Akron is one of the easier big-university applications you will ever fill out. There is no application fee, no required essay, and it takes the Common App. About 60% of applicants were admitted in fall 2024, and the middle half of enrolled students scored 17 to 25 on the ACT with an average GPA around 3.46. The real money decisions happen in three places: the FAFSA, the Jan. 31 priority application date, and the Feb. 1 Honors deadline.
No published cutoffs; GPA and course rigor drive it
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-optional (Honors requires ACT/SAT)
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Jan 31 • FAFSA: Dec 1
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Buckingham/Orr full ride • MAP Grant for Ohio families at $85K AGI or less
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Residency & Waivers
MSEP
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at the University of Akron (Read This First)
There is no published merit grid, and old pages are still live. You may find UA pages advertising the “Akron Guarantee” or “Akron Advantage” awards. Those are from 2017 to 2021. Only trust UA’s current 2026–27 scholarship table and the number on your award letter.
Test-optional for admission, test-required for Honors. The Williams Honors College needs an ACT or SAT score and at least a 3.6 GPA. If your student wants a shot at the full-ride Buckingham/Orr, they must be admitted to UA and apply to Honors by Feb. 1.
Ohio families at $85,000 AGI or less can pay $0 tuition. The MAP Grant is automatic once the FAFSA is filed, and it covers what is left of tuition and the Akron fee. Housing and meals are still on you.
The price lock has a hole for out-of-state students. UA’s Tuition Guarantee freezes tuition, fees, housing and dining for four years, but the non-resident surcharge is not locked and can go up.
A “new” named scholarship usually is not new money. UA uses donor funds to pay part of your merit award. If a named scholarship shows up on your letter, the total often stays the same.
No superscore. UA uses your student’s highest single composite ACT or SAT, so send the best sitting.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. University of Akron is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 17–25; SAT: 910–1190.
Average net price? About $14,693/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
Yes. It participates in MSEP.
💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Akron: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in September 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest University of Akron 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
$600 to $1,400 more than the in-state total below.$700 to $1,800 more than the out-of-state total below.
In-State: billed cost per year
$27,542
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$14,146
Housing & meals (typical)
$13,396
Total billed cost
$27,542
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$35,222
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$21,826
Housing & meals (typical)
$13,396
Total billed cost
$35,222
That is $7,680 more per year than Ohio residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $14,693 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, 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.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP): Students from participating MSEP states pay a flat tuition rate of $15,500 per year at UA instead of standard out-of-state tuition. The rate covers tuition only; the Akron fee and any course fees are added on top. MHEC currently lists Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wisconsin as the other member states. UA's own MSEP page still names Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and South Dakota, which are no longer members, so confirm your state with UA admissions before counting on the rate.
Heads up: UA's Tuition Guarantee locks tuition, select fees, housing and dining for four years, but the non-resident surcharge is not part of the guarantee and can change.
Two Things That Change the Math at Akron
The Tuition Guarantee: Your student’s tuition, select fees, housing and meal plan rates are frozen for four years from the semester they start. That makes Akron one of the easier schools to budget for, since year one’s price is year four’s price. The one exception is the out-of-state surcharge, which is not part of the lock.
MSEP for Midwest families: Students from MSEP states pay a $15,500 tuition rate instead of standard non-resident tuition, which works out to roughly $3,700 a year less. Fees are still added on top. UA’s list of eligible states is out of date, so confirm your state with admissions. See our MSEP guide.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at the University of Akron
Is tuition really free for some Ohio families?
Yes, for many. If your family’s adjusted gross income on the FAFSA is $85,000 or less and your student is an Ohio resident starting full-time, the MAP Grant covers whatever tuition and Akron fee are left after other grants and scholarships. You do not apply for it separately. You file the FAFSA and accept the grants on your offer. Housing, meals, course fees and the book bundle are not covered.
What do families actually pay at Akron by income?
Federal data for 2023–24 shows in-state students receiving aid paid on average about $10,400 a year in the lowest income bands, about $13,500 in the $48,000 to $75,000 band, about $17,800 in the $75,000 to $110,000 band, and about $20,200 above $110,000. That figure includes housing, food and books, not just tuition.
Will the price go up each year?
For Ohio students, tuition, select fees, housing and meal plans are locked for four academic years under UA’s Tuition Guarantee. Out-of-state students get the same lock on tuition and fees, but the non-resident surcharge can change.
Can scholarships pay for housing and meals?
Yes. UA says university-awarded scholarships can be applied to any charge on the bill, including residence hall fees and meal plans, unless the award says otherwise. If there is leftover scholarship money, it can go toward a meal plan and dining dollars.
My student wants engineering with co-op, which can take five years. Does the price lock run out?
The guarantee covers four academic years. Students in degree programs that require more than 120 credits can request an extension through an appeal, so file that request at least a semester before the fourth year ends.
What other Ohio aid should we know about?
The Ohio College Opportunity Grant can add up to $4,000 a year at public universities for families with an SAI of 3,750 or less and household income up to $96,000. Details are on our Ohio aid and grants page.
Oct. 1: FAFSA opens, and so does the Choose Ohio First STEMM application.
Dec. 1: UA’s FAFSA priority date. This feeds the MAP Grant and UA’s need-based grants.
Jan. 31: Priority application date for admission and the Choose Ohio First deadline.
Feb. 1: Williams Honors College deadline for the prestigious awards, including the Buckingham/Orr full ride.
Early February to April: Legacy Scholarship, college scholarship windows, music auditions and the Goodyear Driving Opportunity deadline (April 1).
Parent rule of thumb: have the admissions application and FAFSA done before Thanksgiving. Almost every Akron dollar keys off those two things.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at the University of Akron
Akron reviews every admitted student for merit using the admissions application. There is no scholarship form. UA does not publish a GPA and test score chart, so you will not know the exact dollar amount until the award letter arrives. Test scores are optional, and when they are used UA takes your student’s highest single composite, not a superscore.
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 AidApp Requiredstate residency
Ohio Governor's Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: School nomination by Oct 1; student must accept by May 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Top 5% of the graduating class at an Ohio public or chartered nonpublic high school, ranked by GPA at the end of junior year; nominated by the school by Oct 1; must accept in the state portal by May 15 or it is rescinded; Ohio colleges only
✚
Stacking & Combining
Up to $5,000 a year for four years, and it can be applied to any cost up to the college's cost of attendance, not just tuition. Stacks with every college award. Renews automatically at a 3.0 GPA with 20 credits a year. Enrolling out of state forfeits it for good.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a University of Akron award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent OH page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Top-5% seniors whose school submitted the nomination and who then logged into the portal and clicked accept by May 15. The May 15 step is where awards die: it is a separate action from the college deposit, and students who are still deciding between schools sometimes let it lapse.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Ohio College Opportunity Grant
📅 Deadline: FAFSA by the college's priority date; state cutoff Oct 1 ✓ Renews (5 yrs)
$4,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Ohio resident; FAFSA Student Aid Index of 3,750 or less AND household income of $96,000 or less; main campus of a public university; tuition and general fees only
✚
Stacking & Combining
$4,000 a year at a public main campus for low-income Ohio families, prorated for part time. Pays tuition and general fees only, and a student whose tuition is already fully covered by other tuition-specific aid gets nothing. Stacks with Pell and with college awards that cover housing or other costs. Ten-semester lifetime cap.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a University of Akron award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent OH page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Families under $96,000 with a low Student Aid Index. The one that surprises people is the tuition-only rule: a student with a full-tuition merit award from the college loses OCOG entirely, because there is no tuition left for it to pay.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyservice
Ohio War Orphans and Severely Disabled Veterans' Children Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Application by May 15 for the following year ✓ Renews (5 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Child of an Ohio veteran who died in service or has a service-connected disability rating of 60% or more; apply between ages 16 and 24; Ohio public colleges
✚
Stacking & Combining
For 2026-27 the board set it at 77% of tuition and general fees at an Ohio public college. Stacks with Pell and college aid; cannot be combined with Choose Ohio First or the Second Chance Grant.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a University of Akron award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent OH page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children of veterans with a 60%-plus VA rating who apply during the May-to-May window before the age cutoff. The age limit is the trap: it is an application-age limit, not an enrollment-age limit, so a 24-year-old who waits loses it.
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
Merit Scholarship Awards
📅 Deadline: January 31 ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with Williams Honors College scholarships, UA institutional grants, federal and state grants, and outside scholarships up to cost of attendance. For MAP Grant and Innovation Generation students, merit is applied first and the last-dollar grant covers what is left of tuition and the Akron fee.
💡
Strategic Detail
UA does not publish a merit grid for 2026-27. Awards are set from high school GPA and curriculum, with ACT or SAT scores considered if submitted. For context, UA's 2024-25 Common Data Set shows first-year students with no financial need averaged about $7,227 in non-need institutional aid. The award is a four-year commitment, and part of it may later be relabeled as a donor-funded named scholarship, but the total stays the same.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Nearly every admitted first-year with a solid college-prep record. Bigger awards go to stronger GPAs and tougher course loads; a good ACT or SAT can help but is not required.
Automatic
Out-of-State Merit Consideration
📅 Deadline: January 31 ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Merit stacks with the MSEP tuition rate where eligible, with Honors scholarships, and with outside aid up to cost of attendance. The non-resident surcharge is not locked by UA's Tuition Guarantee, so ask how merit is applied if the surcharge rises.
💡
Strategic Detail
Non-Ohio residents are reviewed for the same Merit Scholarship Awards as Ohio students. UA's out-of-state page still describes an Akron Advantage Award and an Akron Guarantee Scholarship, but neither appears on UA's official 2026-27 scholarship table, and the Guarantee page itself is labeled for fall 2020 and 2021 entrants. Treat those figures as outdated. Students from MSEP states can also qualify for a $15,500 tuition rate.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state students with strong grades and a college-prep curriculum. Test scores are optional for merit review.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
UA Institutional Grants
📅 Deadline: December 1 ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with merit, Pell and the Ohio College Opportunity Grant up to cost of attendance. The amount can change if other aid changes.
💡
Strategic Detail
Need-based UA grants set from FAFSA data; amounts are not published. In 2023-24, 92% of full-time first-year students received institutional grant or scholarship aid, averaging $8,032 (IPEDS). UA's FAFSA school code is 003123.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students whose FAFSA shows financial need. Filing by Dec. 1 keeps your student in the priority group.
Data last verified Sep 26, 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: Because there is no public grid, the most useful benchmark is UA’s own data. In the 2024–25 Common Data Set, first-year students without financial need averaged about $7,227 in non-need institutional aid.
Automatic Merit FAQs (University of Akron)
How much merit will my student get?
UA sets Merit Scholarship Awards from high school GPA and curriculum, with test scores considered if you send them. There is no chart to look up. Federal data shows 92% of full-time first-year students got institutional grant or scholarship aid in 2023–24, averaging about $8,000.
Does my student need to send ACT or SAT scores?
No. Akron is test-optional for admission and merit. Send scores only if they help, and remember UA uses the best single sitting. The exception is the Williams Honors College, which requires a score.
Are out-of-state students eligible?
Yes. Non-Ohio residents get the same merit review. If you live in an MSEP state, your student may also qualify for the $15,500 tuition rate. Ignore any old UA page promising an “Akron Advantage Award”; it is not on the current scholarship table.
Why did the name of my student’s scholarship change?
UA funds part of merit awards with donor money. The name on the letter can switch to a named donor scholarship, but UA says the total amount stays the same.
How does merit renew?
Admission-time scholarships last up to eight consecutive full-time semesters as long as your student stays in good academic standing (a 2.0 GPA) and keeps 12 or more credits each semester.
What about UA Institutional Grants?
These are need-based and come from the FAFSA. Use school code 003123 and file by Dec. 1. They stack with merit, Pell and Ohio state grants up to the cost of attendance.
Akron does not run a big university-wide scholarship competition with essays and finalist weekends. The one true “prize” award, the Buckingham/Orr full ride, lives inside the Williams Honors College (see the Honors section). What you will find here are two targeted competitions: a state-funded STEM award for Ohio students and a Goodyear-funded full-tuition program for first-generation engineers and chemists.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Akron?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
Akron Parent Translation
Honors Scholarship
Yes
Every admitted Honors student gets $1,500 to $2,000 a year on top of merit.
Buckingham/Orr Full Ride
Usually replaces
It already covers tuition, fees, housing and meals, so other UA merit typically folds into it.
MAP Grant / Innovation Generation
Last dollar
These fill whatever tuition is left after everything else. More merit shrinks the grant, not your bill.
Choose Ohio First
Yes
Adds on top of merit for Ohio STEMM majors, up to cost of attendance.
Named donor scholarships
Often a swap
UA uses donor money to fund merit. A new name on the letter often means the same total.
If your student fits one of the two programs below, it is worth the effort. Choose Ohio First draws more than 600 applicants a year, and Driving Opportunity takes only a handful of students, but both reward kids who apply early and have a clear plan for their major.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Choose Ohio First STEMM Scholarship
📅 Deadline: January 31 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$5,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA👥 ~600+ applications each year; waitlist possible winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with UA merit, Pell and OCOG. For MAP Grant or Innovation Generation students, COF is applied first and can shrink the last-dollar grant, but the family's bill does not go up.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to UA first, then complete the Choose Ohio First first-year application (same login as the admissions portal) between Oct. 1 and Jan. 31. Test scores are not required.
Selection criteria: Evaluation of academic performance, STEM interest, and alignment with program goals.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
State-funded scholarship for Ohio residents in qualifying science, technology, engineering, math and medicine majors at UA's main campus. Awards run up to $5,500. UA aims to notify students by March 31, and applicants not selected may be placed on a waitlist.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Ohio residents with at least a 3.0 GPA headed into an eligible STEMM major. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee an award; UA reviews 600+ applications a year.
Full TuitionApp Requiredmajor specificidentity basedneed based
Goodyear Driving Opportunity Scholarship
📅 Deadline: April 1 ✓ Renews (5 yrs)
Full Tuition
full tuition and fees scholarship
✔ Stackable
⚠ First-gen, low-income domestic first-years in specific engineering, technology and chemistry majors.
🏫 3.0+ GPA👥 ~Up to 5 per year (most recent published cycle: 2025) winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers tuition and fees only. Other gift aid may be adjusted so the total does not exceed cost of attendance; housing and meals are not covered.
📄
How to Apply
Get admitted with an eligible intended major, then submit the Driving Opportunity application with an essay and complete an interview by April 1.
Selection criteria: Holistic review of need, first-generation status, academic promise, and drive for career development.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
Funded by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. Covers undergraduate tuition and fees (UA lists about $13,530 a year) for up to five years or a bachelor's degree. Recipients get a Goodyear corporate mentor, an academic mentor, and a chance to interview for a Goodyear internship or co-op, sometimes at an out-of-state plant with relocation help.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-generation students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, with a 3.0 GPA preferred, who are admitted into one of the eligible majors. Test scores are optional.
Data last verified Sep 26, 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
What is Choose Ohio First, and who should apply?
It is a state-funded scholarship of up to $5,500 for Ohio residents majoring in science, technology, engineering, math or medicine fields at UA’s main campus. Your student needs at least a 3.0 GPA, and no test score is required. The first-year application runs from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31, and your student must apply to UA first.
What happens if my student is not picked for Choose Ohio First?
Students who are not selected may be put on a waitlist and can still receive funding if others decline. UA aims to notify students by March 31.
Who is the Goodyear Driving Opportunity Scholarship for?
First-generation students from lower-income families, with a 3.0 GPA preferred, headed into chemistry, chemical, mechanical or electrical engineering, or related engineering technology majors. It covers tuition and fees for up to five years and comes with a Goodyear mentor and a shot at a Goodyear internship or co-op. Out-of-state students can apply.
What does the Driving Opportunity application involve?
An application, an essay about why your student wants the program, and an interview, all by April 1. UA’s page most recently described up to five awards per year.
Where are the big essay-and-interview scholarships?
At Akron, they run through the Williams Honors College. Apply to Honors by Feb. 1 to be considered for the Buckingham/Orr full ride.
🧠 Parent Strategy: Akron Has No Single Scholarship Portal
Many schools run one big scholarship application. Akron does not. UA ended its general endowed scholarship application, and the old online portal you may find is labeled as a demo. The extra money comes through separate doors, and each one has its own date.
File the FAFSA by Dec. 1. That alone triggers the MAP Grant and UA’s need-based grants.
Check your student’s college scholarship page in January. Arts and Sciences opens its application in late January.
If a parent or grandparent went to UA, submit the Legacy Scholarship application in early February.
Music students: audition by early March. College of Business first-gen students: watch for the Summer Leadership Academy in February.
Parent translation: Akron’s automatic money shows up on its own. The hidden money only shows up if your student knocks on the right door.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These are the awards that make Akron cheaper than it looks. The biggest ones are for Ohio families with need and for Akron Public Schools graduates, but there is also money for legacy families, musicians, future polymer engineers and first-gen business students.
Full TuitionAutomaticgeographicneed based
Making Akron Possible (MAP) Grant
📅 Deadline: December 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
last-dollar tuition and fees grant
✔ Stackable
⚠ Ohio residents with family AGI of $85,000 or less; covers remaining tuition and the Akron fee.
👥 ~Automatic for all eligible students winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Last-dollar grant. Every other grant and UA scholarship is applied first, and MAP covers what is left of tuition and the Akron fee. Students must accept all federal, state and institutional grants and scholarships offered; accepting loans is optional and does not affect eligibility.
💡
Strategic Detail
For students entering UA for the first time in fall 2026, both new freshmen and transfers: Ohio residents with a family AGI of $85,000 or less on the FAFSA who enroll full-time in an undergraduate degree automatically receive the MAP Grant. It covers full tuition and the Akron fee after federal and state grants and UA scholarships are applied. It does not cover course fees, the book bundle, or room and board.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Ohio families at or under $85,000 AGI. The program started for six Northeast Ohio counties under $50,000 and now covers Ohio residents up to $85,000.
Automatic
Innovation Generation Scholarship (IGS)
📅 Deadline: May 1 · 📢 Results: Spring of senior year ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Akron Public Schools graduates with four consecutive years in APS.
🏫 3.0+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Last-in-line award. Total scholarships and grants cannot exceed tuition plus the general service fee.
💡
Strategic Detail
Partnership between Akron Public Schools and UA. Covers remaining tuition plus up to $428.40 of the general fee per semester after all other grants and UA scholarships are applied, for up to eight full-time semesters. It does not cover other mandatory fees, course fees, or room and board. Renewal requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA; students between 2.80 and 2.99 may continue at UA's discretion, and 2.79 or below ends eligibility.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Seniors who attended Akron Public Schools for four consecutive years with either a 3.5 GPA (no test score needed) or a 3.0 GPA plus college-ready ACT benchmarks (English 18, Math 22, Reading 22) or the SAT equivalent.
App Required
UA Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Early February (Feb. 9 in the 2026 cycle) ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Children, grandchildren or legal wards of UA alumni.
👥 ~Varies with endowment funds winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with UA merit and other aid up to cost of attendance. Recipients must enroll full-time both semesters to receive the full award.
📄
How to Apply
Incoming students submit the application, an essay and one letter of recommendation to the Alumni Association by email or mail before the early-February deadline.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Competitive award from the UA Alumni Association for full-time undergraduates whose parent, grandparent or legal guardian is a UA graduate. Amounts and the number of awards depend on endowment funds, and awards may be renewable. More than 235 students have received it since 2001.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children and grandchildren of UA alumni who can show leadership and community service.
App Required
CoB Summer Leadership Academy Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Applications open in February; complete the summer program before fall Non-Renewable
$2,500
✔ Stackable
⚠ First-gen Northeast Ohio students entering the College of Business.
👥 ~Limited to students selected into and completing the Summer Leadership Academy. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
One-time first-year award that stacks with UA merit and other aid up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Get admitted and registered for fall classes, file the FAFSA, and submit the Summer Leadership Academy application when it opens in February.
Selection criteria: Program selection based on leadership potential and first-generation status; scholarship tied to successful completion of the academy.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
A free one-week residential program for incoming College of Business first-years. Participants receive up to $2,500 in scholarships applied across fall and spring of the first year, plus housing, lunches and the option of a free laptop, with study tables and company visits continuing through the year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-generation students from Northeast Ohio high schools who are admitted to UA as College of Business majors. Prior leadership experience is not required.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
School of Music Audition Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Audition by early March (March 8 in the 2025 cycle) ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies with School of Music funds and ensemble needs winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Music awards generally stack with academic merit up to cost of attendance; returning students must reapply each year.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to UA, schedule a School of Music audition through the admissions process, and formally accept any offer that arrives.
Selection criteria: Faculty assessment of musical skill, potential, and reliability in ensembles.
💡
Strategic Detail
Anyone who auditions for the School of Music is automatically considered for music scholarships, and non-majors can audition if they want scholarship consideration. First-year offers go out after the third audition day. The UA Marching Band is open to all majors with no audition for wind players.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Strong musicians, majors or not, who complete an audition by the early-March cutoff.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlymajor specific
Percussion Scholarships
📅 Deadline: January–March (School of Music audition season). ✓ Renews (3 GPA)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Percussion majors; some funds require Steel Drum Band participation.
👥 ~Small number of high-value awards each year, based on endowed fund earnings and studio needs. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with academic merit up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Audition as a percussion major; scholarship forms are emailed ahead of the audition.
Selection criteria: Studio faculty evaluation of technical skill, musicality, and potential for professional-level performance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Named percussion funds include the Charlotte Essner Scholarship for full-time percussion majors who play in the Steel Drum Band and hold a 3.0 GPA, plus other endowed percussion and steel drum funds. Amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Percussion majors recommended by the percussion faculty after a strong audition.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
College and Departmental Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Varies by college; Arts and Sciences opens in late January ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies by college and donor fund winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
College awards can often be layered on merit up to cost of attendance, but a named donor scholarship on the award letter may simply be part of the merit total.
📄
How to Apply
Find your student's college on UA's private and endowed scholarships page, and watch for its application window; Arts and Sciences opens in late January.
Selection criteria: Departmental committees evaluate GPA, major-specific performance, and alignment with donor criteria.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Major-specific awards come through UA's colleges, not a central form. UA has ended its general private and endowed scholarship application, and donor funds under the financial aid office are now used inside merit packages. Colleges with their own processes include Arts and Sciences, Business, the Myers School of Art, and Health and Human Sciences (nursing, speech-language pathology and audiology, social work).
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who check their college's scholarship page each winter and actually submit when the window opens.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Provost's Scholarship for Transfer Students
📅 Deadline: Apply by August 1 for fall semester consideration ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$1,000–$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with Williams Honors College transfer scholarships (up to $2,000), institutional grants and, for Ohio transfers, the MAP Grant, up to cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Automatic consideration for transfer applicants from accredited colleges. Awards run $1,000 to $5,000 per year based on college GPA and renew for up to eight semesters with full-time enrollment and a 2.0 GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Transfer students with strong college grades. No essay or separate form.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Study Abroad Scholarships (Education Abroad Office)
📅 Deadline: Varies by term and program; usually several months before departure. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies by fund winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with merit and federal aid up to the study abroad cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Meet with the Education Abroad Office, confirm how your merit aid transfers, and apply for program-specific awards.
Selection criteria: Review of academic preparation, alignment of program with student goals, and quality of written application.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
UA merit scholarships can be used toward UA-sponsored study abroad programs, and non-UA programs require an ad-hoc consortium agreement to carry aid over. The Education Abroad Office handles smaller awards such as the Burke Scholarship supported by the UA Women's Committee, and Pell recipients can pursue the national Gilman Scholarship.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who plan a term abroad early and apply for the smaller awards before the program deadline.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Army & Air Force ROTC Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Varies by ROTC program and national board cycles. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
ROTC tuition scholarship plus stipend
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Set annually by the Army and Air Force winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can usually be combined with some UA and outside aid up to cost of attendance, subject to Department of Defense and UA rules.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Army or Air Force ROTC scholarship process, contract as a cadet, and meet ongoing academic and fitness requirements.
Selection criteria: Branch-specific evaluation of academic record, leadership potential, physical fitness, and commitment to service.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Army ROTC runs on campus; Air Force ROTC runs through a cooperating unit at Kent State University. National and campus-based ROTC scholarships can cover full or partial tuition and fees, plus a monthly stipend.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students committed to military service with strong grades, leadership and fitness who are selected by ROTC boards.
Data last verified Sep 26, 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.
Money the college does not control. Federal programs, city promise funds, foundations, and employers. The college may help you apply, but someone else writes the check, and these almost always stack with the college's own awards.
Outside MoneyApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
SPE Akron Section Polymer Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Mid-April (April 17 in the 2026 cycle) ✓ Renews
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Northeast Ohio residents pursuing polymer or plastics careers.
👥 ~Several named awards each year winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Outside award; stacks with UA aid up to cost of attendance. Report it to UA's Office of Student Accounts.
📄
How to Apply
Download the SPE Akron Section application from akronspe.org and submit by the mid-April deadline; renewals use the same form.
💡
Strategic Detail
Outside scholarship from the Akron Section of the Society of Plastics Engineers, awarding up to $3,000 per year toward tuition, books and lab fees for students preparing for polymer industry careers. Most of its named 2026 recipients attend UA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Polymer-focused students whose primary residence is in Ashland, Carroll, Columbiana, Holmes, Mahoning, Richland, Stark or Wayne counties, or parts of Medina, Portage, Summit and Trumbull counties.
Data last verified Sep 26, 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
How does the MAP Grant work with my student’s merit scholarship?
MAP is a “last-dollar” grant. UA applies every other grant and scholarship first, then MAP pays what is left of tuition and the Akron fee. Your student has to accept the grants and scholarships offered, but taking loans is optional.
We are in Akron Public Schools. What is the Innovation Generation Scholarship?
Students who attended APS for four straight years and have either a 3.5 GPA, or a 3.0 GPA with college-ready ACT scores (English 18, Math 22, Reading 22), can have remaining tuition covered. There is no separate application, but your student must be admitted by May 1 and file the FAFSA each year. LeBron James Family Foundation I PROMISE students also have a longstanding tuition pledge at UA. Confirm current terms with your school counselor.
How big is the Legacy Scholarship?
It depends on the Alumni Association’s endowment each year. Since 2001 it has helped more than 235 students. Incoming students need an application, an essay and one recommendation letter, due in early February.
My student plays an instrument but is not a music major. Is there money?
Possibly. Non-majors can audition for School of Music scholarships. Auditions close in early March, and offers go out after the third audition day. The marching band is open to all majors, and wind players do not audition.
Is there help for students going into polymers or plastics?
Yes. The Akron Section of the Society of Plastics Engineers awards up to $3,000 a year to polymer-focused students from much of Northeast Ohio. Most of its 2026 recipients attend UA. The deadline is in mid-April.
Can merit scholarships follow my student abroad?
UA says merit scholarships can be used on UA-sponsored study abroad programs. Non-UA programs need a consortium agreement first, so talk to the Education Abroad Office early.
Williams Honors College at the University of Akron
The Williams Honors College is where Akron’s biggest scholarships live. Here is the part many families miss: every admitted Honors student gets an Honors Scholarship on top of their regular merit. Joining Honors is a money decision as much as an academic one.
Minimum to apply: 3.6 GPA plus an ACT or SAT score (required even though UA is test-optional)
What they look at: GPA, test score, a written essay, and activities
Order of operations: Apply to UA, get admitted, then submit the Honors application
Deadlines: Feb. 1 for prestigious scholarships, April 1 regular, May 1 to accept your seat
Honors College Scholarships & Grants
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Williams Honors College Scholarships
📅 Deadline: February 1 ✓ Renews (3.25 GPA, 4 yrs)
$1,500–$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.6+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds on top of UA merit. Your student's merit award does not shrink when they join Honors.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to UA, get admitted, then submit the WHC application. Feb. 1 for prestigious scholarship consideration, April 1 regular deadline, May 1 to accept your seat.
Selection criteria: Holistic review based on four components — minimum 3.6 GPA, written essay, extracurricular involvement, and ACT or SAT score. All admitted students receive the base Honors Scholarship; strongest applicants are considered for the prestigious named awards.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Every student admitted to the Williams Honors College receives a renewable Honors Scholarship, typically $1,500 to $2,000 per year, on top of other UA academic scholarships. Renewal requires a 3.25 cumulative GPA after year one, 3.30 after year two and 3.40 after year three. Transfer and current UA students are reviewed case by case for up to $2,000.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted WHC students. Admission requires at least a 3.6 GPA and an ACT or SAT score, plus an essay and a look at activities.
Full RideAutomatic
Lisle M. Buckingham/Owen O. & Della M. Orr Honors Scholarship
📅 Deadline: February 1 · 📢 Results: Mid-January (interview invitations sent to finalists) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
full-ride honors scholarship
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~Approximately 6 per entering class winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Because it covers tuition, fees, housing and meals, it generally replaces other institutional merit rather than adding to it.
💡
Strategic Detail
UA's most prestigious undergraduate award. Covers tuition, fees, and room and board for up to eight semesters of an Honors student's program. About six new awards are made each year, funded by the Lisle M. Buckingham endowment and the Owen O. and Della M. Orr bequest.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Well-rounded Honors applicants with high test scores and strong records. Selection is holistic, not formula-based.
Automatic
Honors Housing Award (Herman M. Muehlstein Fund)
📅 Deadline: February 1 ✓ Renews (2 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies with fund income winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Applied to housing on top of the Honors Scholarship and UA merit; confirm placement on the award letter.
💡
Strategic Detail
Featured Honors award from the Herman M. Muehlstein Fund for Scholastic Aid: $2,000 per year toward housing for a student's first two years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Selected Williams Honors College students. The Honors College does not publish separate selection criteria.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Drs. Gary and Pamela Williams Undergraduate Research Grant
📅 Deadline: No hard deadline; suggested windows in September, November and April Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Total pool approximately $9,000 per academic year; anticipated ~$300 per project winners/yr🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with departmental or outside research funding up to the project's cost.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the approved project proposal with a detailed budget and justification through the Honors College. Decisions come within about three weeks of each suggested date.
Selection criteria: Committee evaluation of project quality, feasibility, alignment with Honors learning outcomes, and faculty sponsor support.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Offsets direct expenses of the Honors Research Project, such as materials, supplies and research travel. Awards are expected to be about $300 per project from a $9,000 annual pool, with one grant per project.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students in good standing, on track to graduate as Williams Honors Scholars, with an approved Honors Research Project proposal.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Williams Honors Travel/Study Abroad Grants
📅 Deadline: Contact the Honors College Dean's office for current cycle deadlines Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies annually based on available donor fund income winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
One-time support that stacks with merit, need-based and outside study abroad aid up to the program's cost.
📄
How to Apply
Current WHC students request funding through the Honors College with their planned program, budget and academic goals.
Selection criteria: Honors review considering academic merit, relevance of travel to the student's goals, quality of proposal, and available fund balance.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Two funds: the Drs. Gary and Pamela Williams Study Abroad Grant for Williams Honors College students, and the Jacobson Study Abroad for Women in Engineering Scholarship. Amounts vary with fund income and are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Current Honors students with a clear study abroad plan. The Jacobson fund is only for women in engineering, a small pool worth knowing about.
Data last verified Sep 26, 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.
*Honors award amounts vary with fund income and the applicant pool. Renewal requires a 3.25 cumulative GPA after year one, 3.30 after year two, and 3.40 after year three.
Deadline Note: The Buckingham/Orr full ride (tuition, fees, housing and meals for eight semesters, about six awards a year) only considers students who apply to Honors by Feb. 1. Since your student must be admitted to UA first, plan to submit the UA application in the fall.
Extra Honors Perks Worth Knowing
Honors Housing Award: $2,000 a year toward housing for the first two years, funded by the Muehlstein Fund.
Research money: The Williams Undergraduate Research Grant helps pay for supplies and travel on the senior Honors Research Project.
Study abroad: Two Honors travel funds, including one just for women in engineering.
Emerging Leaders Community: A leadership floor in the Honors Complex with its own short application.
Honors College FAQs (University of Akron)
Is the Honors Scholarship guaranteed if my student gets in?
Yes. UA says every admitted Honors student receives an Honors Scholarship, typically $1,500 to $2,000 a year, in addition to other academic scholarships. No separate form is needed.
Does joining Honors reduce my student’s merit award?
No. The Honors Scholarship is in addition to UA merit. The one exception is the Buckingham/Orr full ride, which already covers nearly everything.
My student applied test-optional. Can they still do Honors?
They will need to send an ACT or SAT score. Honors admission requires one, even though UA’s general admission does not.
Can transfer or current students join?
Yes, with a 3.6 GPA and fewer than 64 credit hours. Transfer students can receive a renewable Honors scholarship of up to $2,000, and the transfer priority deadline is May 1.
What does it take to keep the scholarship?
At least 12 credits a semester in a bachelor’s program and a cumulative GPA of 3.25 after year one, 3.30 after year two, and 3.40 after year three. No reapplication is needed.
Akron is a city built on rubber and tires, and its university grew up right alongside that industry. The result is a public research university with high research activity and a handful of programs you truly cannot find anywhere else. If your student likes making things, testing things or fixing things, Akron deserves a hard look.
Nationally Known Program: Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering: UA has been a leader in polymers since the synthetic rubber program of 1939, and its polymer school is ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for polymer science and plastics engineering by EduRank. Undergraduates can earn a BS here, not just a graduate degree, and the faculty behind it hold more than 300 issued or pending patents.
Corrosion Engineering: UA offers the nation’s first and only bachelor’s degree in corrosion engineering, a field that keeps pipelines, bridges and ships from falling apart.
Engineering with Co-op: The College of Engineering and Polymer Science runs one of the oldest co-op programs in the country. UA says polymer students average about $47,000 in earnings across three co-op rotations while finishing their degree.
Nursing and Health Sciences: Nursing produces more bachelor’s graduates than any other UA major, and the college also includes speech-language pathology and audiology.
Business: The College of Business pairs classroom work with local employers, and its Summer Leadership Academy gives first-generation students a head start.
Psychology: A steady, popular major at UA with strong pathways into counseling and applied fields.
🔗 Official University of Akron Links
Use Akron’s official pages below to confirm deadlines, scholarship rules and costs. One warning: UA still has some older scholarship pages online, so if a page doesn’t say 2026–27 at the top, double-check it with the financial aid office.
Big picture? Akron is one of the best deals in Ohio for families who do the paperwork. If you’re an Ohio family making $85,000 or less, filing the FAFSA can take tuition to zero through the MAP Grant. Your price is then locked for four years, which is rare. Stronger students should aim at the Williams Honors College, where every admit gets extra scholarship money and a handful win a true full ride.
The catch is that Akron doesn’t hand you a chart. You won’t know your merit number until the letter comes, and some of UA’s old scholarship pages are still floating around online. So apply early in the fall, file the FAFSA by Dec. 1, and send Honors applications before Feb. 1. Then go knock on the smaller doors: legacy, music, and your student’s college. For a kid who wants polymers, corrosion engineering or a paid co-op, it’s hard to find a better fit at this price.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.
Leo Dimilo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He went through the college money maze with his own daughter and built this site so other parents can see the real numbers without the sales pitch.
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