Alcorn State University Scholarships (2025–2026)

Q: Are there still competitive scholarships available?

Yes, but they come through corporate partners and are handled in Scholarship Universe. These are smaller in number and more specialized.

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What This Page Covers:

Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
Automatic merit ranges and who typically qualifies
Competitive and hidden-gem scholarships worth a look
Honors perks and how to stack awards the smart way

Alcorn State is a proud Mississippi HBCU that keeps things simple for families: one flat tuition rate whether you live in-state or out-of-state. That means parents don’t have to worry about extra surcharges, and students can focus on the real savings—automatic scholarships, competitive awards, and special programs that help cut the true cost. If you’re new to the process, check our Mississippi state aid guide alongside this page for even more ways to save.

💰 Cost of Attendance at Alcorn State University

Expense	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition & Mandatory Fees	$8,549	$8,549
Housing & Meals	$10,310–$12,948	$10,310–$12,948
Books & Supplies	$1,672	$1,672
Transportation	$1,686	$1,686
Personal Expenses	$1,582	$1,582
Total (before aid)	$23,799–$26,437	$23,799–$26,437

Average Net Price: According to federal data, families actually paid about $13,155 per year (2022–2023) after scholarships and grants—no loans included.

Flat Tuition, No Out-of-State Premium: Alcorn State charges the same tuition for Mississippi and non-Mississippi students. That means families automatically avoid the extra $10,000–$15,000 per year many universities tack on.

Academic Common Market (ACM) students may also benefit if their home state participates and the major isn’t offered locally. This can make specialized programs at Alcorn even more affordable.

Cost of Attendance FAQs

Who qualifies for in-state rates?
Everyone—Alcorn doesn’t charge extra for out-of-state undergraduates.

How much can families really save?
Compared to a typical public university that charges $10k+ extra for non-residents, the savings here can be worth over $40,000 across four years.

Do I need to apply for the waiver?
No waiver is needed for the flat tuition. If you’re eligible for ACM, that’s a separate application through your state agency.

✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
President’s Excellence	Full ride – tuition, room & board for 4 years + $500/semester books + $1,000/semester stipend	3.0+ GPA and ACT 28+ (or SAT equivalent)	No	Yes – must keep 3.0 GPA	Top test-takers (28+ ACT) with strong rigor; these are the students who usually secure the full ride.
Provost Scholar	Up to $17,000/yr	3.0+ GPA and ACT 24–27 (or SAT equivalent)	No	Yes – must keep 3.0 GPA	Solid students in the mid-20s ACT range with good grades; early FAFSA filing helps with funding.
University Scholar	Up to $12,000/yr	3.0+ GPA and ACT 22–23 (or SAT equivalent)	No	Yes – must keep 3.0 GPA	Students with ACT in the low 20s and a solid B+/A- GPA; this award makes Alcorn very affordable.

Note: Students can only receive one of the automatic academic scholarships. Institutional aid cannot exceed the cost of tuition, housing, and meals.

Automatic Scholarship FAQs

Do I need to apply separately?
No. All admitted freshmen are automatically considered if they meet the GPA and test score thresholds. FAFSA must be filed for packaging.

Does Alcorn superscore ACT or SAT?
No. Alcorn uses composite scores as reported; there is no superscore policy.

Can these awards stack with other scholarships?
Not usually. Only one academic merit award is granted, and institutional aid cannot exceed the total cost of attendance. Outside/private scholarships may still stack on top.

What’s the deadline to qualify?
Applications must be submitted by April 1 for automatic consideration. Awards depend on available funding.

🏆 Competitive Scholarships

Most universities reserve their very best scholarships for a small, competitive pool. Alcorn is different: the President’s Excellence full-ride is awarded automatically to every freshman who meets the ACT/GPA threshold. That means Alcorn does not currently offer a separate flagship competitive program in the usual sense.

Scholarship	Award Amount	What Makes It Competitive	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable? / Who Actually Wins?
No flagship competitive scholarships are offered. The automatic full-ride (President’s Excellence) serves as Alcorn’s top award.

Good to know: At most schools, families chase highly selective competitive programs. At Alcorn, the flagship package is automatic. Competitive opportunities here are mainly corporate/partner scholarships (like Cargill, Strada, or Takeda) and are listed separately through Scholarship Universe.

Competitive Scholarship FAQs

So there’s really no competitive flagship award?
Correct. Alcorn’s President’s Excellence is a true full-ride and awarded automatically if you meet the criteria. That’s unusual compared to most universities.

Are there still competitive scholarships available?
Yes, but they come through corporate partners (Cargill, Strada, Takeda) and are handled in Scholarship Universe. These are smaller in number and more specialized.

Does Alcorn superscore ACT/SAT?
No. Alcorn uses composite scores as reported; there is no superscore policy.

Can corporate partner awards stack with automatic merit?
Sometimes, but institutional aid can’t exceed the total Cost of Attendance. Corporate programs may also come with service, internship, or leadership requirements.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These are the awards families often overlook — need-based, identity-driven, ROTC, or special opportunities tied to band, study abroad, or departmental initiatives. They can make a real difference when combined with automatic aid.

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Army ROTC Scholarships	Full tuition and fees + book allowance + $420/month stipend	Students committing to Army officer training; GPA ≥2.5 and meeting physical standards	Yes – apply through ROTC board/goarmy.com	Yes – must keep GPA and fitness standards	Students who meet academic, fitness, and service requirements; nursing majors receive extra preference
Band / Music Performance Awards	Typically $1,000–$3,000/yr depending on talent and need	Students selected by audition for Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite or music ensembles	Yes – audition required	Yes – must continue participation	Talented musicians who commit to rehearsals, marching, and performances
ASU Foundation Scholarships	$500–$5,000/yr (varies by donor fund)	Students with FAFSA on file; awards consider GPA, financial need, leadership, or major	Yes – via Foundation portal/Scholarship Universe	Varies by fund	Students who meet donor criteria (often academic achievement plus service/leadership)
ASU Foundation GAP Assistance	$500–$1,000 (one-time)	Enrolled students with unmet need; FAFSA required	Yes – short application window	No	Students facing small gaps in tuition/fees who apply quickly when the window opens
CAAS Scholars Program	Up to $10,000/yr	Majors in College of Agriculture & Applied Sciences; leadership and service considered	Yes – CAAS scholarship application	Possibly – contingent on academic performance	Strong CAAS majors with community service and faculty involvement
NRCS Scholars Program	Up to $10,000/yr	Students pursuing agriculture/natural resources majors; academic performance and career interest	Yes – CAAS application	Yes – if GPA and progress are maintained	CAAS majors with solid GPA and interest in USDA-related careers
Cargill Thrive Scholarship	Up to $5,000/yr + mentoring & career coaching	Incoming or transfer students pursuing food/agriculture/STEM/business pathways	Yes – Corporate Scholars/Scholarship Universe	Renewable with performance	Students showing leadership and career focus in agriculture or STEM fields
Strada HBCU Scholars	~$7,000/yr + leadership training and internships	High-achieving undergrads with leadership potential	Yes – Corporate Scholars/Scholarship Universe	Yes – renewable for selected cohort	Students with strong GPA and campus involvement who complete leadership requirements
Takeda Scholars Program	Competitive award (amount not publicly posted) + research & internship support	High-achieving freshmen; emphasis on STEM/health pathways	Yes – Corporate Scholars/Scholarship Universe	Renewable if academic requirements are met	Freshmen with strong academics who pursue research/internship opportunities
Mississippi State Aid (MTAG, MESG, HELP)	MTAG: $500–$1,000/yr; MESG: up to $2,500/yr; HELP: covers full tuition/fees	Mississippi residents meeting GPA/ACT or income criteria	Yes – apply via msfinancialaid.org	Yes – must keep GPA and credit load	Residents who apply by deadline and meet GPA/test or financial need requirements

Disclaimer: Award ranges are based on the latest published figures. Some amounts may vary annually depending on funding. Where official dollar amounts were not posted (e.g., Takeda Scholars), only confirmed program descriptions are included.

Additional departmental scholarships (Nursing, Agriculture, STEM, etc.) are available in the scholarship portal but vary by donor and year.
Clubs, Greek organizations, and campus groups sometimes offer small stipends or book awards; these vary widely and are applied for through student organizations.

Hidden Gem Scholarship FAQs

Can ROTC cover everything?
Yes. Army ROTC can pay full tuition and fees plus stipends, but students must meet fitness and service obligations.

How competitive are band scholarships?
They depend on auditions. Students who bring strong talent and commit to marching/concert ensembles are most likely to win support.

What is the GAP Assistance award?
It’s a small, one-time grant ($500–$1,000) designed to help students close last-minute funding gaps so they don’t have to stop out.

Do Mississippi residents get extra help?
Yes. Through MTAG, MESG, and HELP, residents can receive anywhere from a few hundred dollars up to full tuition, depending on need and GPA/test scores.

⭐ College Specialty

Alcorn State has a proud legacy as one of the nation’s first historically Black land-grant universities. Families know it best for its strength in agriculture and nursing, but students also find nationally respected opportunities in education, STEM, and music. These programs connect students to real pipelines in Mississippi and beyond.

Standout Program:
Nursing — Alcorn State’s School of Nursing is one of Mississippi’s top producers of Black nursing graduates and is well recognized statewide for preparing nurses who go straight into high-demand hospital and community roles.

Agriculture & Applied Sciences: As a 1890 land-grant HBCU, Alcorn is nationally recognized for agricultural research, extension, and workforce training through its College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and USDA partnerships.
Education: Longstanding teacher education programs that supply a large share of Mississippi’s educators, with strong regional placement pipelines.
STEM Initiatives: Federal partnerships (e.g., NRCS Scholars, USDA-CAAS, corporate programs) highlight Alcorn as a pathway for underrepresented students in STEM fields.
Music / Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Band: Known statewide and nationally for its marching band and fine arts traditions, which attract students across the South.

🎖️ Myrlie Evers-Williams Honors Program

The Myrlie Evers-Williams Honors Program is Alcorn’s way of attracting and supporting high-achieving students who want more from their undergraduate years. It’s built around scholarship, leadership, and service — giving motivated students a smaller academic community with big opportunities for growth.

What a Typical Honors Student Looks Like:
High school GPA of 3.0 or higher, ACT score of 24+ (or SAT equivalent), strong academic rigor, and a record of leadership or service. Current Alcorn students can also apply after their first semester with a 3.0 GPA and faculty recommendations.

Perks that Matter:

Priority access to Alcorn’s top automatic scholarships (like the President’s Excellence full ride)
Specialized honors seminars and colloquiums
Guided research and independent study with faculty mentors
Support for paid internships and research stipends
Leadership and service opportunities that strengthen scholarship resumes
Preparation for graduate school and national fellowship competitions
Recognition at commencement and on transcripts

Honors Program FAQs

Do Honors students get extra scholarships?
While there isn’t a stand-alone “Honors Scholarship,” most students in the program qualify for Alcorn’s top automatic awards — including the President’s Excellence full-ride. Being in Honors also positions students for stipends, internships, and external fellowships.

Is admission automatic if I meet the GPA and ACT cutoffs?
No. Students must submit an Honors application. Admission is competitive and also looks at leadership, service, and faculty recommendations.

Does joining Honors add time to my degree?
No. Honors seminars and projects are designed to complement your major. Students graduate on time with extra distinction.

When should I apply?
Entering freshmen should apply alongside their admission application. Current students can apply after their first semester if they have a 3.0 GPA and faculty support.

📎 Official Links

Final Thoughts

Alcorn State is unusual in the best way: it puts a true full-ride scholarship on the table automatically for high-achieving students. Add in strong state aid, ROTC, band, foundation awards, and Honors support, and families can realistically cover the full cost of college here. For first-gen parents, that means less worry about hidden fees and more confidence that your student’s hard work will be rewarded. If you’re looking for a place where value and opportunity meet, Alcorn State belongs on the list.

✅ Last updated: September 18, 2025