College Scholarships by State
A parent-built guide to 443 colleges in all 50 states and the scholarships each one actually awards — including the exact GPA and ACT/SAT cutoffs that trigger automatic money. Pick your state, open a few colleges, and compare real numbers side by side.
Or scroll down and browse by region. Every state is on this page.
If nobody in your family has done this before, you are in the right place. Start with the two boxes below. They explain the one distinction that makes this whole process manageable.
The two kinds of college scholarships
Most families think “scholarships” means outside contests — the essay sweepstakes, the local civic club award, the sites that ask you to make an account. Those exist, and they are worth a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. But the overwhelming majority of the money your student receives will come from the colleges themselves. That is the money this page is about.
Automatic (guaranteed) scholarships
The college publishes a chart. If your student’s GPA and test score land in a row on that chart, the award is theirs. No essay, no interview, no committee. At many public universities there is not even a separate application — admission alone triggers it.
This is where first-generation families find the most reliable money.
Competitive scholarships
A separate application, usually with essays, sometimes an interview, and almost always an earlier deadline than admission. Bigger awards — full tuition, full ride, honors college packages — but never guaranteed.
Worth applying to. Never worth counting on.
Every college guide on this site is organized around that split, so you can see at a glance what your student already qualifies for versus what they would need to compete for. If you would rather skip to the numbers, the scholarship search tool lets you filter every award in the database by GPA and test score.
How to use this page
- Open your own state first. In-state tuition is almost always the cheapest starting point, and your state’s public universities are the most likely to have a published automatic chart.
- Then open three or four colleges. One you’re confident about, one reach, and at least one you’d be happy to attend if the money came through. Look at each one’s automatic tier table.
- Compare the after-scholarship number, not the sticker price. A $45,000 private college that hands your student $28,000 automatically is cheaper than a $22,000 public that gives nothing. Sticker price tells you almost nothing.
Browse 443 colleges by state
Tap any state to open its list. Public universities are listed first, then private colleges. Most colleges here publish an automatic merit chart — that is the norm, so the badges flag the exceptions and the standouts. The legend below explains each one in plain English.
Southeast
Alabama
9 colleges
Public universities
- University of AlabamaAuto Full Tuition
- Auburn University
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Troy University
- Jacksonville State University
- University of North Alabama
- Alabama State UniversityHBCU
Private colleges
- Samford University
- Tuskegee UniversityAuto Full TuitionHBCU
Arkansas
8 colleges
Public universities
Florida
16 colleges
Public universities
- University of Central Florida
- Florida International University
- University of FloridaCompetitive Only
- University of South Florida
- Florida State University
- Florida Atlantic University
- University of North Florida
- University of West Florida
- Florida Gulf Coast University
- Florida A&M UniversityCompetitive OnlyHBCU
Private colleges
Georgia
14 colleges
Public universities
- Georgia Institute of TechnologyCompetitive Only
- Georgia State University
- Kennesaw State UniversityCompetitive Only
- University of Georgia
- Georgia Southern University
- University of North Georgia
- University of West Georgia
- Georgia College & State University
- Augusta UniversityCompetitive Only
Private colleges
- Emory UniversityQuestBridge
- Mercer University
- Spelman CollegeAuto Full TuitionHBCU
- Morehouse CollegeHBCU
- Berry College
Kentucky
8 colleges
Louisiana
11 colleges
Public universities
- Southeastern Louisiana University
- Louisiana Tech University
- University of Louisiana at Monroe
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana
- McNeese State University
- Southern UniversityHBCU
- LSU New Orleans
- Grambling State UniversityAuto Full TuitionHBCU
- Nicholls State University
- Louisiana State UniversityCompetitive Only
Private colleges
Mississippi
13 colleges
Public universities
- Mississippi State University
- University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)Auto Full Tuition
- University of Southern MississippiAuto Full Tuition
- Jackson State UniversityCompetitive OnlyHBCU
- Alcorn State UniversityAuto Full TuitionHBCU
- Mississippi University for Women
- Mississippi Valley State UniversityAuto Full TuitionHBCU
- Delta State University
Private colleges
North Carolina
18 colleges
Public universities
- North Carolina State UniversityCompetitive Only
- University of North Carolina CharlotteCompetitive Only
- University of North Carolina Chapel HillQuestBridge
- University of North Carolina Wilmington
- University of North Carolina Greensboro
- North Carolina A&T State UniversityHBCU
- Western Carolina University
- University of North Carolina Asheville
- East Carolina UniversityCompetitive Only
- Appalachian State University
Private colleges
- Duke UniversityCompetitive OnlyQuestBridge
- Wake Forest UniversityCompetitive OnlyQuestBridge
- Elon University
- High Point University
- Campbell University
- Gardner-Webb University
- Davidson CollegeCompetitive OnlyQuestBridge
- Queens University of Charlotte
South Carolina
11 colleges
Public universities
- University of South Carolina
- Clemson University
- Coastal Carolina University
- College of CharlestonAuto Full Tuition
- Winthrop University
- University of South Carolina Upstate
- The Citadel
Private colleges
Tennessee
26 colleges
Public universities
- University of Tennessee Knoxville
- Middle Tennessee State University
- University of Memphis
- Austin Peay State University
- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
- East Tennessee State University
- Tennessee Tech University
- Tennessee State UniversityAuto Full TuitionHBCU
- University of Tennessee–Martin
- University of Tennessee SouthernAuto Full Tuition
Private colleges
- Vanderbilt UniversityQuestBridge
- Belmont University
- Lipscomb UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- Southern Adventist UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- Rhodes College
- Union University
- Trevecca Nazarene University
- Sewanee: The University of the South
- Carson-Newman University
- Fisk UniversityHBCU
- Christian Brothers University
- Maryville College
- King UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- Milligan University
- Lane CollegeCompetitive OnlyHBCU
- LeMoyne-Owen CollegeHBCU
Virginia
17 colleges
Public universities
- George Mason University
- Virginia Tech
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- James Madison University
- University of VirginiaCompetitive OnlyQuestBridge
- Old Dominion University
- Radford University
- William & Mary
- Christopher Newport University
- Longwood University
- University of Mary Washington
- Virginia Military InstituteCompetitive Only
- Virginia State UniversityHBCU
- Norfolk State UniversityCompetitive OnlyHBCU
Private colleges
- Liberty UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- University of Richmond
- Hampton UniversityHBCU
West Virginia
1 college
Southwest
Arizona
4 colleges
New Mexico
2 colleges
Oklahoma
4 colleges
Public universities
- University of Oklahoma
- Oklahoma State UniversityAuto Full Tuition
Private colleges
Texas
29 colleges
Public universities
- Texas A&M UniversityCompetitive Only
- University of Houston
- University of North Texas
- University of Texas at Arlington
- Texas Tech University
- University of Texas at San Antonio
- Texas State University
- University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyAuto Full Tuition
- University of Texas at Dallas
- University of Texas at El PasoAuto Full Tuition
- Sam Houston State University
- Lamar University
- Tarleton State University
- University of Texas at Tyler
- Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
- Stephen F. Austin State UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- Prairie View A&M UniversityAuto Full TuitionHBCU
- University of Houston–Clear Lake
- Texas Southern University
- University of Texas Permian Basin
- University of Texas at AustinCompetitive Only
Private colleges
- Baylor University
- Texas Christian UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- Southern Methodist University
- Rice UniversityQuestBridge
- University of the Incarnate Word
- Abilene Christian UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- Houston Christian UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- Trinity University
Midwest
Illinois
13 colleges
Public universities
- University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignAuto Full Tuition
- University of Illinois ChicagoAuto Full Tuition
- Illinois State University
- Northern Illinois UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale
- Eastern Illinois University
- Western Illinois UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- Chicago State UniversityAuto Full Tuition
Private colleges
- DePaul University
- Loyola University Chicago
- Northwestern UniversityCompetitive OnlyQuestBridge
- Bradley UniversityAuto Full Tuition
Indiana
13 colleges
Iowa
4 colleges
Kansas
5 colleges
Michigan
12 colleges
Public universities
- Michigan State University
- University of Michigan–Ann ArborAuto Full TuitionCompetitive OnlyQuestBridge
- Grand Valley State University
- Western Michigan University
- Wayne State University
- Oakland University
- Central Michigan University
- Eastern Michigan UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- University of Michigan–DearbornAuto Full Tuition
- University of Michigan–FlintAuto Full Tuition
- Michigan Technological University
Private colleges
Minnesota
5 colleges
Public universities
- University of Minnesota Twin CitiesQuestBridge
Private colleges
- University of St. Thomas
- St. Olaf College
- Macalester CollegeQuestBridge
- Carleton CollegeQuestBridge
Missouri
8 colleges
Public universities
- University of MissouriQuestBridge
- University of Missouri–Kansas City
- Southeast Missouri State University
- Missouri State University–Springfield
- Missouri University of Science and Technology
Private colleges
- Saint Louis University
- Washington University in St. LouisCompetitive OnlyQuestBridge
- Lindenwood University
Nebraska
3 colleges
North Dakota
2 colleges
Ohio
16 colleges
Public universities
- Ohio State University
- University of CincinnatiAuto Full Tuition
- Kent State University
- Miami University (Ohio)
- Bowling Green State University
- University of Akron
- Cleveland State University
- University of Toledo
- Youngstown State University
- Wright State University
Private colleges
South Dakota
2 colleges
Public universities
- South Dakota State UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- University of South Dakota
Wisconsin
7 colleges
Public universities
- University of Wisconsin–MadisonAuto Full TuitionQuestBridge
- University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
- University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
- University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
- University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
- University of Wisconsin–Green Bay
Private colleges
Northeast
Connecticut
11 colleges
Public universities
- University of ConnecticutAuto Full Tuition
- Central Connecticut State University
- Southern Connecticut State University
- Eastern Connecticut State University
- Western Connecticut State UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- Charter Oak State CollegeCompetitive Only
Private colleges
Delaware
2 colleges
Public universities
- University of Delaware
- Delaware State UniversityAuto Full TuitionHBCU
Maine
1 college
Maryland
9 colleges
Public universities
- University of MarylandQuestBridge
- Towson University
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- United States Naval AcademyAuto Full TuitionCompetitive Only
- University of Maryland Eastern ShoreHBCU
- Coppin State UniversityHBCU
- Morgan State UniversityHBCU
Private colleges
Massachusetts
13 colleges
Public universities
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Boston
- University of Massachusetts LowellAuto Full TuitionCompetitive Only
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Private colleges
- Boston UniversityQuestBridge
- Northeastern UniversityQuestBridge
- Boston CollegeCompetitive OnlyQuestBridge
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyNo Merit AidQuestBridge
- Harvard UniversityNo Merit AidQuestBridge
- Merrimack College
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- College of the Holy Cross
- Stonehill College
New Hampshire
2 colleges
Public universities
Private colleges
- Dartmouth CollegeNo Merit Aid
New Jersey
10 colleges
Public universities
- Rutgers University–New BrunswickQuestBridge
- Montclair State University
- Rowan University
- New Jersey Institute of Technology
Private colleges
New York
24 colleges
Public universities
- University at BuffaloAuto Full Tuition
- Stony Brook UniversityAuto Full TuitionQuestBridge
- Binghamton UniversityQuestBridge
- University at AlbanyAuto Full Tuition
- United States Military Academy (West Point)Auto Full TuitionCompetitive Only
- SUNY Maritime CollegeAuto Full Tuition
Private colleges
- New York University
- Syracuse UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- St. John's University
- Cornell UniversityNo Merit AidQuestBridge
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- University of Rochester
- Hofstra University
- Columbia UniversityNo Merit AidQuestBridge
- Marist College
- Long Island University
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Iona University
- Siena College
- Manhattan College
- Colgate UniversityNo Merit AidQuestBridge
- Canisius University
- Niagara University
- Wagner College
Pennsylvania
14 colleges
Public universities
- Penn State University ParkQuestBridge
- Temple UniversityAuto Full TuitionQuestBridge
- University of Pittsburgh
Private colleges
- Drexel University
- Villanova UniversityCompetitive Only
- University of PennsylvaniaNo Merit AidQuestBridge
- Saint Joseph's University
- Carnegie Mellon UniversityNo Merit Aid
- Lehigh UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- Robert Morris University
- Bucknell University
- La Salle University
- Lafayette College
- Saint Francis University
Rhode Island
4 colleges
Public universities
- University of Rhode IslandAuto Full Tuition
Private colleges
- Brown UniversityNo Merit AidQuestBridge
- Providence College
- Bryant University
Vermont
1 college
Washington, D.C.
3 colleges
Private colleges
- Howard UniversityQuestBridgeHBCU
- American University
- Georgetown UniversityCompetitive Only
West
Alaska
3 colleges
Public universities
California
26 colleges
Public universities
- University of California, Los AngelesCompetitive OnlyQuestBridge
- University of California, BerkeleyQuestBridge
- California State University, FullertonCompetitive Only
- University of California, DavisQuestBridge
- California State University, Long Beach
- San Diego State University
- University of California, IrvineQuestBridge
- San José State UniversityCompetitive Only
- California State University, Sacramento
- Cal Poly PomonaCompetitive Only
- University of California, Riverside
- University of California, Santa Barbara
- San Francisco State UniversityCompetitive Only
- Cal Poly San Luis ObispoQuestBridge
- University of California, Santa Cruz
- University of California, Merced
Private colleges
- University of Southern California (USC)
- California Baptist University
- University of San Diego
- Chapman University
- Santa Clara UniversityAuto Full TuitionQuestBridge
- Stanford UniversityCompetitive OnlyQuestBridge
- Loyola Marymount UniversityQuestBridge
- University of the Pacific
- Pepperdine University
- Saint Mary's College of California
Colorado
13 colleges
Public universities
- University of Colorado Boulder
- Colorado State University
- Metropolitan State University of Denver
- University of Colorado Denver
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs
- Colorado Mesa University
- University of Northern Colorado
- Colorado School of Mines
- Colorado State University Pueblo
- Fort Lewis College
- Western Colorado University
- Adams State University
Private colleges
Hawaiʻi
1 college
Public universities
- University of Hawaiʻi at MānoaAuto Full Tuition
Idaho
3 colleges
Montana
2 colleges
Nevada
2 colleges
Public universities
- University of Nevada, Las VegasAuto Full Tuition
- University of Nevada, RenoAuto Full Tuition
Oregon
4 colleges
Utah
7 colleges
Public universities
- Utah Valley University
- University of UtahAuto Full Tuition
- Utah State UniversityAuto Full TuitionCompetitive Only
- Weber State UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- Southern Utah University
- Utah Tech UniversityAuto Full Tuition
Private colleges
- Brigham Young UniversityCompetitive Only
Washington
6 colleges
Public universities
- University of WashingtonQuestBridge
- Washington State UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- Western Washington UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- Eastern Washington UniversityAuto Full Tuition
Private colleges
- Gonzaga UniversityAuto Full Tuition
- Seattle University
Wyoming
1 college
Questions first-generation parents ask
Do I have to apply separately for college scholarships?
It depends on the scholarship. Automatic (guaranteed) merit awards usually require nothing beyond the admission application — you are considered the moment you are admitted, as long as you applied by the college’s scholarship priority deadline. Competitive scholarships almost always need a separate application, and that deadline is typically weeks or months earlier than the regular admission deadline. The priority deadline is the one that costs families the most money when it is missed.
Does my student need a perfect GPA to get a scholarship?
No. Published automatic scholarship charts commonly start around a 3.0–3.5 GPA, and many public universities award meaningful money in that range. Test scores often matter more than GPA at these schools, because colleges recalculate GPA differently but read an ACT or SAT score exactly as reported. Raising a test score by two or three points frequently moves a student a full tier up the chart.
Can we get scholarships at an out-of-state college?
Yes, and it is often where the largest discounts are. Many universities publish automatic awards specifically to attract out-of-state students, and some waive the out-of-state tuition rate entirely for students who hit a stated GPA and test score. Always compare the after-scholarship cost rather than assuming in-state is cheaper.
What does the “Competitive Only” badge mean?
It means the college offers merit scholarships, but none of them are guaranteed by a published chart — every award requires a separate application and a committee decision. Strong grades and test scores get your student considered, never promised. These schools can still award serious money; just build your plan around the application deadlines rather than counting on an automatic amount.
What does the “No Merit Aid” badge mean?
A small number of colleges — mostly the Ivy League and a handful of elite private schools — award no merit scholarships at all. Every dollar of aid is based on family income, not grades or test scores. That is not necessarily bad news: at these schools, need-based aid can be generous enough that lower- and middle-income families pay far less than the sticker price. But there is no GPA chart to find, so do not spend time looking for one.
What is QuestBridge?
QuestBridge is a national nonprofit that matches high-achieving students from lower-income families — many of them first-generation — with full four-year scholarships at partner colleges. Students apply through QuestBridge in the fall of senior year, rank their preferred partner colleges, and can be “matched” with a scholarship that covers tuition, room, and board. Colleges carrying the QuestBridge badge above are official partners. If your family income is roughly $65,000 or less, it is worth a serious look.
What is the difference between merit aid and financial aid?
Merit aid is awarded for grades, test scores, talent, or leadership, and does not consider income. Financial aid (need-based aid) is awarded based on what the FAFSA says your family can contribute. They are separate systems and most families receive some of both. Filing the FAFSA is required for need-based aid and, at many colleges, for institutional merit aid as well — file it even if you are certain you will not qualify for need.
Are these scholarship lists free? Do I need an account?
Everything on this site is free and open. There is no account, no paywall, no lead form, and no student data collection. This site was built by a parent who went through the process and could not find the numbers in one place.
How current is this information?
The lists on this page are generated directly from the site’s scholarship database, and a college only appears here once its full guide page is researched and published. Award amounts and deadlines change every year, so always confirm on the college’s own site before you rely on a number — every college guide here links directly to its source.
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Data last verified September 15, 2026 · 443 colleges across 51 states and D.C. · Built and maintained by a parent, not a company.
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