Alabama State University Scholarships (2025–2026)
← Back to the Public University Scholarships hub • See Alabama state aid
- Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
- Automatic vs. competitive awards and who typically qualifies
- Flagship scholarships that can hit full tuition or a full ride
- Honors perks and how to stack awards the smart way
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: Not publicly posted (current cycle)
- Middle 50% ACT: Not publicly posted
- Middle 50% SAT: Not publicly posted
- Average HS GPA: Not publicly posted
Source: ASU Admissions & Financial Aid pages (latest available). Middle 50% = the range where half of admitted students fall (when reported).
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
Alabama State at a Glance
Academic Excellence — full tuition, required fees, and books
Academic Incentive — full tuition + $500 book award
Last verified: October 23, 2025
Alabama State’s flagship merit tiers can slash the bill dramatically. The Presidential Academic Scholarship is a true full ride (tuition, required fees, books, and on-campus room & board). Just below it, Academic Excellence and Academic Incentive deliver full tuition (with fees/books as listed). Plan ahead—scores are required for academic scholarships even though admission is test-optional.
Use this guide to gauge where you fit in the merit landscape, then layer Alabama state programs and department or donor awards to build your best package.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Test-optional for admission, but ACT/SAT scores are required for academic scholarships.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? Not publicly posted for the current cycle; see Admissions/Common Data Set for any updates.
What’s the average net price? About $13,889 after grants/scholarships (College Scorecard; varies by income).
Does this school offer full tuition/full ride? Yes — see Flagship (Competitive): Presidential Academic (full ride); Academic Excellence (full tuition + fees + books); Academic Incentive (full tuition + $500 books).
Competitive Merit Scholarships (Presidential/Excellence/Incentive) — Alabama State University: https://www.alasu.edu/_qa/types-of-aid-competitive-merit-scholarships.php
Academic Scholarships hub (Marion 9 & other categories): https://www.alasu.edu/financial-aid/asu-scholarships.php
Admissions — Test-optional note & scholarship testing requirement: https://www.alasu.edu/_migration-2023-08-17-23/admissions/undergraduate-admissions.php
State Grants (ASAP overview): https://www.alasu.edu/_qa/state-grant.php
College Scorecard — average net price: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?100724-Alabama-State-University=
💰 Cost of Attendance at Alabama State University
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Mandatory Fees | $11,248 | $19,576 |
| Housing & Meals | $7,382 | $7,382 |
| Total (Before Aid) | $18,630 | $26,958 |
Note: Books & supplies, transportation, and personal expenses are not included in the table because they are not paid directly to Alabama State University and vary by student. ASU’s COA estimates list these as indirect costs for planning purposes.
Real Savings Example: Out-of-state tuition/fees ($19,576) – In-state ($11,248) ≈ $8,328/year saved.
Learn more at our ACM guide on CollegeReady Parent.
Cost of Attendance FAQs
Who qualifies for ACM? Residents of SREB states whose chosen major isn’t offered in their home state — must be certified by their state higher ed agency.
How much can families save? About $8,300 per year, based on the current in-state vs. out-of-state tuition difference at ASU.
Is ACM automatic? No. Families must apply through their home state’s ACM office and be officially approved.
University COA page: https://www.alasu.edu/financial-aid/tuition-costs.php
Fall 2025 Tuition & Fee Schedule (per-term; shows tuition, required fees, and room/food estimate): https://www.alasu.edu/administration/business-and-finance/student-accounts/fall-2025-fee-schedule.pdf
2025–2026 Per-Credit Tuition & Fee Schedule: https://www.alasu.edu/administration/business-and-finance/student-accounts/tuition-and-fees-per-credit-hour-2025-2026.pdf
Residence Hall & Meal Plan charges (catalog): https://alasu.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2025-2027/2025-2027-undergraduate-bulletin/expenses-and-financial-aid/policy-on-payment-of-room-board-and-tuition/residence-hall-facilities-and-meal-plans
SREB Academic Common Market (program overview & inventory): https://www.sreb.org/AcademicCommonMarket
College Scorecard (average net price): https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?100724-Alabama-State-University=
✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M-9 Freedom (In-State) | $5,000/year | Admitted freshmen, in-state residents | No | Yes — up to 8 semesters; GPA & SAP review | Solid GPA (cutoffs not published; generally ≥3.6, ACT ~24+ typical historically) | July 30 (admission + FAFSA) |
| M-9 Legacy (In-State) | $3,500/year | Admitted freshmen, in-state residents | No | Yes — up to 8 semesters | Likely mid-range GPAs; bands not published (historically ~3.3–3.59, ACT ~21–23) | July 30 (admission + FAFSA) |
| M-9 1867 (In-State) | $1,500/year | Admitted freshmen, in-state residents | No | Yes | Lower merit above admission minimum (historically ~3.0–3.29, ACT ~19–20) | July 30 (admission + FAFSA) |
| M-9 Lincoln Normal (In-State) | $1,000/year | Admitted freshmen, in-state residents | No | Yes | Baseline merit; minimum admissible GPA (historically 2.75–2.99, ACT ~18) | July 30 (admission + FAFSA) |
| M-9 Heritage (Out-of-State) | $12,000/year | Admitted freshmen, out-of-state residents | No | Yes — up to 8 semesters | High OOS academic tier (cutoffs not published; historically ≥3.6, ACT ~24+ recommended) | July 30 (admission + FAFSA) |
| M-9 Dreamer’s (Out-of-State) | $10,000/year | Admitted freshmen, out-of-state residents | No | Yes | Strong academic OOS profile (bands not published; ~3.3–3.59, ACT ~21–23 common historically) | July 30 (admission + FAFSA) |
| M-9 Promise (Out-of-State Tuition Offset) | $8,328/year | Admitted out-of-state freshmen; min. 2.75 GPA | No | Yes | Any OOS student with GPA ≥2.75 | July 30 (admission + FAFSA) |
| M-9 Marion Strong (In-State, Transfers) | $2,500/year | Transfer, in-state, min. 24 transferable college hours | No | Yes — up to 6 semesters | Solid transfer GPA; active degree progress | July 30 (admission + FAFSA) |
| M-9 Perseverance (In-State, Transfers) | $1,000/year | Transfer, in-state, min. 24 transferable college hours | No | Yes — up to 6 semesters | Admissible transfer GPA | July 30 (admission + FAFSA) |
| M-9 Founders (Out-of-State, Transfers) | $10,828/year | Transfer, out-of-state, min. 24 transferable hours | No | Yes — up to 6 semesters | OOS transfers with strong GPA & completion | July 30 (admission + FAFSA) |
*Automatic Marion 9 scholarships do not require a separate application. GPA/test score bands for each tier are not published, but typical ranges are noted based on historical recipients and sources. Recipients must enroll full-time, meet SAP and GPA standards, and file the FAFSA each year. Out-of-state/transfer tiers included for completeness.
Automatic Merit FAQs
Do I need to apply separately? No — all admitted, FAFSA-filed students are automatically considered. No additional application for automatic tiers.
Does ASU superscore? ASU does not publish a superscore policy; scholarships are based on the best composite ACT/SAT.
Can awards stack? Stacking rules are not explicitly published; families should confirm with Financial Aid for maximum award scenarios.
What’s the key deadline? Admission plus FAFSA by July 30 is required for automatic merit consideration.
Alabama State University Marion 9 Academic Scholarships – https://www.alasu.edu/tuition-aid/scholarships/academic-automatic
ASU Academic Scholarships – https://www.alasu.edu/tuition-aid/scholarships/academic
ASU Smart Catalog – https://alasu.smartcatalogiq.com/
🏆 Competitive Scholarships
These are selective, limited awards that require meeting specific GPA/ACT thresholds and completing a competitive scholarship application in your student portal after admission. Award amounts and eligibility are set by ASU as of 2025; renewals require continuous full-time enrollment and annual GPA checks.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility (plain English) | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presidential Academic Scholarship | Full tuition, required fees, books, on-campus room & board (up to 8 semesters) | Freshmen with GPA ≥ 3.76 and ACT ≥ 26 (SAT 1240); admitted and eligible | Yes — apply in student portal after acceptance | Yes — 3.0 GPA, full-time, 24 credit hours/year | Top academic applicants with leadership/service | Feb 14 (competitive scholarship application) |
| Academic Excellence Scholarship | Full tuition, required fees, and books (up to 8 semesters) | Freshmen with GPA 3.51–3.75 and ACT ≥ 22 (SAT 1160); admitted | Yes — portal application after acceptance | Yes — 3.0 GPA, full-time, 24 credit hours/year | High achievers just below Presidential threshold | Feb 14 (competitive scholarship application) |
| Academic Incentive Scholarship | Full tuition + $500 book award (up to 8 semesters) | Freshmen with GPA 3.0–3.5 and ACT ≥ 20 (SAT 1020); admitted | Yes — portal application after acceptance | Yes — 3.0 GPA, full-time, 24 credit hours/year | Solid academic students with college-prep rigor | Feb 14 (competitive scholarship application) |
| Black & Gold Scholarship | $4,000/year (up to 8 semesters) | Freshmen with GPA ≥ 2.75 and ACT ≥ 18 (SAT 940); admitted | Yes — portal application after acceptance | Yes — 2.75 GPA, full-time, 24 credit hours/year | Admitted students who meet merit minimums | Feb 14 (competitive scholarship application) |
Notes: Renewal conditions and limits are set annually by ASU. All students are encouraged to confirm current year deadlines and stacking rules with the Office of Financial Aid as policies may change.
Competitive Scholarships FAQs
Is there a separate application? Yes — once admitted, all eligible scholarships are listed in your student portal and require separate scholarship forms. The deadline for competitive awards is February 14.
Are awards limited? Yes — competitive scholarships are capped by available funding. Meeting the minimum guarantee does not guarantee a spot.
Do these stack with automatic merit? Not universally; check with Financial Aid before assuming competitive and automatic awards can be combined.
Are interviews or essays required? Some awards require essays and/or interviews. Portal details will specify requirements for each award.
Alabama State University Competitive Merit Scholarships – https://www.alasu.edu/tuition-aid/scholarships/academic
ASU Academic Scholarships – https://www.alasu.edu/tuition-aid/scholarships/academic-automatic
ASU Smart Catalog – https://alasu.smartcatalogiq.com/
🎖️ Honors College
Alabama State’s University Honors Program is designed for high-achieving students who want a more personalized college experience. Program details and published data are limited compared to larger flagship universities, but the focus is on small interdisciplinary seminars, intensive faculty mentorship, and cultivating future researchers and leaders.
The program also helps ambitious students pursue national fellowships such as the Goldwater, Fulbright, and Udall — highly selective awards for research, study abroad, and graduate study.
Honors Program FAQs
Is admission automatic? No. Students must apply or may be invited following admission; requirements are coordinated between Undergraduate Admissions and the Honors Director.
Does joining Honors add time to my degree? No. Honors coursework is designed to coincide with core degree requirements, though participants may add a thesis or major research project.
Are there deadlines? ASU does not publish a fixed Honors deadline, but early admission and scholarship deadlines typically apply to the priority pool. Early action is highly recommended.
Does Honors come with extra money? Alabama State does not list any Honors-exclusive scholarships; students in the Honors Program are typically eligible for competitive and donor-funded awards instead.
ASU Honors Program – https://alasu.smartcatalogiq.com/
ASU Undergraduate Admissions – https://www.alasu.edu/admissions
⭐ College Specialty
Alabama State University may not have the name recognition of larger flagship campuses, but it has carved out some distinctive strengths that give its graduates a clear edge. From cutting-edge nanobiotech research to the marching band that brings national attention, ASU blends tradition with forward-looking programs that matter to families across Alabama and beyond.
- Center for NanoBiotechnology Research (CNBR) — nationally funded by the National Science Foundation, with undergraduate Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs.
- Physical Therapy (DPT) — CAPTE-accredited doctoral program that ranks among Alabama’s strongest allied health offerings.
- Marching Hornets Band — nationally recognized HBCU band program, featured in major parades and halftime shows across the country.