing prestige; it’s finding a school that fits your student and your budget without stress.