Campbell University Scholarships (2025–2026)
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- 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
Campbell may be a private school in the heart of North Carolina, but that doesn’t mean every family pays the full sticker price. Between automatic merit awards, departmental scholarships, and special opportunities like ROTC or Honors, there are multiple ways to bring the cost down. If you’re a North Carolina family, don’t forget to also check out our state aid guide alongside this Campbell breakdown.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Campbell University
| Item | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & General Fees (12–18.5 credits) | $42,050 | $42,050 |
| Textbooks (rental) | $780 | $780 |
| Housing (typical on-campus) | $8,200 | $8,200 |
| Meals (All-Access plan) | $6,500 | $6,500 |
| Total (before aid; insurance waived) | $57,530 | $57,530 |
Note: Student illness insurance is required unless you submit a waiver. If not waived, add approximately $2,911, bringing billed “direct cost” to about $60,441.
Reciprocity / WUE / NEBHE / “Flagship Match”
- Campbell is a private university, so regional reciprocity programs (WUE/NEBHE/MSEP) don’t apply. Out-of-state students pay the same sticker price as in-state.
- Real-world savings example: if you carry your own health insurance and waive the campus plan, your billed amount drops by about $2,911 (e.g., $57,530 → $54,619 before any scholarships).
- Most families lower the price through automatic merit, endowed/departmental awards, need-based aid (FAFSA), and special programs like ROTC or Honors.
Who qualifies for reciprocity here?
No one — those discounts are public-system programs and don’t apply to private colleges like Campbell.
How much can reciprocity cut the price?
Not applicable at Campbell. Instead, savings typically come from institutional merit, endowed scholarships, need-based aid, and waiving non-required charges (like the student health plan).
Is it automatic or do we apply?
There’s no reciprocity application for Campbell. Submit the admission application for automatic merit consideration and file the FAFSA for need-based aid; submit the insurance waiver if you have your own coverage.
✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presidential Scholarship | $20,000–$25,000 per year (estimate) | High GPA, rigorous coursework, strong test scores (if submitted) | No | Yes (2.5 GPA; full-time) | *Estimate:* 3.7–4.0 GPA; ACT ≥ 28 or SAT ≥ 1310 if submitted |
| Scott-Ellis Scholarship | $15,000–$20,000 per year (estimate) | Admitted full-time undergrads with strong academics | No | Yes (2.5 GPA; full-time) | *Estimate:* 3.4–3.8 GPA; ACT 24–28 or SAT 1160–1310 if submitted |
| CU Promise Scholarship | $10,000–$15,000 per year (estimate) | Main-campus undergrads; automatic with admission | No | Yes (2.5 GPA; full-time) | Students with GPAs above 3.2 and consistent coursework |
| Transfer Scholarship | Up to $15,000 annually (estimate) | Incoming transfer students with good academic standing | No | Yes (2.5 GPA; full-time) | Transfers with ≥3.0 GPA and solid coursework record |
*Exact award tiers are not published by Campbell. Ranges above are based on past private-college patterns and should be treated as estimates. Confirm your student’s official award in their admission letter.*
Campbell University does not participate in National Merit, Stamps, or QuestBridge.
Do I need to apply separately?
No. All admitted students are automatically considered for merit scholarships.
Does Campbell superscore the ACT or SAT?
Yes. Campbell uses superscoring (combining highest sub-scores across test dates). But the school is test-optional — strong GPAs alone can secure merit aid.
Can scholarships stack with endowed or ROTC aid?
Endowed funds often underwrite part of your merit award instead of adding on top. ROTC scholarships cover tuition directly, so Campbell merit usually won’t stack on top of ROTC.
🏆 Flagship (Competitive) Scholarships
Campbell University offers one major competitive scholarship program for incoming freshmen — the J.A. Campbell Scholarship Program. This is the university’s flagship award, requiring a separate application, essays, and an on-campus interview. Only a handful of students each year are selected for full-tuition coverage.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.A. Campbell Scholarship | Full tuition (~$41,000/yr) for 8 semesters; $2,000/yr consolation award for finalists | Incoming freshmen; competitive essays, application, and on-campus interview | Yes — separate application & interview | Yes, if student maintains eligibility and full-time enrollment | High-achieving seniors with top GPAs, leadership roles, strong service records, and excellent interview performance |
*Campbell does not publish an exact dollar figure for “full tuition.” The ~$41,000 per year shown here is based on 2025–2026 tuition and fees. Treat as an estimate; the official award matches the billed tuition at the time of enrollment. Finalists not selected for the full award receive $2,000 annually ($1,000 per semester).*
What makes this scholarship competitive?
It requires a separate application, essays, and an in-person interview. Only five students each year are awarded the full-tuition scholarship.
Who usually wins?
Students with excellent academics (top GPAs, rigorous coursework), leadership in school or community, and strong communication skills during the interview.
Is the J.A. Campbell Scholarship renewable?
Yes. Recipients must remain full-time and meet academic and conduct standards set by the university.
Do finalists who don’t win get anything?
Yes — all interviewed finalists not selected for the top award still receive a $2,000 annual scholarship for eight semesters.
⭐ College Specialty
Campbell may be a mid-sized private university in North Carolina, but it has carved out national recognition in a few standout areas. Families looking at Campbell will notice its strong career pipelines in fields like business, health sciences, and hands-on engineering — programs that blend professional preparation with the close-knit feel of a private campus.
Campbell’s Trust & Wealth Management program is one of the very few dedicated undergraduate programs of its kind in the United States, offering a direct pipeline into banking and financial services. Students can even complete a 4+1 track to earn both a BBA and MBA.
- Army ROTC (Campbell Battalion): A top-performing ROTC unit in the Southeast, consistently producing commissioned officers with full-tuition scholarship options.
- Health Sciences & Osteopathic Medicine: Proximity to the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine gives undergraduates early assurance pathways into medical fields.
- School of Engineering: Known for its “class-lab” model and maker spaces (Creek Makerspace, CAMEL Fab), offering practical, project-based engineering education unique among small privates in the state.
🎖️ Honors College
Campbell’s Honors Program is designed for curious, high-achieving students who want smaller classes, a close academic community, and unique learning opportunities. Admission is selective, but the program is structured so that it fits neatly within a student’s degree plan — no extra semesters required.
High school GPA well above 3.7*, strong AP/IB or dual enrollment coursework, leadership or service involvement, and a track record of curiosity across disciplines. Test scores, if submitted, are usually ACT 28+ / SAT 1300+.*
- Priority registration and Honors residential community
- Small, interdisciplinary Honors seminars
- Faculty mentorship and leadership opportunities
- Capstone or thesis project to deepen academic experience
- Study Abroad tuition scholarship (up to 4 credit hours) to offset the required international experience
How Honors Students Receive Scholarships:
- Automatic Merit Aid: Honors students are typically among the top recipients of Campbell’s institutional merit (like the Presidential Scholarship) awarded at admission.
- Study Abroad Scholarship: The Honors Program itself provides a tuition scholarship covering up to 4 credit hours of the required study abroad.
- Need-Based Aid: Additional need-based support may be available to help with study abroad costs if a student qualifies via FAFSA.
- Endowed Funds: Honors students can also compete for Campbell’s departmental and endowed scholarships through the university’s portal.
Is admission automatic?
No. Students must apply separately to the Honors Program after being admitted to Campbell. Early action by November 15 gives the best chance at a spot.
Does Honors add extra time to a degree?
No. Students complete 25 hours of Honors coursework that count toward graduation requirements, so it doesn’t delay the degree.
Are there extra scholarships for Honors students?
Not a named full scholarship — but the program provides a study abroad tuition award (up to 4 credit hours) and Honors students often already receive top merit awards.
What deadlines matter?
Students fully accepted to the university by November 15 are considered in the first round. Applications are then reviewed on a rolling basis until the cohort is full.
📎 Official Campbell Links
Final Thoughts
Campbell may not be a massive public flagship, but its mix of automatic merit, the J.A. Campbell flagship scholarship, and hidden gems like ROTC or departmental aid make it surprisingly affordable for many families. If your student is aiming high academically, they’ll often qualify for top merit right out of the gate. And if they’re more hands-on or first-gen, Campbell’s close-knit support and specialized programs can open real doors without adding extra years or costs. Use this guide as a roadmap, then compare your student’s award letter against other schools to see where Campbell truly stands in value.
✅ Last updated: September 28, 2025