Colleges with Scholarships for a 3.5 GPA

A 3.5 GPA is where scholarship opportunities start to scale. At this level, many colleges offer strong automatic merit awards, and some students begin to qualify for full tuition or highly competitive scholarship programs — especially when paired with solid test scores.

What this means: At a 3.5 GPA, your student is no longer just “eligible” for scholarships — they are competitive for meaningful awards. The focus shifts to maximizing offers and targeting the right schools.

Important context: These results reflect scholarship opportunities at a national level. Some awards are designed for out-of-state students, while others are tied to honors colleges, majors, or competitive selection processes. Always review each college’s full scholarship page for exact criteria.

Browse 3.5 GPA Scholarships by Region

Regional views help families identify where higher-value scholarships are most common.

Scholarship Matches

Based on a 3.5 GPA | Nationwide

Showing Merit Scholarship Opportunities

These are colleges where a 3.5 GPA puts your student in range for strong merit aid — including significant automatic scholarships and some full tuition opportunities.

Important: Higher-value scholarships may require additional applications, interviews, or early deadlines.

Scholarship Matches

Based on a GPA 3.5 profile. Institutions with actionable merit aid identified.

Colleges Listed
277
1000 matching awards across these institutions.

These results cover awards where the college publishes a specific GPA cutoff. Many colleges award merit money without publishing one, so open a college guide to see everything it offers.

These are colleges where your numbers put you in range for real scholarship money. Important: some awards listed as automatic still depend on application timing, funding limits, or test scores for the highest tiers. Use each college guide to see how predictable the offer really is.

🏛️ Oklahoma State University

$93,600 / YRGPA 3.5+ OK
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
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How This Is Awarded

→ Rising Scholar Institutional Nominee — Out-of-State (OSRHE)
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 30 | SAT: 1360 | Ends: February 1
Strategic Note: Out-of-state nominees — OSU may nominate up to 45 students total across in-state and out-of-state combined. Competitive applicants typically have a 33+ ACT and a 3.9+ unweighted GPA.

+ 16 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Houston Christian University

$88,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Legacy Scholarship
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: Tied to HCU's freshman admission cycle for the fall or spring term; admitted students are evaluated automatically with no separate scholarship deadline.
Strategic Note: Solid B and B-plus students in the 3.30 to 3.67 band. Renewal only asks for a 2.5 HCU GPA, which is one of the gentler renewal rules among Texas private colleges and gives a student real breathing room in the adjustment year.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Rhodes College

$34,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Diehl Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 27 | SAT: 1250 | Ends: Considered automatically with the admission application
Strategic Note: Admitted students near the middle of Rhodes' academic range — typically ACT 27 with a consistent, solid transcript. Still a significant $34K/year award worth targeting.

🏛️ Jacksonville University

$33,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Jacksonville University Academic (Merit) Scholarship
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Rolling — awarded at time of admission.
Strategic Note: Just about every admitted full-time first-year lands somewhere on the ladder — JU reports 100% of full-time undergraduates receive scholarships, and stronger unweighted GPAs land in the higher $30,000+ bands.

🏛️ Quinnipiac University

$32,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CT
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Transfer Student Academic Scholarship
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Awarded with admission; no separate scholarship deadline
Strategic Note: Any full-time, on-campus transfer with at least a 2.5 cumulative college GPA is reviewed. Quinnipiac does not publish how it sets the amount inside the $26,000 to $32,000 range, but stronger college transcripts generally land higher.

🏛️ Valparaiso University

$31,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Presidential Scholarship
GPA: 3.40 | Ends: No scholarship deadline. Merit is assigned during admission review, so apply early.
Strategic Note: Students in the 3.40–4.19 weighted GPA range. Those closer to 4.0+ with rigorous coursework tend to land at the $31k top of the range; the $29k floor is more typical for solid 3.4–3.6 profiles.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Trinity University

$30,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ President's Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Feb 1
Strategic Note: Strong applicants who land squarely inside Trinity's admitted academic profile — solid recalculated core GPAs and rigorous course loads, but typically not at the very top of the applicant pool.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Xavier University (Ohio)

$30,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OH
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Musketeer Forever Scholars Program
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Apply to Xavier during senior year with all required materials; Early Action (Nov 1) gives the earliest decision.
Strategic Note: Ohio and Greater Cincinnati seniors with a 3.5 weighted GPA whose regular merit offer would otherwise land below $30,000. Think of it as a price guarantee, not a bonus.

🏛️ University of Alabama at Birmingham

$28,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Test-Optional Scholarship (Out-of-State)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: May 1
Strategic Note: Out-of-state students with at least a 3.5 GPA who apply without test scores. The award can be meaningful, but it is less predictable than the fixed ACT/SAT grid.

+ 9 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Alabama

$28,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
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How This Is Awarded

→ Presidential Scholar (Out-of-State)
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 32 | SAT: 1430 | Ends: Dec 5
Strategic Note: Out-of-state students with a 3.5+ GPA and a 32+ ACT. This is Alabama’s strongest standard OOS automatic dollar award before the perfect-score Presidential Elite package.

+ 11 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Rider University

$28,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NJ
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Rider Merit Scholarships (First-Year)
GPA: 2.70 | Ends: Rolling. Early Action (Nov 15) gets priority scholarship consideration; a complete application by Jan 15 gets full merit consideration. Musical Theatre and Acting applicants must apply by Nov 15.
Strategic Note: Nearly every admitted first-year student receives a merit award. Higher GPAs and stronger course rigor land closer to the $28,000 ceiling, while solid-but-mid-range applicants typically receive awards in the lower part of the range.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Saint Peter's University

$27,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NJ
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Dean's Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Rolling; awarded with the admission decision
Strategic Note: Strong A-minus to A students with a GPA between 3.5 and 3.99.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Robert Morris University

$27,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ RMU Freshman Merit Scholarship (Tier 2)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Rolling; awarded at the point of admission
Strategic Note: Strong students with a weighted GPA between 3.50 and 3.89.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Tulsa

$26,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OK
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ TCC Honors Transfer Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Rolling transfer admission — submit your application and official transcripts showing TCC Honors Scholar designation to be automatically considered at the time of admission review.
Strategic Note: Tulsa Community College graduates who earned their Associate's degree as a TCC Honors Scholar with a 3.50 GPA or higher. The Honors Scholar designation has to appear on the awarded Associate's degree — that credential is what triggers UTulsa's highest transfer award.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Missouri University of Science and Technology

$26,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MO
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Out-of-State Groundbreaker Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Automatic with admission; earlier completed files favored.
Strategic Note: Higher-achieving non-Missouri residents — especially strong STEM-bound students with solid high school academics and, if submitted, competitive test scores. The scholarship scales upward with academic strength.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Maine

$25,110 / YRGPA 3.5+ ME
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Global Flagship Match Commitment
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Dec 1 Early Action for maximum consideration; rolling after
Strategic Note: International students who graduated from a Maine high school and meet UMaine's academic criteria.

+ 7 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Hampton University

$25,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ VA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Office of Admission Merit Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 22 | SAT: 1000 | Ends: November 15 (completed Early Action application with official SAT or ACT scores)
Strategic Note: U.S. first-time freshmen with a 3.5+ unweighted GPA and official scores of 1000+ SAT or 22+ ACT who have a complete application in by November 15. Higher test scores push award amounts up, and because awards are rolling until funds run out, complete files that arrive early are the safest bet.

🏛️ Milligan University

$25,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Academic Merit Scholarships
GPA: 2.75 | ACT: 21 | Ends: Rolling. The award is issued automatically at the time of admission.
Strategic Note: Almost everybody admitted, which is the point. A 21 ACT and a 2.75 GPA is a low bar, so the real question is not whether you get this, it is where you land in the range. The 25,000 dollar end goes to students with high scores and a high GPA together, not one or the other, and those students are a small slice. A solid B-plus student with a mid-20s ACT should picture the middle of the range, not the top. If you are an athlete, read the stacking note carefully before you count this money twice.

🏛️ Niagara University

$24,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NY
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Merit Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Rolling
Strategic Note: Community college transfer students who are active PTK members, walk in with at least a 3.00 GPA, and submit membership documentation. This is one of Niagara's most generous transfer awards and beats the top standard transfer tier.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Presbyterian College

$24,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ SC
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Tartan Scholarship
GPA: 3.20 | Ends: Awarded at admission; no separate scholarship deadline
Strategic Note: Out-of-state students with a 3.20 to 3.54 on a 4.0 scale, or South Carolina residents with a 3.75 to 4.14 on the SC 5.0 scale.

🏛️ University of New Mexico

$23,149 / YRGPA 3.5+ NM
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Amigo Transfer Scholarship
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: May 1 (Fall) / Dec 1 (Spring)
Strategic Note: Non-resident transfers with a 3.5+ transfer GPA, or a 3.25+ GPA backed by 30+ credits. The transfer version of the freshman Amigo — same end price, different qualifying path.

+ 20 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Evansville

$23,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Academic
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 23 | SAT: 1130 | Ends: Feb 1 (updated GPA or test scores accepted through Feb 1)
Strategic Note: Weighted 3.5 GPA, or ACT 23 / SAT 1130. Solid, consistent students clear this easily.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Providence College

$23,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ RI
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ St. Rose of Lima Transfer Tuition Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Transfer priority: Apr 1; final: Jun 1 for fall entry
Strategic Note: Fall transfer students with at least a full year of college coursework, a 3.5+ cumulative GPA, and a demanding full-time liberal arts schedule.

🏛️ Saint Francis University

$22,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Bell Tower Scholarship
GPA: 3.45 | Ends: Rolling with admission. No separate scholarship form.
Strategic Note: Freshmen with a 3.45 GPA up to just under 3.75.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Maryville College

$22,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Covenant Stone Scholarship
GPA: 3.50
Strategic Note: Good students with a 3.5 weighted GPA, which is a wide band and describes a large chunk of Maryville's admitted class. This is the highest award you can get without signing up for Academic Mentor duty, so run the math honestly. If you are hovering at 3.7 and thinking about pushing for the Dean's, you are trading three semesters of work for about 2,000 dollars a year.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Montana

$21,120 / YRGPA 3.5+ MT
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Tuition Discount
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: December 1 (automatic consideration); space-available after
Strategic Note: Students from WUE states with at least a 3.0 who apply by December 1. UM calls it highly competitive and says not every qualified applicant gets it, because a scholarship committee picks from the pool. If you are not picked, you are still considered for UMAAS.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Louisville

$21,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KY
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Border Benefit Award
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 26 | SAT: 1230 | Ends: Apr 1
Strategic Note: This is one of the more predictable Louisville awards for out-of-state families in the eligible border regions. Admitted students from qualifying areas can receive the base award, while students with stronger weighted GPAs and ACT/SAT scores can move into the higher annual tiers.

+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Michigan Technological University

$21,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MI
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ National Scholars Program (Non-Residents)
GPA: 3.35 | Ends: Nov 1 priority; Feb 1 final
Strategic Note: Incoming first-year students from outside Michigan whose GPA lands on the published grid. On the GPA-only path, a 3.35 earns $12,000 per year, a 3.75 earns $15,000, a 3.90 earns $17,000, and a 4.00 earns $19,000. Adding an official test score is the only way to reach the $21,000 Platinum tier, which is worth up to $84,000 across four years. No essay and no separate application.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)

$20,942 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Ole Miss Opportunity
GPA: 3.00
Strategic Note: This is a guarantee rather than a competition. A Mississippi family under $40,000 in income with a Pell-eligible student holding a 3.0 gets basic cost covered, filled in after every other grant is counted. That structure means winning other scholarships does not add cash — it changes who pays. The FAFSA by March 1 and the state aid application by March 31 are what decide it, and missing either forfeits the guarantee outright.

+ 20 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Indiana University Indianapolis

$20,046 / YRGPA 3.5+ IN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP) Award
GPA: 2.75 | Ends: No scholarship deadline. Applied automatically at admission. Apply for admission early to have residency and GPA confirmed.
Strategic Note: Any admitted undergraduate who lives in one of the seven MSEP partner states and clears a 2.75 GPA. There is no competitive selection and no essay.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Samford University

$20,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Crosland Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 26 | SAT: 1240 | Ends: February 15
Strategic Note: Admitted freshmen with a 3.5 or higher high school GPA and an ACT of 26 or higher or an SAT of 1240 or higher. Transfer applicants need a 3.5 college GPA and at least 24 completed credit hours. Students who submit no test scores are still considered, using a recalculated weighted GPA on a 4.0 scale.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Florida Southern College

$20,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Transfer Academic Merit — Tier 2 (3.50+ GPA)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Rolling
Strategic Note: Strong academic transfers with 3.50+ cumulative college GPAs — a very common landing spot for students who took their first two years seriously.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Lipscomb University

$20,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Lipscomb Pathways Scholarship
GPA: 2.50
Strategic Note: Effectively every transfer with 12 hours and a 2.5. This is not a contest, it is a published rate. The thing to watch is the stacking rule, because it locks you out of other Lipscomb institutional aid. Run the math on this plus HOPE plus the community college and Phi Theta Kappa awards against a Transfer Trustee application before you choose a lane.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ New Mexico State University

$18,326 / YRGPA 3.5+ NM
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Out-of-State Competitive Tuition Discount
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 26 | Ends: Rolling — based on admission and credentials on file
Strategic Note: Out-of-state freshmen meeting one of two combinations — 3.5 GPA with a 23 ACT, OR 3.0 GPA with a 26 ACT (transfers — 3.5 cumulative college GPA). Limited slots, so getting credentials in early is the practical advantage.

🏛️ Seton Hall University

$18,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NJ
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Transfer Scholarship
GPA: 2.75 | Ends: Rolling for fall and spring entry
Strategic Note: Incoming transfers with a competitive college record. The higher the transfer GPA, the higher the award within the $5,000 to $18,000 range.

🏛️ Christian Brothers University

$18,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Lasallian Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 22 | SAT: 1100
Strategic Note: A very large share of CBU's admitted class lands here or better. A 22 ACT is a modest bar and a 3.5 is a B-plus average, so this is the tier most solid, unremarkable-on-paper students hit. The honest read — if your student is anywhere near college-ready, assume $18,000 is the floor of the conversation and negotiate up from there rather than treating it as a win.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Alcorn State University

FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ MS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ President's Excellence
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 28 | SAT: 1310 | Ends: April 1
Strategic Note: Students who post a 28 or higher ACT composite (or the SAT equivalent) with at least a 3.0 high school GPA. Test prep pays for itself here: moving from a 27 to a 28 is worth $3,000 a year, or $12,000 across four years. Families should go in knowing that Pell eligibility reduces the institutional portion rather than stacking with it, so a Pell-eligible student and a full-pay student generally see the same $18,000 total.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Belhaven University

$17,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ President's Scholarship for First-Year Students
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 26
Strategic Note: This is the top rung of a ladder almost everybody climbs at Belhaven, and the school says 98% of undergrads get some kind of aid. If your student has a 3.5 and a 26, this is not a long shot. It is close to a sure thing. The real question is not whether you win it but how far $17,500 gets you against a sticker price north of $31,000 in tuition alone. Treat this as the floor of your negotiation, not the ceiling, and go ask what else can be layered on top.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Michigan–Dearborn

$17,232 / YRGPA 3.5+ MI
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Tuition Differential Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Reviewed automatically once the student is admitted
Strategic Note: Michigan families whose residency paperwork got flagged, often after a recent move back to the state.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Oklahoma

$17,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OK
●Conditional Path
Requires specific designation (e.g., National Merit)
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How This Is Awarded

→ National Merit Semifinalist (Non-Resident)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Dec 15
Strategic Note: Out-of-state students named NMSF who hit a 3.5+ GPA. At $17,000 per year as a tuition waiver, this is one of the strongest NMSF stipends in the country before the Finalist upgrade.

+ 15 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Union University

$17,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
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How This Is Awarded

→ Trustees' Scholarship (Freshman)
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 29 | SAT: 1330
Strategic Note: Students in roughly the top fifth of a typical applicant pool — 29-plus ACT with an A-minus average or better. If you are here, calendar the January 1 Scholars of Excellence deadline immediately. Landing in this tier and skipping that competition is the most expensive mistake a strong Union applicant can make.

+ 8 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Missouri

$17,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MO
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Tiger Border County Award — Level 2
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: Priority application deadline
Strategic Note: Nonresident students in a Missouri-bordering county with GPAs in the 3.25–3.79 range. No test score needed, so this is a meaningful award for test-optional students who live close to the Missouri state line.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Auburn University

$17,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
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How This Is Awarded

→ Academic Presidential Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 33 | SAT: 1460 | Ends: Dec 1 application deadline; Jan 10 test score update deadline
Strategic Note: This is Auburn's top nonresident automatic merit tier. In plain English, it is aimed at out-of-state freshmen with very high test scores, a strong weighted GPA, and a complete Auburn application on file by the scholarship deadline. A 33 ACT or 1460 SAT puts the student in the published score band, but families should still treat the final amount as dependent on Auburn's current-year scholarship rules and funding.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Massachusetts Boston

$17,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ UMass Boston Freshman Merit Scholarship
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: November 1 (Early Action I) for priority merit consideration
Strategic Note: Admitted first-year students with a recalculated GPA of 3.3 or higher who apply by Early Action I on November 1. Stronger course rigor, grades and recommendations move students into the higher tiers, and out-of-state students see the largest dollar ranges.

🏛️ Mississippi State University

$17,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
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How This Is Awarded

→ Freshman Non-Resident Academic – ACT 31+, GPA 3.30–3.59
GPA: 3.30 | ACT: 31 | SAT: 1390 | Ends: ACT/SAT through February of senior year; priority scholarship consideration by Dec 1.
Strategic Note: High-achieving non-residents with ACT 31+ or SAT 1390+ and GPAs 3.30–3.59.

+ 7 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Boise State University

$16,339 / YRGPA 3.5+ ID
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Dec 15
Strategic Note: Students living in a WUE state or territory with a 3.50 or higher unweighted GPA and an eligible major. It takes about $16,339 off the nonresident bill each year for four years, bringing 2026-27 tuition and fees to roughly $13,138.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Idaho State University

$16,176 / YRGPA 3.5+ ID
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Bengal Non-Resident Tuition Waiver (BNRW)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: July 1 (fall entry); November 1 (spring entry)
Strategic Note: Out-of-state students with a 3.0+ GPA who finish their admission file early in senior year. Because awards are limited and first-come, a complete file in the fall beats a complete file in June.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Charleston Southern University

$16,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ SC
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Buccaneer Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: No separate scholarship deadline; awarded on a rolling basis upon admission.
Strategic Note: First-time freshmen with a high school GPA between 3.50 and 3.89. No separate application, essay, or test score is needed.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Arkansas Tech University

$16,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AR
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ First-Time Student Academic Scholarships (Levels 1-6)
GPA: 2.75 | Ends: Final: February 1 (Levels 4-6); August 15 (Levels 1-3)
Strategic Note: Admitted first-time freshmen on the Russellville campus who meet the GPA and test bands and complete an early admission file by the deadline. The $12,000 to $16,000 Honors levels go to students separately admitted to the University Honors Program.

🏛️ Montana State University

$16,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MT
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Achievement Award (Non-Residents)
GPA: 2.70
Strategic Note: Any out-of-state freshman with a 2.7 or higher self-reported GPA who completes the admission application. The jump from $9,000 to $13,000 at a 3.29 GPA is the biggest single step on the grid, so students near that line should double-check the GPA they report.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ California Baptist University

$16,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Deans Scholarship
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: Rolling; follows general freshman admission deadlines.
Strategic Note: First-time freshmen with a cumulative weighted high school GPA between 3.30 and 3.89. No test scores are used.

+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Carson-Newman University

$16,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Presidential Scholarship
GPA: 3.50
Strategic Note: The broad middle of Carson-Newman's admitted class. A 3.50 is a B-plus average, and most students who are seriously considering a private school at this price point are already there. Treat this as your baseline number when you build the family budget, then work upward from it.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of Nevada, Reno

$16,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NV
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) and Pack Exchange Program (PEP)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Friday before semester fees are due (Feb 15 recommended)
Strategic Note: Most B-average students from the 18 WUE states and territories who apply on time.

+ 6 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Colorado State University

$16,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CO
●Conditional Path
Requires specific designation (e.g., National Merit)
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Green & Gold Scholarship (Non-Resident)
GPA: 3.20 | Ends: January 15 (fall start); November 1 (spring start)
Strategic Note: Out-of-state first-year students with a 3.2+ GPA, most admitted nonresidents who hit the GPA floor receive an award sized to a published grid. A 4.0+ GPA earns $16,000/year; the award steps down by tenths from there. National Merit Finalists, College Board First-Generation Recognition Scholars, and National Achievement Scholars who name CSU their first choice are automatically placed in the top $16,000 tier.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Oregon State University

$16,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OR
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Provost Scholarship (Nonresident Freshmen)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: February 1
Strategic Note: Nonresident first-years with at least a 3.00 unweighted GPA. Most recipients come in well above the minimum, and the dollar amount scales with the strength of the whole application.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of Kentucky

$16,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KY
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Bluegrass Scholarship (Non-Resident, $16,000 Tier)
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 30 | SAT: 1360 | Ends: December 1
Strategic Note: High-achieving out-of-state students with a 30+ ACT or 1360+ SAT and a 3.50 GPA, or a 3.80 unweighted GPA without a test, who apply early.

+ 6 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of Idaho

$15,762 / YRGPA 3.5+ ID
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Invitation to Idaho (Non-WUE Nonresidents & International)
GPA: 3.00
Strategic Note: Students from non-WUE states like Texas, Illinois, Florida or New York, plus international students, with an incoming GPA of 3.0 or higher. Below 3.0 there is no automatic nonresident discount.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Virginia Commonwealth University

$15,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ VA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Out-of-State Academic Scholarship
GPA: 3.00
Strategic Note: Out-of-state and international first-year students with a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher.

🏛️ Michigan State University

$15,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MI
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ MSU Non-Resident Scholarship
GPA: 3.40 | Ends: Nov 1 (early action for maximum consideration)
Strategic Note: Domestic out-of-state students with a 3.4+ GPA are guaranteed at least $7,000 per year at the 1855 level. Stronger academics and demonstrated involvement push students into the $10K (Dean's), $12K (Provost's), or $15K (President's) tiers. There's no published ACT/SAT cutoff — holistic profile matters.

🏛️ Campbell University

$15,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NC
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Transfer Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Rolling; February 1 recommended for fall transfer aid packaging
Strategic Note: Transfer students entering Campbell's main campus undergraduate programs with at least a 3.0 cumulative college GPA. Strong academic performance at your previous institution is the primary driver of award level — the better the GPA, the stronger the scholarship offer.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Northern Arizona University (NAU)

$15,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AZ
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ President's Excellence (Non-Resident)
GPA: 3.50
Strategic Note: Out-of-state students from non-WUE states with a 3.5+ unweighted core GPA. This is NAU's strongest automatic award for non-WUE out-of-state students — $15,000 per year with zero application required.

+ 6 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Western Washington University

$14,910 / YRGPA 3.5+ WA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: Apply by January 31 for priority scholarship review (November 1 Early Action gets the earliest review)
Strategic Note: Strong students from the 20 WUE states and territories Western lists, with unweighted GPAs above the 3.25 floor. Western says only a select group receives it, so a GPA just over the minimum is not a guarantee.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Trevecca Nazarene University

$14,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Dunning Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 32 | SAT: 1420
Strategic Note: This is the top of the automatic ladder and it is a real reach. A 32 ACT at a school whose typical admit is well below that means only a handful of students clear it each year, and you have to submit a test score to be considered at all. If you are sitting at a 30 or 31, take the test again before April - the jump from Strickland to Dunning is $2,000 a year, or $8,000 over four years, for one more test sitting.

+ 7 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of Detroit Mercy

$14,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MI
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Detroit Mercy Transfer Grant
GPA: 2.00 | Ends: Rolling. Apply for transfer admission as early as you can, since awards are set at admission.
Strategic Note: Every admitted transfer student with a 2.0 or better. This is the rare award with a published grid, so you can calculate it before you apply.

🏛️ University of Memphis

$14,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Cecil C. Humphreys Presidential (Non-Resident)
GPA: 3.25 | ACT: 31 | SAT: 1390 | Ends: Dec 1 (priority freshman admission for scholarship consideration)
Strategic Note: Out-of-state students with a 3.25+ GPA and 31+ ACT (1390+ SAT) who apply by Dec 1. At $14,000/yr ($56,000 total), this is UofM's top automatic merit award for non-residents and makes the total cost highly competitive with many in-state programs.

+ 7 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Ball State University

$14,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Ball State Scholars Award
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 21 | SAT: 1060 | Ends: Dec 1 (priority)
Strategic Note: Solid students in the mid-3s weighted GPA range. Test scores are optional and help but are not required.

🏛️ Morehead State University

$13,800 / YRGPA 3.5+ KY
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Rogers Scholar Award
GPA: 3.25 | ACT: 19 | SAT: 990 | Ends: June 15
Strategic Note: Rogers Scholar alumni who meet MSU's academic line: at least a 3.25 unweighted GPA and 19 ACT. The hidden value here is the housing component, which families should not overlook.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Utah Tech University (formerly Dixie State)

$12,765 / YRGPA 3.5+ UT
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Alumni Legacy Waiver (Nonresident)
GPA: 2.00 | Ends: July 15
Strategic Note: Out-of-state children of Dixie or Utah Tech graduates, especially students who do not reach a top academic tier. Families should budget for year two, when this waiver ends.

🏛️ Fort Lewis College

$12,696 / YRGPA 3.5+ CO
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ New Mexico Reciprocal Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Must have applied to FLC by June 1 to be considered.
Strategic Note: New Mexico residents with 3.0+ HS GPA (or GED 165+ in all four subjects); lowers out-of-state tuition to the in-state rate.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Utah State University

$12,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ UT
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Aug 1, 2027

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Fort Hays State University

$12,200 / YRGPA 3.5+ KS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Special Out-of-State (SOS) — Transfer
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: No fixed deadline; apply and submit transcripts as early as possible prior to the academic year.
Strategic Note: First-time, full-time on-campus transfer students who graduated from a California or Florida high school and have at least a 2.5 cumulative college GPA. The online form plus transcript submission is the only extra step — after that, $12,200 per year in savings does the talking.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of Louisiana at Monroe

$12,100 / YRGPA 3.5+ LA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Out-of-State Warhawk Waiver
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 21 | SAT: 1060 | Ends: Apply by May 1. ULM must receive all official ACT/SAT scores by May 31.
Strategic Note: Out-of-state students with at least a 3.0 GPA and a 21 ACT or 1060 SAT who enroll full time. For nonresident families, this may be the most important ULM affordability lever because it directly reduces the out-of-state price gap.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of Southern Indiana

$12,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Out-of-State Merit Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Rolling (awarded with admission)
Strategic Note: High-achieving out-of-state freshmen with at least a 3.5 GPA who are willing to live on campus year one. At more than $12,000 annually, this can dramatically close the gap between in-state and out-of-state pricing at USI.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of North Alabama

$12,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Academic & Presidential Awards
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: March 1 freshman scholarship priority date
Strategic Note: Every first-time, full-time freshman who applies on time with a 3.00 unweighted GPA lands somewhere on the grid, with or without a test score. The catch is what testing costs you: a 3.6 student with no ACT gets $1,500, while the same student with a 28 gets $8,500. That is a $7,000 a year difference for one Saturday morning. UNA also accepts scores through the April test date of senior year, so a spring retest can still move a student up a tier.

🏛️ University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

$12,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AR
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ University Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 23 | SAT: 1130 | Ends: March 1
Strategic Note: Solid, well-rounded freshmen carrying a 3.5+ GPA with an ACT in the 23–27 range (or SAT roughly 1130–1260). If your student is a strong-but-not-top-1% applicant, this is the tier they're realistically hitting.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Southern Utah University

$12,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ UT
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Eight-Semester Renewable Scholarship
GPA: 2.50 | ACT: 18 | SAT: 960 | Ends: March 1 (Fall start); November 1 (Spring start)
Strategic Note: Nearly every admitted student from a WUE state. Students from WUE states cannot receive Founders' Non-Resident; the Merit Bonus is their upgrade path.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of Alaska Fairbanks

$12,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AK
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Nanook Pledge Scholarship (Nonresident Rate)
GPA: 3.20 | Ends: June 15 (fall), November 1 (spring) admission deadline
Strategic Note: Admitted nonresident first-year students paying the full nonresident tuition rate with a high school GPA of 3.2 or higher. The grid pays $12,000 a year at 3.8 and up, $8,000 at 3.5 to 3.79, and $5,000 at 3.2 to 3.49. No essay and no separate application. Test scores are not used.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Washington State University

$12,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ WA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ WUE Cougar Scholars Award
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: Mar 31
Strategic Note: The workhorse out-of-state award. Engineering and computer science majors at Pullman can add the $2,000 WUEE boost on top through the Voiland Dean's Scholarship.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of North Texas

$12,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ UNT Excellence Scholarship
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: March 1 (admission deadline)
Strategic Note: Any admitted freshman who hits at least a 3.25 unweighted GPA AND finishes in the top 25% of their class — the higher you climb on either axis, the bigger the dollar amount. Top 1% of class with a 3.75+ unweighted GPA hits the $12,000/year ceiling.

🏛️ Eastern Michigan University

$12,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MI
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Emerald Scholarship
GPA: 2.50
Strategic Note: Traditional first-year students under 21 with U.S. residency and a cumulative high school GPA on a 4.0 scale. Almost everyone admitted gets something. The GPA floor is now 2.50, and test scores only matter at the two ends of the grid: they unlock the top two tiers for 3.75+ students and they are required to qualify at all in the 2.50 to 2.74 band.

🏛️ Iowa State University

$12,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Academic Achievement Award (Nonresident)
GPA: 3.10 | Ends: Mar 1
Strategic Note: Most nonresident admits who land in the qualifying GPA/test grid. Students at the 4.0 tier capture the top $12,000/year award; lower tiers start at $3,000/year.

🏛️ Western Colorado University

$12,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CO
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Rady Merit Scholarship (Engineering Partnership, Out-of-State)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Accepted to Western and declared Engineering Partnership Program major by April 15
Strategic Note: The richest automatic award Western offers nonresidents: $9,000, $10,500 or $12,000 a year for a 3.5 or higher GPA. Limited to students admitted to the Engineering Partnership by April 15. Budget for the switch to CU Boulder tuition in the later years.

+ 7 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Prairie View A&M University

$11,400 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Presidential Academic Scholarship
GPA: 3.25 | ACT: 24 | SAT: 1190 | Ends: April 1
Strategic Note: Strong first-time freshmen with at least a 3.25 GPA and an ACT 24 or SAT 1190 in a single sitting who finish admission and testing early. This is the second-tier automatic award — solid academic profiles, not quite Regents-level numbers.

🏛️ West Virginia University

$11,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ WV
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Climb Higher Scholarship (Level 3)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: August 1 for fall entry; January 2 for spring entry (admission and transcript submission deadline).
Strategic Note: Students with a solid high school GPA in the 3.5–3.79 range who enroll full-time at WVU by the deadline. WV residents at Morgantown receive $2,500/year; out-of-state students at Morgantown can receive up to $11,000/year; still a meaningful discount that makes WVU competitive for strong B+ students from across the country.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Jacksonville State University

$10,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Gamecock Prestige
GPA: 2.00 | ACT: 31 | SAT: 1390 | Ends: May 1
Strategic Note: Top test scorers (31+ ACT or 1390+ SAT) with at least a 2.0 GPA, with the highest awards reserved for students whose GPA is 3.0 or above.

+ 6 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of New Hampshire

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NH
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Dean's Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Nov 15 (Early Action) / Feb 1 (Regular)
Strategic Note: Steady, well-prepared admits with a recalculated weighted GPA between 3.50 and 3.69 — strong coursework, consistent grades, often with a meaningful mix of college-prep rigor.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of Colorado Denver

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CO
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ International Automatic Merit Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Awarded automatically with admission and shown in the admission letter
Strategic Note: International first-years and transfers with a 3.0+ GPA on the U.S. 4.0 scale who enroll in on-campus programs and aren't sponsored by a government or employer.

🏛️ Oral Roberts University

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OK
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Tier 2 Freshmen Academic Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Feb 1 priority; rolling admission after
Strategic Note: Admitted incoming freshmen with a 3.50 to 3.99 cumulative high school GPA who enroll full time on the residential campus.

+ 7 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Texas Southern University

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Presidents Transfer Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Funds-limited; follow TSU's transfer admission deadlines and apply early.
Strategic Note: Transfer students who finished their associate degree with at least a 3.5 GPA. The completed associate is the key — without it, the Presidents tier isn't on the table.

+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of Kansas

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ KU Performance Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Dec 1
Strategic Note: Out-of-state and international admits with a 3.50–3.69 GPA. No test scores required.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of South Carolina Upstate

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ SC
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Out-of-State Academic Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | SAT: 1000 | Ends: Rolling; apply early. Students must be unconditionally admitted before scholarship deadlines.
Strategic Note: Out-of-state students in the top 20% with a 3.0 GPA and a 1000+ SAT on file who apply early.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of Southern Mississippi

FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ MS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Freshman Academic Excellence Scholarship (3.25+ GPA)
GPA: 3.25 | ACT: 20 | SAT: 1030 | Ends: March 1
Strategic Note: This tier is a stronger automatic merit level for Mississippi students. It is most realistic for students with a 3.0+ GPA and test scores around ACT 24-28 or SAT 1160+, especially if they submit scores before March 1.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Florida Gulf Coast University

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Blue & Green Director's Award
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 25 | SAT: 1200 | Ends: Mar 1 (final application deadline)
Strategic Note: Non-Florida-resident freshmen who land in the mid-band of the merit grid on GPA and scores and get their file complete by November. Applying early is a real advantage here.

+ 6 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Queens University of Charlotte

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NC
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Queens Commitment (RoyalUp)
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Rolling; students should activate RoyalUp early in their CPCC enrollment and follow the Queens transfer application timeline when ready to transfer.
Strategic Note: CPCC students who enroll in RoyalUp at the start of their associate degree, maintain a 2.5 GPA, complete their AA or AS, and apply to Queens through the transfer process. This is a straightforward pathway guarantee — if you follow the roadmap, the aid floor is locked in.

🏛️ Utah Valley University

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ UT
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Transfer Non-Resident Waiver
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: June 1 (complete admission at least two weeks before)
Strategic Note: Out-of-state transfer students with a 3.5+ GPA and at least a year of college credit who plan to stay in Utah long enough to establish residency.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Santa Clara University

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ SCU Transfer Scholarship
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: SCU transfer admission application deadline; TAA must be approved by March 15.
Strategic Note: Transfer students entering in fall from approved Bay Area community colleges who have an approved TAA, at least 30 transferable units, and a 3.3+ GPA. This is one of SCU's most under-talked-about funding streams for community college transfers — well worth the upfront TAA paperwork.

🏛️ Louisiana Tech University

$9,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ LA
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Presidential Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 33 | SAT: 1450 | Ends: Complete the admission file with qualifying test scores and transcript by January 15 of senior year for Presidential-level consideration.
Strategic Note: Top academic U.S. citizen freshmen with ACT scores in the low to mid 30s or equivalent SAT scores and strong A-range unweighted GPAs. This is Louisiana Tech's highest standard automatic merit tier.

+ 6 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ William Carey University

$9,100 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Presidential Scholarship (Transfer)
GPA: 3.50
Strategic Note: Any transfer student with a 3.50. No test score required, which is the quiet advantage of transferring into Carey rather than starting here. If you are also a Phi Theta Kappa member from the school you are transferring from, do not settle for this award, because the PTK Distinction Award pays $700 a year more for the same 3.50 GPA. It just takes one extra proof form.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ McNeese State University

$9,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ LA
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Presidential Award
GPA: 3.25 | ACT: 30 | SAT: 1360 | Ends: Dec 15 admission; Mar 31 test score
Strategic Note: This is McNeese's strongest listed automatic freshman award in this batch. Students with ACT 30+ or SAT 1360+ and at least a 3.25 six-semester GPA are the target group, but families should remember that $4,000 of the annual value is tied to campus housing.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Tampa

$9,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Transfer Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Aligned with UT transfer admission deadlines
Strategic Note: Full-time transfer applicants from regionally accredited colleges with a college GPA in roughly the 3.0+ range. Higher transfer GPAs land in the upper end of the $6K–$9K band; strong performance across a well-rounded transferable curriculum matters more than any single course.

🏛️ Wright State University

$8,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ OH
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Green & Gold Scholarship – Dayton Campus (3.20–3.59 GPA, Non-Resident)
GPA: 3.20 | Ends: Feb 1
Strategic Note: Out-of-state students with a B-plus record. At $5,500 to $8,500 a year, this alone knocks out a large share of the out-of-state premium without an essay.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Alabama State University

$8,328 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ M-9 Promise (Out-of-State Tuition Offset, Freshmen)
GPA: 2.75 | Ends: July 30
Strategic Note: This is the clearest Marion 9 out-of-state freshman tier because ASU lists a 2.75 GPA minimum. It is not a full-tuition scholarship; it is a tuition-offset award for non-Alabama freshmen who meet the GPA requirement and are admitted.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Weber State University

$8,200 / YRGPA 3.5+ UT
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Skyline Trail Scholarship (Nonresident Transfer)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: rolling (year-round, first-come, first-served)
Strategic Note: Out-of-state transfers with strong but not top transfer GPAs (3.50–3.74) who get their WSU admission paperwork in early.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Middle Tennessee State University

$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Centennial Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 34 | SAT: 1490 | Ends: December 1
Strategic Note: This is the top 1-2% of the incoming class, and it is genuinely automatic once you clear the bar. There is no committee weighing your essay or your activities. If your kid has a 34 and a 3.5, the only thing standing between them and $32,000 is a December 1 paperwork deadline that a lot of strong students blow past because they are focused on more selective schools. That is the real failure mode here — not falling short of the score, but missing the date.

+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Toledo

$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OH
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ UToledo Freshman Merit Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: January 19 priority date; after that, awarded as funds remain
Strategic Note: Any admitted first-time freshman with a 3.0+ GPA who completes the admission application by the priority date. Higher GPAs land closer to the $8,000 top of the range.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Radford University

$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ VA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Wayfinder Scholarship (Out-of-State)
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: February 1 (apply for admission by this date to be reviewed for automatic merit)
Strategic Note: Out-of-state freshmen with a GPA between 3.25 and 3.99 who apply for admission by Feb. 1. Over four years that is $32,000 in automatic money if renewal rules are met.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of North Florida

$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Non-Florida Resident Transfer Waiver — $8,000
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Apr 15 (transfer priority)
Strategic Note: Non-Florida resident transfer students with a 3.5 transfer GPA — the middle tier of the transfer waiver grid.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Northern Illinois University

$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Freshman Merit Scholarships
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Feb 1 (Summer/Fall priority); Oct 1 (Spring priority)
Strategic Note: Almost every admitted freshman with a 3.0 or better. This is a broad automatic award, not a competition. The $8,000 tier requires a 4.0. Most students land somewhere in the $3,000 to $7,000 range. Test scores play no part in it at all.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Mary Washington

$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ VA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Transfer Merit (3.5+ college GPA)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Preferred filing dates: Oct 15 (Spring) / Mar 1 (Summer) / Apr 1 (Fall)
Strategic Note: Transfer students with a 3.5+ college GPA, often from Virginia community colleges, who apply by the preferred filing date.

+ 8 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Miami University (Ohio)

$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OH
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Merit Scholarship 3.50–3.74 GPA (Non-Resident)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: December 1
Strategic Note: Solid out-of-state students in the B-plus range. Worth confirming your recalculated weighted GPA, since rigor can bump you into the $14,000 tier.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Bowling Green State University

$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OH
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ International Freshman Academic Scholarship
GPA: 3.00
Strategic Note: New international first-year students coming straight from high school. The award is tiered by GPA plus English proficiency or test scores, from $1,000 a year (3.0 GPA, TOEFL 71) up to $8,000 a year (3.7 GPA or higher with TOEFL 101, ACT 31 or SAT 1380). No separate application.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

$7,914 / YRGPA 3.5+ WI
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Titan National Scholar (Non-Resident)
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Rolling with admission
Strategic Note: Virtually every admitted out-of-state freshman (excluding Minnesota residents, international students, and online/specialty program students) who has at least a 2.5 unweighted high school GPA. There's no application to submit and no cap on the number of recipients — if you qualify academically, you're in.

🏛️ Grambling State University

FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ LA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Academic Scholarship (25+ ACT)
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 25 | SAT: 1200 | Ends: January 31 (automatic academic scholarship consideration for students who apply by this date)
Strategic Note: First-time freshmen with a 25 ACT or better, 1200 SAT or better, and a 3.0 GPA, applying by January 31. The 28 ACT and 3.5 GPA sub-tier with campus housing is the closest thing Grambling has to a full ride, and for a Louisiana resident with TOPS it effectively is one.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Southern University

$7,350 / YRGPA 3.5+ LA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Jaguar Out-of-State Fee Waiver
GPA: 2.75 | ACT: 24 | SAT: 1160 | Ends: Granted at admission; no separate scholarship application
Strategic Note: New out-of-state freshmen who meet any one of the three thresholds, plus transfer students with a 2.75 transfer GPA, who enroll full time and file the FAFSA.

🏛️ East Tennessee State University

$7,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Conditional Path
Requires specific designation (e.g., National Merit)
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How This Is Awarded

→ International Merit Scholarship — Gold
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: With admission
Strategic Note: Higher-achieving international undergraduates around a 3.4–3.6 GPA at admission.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Oakland University

$6,638 / YRGPA 3.5+ MI
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Non-Resident Award
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: March 1 for fall; Dec 1 for winter; July 1 for summer.
Strategic Note: Any out-of-state student — including eligible Canadian and Mexican permanent residents — with at least a 2.5 GPA who commits to living on campus for their first two years. The GPA bar is low by design; OU wants out-of-state enrollment and this award is their most powerful recruitment tool for non-Michigan students.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Tennessee State University

$6,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ 1912 Heritage Scholarship
GPA: 3.25 | ACT: 25 | SAT: 1200 | Ends: Rolling. TSU begins releasing merit offers on December 1 for the following fall class and continues until the funding pool is exhausted. Complete your admission file, transcript, and test scores as early in senior year as possible.
Strategic Note: First-time freshmen and international students with a weighted GPA of 3.25–3.74 or ACT 25–27 or SAT 1200–1290 who complete their admissions file before the rolling funds run dry. Named for TSU's 1912 founding year — it honors the institution's legacy while rewarding solid academic achievers.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Northern Colorado

$6,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ CO
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Transfer Trustee Nonresident
GPA: 3.50
Strategic Note: Nonresident and international transfer students with 3.50+ transfer GPAs enrolling full-time at UNC.

+ 8 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Texas Tech University

$6,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Presidential Merit Scholarship — $1,000–$6,500 Tiers
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 22 | SAT: 1100 | Ends: April 1
Strategic Note: This is where the broad middle of admitted freshmen actually land — anywhere from GPA 3.0 with a 1100 SAT all the way up to strong-but-not-top profiles. The grid is wide on purpose; the message is: if your student gets into TTU and shows up by April 1 with even modest stats, money is on the table.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Central Michigan University

$6,250 / YRGPA 3.5+ MI
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Maroon and Gold Merit (3.3 to 3.59 GPA)
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: Dec 1
Strategic Note: Incoming freshmen with a 3.3 to 3.59 GPA. A test score is worth up to $2,250 more per year at this band, which is the single easiest place for a mid-range student to gain ground.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Colorado Colorado Springs

$6,250 / YRGPA 3.5+ CO
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ UCCS Peak Award
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 22 | SAT: 1110 | Ends: Awarded automatically at admission; no separate application. UCCS does not publish a hard cutoff on its awards page, and past cycles stopped awarding on June 1 for fall entry, so apply early.
Strategic Note: Out-of-state, non-WUE freshmen and transfers with roughly 3.5+ weighted HS GPAs (or transfer GPAs of 3.0+ with at least 24 credit hours) who enroll full-time and keep moving forward academically. Students in the 3.0–3.49 weighted GPA range without test scores get a second look through a supplemental form.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Arkansas at Little Rock

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AR
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Deans’ Academic Merit
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 20 | SAT: 1030 | Ends: August 1 (admission plus transcript and test scores on file)
Strategic Note: Admitted freshmen with a 3.5–3.74 GPA and at least a 20 ACT or 1030 SAT who live in Arkansas or a contiguous state and finish admission steps on time.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Arkansas State University

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AR
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ A-State Inspire
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 25 | SAT: 1210 | Ends: July 1 scholarship deadline
Strategic Note: Solid academic performers — 3.5+ GPA and ACT 25-27 (or SAT 1210-1290) — who submit their admission application by the July 1 deadline and plan to attend on-campus in Jonesboro full-time.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Wyoming

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ WY
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Pokes Transfer Commitment (Non-Resident & International Transfers)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: August 1 (fall start enrollment confirmation); January 5 (spring start)
Strategic Note: Nonresident and international transfer students with a cumulative transfer GPA of 3.0 or higher and at least 12 transfer credits. Three flat levels: $2,000 at 3.00 to 3.30, $4,000 at 3.31 to 3.84, $6,000 at 3.85 to 4.00. No essays, no test scores, no separate application.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Wayne State University

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MI
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Warrior Transfer Award
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Complete your undergraduate admission application by the transfer scholarship deadline. No separate scholarship application is required.
Strategic Note: Community college transfers who hit 24 credits and a 3.0. Unlike the first-year awards, these thresholds are published, so you can actually plan around them.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Western Illinois University

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ International Undergraduate Freshman Scholarship – Upper Tier
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Guaranteed scholarship deadline is August 1 for fall entry and January 1 for spring entry. Students admitted after these dates are reviewed for awards based on available funding.
Strategic Note: New, non-sponsored international freshmen who enter WIU with fewer than 24 college credits and whose GPA is confirmed by WIU at 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. This scholarship cannot be earned after arriving on campus — GPA must be verified at the point of admission.

+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Troy University

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ ONETROY Transfer Scholarship (Troy Campus)
GPA: 2.50
Strategic Note: Almost any transfer student who clears 45 hours and a 2.50 gets something here, and the low bar is intentional. The real question is not whether you qualify, it is which tier you land in, and the jumps are a thousand dollars apiece. If your student is sitting at a 2.97 or a 3.47, one more strong semester at their current school is worth $1,000 a year for two years before they ever transfer.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Portland State University

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OR
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Out-of-State Opportunity Scholarship
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: June 15 (apply to PSU); Aug 1 (final transcripts)
Strategic Note: Out-of-state students who do not qualify for WUE, either because they live outside the western states or fall short of the 3.0 GPA and test thresholds. It is fully automatic with no essay.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of Oregon

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OR
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ IB Diploma Scholarships
GPA: 3.40 | Ends: Jan 15
Strategic Note: Students who earn the full IB Diploma, send official exam scores, and carry at least a 3.40 GPA. Higher IB totals pay more, and nonresidents receive double the resident amount at every tier.

🏛️ University of Tennessee Southern

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Provost's Scholar
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 27 | SAT: 1280
Strategic Note: This is the sweet spot award for a solid but not spectacular student. A 27 ACT sits well above UT Southern's typical admit, so if your student is testing in the high twenties, this money is close to a sure thing rather than a long shot. The GPA requirement of 3.5 is the easier half — the test score is what most families will be chasing.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Austin Peay State University

$5,760 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Governor's Out-of-State
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: November 15 admissions priority date for scholarship consideration.
Strategic Note: Any out-of-state freshman with a 3.5 GPA who applies on time — this is a grid award, not a competition. The catch worth knowing at the kitchen table is that it will not stack with another out-of-state waiver, so a military family at Fort Campbell should compare the two rather than expect both.

🏛️ Mississippi University for Women

$5,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Presidential Award (Freshman)
GPA: 2.75 | ACT: 20 | SAT: 1030
Strategic Note: This is the top band of four, and it is more reachable than it sounds — the Presidential block covers a big sweep of the grid. A 4.0 gets you here with an ACT around 20. A 3.5 needs roughly a 29. A 3.0 needs roughly a 33. Below a 20 ACT the grid goes flat and no GPA will lift you out of the bottom tier, so if your score is in the teens, retesting is worth far more than another semester of grade polishing.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

$5,450 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Academic Service Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: December 1 (priority); February 1 (final)
Strategic Note: First-time undergraduates (freshmen or transfers) with a minimum 3.0 GPA, a genuine and documented history of community or school service, two strong recommendations, and the capacity to commit to 125 campus work hours every semester while staying enrolled full-time. This is an extremely competitive program with a limited number of awards — standout service narratives and reliable recommenders make the difference.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Liberty University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ VA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ CVCC (Central Virginia Community College) Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Rolling
Strategic Note: Students who complete and confer an associate degree at CVCC with at least a 3.0 GPA and transfer directly to Liberty receive $5,000/year. Students who complete a conferred certificate (excluding Career Studies Certificates) under the same conditions receive $2,500/year.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Colorado Mesa University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CO
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Presidential Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 21 | SAT: 1060 | Ends: Submit the New Student Enrollment Form by May 1, 2027 for a summer or fall 2027 start. First-time students from Mesa, Montrose, Delta, Garfield and Eagle counties remain eligible after that date. Updated GPA or test scores must reach CMU by August 1, 2027 for reconsideration.
Strategic Note: First-time freshmen with a 3.90+ GPA (no test required) or a 3.50-3.89 GPA with 1060+ SAT or 21+ ACT.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Coppin State University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MD
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Gold First-Year Student Merit Award
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: December 1
Strategic Note: First-year applicants at or above a 3.0 GPA who get the admission application in before December 1. Coppin encourages essays, resumes, and recommendations even though they are optional, so students who send them give the committee more to go on.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ LSU New Orleans

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ LA
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Privateer Premier Award
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 30 | SAT: 1360 | Ends: Priority December 15; Final July 15 for admissions-based scholarship consideration
Strategic Note: Students with a 3.90 to 4.00 non-weighted cumulative GPA qualify on grades alone, no test score needed. Students at 3.0 or better who also post a 30 ACT or 1360 SAT qualify through the combined path. Realistic for a student who kept a strong record all four years, and there are no extra hoops.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Eastern Kentucky University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KY
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ One Eastern Award
GPA: 3.40
Strategic Note: This is a practical middle-tier EKU award for Kentucky students with solid grades. Students with a 3.4 to 3.79 unweighted GPA can qualify without test scores, while GSE, GSA, and Rogers Scholars may receive this tier regardless of GPA.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Indiana State University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Incentive Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: May 1 (fall admission); Dec 15 (spring admission)
Strategic Note: Out-of-state freshmen with a 3.0+ GPA who live outside Indiana and aren't eligible for a regional rate — essentially any motivated non-Indiana student who earns a college-prep diploma.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Illinois State University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Redbird Academic Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Nov 1 (priority admission deadline)
Strategic Note: New domestic freshmen who apply by Nov 1 with a 3.0+ cumulative high school GPA. Award amounts are set by how competitive the applicant pool is that year, so stronger GPAs generally land toward the higher end of the range.

🏛️ University of St. Thomas

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Automatic with transfer admission; PTK membership must be verified.
Strategic Note: Community college transfer students who hold active PTK membership and have a 3.0+ college GPA. If you earned your PTK pin at a two-year school, this award kicks in automatically when you transfer.

🏛️ Tuskegee University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Tuskegee University Transfer Grant
GPA: 3.20

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Tennessee–Martin

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Voyager Out-of-State Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: February 1
Strategic Note: Any out-of-state student who lands the Dean, Excellence, or Achieve Scholarship and carries a 3.0 high school GPA. There is no separate application and no competition involved. The practical effect is that an out-of-state family stacking Voyager with an automatic merit tier is often paying less than in-state sticker price.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Stephen F. Austin State University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Academic Excellence Scholarship ($5,000 tier)
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: June 30
Strategic Note: Strong students who land in one of two sweet spots on the chart: a 3.75+ GPA in the top 5% of their class, or a GPA between 3.30-3.70 in the top 1%. If your student is academically excellent but not the class valedictorian, this is the most common landing zone.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Grand Valley State University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MI
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Award for Excellence Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Considered automatically at admission review. Updated transcripts accepted for reconsideration through August 27, 2027.
Strategic Note: Solid B-plus and A-minus students with a 3.5 GPA. No test scores involved. This tier got a meaningful raise for 2027-2028, from $3,500 to $5,000, which makes the middle of GVSU's merit chart noticeably stronger than it was last year.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Longwood University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ VA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ Dean's Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: February 1
Strategic Note: Fall freshmen whose high school GPA falls in the 3.50–3.74 range. Early Action applicants are guaranteed up to $5,000/year; Regular Admission applicants are eligible for up to $4,000/year. Completing the application by December 1 is the single most important lever here.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Nicholls State University

$4,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ LA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Housing and Meals Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 21 | Ends: Jan 31
Strategic Note: First-time freshmen who qualify on the GPA/ACT grid and plan to live on campus are the students most likely to benefit. This is especially useful for families comparing billed cost, because it helps with housing and meal expenses rather than just tuition.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Murray State University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KY
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Carr
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: No separate scholarship application deadline; awarded at admission.
Strategic Note: Domestic freshmen with a 3.50–3.79 weighted GPA. This is a solid automatic award for strong GPA students without needing a test score.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Youngstown State University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OH
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ President's
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 27 | SAT: 1290 | Ends: February 15 (admission application, transcripts and official scores in)
Strategic Note: Students with a 3.5 GPA who post an ACT 27 or SAT 1290. Scores must be official and in by February 15. One extra ACT sitting that moves a 25 to a 27 is worth $4,000 over four years here.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Grand Canyon University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AZ
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Dean's Scholarship
GPA: 3.30 | ACT: 22 | SAT: 1130 | Ends: At admission (rolling)
Strategic Note: Traditional on-campus freshmen with a 3.3-3.69 GPA or a 22 ACT / 1130 SAT.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Southern Arkansas University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AR
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ SAU Success Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 24 | SAT: 1160 | Ends: March 1 (early decision January 15); awards are limited and may run out sooner
Strategic Note: The dependable B-plus student. A 3.5 GPA is enough by itself, which makes this one of the most reachable four-figure awards on the list.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Southern Illinois University Carbondale

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Dean's Transfer Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Rolling. Awarding begins in September for Fall 2027 admits and in October for Spring 2028 admits, and concludes when funds are exhausted.
Strategic Note: High-achieving transfer students with a 3.5+ cumulative GPA and at least 12 transferable hours who enroll while funding lasts. This award also unlocks two competitive scholarship opportunities — the Provost's Scholarship (full tuition and fees for two years) for those with 30+ credits and an associate degree, and the PTK Scholarship for active Phi Theta Kappa members. Think of the Dean's Transfer Scholarship as the gateway to SIU's best transfer money.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Tennessee Tech University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Presidential Scholars: $4,000 (ACT 25+ / 3.40 GPA)
GPA: 3.40 | ACT: 25 | SAT: 1200 | Ends: Dec 15 (admission for full award); Jan 15 (scores/transcript); Jun 1 (secondary deadline for reduced award)
Strategic Note: Students with a 3.40–3.74 unweighted GPA and a 25–28 ACT or 1200–1329 SAT on a single sitting. This is the first tier that opens to students below the 3.75 GPA threshold.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Southeastern Louisiana University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ LA
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Southeastern Honors Scholarship – 30+ ACT Tier
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 30 | Ends: Priority January 15 admission application; scores and GPA must be received by August 1.
Strategic Note: First-time freshmen with a 3.0+ six-semester GPA and a 30+ ACT, or a higher qualifying ACT superscore. This is the top automatic tier, but families should remember the housing supplement only helps if the student lives on campus continuously from the first semester.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ HI
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Mānoa Academic Merit Scholarship
GPA: 3.20 | Ends: Rolling while funds last (apply early in the fall)
Strategic Note: Admitted first-year students starting in the fall right after high school whose GPA clears the bar for their residency group: 3.20 for Hawaiʻi residents, 3.50 for WUE students, 3.70 for other nonresidents.

🏛️ University of Missouri–Kansas City

$3,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ MO
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Chancellor's Award
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 25 | Ends: Rolling; priority consideration for fall if admitted by January 15
Strategic Note: Missouri or Kansas residents with around a 3.5+ high school core GPA or a 25+ ACT who enroll as first-time college students. Either threshold qualifies.

🏛️ Southeast Missouri State University

$3,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ MO
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Copper Dome Scholarship (3.5 GPA)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: March 1 for fall; November 1 for spring. Awards are made at the time of admission.
Strategic Note: Beginning freshmen with a cumulative high school GPA of 3.5–3.84 who meet SEMO's admission requirements. No test score required — GPA alone is enough to land this award.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Western Michigan University

$3,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ MI
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Bronco Achievement Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Early Action (Dec 1)
Strategic Note: First-year fall admits with a recalculated GPA between 3.00 and 3.59 who have a complete application file by Dec 1. The award amount moves within the range based on where the GPA falls. No test scores required.

🏛️ University of Nebraska at Omaha

$3,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ NE
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Academic Achievement Scholarship
GPA: 3.40 | ACT: 24 | SAT: 1160 | Ends: Apply to UNO by Feb 1; test scores accepted through the February test date of senior year.
Strategic Note: Strong Nebraska high school seniors with solid GPAs and ACT scores in the mid-20s or higher who fall just below the competitive Regents level — this is the sweet spot for students who've worked hard but aren't quite at the flagship threshold.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Delta State University

$3,225 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
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How This Is Awarded

→ The Sunflower Road Award
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 27 | SAT: 1260
Strategic Note: Named for the street the campus sits on. A 27 ACT at a school where the middle of the class is well below that makes a student genuinely valuable to Delta State, and the award reflects it. At $6,450 a year this lands within striking distance of full tuition, and once you stack Pell or MTAG on top, a lot of families find tuition simply disappears. This is the rung where Delta State stops being cheap and starts being close to free.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Emporia State University

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Freshman Presidential Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 21 | Ends: Rolling — awarded on admission. All official transcripts must be received by the 20th day of your start semester.
Strategic Note: Almost everyone admitted with a 3.0. This is not a competition — it's a price list, and roughly any admitted student clearing a 3.0 unweighted or a 21 ACT lands somewhere on it. The real question isn't whether you win, it's which rung you land on, and the jump from $1,250 to $3,000 is worth chasing. If your child is sitting at a 3.9 or a 29 ACT, one more test sitting or one more strong semester can be worth $500-$750 a year, which is $2,000-$3,000 over four years. That's the highest-leverage hour of work available at this school.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Colorado State University Pueblo

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CO
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ 4-Year Transfer Scholarship
GPA: 3.25
Strategic Note: New transfer students moving in from a regionally accredited four-year institution with at least a 3.25 college GPA. If you are jumping from one four-year school to CSU Pueblo, this is your headline award.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Utah

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ UT
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Great Salt Lake Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Dec 1
Strategic Note: Students with a 3.50 to 3.69 unweighted GPA who met the December 1 deadline.

🏛️ University of California, Merced

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ MAAP Scholarship (Merced Automatic Admission Program)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Oct 7 (indicate MAAP interest inside the UC application); Nov 30 (submit the full UC application if also applying to other UCs or SJV PRIME+)
Strategic Note: Seniors at partner high schools who are on track for UC A-G requirements with a weighted 3.0 GPA and who hit the October 7 date. If your student's school is on the list, this is close to a sure thing.

🏛️ Wichita State University

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Transfer Merit Scholarship
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: February 1 (fall transfers); December 1 (spring transfers)
Strategic Note: Incoming full-time domestic transfers with a 3.25+ transfer GPA. The higher tier ($3,000/yr) needs a 3.5+; it's automatic and reasonably broad among qualifying transfers.

🏛️ University of Michigan–Flint

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MI
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ First Year Opportunity Scholarship
GPA: 2.70 | Ends: Rolling
Strategic Note: First-year applicants who choose not to submit SAT or ACT scores. The award is set entirely by recomputed high school GPA, so there is no committee and no essay. Students right at the 3.7 line should note that crossing it triples the award, from $1,000 to $3,000 per year.

🏛️ Delaware State University

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ DE
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ DSU GAP Scholarship (Out-of-State)
GPA: 2.75 | ACT: 17 | SAT: 920 | Ends: No separate application. Awarded first-come, first-served from the admitted pool while funds last. Offers go out November 2, 2026 through May 1; accept by June 15, 2027.
Strategic Note: Out-of-state U.S. citizens with a 2.75 to 2.99 GPA and a 17 ACT or 920 SAT who get their file complete early.

🏛️ Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Cougar Pride Scholarship — Tier 3
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Awarded as funding is available; applying early (by Dec 1) is strongly encouraged.
Strategic Note: Domestic U.S. first-year freshmen with a cumulative high school GPA between 3.50 and 3.74 on a 4.0 scale.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ WI
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Out-of-State Merit Award – Nonresident Tier 1 ($3,000)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Dec 1 (priority) / Feb 1 (final) admission deadline for automatic consideration.
Strategic Note: Nonresident admits with unweighted GPAs between 3.5 and 3.64 — solid B+/A- students who still earn meaningful automatic money just by getting admitted.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Vincennes University

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Presidential Scholarship
GPA: 3.30 | ACT: 25 | SAT: 1190
Strategic Note: Requires top-25% class rank, an SAT of 1190 or ACT of 25, and an Indiana Academic or Technical Honors Diploma (or out-of-state equivalent). It's the highest flat-dollar tier and the number of awards is capped, so earlier applicants have the best odds.

🏛️ Purdue University Fort Wayne

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Purdue Fort Wayne Scholarship, Nonresident Tier 1
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Fall entry: pay the enrollment deposit by June 1 and get final transcripts to PFW by August 1. One table on PFW's scholarship page lists August 18 for both, but the admissions page and scholarship rules say June 1, so plan on the earlier dates. Spring entry: deposit by December 1.
Strategic Note: First-year students from outside Indiana, including MSEP, contiguous-state, and international students, with a 3.5 or higher final high school GPA. No test score is required on PFW's published grid.

🏛️ Winthrop University

$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ SC
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Transfer Garnet Scholar (In-State)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: June 1
Strategic Note: Transfers with a 3.5 or better across all prior college work, which is achievable for many students finishing a two-year program in good standing.

🏛️ Florida International University

$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Raise.Me Micro-Scholarships (Transfer)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Early May 2027 (FIU Florida-resident transfer application deadline)
Strategic Note: Florida-resident transfer students who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, complete an AA/AS from a Florida community college, earn at least 45 credit hours on the RaiseMe platform, and maintain a 3.5 GPA.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Central Connecticut State University

$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ CT
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Central Merit Scholarship - Tier 2
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: Rolling (with admission)
Strategic Note: Incoming first-year students with a 3.30 to 3.79 high school GPA. No essay, no test scores, and no separate application.

🏛️ University of Cincinnati

$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ OH
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Sinclair Bearcats Fast Track Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: No deadline listed (UC aid office recommends applying by April 30)
Strategic Note: Sinclair associate degree graduates with a 3.0 or better.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Kansas State University

$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ KS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Wildcat Traditions Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Apply for admission by K-State priority date; upgrade materials due Apr 1
Strategic Note: Kansas residents with a best cumulative GPA of 3.50–3.69 who apply and enroll on time. Submitting a strong ACT/SAT can move some students up to the Royal Purple tier.

🏛️ Western Kentucky University

$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ KY
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Academic Scholarship: 3.50 to 3.79 GPA
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Fully admitted to WKU by December 31 of senior year with the official high school transcript on file. No ACT or SAT required.
Strategic Note: Students in the solid A-/B+ range by unweighted GPA. This is the tier many good students can realistically hit without needing a test score.

🏛️ Gonzaga University

$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ WA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Daniel G. Brajcich Scholarship (Business/Accounting)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Nov 15 (EA); Feb 1 (RD)
Strategic Note: Admitted first-year students entering the School of Business Administration (including Accounting majors) who carry an unweighted GPA of 3.5 or higher and demonstrate financial need on the FAFSA. Selection is internal to admissions and financial aid, no separate application needed.

Strategic Note: Based on these numbers, you also qualify to compete for the Competitive & Hidden Gem awards below. These require holistic review or a separate application.

🏛️ Florida Southern College

FULL RIDEGPA 3.5+ FL
●Conditional Path
Requires specific designation (e.g., National Merit)
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Hollingsworth Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 29 | SAT: 1330 | Ends: January 3
Strategic Note: A tiny handful of first-year applicants each year — students with superior academics, real leadership footprint, strong character indicators, and a compelling interview. If your student is Prestige-invited and interviewed as a Hollingsworth finalist, they're already in exceptional company.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Wichita State University

$80,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KS
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Richard D. Smith Scholarship (DSI)
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 27 | SAT: 1260 | Ends: November 8, 2026 (scholarship materials); November 1, 2026 (admission)
Strategic Note: The single largest DSI prize — one winner. Realistically goes to a standout all-around applicant (well above the 3.5 GPA / 27 ACT / 1260 SAT entry bar) who performs strongly at the on-campus competition. Open to all majors, but genuinely elite.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Boston College

$40,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Saint Oscar A. Romero Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Early February of junior year
Strategic Note: BC juniors with strong academic records and a sustained record of leadership and service to the Hispanic/Latino community at BC and beyond.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Saint Joseph's University

$35,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ McConnell Scholars Program
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: February 15 (separate application).
Strategic Note: A small cohort of first-years with a track record of leadership on gender equity, such as advocacy, mentoring or organizing.

🏛️ University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ TN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: July 1 (fall cohort); November 1 (spring cohort)
Strategic Note: High-achieving cybersecurity or IT students at UTC who intend to work for federal, state, local, or tribal government in cybersecurity roles.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Creighton University

$32,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NE
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Native American Merit Scholarship
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: Mar 1 (FAFSA and documentation deadline)
Strategic Note: First-generation, Pell-eligible Native American students with documented tribal enrollment, at least a 3.3 high school GPA, and a demonstrated commitment to diversity and leadership. This is one of the most targeted — and most meaningful — scholarships Creighton offers.

+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Texas at El Paso

$30,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded

→ Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program (TASSP)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Legislators appoint through Sept 30 each year; each office sets its own internal deadline
Strategic Note: Students who contacted a legislative district office early and made their case in person. There is no central application and no marketing, so the pool is thin. Legislative offices often struggle to find a qualified nominee, which means a prepared student who asks has a genuinely good shot.

🏛️ University of Louisville

$30,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KY
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded

→ Grawemeyer Scholarship (Mentored)
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 24 | SAT: 1160 | Ends: Dec 1
Strategic Note: This is for the student who already looks like a young researcher, creator, or serious academic contributor. Strong grades matter, but the real edge is showing curiosity, initiative, and a clear reason why mentored research or creative work fits the student's college plan.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Illinois Chicago

$30,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IL
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ College of Engineering WIEP Scholarship Program
GPA: 3.20 | Ends: Candidates identified in early December after admission
Strategic Note: Women admitted early to UIC Engineering who already have a track record with WIEP outreach programs and who show up to the December brunch.

🏛️ Xavier University (Ohio)

$29,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OH
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Tri-State Community College Scholars (Transfer)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Rolling; apply through the Xavier transfer application.
Strategic Note: Tri-State community college graduates who want a private four-year degree at close to public-university pricing.

🏛️ East Tennessee State University

FULL RIDEGPA 3.5+ TN
●Conditional Path
Requires specific designation (e.g., National Merit)
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Roan Scholars Leadership Program
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 21 | SAT: 1060 | Ends: Application window typically closes in mid-October of senior year (Oct 15 for the most recent cycle)
Strategic Note: A very small cohort of regional seniors with standout leadership, service records, and strong performance across semifinalist interviews and a two-day finalist visit to campus.

🏛️ Saint Francis University

$25,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Accounting Scholarship
GPA: 3.30 | ACT: 21 | SAT: 1060 | Ends: Follows the admission timeline. Apply and file the FAFSA early.
Strategic Note: Accounting majors whose GPA puts them in a merit tier below $25,000. For them, the guarantee can lift the package.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Maryland Eastern Shore

$25,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MD
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ David A. Scott Scholarship Program (formerly UMES Land-Grant Scholarship)
GPA: 2.80 | Ends: Mid-spring (2026 application closed; watch for the next cycle)
Strategic Note: U.S. citizens entering as freshmen or transfers with at least a 2.8 unweighted GPA, accepted into an approved SANS major, taking at least 15 credits a semester, and planning a career in the food and agricultural sciences.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Emory University

$25,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ GA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded

→ Sonny Carter Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Applications open in mid-February of the junior year and close in late March, with in-person campus interviews in April and decisions at the end of April. Funding applies to the following fall and spring.
Strategic Note: Emory College juniors with a strong academic record who can also show sustained leadership, service, character and physical activity. Emory is explicit that it is looking for a student developing intellectual, physical and moral qualities for the common good, so a pure grades resume is not the profile.

🏛️ Saint Louis University

$24,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MO
●Elite Selection
Top 1–2% / Interview / Highly Restrictive
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: Feb 1
Strategic Note: Students with a 3.25+ GPA who've been genuine agents of change — not just club members, but people who've led efforts to address social injustice. The essay and March campus interview are the heart of this selection; authentic storytelling matters more than a résumé packed with activities.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Washington

$22,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ WA
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded

→ Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS)
GPA: 2.75 | Ends: Feb 25, 2027
Strategic Note: Income-eligible Washington students headed into STEM or health care majors who apply on time and write honest short essays (150 to 500 words, no references needed).

🏛️ Western Colorado University

$22,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CO
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Reisher Scholars Program
GPA: 3.00

🏛️ University of Maryland, Baltimore County

$22,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MD
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Meyerhoff Scholars Program
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 24 | Ends: January 15 (final; recommendation letters due too) • December 1 priority
Strategic Note: High-achieving STEM students aiming for a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D., usually with strong math and science grades, calculus, research experience, and teacher recommendations. A nomination from a counselor or teacher is no longer required but is strongly encouraged. Strong preference goes to Ph.D. plans over M.D.-only plans. The program is open to all students who support the advancement of minorities in the sciences.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Colorado Denver

$22,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CO
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Reisher Scholars Program
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: FAFSA by March 1; apply through Scholarship Universe
Strategic Note: First-years who keep a 3.0 and file the FAFSA every year are set up to apply heading into sophomore year. This is the payoff for planning one year ahead.

🏛️ University of Northern Colorado

$22,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CO
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Reisher Scholars Program
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Mid-March (continuing); mid-May (transfer)
Strategic Note: Colorado students with real financial need, solid grades (3.0+), and a clear plan to finish on time. Transfer students from Colorado community colleges are a big part of the pool.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Colorado Boulder

$22,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CO
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Reisher Scholars Program
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: March 15 (rising sophomore); June 15 (transfer)
Strategic Note: Colorado residents already at CU Boulder past their first year, or transferring from a Colorado community college, who show financial need plus a record of service, leadership, work, or other contributions.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Colorado Colorado Springs

$22,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CO
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Reisher Continuing Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: March 1
Strategic Note: Colorado residents finishing their freshman year at UCCS with a 3.0+ GPA, Pell eligibility (or AGI under 300% of the federal poverty level), 12+ credits per term, a clear graduation plan, and the willingness to work at least 10 hours per week. Up to 24 awards are made each year, competitive but achievable for the right candidate.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Colorado State University

$22,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CO
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Reisher Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: March 1 (CSUSA plus Reisher application; FAFSA by March 1)
Strategic Note: Colorado students who used their first year at CSU to build a record of service, leadership, or work, and who have real unmet need on the FAFSA. This is a second-year award, so it is something to plan for, not apply for as a senior.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Montana State University

$20,900 / YRGPA 3.5+ MT
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: January 7
Strategic Note: Students from eligible Western states and Pacific territories (AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, NV, NM, ND, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY, plus CNMI, Guam, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau). The minimum is a 3.0 GPA, but MSU says recipients routinely have a 3.8 or higher. The short essays on why MSU, overcoming adversity, and service carry real weight.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Indiana University Indianapolis

$20,046 / YRGPA 3.5+ IN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Herron Nonresident Award Program
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: No separate deadline. Tied to Herron admission. Submit the Herron portfolio and the IU Indianapolis General Scholarship application by February 1 for full scholarship consideration.
Strategic Note: Out-of-state students admitted to a Herron bachelor's program from one of the 41 eligible states with a 3.0 GPA. You must select a Herron major on your IU Indianapolis application to be considered for Herron awards.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ San Diego State University

$20,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ CSU Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Spring (nomination window announced by the SDSU Scholarship Office)
Strategic Note: Current SDSU students with financial need, strong grades, and a compelling personal story backed by real service. The hard part is getting nominated, so building relationships with faculty and staff matters.

🏛️ Cal Poly Pomona

$20,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CA
●Elite Selection
Top 1–2% / Interview / Highly Restrictive
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ CSU Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Early spring campus deadline; confirm in the Bronco Scholarship Portal
Strategic Note: Continuing CPP students with a 3.0+ GPA and documented financial need whose application is strong enough to become the campus's single nominee, then hold up in a CSU Foundation interview.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Colorado School of Mines

$20,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CO
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Kiewit Scholars Program
GPA: 2.90 | Ends: Posted annually in the scholarship portal. The most recent cycle opened Dec 15 and closed in late February at 11:59 pm, with no late submissions.
Strategic Note: First-year Mines students who already know they want construction engineering and can talk about leadership with real examples. Most families never hear about it because it opens after the first year.

🏛️ DePaul University

FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ IL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Army ROTC Scholarships
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: High school national boards typically run Oct–Jan; campus-based scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis.
Strategic Note: Students who commit to commissioning as Army officers, meet academic and fitness standards, and are selected by national or campus-based ROTC boards.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

$20,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AR
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ SAFHS 1890 Scholarships Program
GPA: 3.20 | ACT: 19 | SAT: 1020 | Ends: May 15
Strategic Note: Students committed to a SAFHS major with at least a 3.2 GPA and a 19 ACT, plus a meaningful number who come in through the 2.8 GPA Accuplacer path. Because awards must be renewed by reapplication each year, students who stay organized keep the money.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

$20,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MI
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Gloria Wille Bell and Carlos R. Bell Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Applications have historically been due March 1 through the Bell Charitable Trust, which is separate from anything U-M runs. The posted cycle year on the CoE page lags, so confirm the current date before you rely on it.
Strategic Note: STEM-bound students who happen to live in Virginia, a Chicago-area school district, or one of the 19 named Michigan counties. Eligibility here is almost entirely an accident of address, so it costs nothing to check the county list and a lot to skip it.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ LSU New Orleans

FULL RIDEGPA 3.5+ LA
●Conditional Path
Requires specific designation (e.g., National Merit)
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Homer Hitt Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 32 | SAT: 1420 | Ends: Priority December 15 for fall scholarship consideration; admissions acceptance final February 1 (secondary May 1); finalist interviews March 1 to 10
Strategic Note: Roughly 15 incoming freshmen a year who clear the 32 ACT or 1420 SAT and 3.5 GPA bar and then perform in the finalist interview. The interview is the real differentiator. The committee is looking for students who are genuinely excited about building something in New Orleans, not just the highest numbers in the pile. Leadership, purpose, and a compelling story matter here.

🏛️ Arkansas State University

$18,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AR
●Competitive
3.8+ GPA / 30+ ACT typical profiles
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ A-State Scholar
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 31 | SAT: 1400 | Ends: February 1 application deadline; offer must be accepted by March 1
Strategic Note: A small cohort of top applicants — think 31+ ACT (or 1400+ SAT), 3.5+ GPA, strong Honors-caliber essays, leadership and service depth, and rigorous coursework. Applications that clearly demonstrate curiosity, impact, and college-ready writing rise to the top.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

$18,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Air Force ROTC (Det 590)
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 26 | SAT: 1240 | Ends: Varies (see Air Force ROTC UNC)
Strategic Note: Juniors/seniors with ~3.0+ GPA & strong PT scores; meets Air Force nomination/selection

🏛️ North Carolina A&T State University

FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ NC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded

→ AFROTC Scholarships
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: National high school deadlines fall in early senior year; in-college deadlines vary and are posted by detachment.
Strategic Note: Students with strong academics, physical fitness, and leadership potential who commit to Air Force or Space Force service via AFROTC at NC A&T.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Nebraska at Omaha

$17,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NE
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ CBA Scholars Academy
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 26 | Ends: January 15 priority; March 1 final
Strategic Note: High‑achieving incoming business majors with strong GPAs, ACT scores, leadership, and service who are interested in a cohort model with mentoring and internships.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Belhaven University

$16,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Transfer Scholarship
GPA: 2.00
Strategic Note: The 2.0 bar here is low on purpose, which means nearly any transfer student who gets admitted gets this. The catch is the $2,500 spread between the floor and the ceiling, and Belhaven does not publish what determines where you land. If your student is also PTK eligible, stop and check that first, because the PTK award pays $17,500 flat and beats the top of this range.

🏛️ Grand Canyon University

FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ AZ
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Colangelo Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Set annually, typically in the year before fall enrollment; contact your counselor for current dates
Strategic Note: A very small group, just two incoming business students each year, who pair a 3.5+ unweighted GPA with standout community service and entrepreneurial leadership. This is one of GCU's most selective awards.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Kennesaw State University

$15,900 / YRGPA 3.5+ GA
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Flight to Excellence Scholarship (Out-of-State Tuition Waiver)
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 20 | SAT: 1050 | Ends: November 2, 2026 for Fall 2027 first-year applicants. November 16, 2026 for Spring 2027. Transfer applicants should confirm the current date directly with Undergraduate Admissions.
Strategic Note: Out-of-state and international students who cleared the bar early rather than barely. KSU says outright that hitting the minimum does not get you a waiver and that preference goes to students who exceeded the GPA requirement. The pool is small: out-of-state students make up under three percent of the entering class, so this is not a scholarship most applicants are even competing for.

🏛️ Southern Illinois University Carbondale

FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ IL
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Provost's Scholarship (Transfer)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Application opens December 1, 2026 and closes mid-February. Students must be admitted by February 1 to receive the invitation to apply.
Strategic Note: Top community college transfers who are Dean's Transfer Scholars, have at least 30 transferable credit hours, are working toward or have completed an associate degree from a regionally accredited school, and enter SIU in a Fall term. This is a small, competitive cohort — the award is described as limited in availability.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Tennessee Knoxville

$15,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Global Ambassador Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: May 1
Strategic Note: First-year international students (non-resident visa holders, non-U.S. high school graduates) with at least a 3.0 UT Converted and Weighted Core GPA who complete the separate Global Ambassador application and are selected based on leadership, service, and essay strength. Award tier is GPA-based: 3.0–3.49 = $10,000/yr; 3.5–3.79 = $12,500/yr; 3.8+ = $15,000/yr.

🏛️ Michigan Technological University

$15,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MI
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Schmiedel Family Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Dec 15
Strategic Note: Exactly one incoming engineering student per year, drawn from a handful of named high schools in the donors' hometowns. If your student attends one of those schools and is headed into engineering with a 3.50 or better, the applicant pool is a rounding error compared with any statewide award. If they do not, this one is not available at any GPA.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Southern Utah University

$13,816 / YRGPA 3.5+ UT
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded

→ Alumni Legacy Non-Resident Scholarship
GPA: 2.80 | ACT: 18 | SAT: 960 | Ends: March 1 priority; first come, first served until funds run out
Strategic Note: Children of SUU alumni who would not otherwise qualify for a renewable non-resident award. For almost everyone else, the four-year award is worth far more.

🏛️ Arizona State University

$13,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AZ
●Conditional Path
Requires specific designation (e.g., National Merit)
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Leadership Scholarship Program
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: January 9
Strategic Note: High school seniors with a strong, sustained record of leadership and community service who stand out in their school community, earn their counselor's nomination, and perform well in the competitive LSP selection process and finalist interview.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Florida A&M University

$13,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Army ROTC Room & Board (institutional)
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: March 31 (typical unit deadline; verify each year)
Strategic Note: Contracted ROTC cadets at FAMU who maintain strong GPA, physical fitness, and steady progress toward commissioning.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Southern Connecticut State University

FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ CT
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ NOYCE STEM Education Scholarship
GPA: 2.80 | Ends: Rolling (fall and spring semesters)
Strategic Note: Math or Science 7-12 education majors committed to teaching in high-need districts.

🏛️ Texas Christian University

$12,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Gideon Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Aligned with transfer scholarship and AcademicWorks spring cycles; specific dates published each year.
Strategic Note: High-achieving community college Education majors with at least a 3.5 GPA and up to 60 transferable hours who align with the College of Education’s priorities.

🏛️ Bowling Green State University

$12,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OH
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Thompson Working Families Scholarship
GPA: 2.75 | Ends: February 18
Strategic Note: Students from working families who already volunteer and have solid grades. BGSU has 1,416 Thompson Scholars on campus in 2026-27, so this is not a long shot for the right family. File the FAFSA early and do not skip the separate application.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Mississippi State University

FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ MS
●Conditional Path
Requires specific designation (e.g., National Merit)
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ National Merit Finalist Scholarship Package
GPA: 3.00
Strategic Note: Finalists who actually file MSU as their NMSC first choice. Making Finalist is the hard part, but the first-choice designation is the part that gets forgotten, and without it the package does not arrive. Anyone weighing MSU against another school should know that designation is exclusive.

+ 6 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Texas Southern University

$12,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Army ROTC
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: ROTC board cycles (fall–winter)
Strategic Note: U.S. citizen students who commit to ROTC, maintain 2.5 GPA, and pass all program fitness/service requirements.

🏛️ Troy University

$12,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Transfer Presidential Scholarship
GPA: 3.50
Strategic Note: One student per Alabama community college. That is the whole pool. Because the pick comes from your college president rather than a TROY committee, the students who win are the ones the president's office already knows by name — the ones in student government, on honors council, at the ribbon cuttings. If your student is at an Alabama two-year school with a 3.5, the move is to get visible on their own campus long before transfer paperwork starts.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Weber State University

$10,988 / YRGPA 3.5+ UT
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Alumni Legacy Nonresident Scholarship
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Scholarship Universe priority Feb. 1
Strategic Note: Out-of-state students with a parent who graduated from Weber State and who plan to establish Utah residency after year one.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Florida Gulf Coast University

$10,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Out-of-State Tuition Waiver (Transfer)
GPA: 3.40 | Ends: Apr 1 (Fall entry — waiver opens Jan 6); Oct 1 (Spring entry — waiver opens Sep 1)
Strategic Note: A small group of strong nonresident transfer students with at least a 3.4 GPA and compelling essays about leadership, civic engagement, and fit with FGCU. This is a committee-reviewed waiver — the essays actually matter.

🏛️ South Dakota State University

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ SD
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Klingbeil Scholars (CAFES)
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 22 | SAT: 1100 | Ends: Nov 14
Strategic Note: High-achieving ag/tech/precision ag majors

+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ California State University, Fullerton

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ CBE Yardi Scholars
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: March 1 (general Fall CSUF scholarship application; the 2026 window ran January 5 to March 1)
Strategic Note: First-generation business students who use the short essay to show real involvement and the values the donor lists: integrity, communication, collaboration, and community service.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of Arkansas–Fort Smith

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AR
●Hidden Gem
3.8+ GPA / 30+ ACT typical profiles
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Arkansas Governor's Scholars Program
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 32 | SAT: 1410 | Ends: February 1 of the senior year (hard deadline; late applications are not considered)
Strategic Note: Top-of-the-state Arkansas seniors. This is the highest academic bar of anything on the UAFS page, and the February 1 deadline sits well before the May 1 UAFS merit deadline that most families are watching.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Nevada, Reno

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NV
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship
GPA: 3.25 | ACT: 21 | SAT: 1070 | Ends: No application; acknowledge award online the summer after graduation
Strategic Note: A large share of Nevada graduates who took the core curriculum and kept a B-plus average.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of St. Thomas

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Summit Engineering Scholarship (Transfer)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Priority consideration for students admitted with a complete FAFSA on file by June 1.
Strategic Note: Academically strong engineering transfer students from two-year colleges (or Pell-eligible transfers from four-year schools) who demonstrate significant unmet financial need.

🏛️ Stephen F. Austin State University

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ SFA STEM Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: February 1
Strategic Note: Incoming freshmen and transfer students entering a STEM major with a 3.5 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA in the major. The award continues until graduation as long as eligibility holds, so the four-year value can reach $40,000.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Worcester Polytechnic Institute

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MA
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Dearborn Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Request Mechanical Aptitude Test scheduling by January 10, 2027; initial application and test by February 1, 2027; second application by March 15, 2027.
Strategic Note: Students with high mechanical aptitude (as proven on the MAT) and strong physics or engineering academic records who can be described as inventors, innovators, or designers with a vision for the future.

🏛️ Virginia State University

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ VA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ VSU Food and Agri-Science Scholarship Program
GPA: 3.00 | SAT: 1000
Strategic Note: Admitted or current students in the College of Agriculture who submit the full application packet with a 3.0 or higher GPA and a clear career interest in food and agricultural sciences.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Missouri–Kansas City

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MO
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ KC Scholars (administered with UMKC)
GPA: 2.50 | ACT: 16 | SAT: 800 | Ends: Varies by KC Scholars program year
Strategic Note: Kansas City-area residents from one of six qualifying counties with at least a 2.5 GPA, ACT 16+ or SAT 800+, and a FAFSA Student Aid Index at or below $12,000. This program was built for students who have the drive but need real financial support to make it happen.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Southern University

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ LA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ ACS-HACH Land Grant Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: January 5
Strategic Note: Chemistry or Education majors with strong academic records (3.0+ GPA) and career interest in chemistry or chemistry education.

+ 7 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Tuskegee University

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Food and Nutritional Sciences Advisory Board Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | SAT: 850

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Indiana State University

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Apply in ScholarTrack; reapply each year
Strategic Note: Indiana residents heading into teaching who hit any one of three marks: top 20 percent of the graduating class, a top 20 percent ACT or SAT score, or a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Priority goes to graduating high school seniors, though current college freshmen and sophomores can apply. Renewal requires a 3.0 GPA and 30 completed credit hours a year, so it rewards students who stay on pace.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Southern California (USC)

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Town and Gown of USC Scholarship
GPA: 3.40 | Ends: Nov 15, 2026
Strategic Note: Southern California students (graduates of high schools from the Kern County line south to the Mexico border) who are U.S. citizens with at least a 3.4 unweighted GPA, strong leadership, and real community involvement. An interview is part of the process.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Alcorn State University

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ NRCS Scholars Program
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 20 | SAT: 1020 | Ends: April 1 (main cycle); June 13 (second cycle)
Strategic Note: Strong CAAS majors in agriculture and natural resources fields with solid GPAs, qualifying test scores, leadership, and interest in USDA-related careers.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Presbyterian College

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ SC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ South Carolina State Scholarships (Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, HOPE)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Palmetto Fellows is filed through the high school guidance office in senior year; LIFE and HOPE are certified after graduation
Strategic Note: South Carolina residents who meet the state's GPA, test, and class rank rules. LIFE and HOPE are within reach for most students with a 3.0 SC UGP GPA.

🏛️ Morehead State University

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KY
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ MSUTeach Scholarships (STEM Teaching)
GPA: 2.80 | Ends: March 31 typical; check current MSUTeach scholarship page.
Strategic Note: Students preparing to teach math or science who are already moving through the MSUTeach pathway. The strongest fits are often first-generation, Pell-eligible, or regional students with a clear commitment to STEM teaching.

🏛️ University of Arkansas

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AR
●Hidden Gem
3.8+ GPA / 30+ ACT typical profiles
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Governor's Distinguished Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 32 | SAT: 1410 | Ends: March 1
Strategic Note: A small statewide cohort of top Arkansas seniors who clear the published test-score and GPA bar and get their SAMS application in by March 1.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Carnegie Mellon University

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Jennings Family Brave Companions Fund
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Mid-February each year (summer 2027 deadline: Feb 12, 2027)
Strategic Note: Students proposing impactful summer experiences in less-frequented or lower-income destinations, often first-generation or with significant financial need.

🏛️ Oakland University

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MI
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Keeper of the Dream Award
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Applications typically close in mid-October, with awards presented at the January Keeper of the Dream Celebration.
Strategic Note: Returning undergraduates with at least a 3.0 GPA who demonstrate significant leadership and service in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus or in the community.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of San Diego

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CA
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Choral Scholars Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Spring audition cycle. USD's admissions page lists Feb 1 for Choral Scholars applications; the Music Department has not posted spring 2027 dates yet. Plan for early February and confirm with music@sandiego.edu.
Strategic Note: Strong singers with solid grades who can commit to the ensemble all four years. The major can be anything, including biology, business, or engineering, as long as the student completes the music minor coursework. A polished audition with two contrasting memorized pieces is what wins.

🏛️ Case Western Reserve University

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OH
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ FIRST Scholarship Program
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: February 15 (scholarship application). Winners notified by April 1.
Strategic Note: Genuine FIRST team members, not one-event participants, who can describe their role on the team and what it taught them. With only two awards, the essay does the heavy lifting.

🏛️ University of Massachusetts Lowell

$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MA
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Nominations: Nov 5 (EA I); Jan 5 (EA II); Feb 5 (RD)
Strategic Note: STEM applicants with at least one Project Lead The Way course (three or more gets preference), a 3.000+ GPA, and a nomination from their school. Only one nomination is allowed per high school.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ William Carey University

$9,800 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Church-Related Vocation (CRV) Scholarship
GPA: 2.00 | ACT: 20 | SAT: 1030
Strategic Note: Students entering ministry from a Southern Baptist church. At $9,800 on campus this is the largest non-competitive award at Carey, larger than the Trustee Scholarship, and the academic bar is only a 20 ACT with a 2.00 GPA to keep it. That combination is genuinely rare. The gate is not academic at all, it is the church letter and the SBC affiliation. If your church is not Southern Baptist, look at the MRV Scholarship instead, which has the same academic terms for less money.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Lane College

$9,700 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ International Scholars Pathways to Success Scholarship
GPA: 3.00
Strategic Note: A 3.0 is a reachable bar, so academically this is not the obstacle. The genuine filter is financial and bureaucratic. Between the NACES credential evaluation, the sponsorship letter, and the requirement to cover a year of tuition before the I-20 is issued, families need meaningful cash on hand regardless of whether the scholarship comes through. Students who win this tend to be those with family financial backing already in place, not those relying on the award to make Lane possible. If your family cannot cover the pre-I-20 cost, this scholarship will not bridge that gap no matter how strong the grades are - so confirm those numbers with the international liaison before anything else.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Cleveland State University

$9,448 / YRGPA 3.5+ OH
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Richard Eaton Scholarship
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Not published; March 1 is CSU's scholarship priority date
Strategic Note: Incoming freshmen interested in communication with at least a 2.5 high school GPA. The top of the range ($9,448) is unusually large for a donor award, so it is worth asking about if your student is headed toward communication.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Campbell University

$8,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ NC
●Elite Selection
Top 1–2% / Interview / Highly Restrictive
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Teaching Scholars Academy
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 24 | SAT: 1170 | Ends: Set by the School of Education; contact them in the fall of senior year
Strategic Note: Students who can show a real track record of working with kids, not just an interest in teaching. The 25 volunteer hours, the essay, and the interview all point the same direction: the committee wants evidence, not intent.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Merrimack College

$8,100 / YRGPA 3.5+ MA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ MACHS Scholars Program
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: Recipients typically chosen by May 1 for awards applied the following fall.
Strategic Note: STEM admits with a 3.3+ high school GPA and demonstrated financial need who live on campus and are U.S. citizens, permanent residents or refugees.

🏛️ Western Michigan University

$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MI
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ MLK GOLD Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Feb 15 (Scholarship Universe application)
Strategic Note: Students with a 3.00 or better GPA at admission who are Pell-eligible and can show real community involvement through leadership, civic engagement, or service beyond their own circle. The application and interview reward students who can talk concretely about what they have actually done.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Radford University

$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ VA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Transfer Wayfinder Scholarship
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: March 1 (transfer priority deadline for automatic merit review)
Strategic Note: Transfer students with a B-plus or better college GPA who apply by March 1. The out-of-state version is worth $16,000 over two years.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Southern Mississippi

$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Joe Paul Leadership Scholarship Program
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: January 15
Strategic Note: This is the best play at Southern Miss for a student whose resume is stronger than their test scores, and it is not close. There is no ACT or SAT requirement anywhere in the eligibility list, and the core GPA bar is only a 3.0. What they are reading is your leadership record. About fifty students get in each year, so it is genuinely competitive, but the competition is against other student council presidents and team captains rather than against a score report. If your kid ran things at their high school and tested in the low twenties, this is the application to prioritize.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Oklahoma

$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OK
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ National Recognition Program Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Dec 15
Strategic Note: Students recognized by College Board programs, with GPA ≥3.5 and service/leadership.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of North Carolina Wilmington

$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NC
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Chancellor's Distinguished Merit Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: UNCW Scholarship Application opens Dec 1 and closes Mar 1 for undergraduate consideration
Strategic Note: This is one of the more competitive UNCW merit opportunities. The most realistic students usually have a strong academic record, meaningful leadership or service, and accomplishments that make them stand out beyond a basic admission profile.

🏛️ Marquette University

$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ WI
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ J. William and Mary Diederich Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 28 | SAT: 1310 | Ends: February 1 (apply for admission)
Strategic Note: Five incoming communication students per year who demonstrate leadership and meet at least two of four academic benchmarks: top-10% class rank, ACT 28+, SAT 1310+, or 3.5+ unweighted GPA. International students are not eligible.

🏛️ Union University

$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ IMPACT 360 Scholarship
GPA: 2.00
Strategic Note: IMPACT 360 gap year completers, which is a small and self-selected group. No competition. The interesting angle is for families still deciding — this is one of the few cases where taking a gap year can come out ahead financially rather than just costing you a year.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ WI
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Hugh B. Jones Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Early February
Strategic Note: Incoming freshmen from Redgranite, Wisconsin, with a 3.0 or higher GPA heading to UW Oshkosh. This is an extremely small, tight geographic pool — if your student is from Redgranite, they should absolutely apply.

🏛️ Jacksonville State University

$7,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Elite Selection
Top 1–2% / Interview / Highly Restrictive
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ JSU Leadership Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 20 | SAT: 1030 | Ends: February 1 (priority deadline for JAX App Leadership application)
Strategic Note: First-time freshmen with at least a 3.0 GPA and mid-range ACT/SAT scores who show outstanding high school leadership and service and submit a strong application and interview.

🏛️ University of South Carolina Upstate

$7,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ SC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Palmetto Fellows Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | SAT: 1200 | Ends: Submitted by your high school under state CHE timelines.
Strategic Note: Top-6% seniors with strong test scores whose high school submits them to CHE, plus 4.0 students with a 1400 SAT.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Loyola University Chicago

$7,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ IL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Deloitte Accounting Scholarship
GPA: 3.00
Strategic Note: Sophomore and Junior accounting majors in the Quinlan School of Business who maintain a 3.0+ GPA, demonstrate financial need, and have a clear interest in public accounting with preference given to students for whom English is a second language and/or who are first-generation college students.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Oregon

$7,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ OR
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Duck Excellence Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Feb 1 (aim for Jan 31)
Strategic Note: Domestic students with at least a 3.00 GPA and financial need who show initiative, resilience, and real involvement in school or community. First-generation students and Oregon residents get preference.

🏛️ University of California, Davis

$7,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ CA
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Regents Scholarship
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: Nov 30 (UC application)
Strategic Note: A small group of admitted first-years and junior transfers whose UC applications stand out on academic and personal achievement. UC Davis does not publish a GPA or profile cutoff, and selection is holistic.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Stetson University

$7,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Sullivan Writing Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: December 1 (Premier Programs application deadline)
Strategic Note: Academically qualified students, often English majors or Creative Writing minors, who submit strong creative writing samples and a compelling essay.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ California State University, Sacramento

$7,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CA
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ CSU Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Campus deadline set annually through the Sac State scholarship portal (last cycle: March 2).
Strategic Note: Current Sac State students with a 3.0+ GPA and financial need who can tell a clear story of overcoming a real obstacle while staying strong in school and serving their community. It is a long-shot award, but the payoff is the largest on this page.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Alaska Anchorage

$7,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AK
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS)
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: June 30 (FAFSA priority deadline, every year)
Strategic Note: AK residents with strong HS academics, curriculum, and test scores who complete the FAFSA.

🏛️ Robert Morris University

$7,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ B.K. Simon Free Enterprise Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Application in early January, project in early February (last cycle: Jan 5 and Feb 6, 2026)
Strategic Note: Southwestern PA seniors with a 3.0+ GPA who put real effort into the project. Only three students win, but the eight-county limit keeps the pool small.

🏛️ University of Toledo

$7,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OH
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Choose Ohio First (COD3ES & ASCENT)
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: March 1 (2026 cycle; confirm the 2027 date)
Strategic Note: Ohio STEM students who apply by the spring deadline. Award counts are small, so few families know to apply.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Southern Arkansas University

$6,600 / YRGPA 3.5+ AR
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Leadership Incentive Award
GPA: 3.25 | ACT: 20 | SAT: 1030 | Ends: Selections made after March 1
Strategic Note: The student council president or team captain whose ACT lands in the low twenties. If your test score caps you at a lower merit tier but your resume is full, this is the workaround, though only a limited number are given.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Columbia University

$6,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ NY
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Columbia College Summer Funding Program (Unpaid Internships)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Mid-April each year (Apr 13 in 2026).
Strategic Note: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have already secured an unpaid or low-paid internship and can show need for support.

🏛️ University of Miami

$6,360 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Florida Bright Futures (FAS & FMS)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: August 31 after high school graduation
Strategic Note: Florida high school graduates who meet the state’s GPA, course, and test or service criteria for Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) or Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) and file the FFAA by the deadline.

🏛️ University of South Dakota

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ SD
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Allen H. Neuharth Journalism Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: December 1
Strategic Note: Students with strong writing clips and newsroom experience.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Tennessee State University

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ HCA/TSU Scholars Program
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: Annual cycle set by the College of Health Sciences. This award does not carry over, so you reapply every single year you want it.
Strategic Note: Full-time juniors and seniors in a College of Health Sciences major with a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA and demonstrated financial need. The award tier tracks your GPA: 3.25–3.49 earns $1,000/semester (Level I), 3.5–3.74 earns $2,000/semester (Level II), and 3.75+ earns $3,000/semester (Level III). Strong students who keep their GPA up can earn $6,000 per year.

🏛️ Murray State University

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KY
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Gold Leadership Award
GPA: 3.20 | ACT: 21 | SAT: 1060 | Ends: February 1, 2027 (General Scholarship Application).
Strategic Note: Students who are solid academically and can point to real leadership, not just membership on a resume. This is a good hidden-gem layer for families because it can sit on top of automatic merit and make Murray State noticeably cheaper.

🏛️ University of Arkansas at Little Rock

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AR
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ STEM Academic Scholarship
GPA: 2.50 | ACT: 19 | Ends: August 1 (admission plus transcript and test scores on file)
Strategic Note: Admitted STEM majors reviewed competitively across four bands: a $6,000 tier for 28–36 ACT with a 3.5 GPA, $4,000 for 24–27 ACT with a 3.25 GPA, $3,000 for 24–27 ACT with a 3.00 GPA, and a variable award for 19+ ACT with at least a 2.5 GPA. Leadership and STEM-related activities also factor in.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Luckyday Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: January 10
Strategic Note: Mississippi students with a 3.5 or better who have real remaining need after their automatic merit awards, plus a leadership story and a strong essay. Straight-A students from higher-income families usually lose out here, the need priority is genuine. If money is the thing standing between your student and Ole Miss, this is the one to work hardest on.

🏛️ Niagara University

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NY
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Niagara University Science Training and Research (NUSTAR) Fellowship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Applications reviewed starting February 1
Strategic Note: Self-motivated, academically strong science majors who want early, hands-on research experience with Niagara's Ph.D.-prepared faculty. Successful applicants come in with B-or-better grades in high school biology, chemistry, or environmental science, ideally paired with math and additional AP science coursework.

🏛️ Georgia College & State University

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ GA
●Elite Selection
Top 1–2% / Interview / Highly Restrictive
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Presidential Plus Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 25 | SAT: 1200 | Ends: October 15 Early Action application deadline; competition held December 4, 2026.
Strategic Note: High-achieving students invited to the President's Scholarship Competition who stand out academically and perform well in the competition. Families should think strong grades and scores as the entry point, while leadership, service, essays, and interview performance decide the award level.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Saint Mary's College of California

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Robert W. Summers Scholarship in Communication and Journalism
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Not published; confirm with the Communication Department
Strategic Note: Students with a real portfolio of journalism or media work (broadly defined), a 3.0+ GPA, and a clear 500-word statement on why journalism matters to them.

🏛️ Seton Hall University

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NJ
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Joseph & Carmen Unanue Endowed Scholarship (Latino Institute)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Jan 15
Strategic Note: Incoming freshmen and international freshmen with at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA, demonstrated financial need, and clear appreciation and engagement with Latino culture and history.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Seattle University

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ WA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Thomas J. Bannan Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: 2027 deadlines listed as TBD. Check the College of Science and Engineering scholarships page.
Strategic Note: Junior and senior STEM majors in the College of Science and Engineering with GPAs of 3.5 or higher and active involvement in service, scholarly, and community activities.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Notre Dame

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Notre Dame Study Abroad & Research Grants
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Varies by program
Strategic Note: Juniors/seniors with 3.5+ GPA and outstanding proposal, faculty support.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of California, Los Angeles

$6,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP)
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: Mid-June for the following academic year (June 16 in 2026)
Strategic Note: Students who got into a lab early (often through the SRP-99 course) and have a mentor willing to write the one required letter. No citizenship requirement.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of California, Riverside

$5,750 / YRGPA 3.5+ CA
●Elite Selection
Top 1–2% / Interview / Highly Restrictive
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Chancellor's Research Fellowship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Early April (April 6 in the 2026 cycle); mandatory workshop in winter quarter weeks 2-8
Strategic Note: Sophomores and juniors with a 3.0 or higher GPA who already have a faculty mentor and can write a tight research proposal with a timeline and budget. Shortlisted applicants may be interviewed.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Akron

$5,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ OH
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Choose Ohio First STEMM Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Jan. 31 (application opens Oct. 1)
Strategic Note: 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.

🏛️ University of Memphis

$5,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Emerging Leaders Program (ELP)
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 21 | SAT: 1060 | Ends: Feb 1
Strategic Note: Students with at least a 3.0 GPA and 21 ACT (1060 SAT) who can demonstrate genuine leadership potential, campus engagement, and a commitment to service. This isn't just an academic award — selection is holistic, and students who bring a story of community involvement tend to stand out.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Lehigh University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Performing Arts Scholarships (Music)
GPA: 2.80 | Ends: January 10
Strategic Note: Strong instrumentalists, from any major, who audition successfully and commit to active participation in required ensembles.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ East Carolina University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ The Frederick E. Klutey, Jr. Memorial Volunteer Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Jan 15
Strategic Note: Pre-health students who started volunteering at ECU Health early enough to bank 50 documented hours.

🏛️ Gonzaga University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ WA
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Mary Stuart Rogers Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Feb 1 by 5:00 pm
Strategic Note: Current full-time Gonzaga juniors and seniors (or 5th-year education students) with a 3.0+ Gonzaga GPA, a FAFSA on file, and a real, demonstrable record of community service, leadership, and dedication to Gonzaga's mission. The essay and two recommendations carry significant weight, this is a values-driven award, not a pure GPA contest.

🏛️ Georgia Institute of Technology

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ GA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Campus Services Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: March 15
Strategic Note: Current Georgia Tech students who have already shown leadership and campus involvement. This is not an incoming freshman award; students generally need at least one semester on campus before they are eligible.

🏛️ University of Wyoming

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ WY
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ UW Departmental & Donor Awards
GPA: 3.20 | Ends: Most departmental and donor awards close in mid-March; a few programs run later. The General Application must be completed every year.
Strategic Note: Declared majors with solid grades who complete the General Application plus the recommended department applications, and who can point to real involvement in their field.

🏛️ Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Music & Fine Arts Scholarships
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Feb 1 (application/audition deadline)
Strategic Note: Talented music and fine arts students who perform well in auditions and maintain active participation in ensembles or studio work.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of North Dakota

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ ND
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ College & Departmental Donor Scholarships
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Mar 1
Strategic Note: Students with 3.0+ GPAs who align with donor interests (e.g., rural background, leadership, service)

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ UMass Community College Advantage Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Complete the UMass CCAS interest form after your community college confirms eligibility.
Strategic Note: Top-10-percent Massachusetts community college graduates.

🏛️ La Salle University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Maguire Service Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: June 1
Strategic Note: Freshmen with years of real, ongoing service and a clear plan to keep serving in college. Graduates of the 37 Maguire partner high schools get priority, but strong service candidates from other schools can apply.

🏛️ University of New Mexico

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NM
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ UNM Scholars Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 27 | SAT: 1280
Strategic Note: Previously awarded to strong academic applicants who landed just below the Presidential tier. The funding stream has been consolidated into the current competitive flagship grid.

🏛️ Augusta University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ GA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ SteelGate Computer & Cyber Science Scholarship
GPA: 3.00
Strategic Note: Three full-time SCCS undergraduates each year with a 3.0+ GPA; committee weighs both academic merit and financial need.

🏛️ University of Alabama at Birmingham

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ BSMART General & Departmental Awards
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: April 1
Strategic Note: Students who complete BSMART carefully and match a department, major, donor, first-generation, service, leadership, or need-based profile. This is the “do not leave the scholarship portal half-finished” bucket: the money is real, but it depends on matching smaller criteria families may not see on the main merit grid.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Christian Brothers University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Lasallian High School Scholarship
GPA: 3.00
Strategic Note: Students coming to CBU from the wider network of De La Salle Christian Brothers high schools around the country. This is a deliberate pipeline award, and if your student attended one of those schools it is essentially automatic at a 3.0. Worth asking your high school counselor directly whether your school carries the Lasallian designation, because families often do not know their school qualifies.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Maryville College

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Knowles Family Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: March 1
Strategic Note: One student a year, so the odds are genuinely long, but the pool is narrow enough that a qualified applicant has a real shot. The combination the award is looking for is uncommon, a documented learning disability plus a 3.0 or better GPA. If that describes your student, raise it with admissions early rather than hoping it gets noticed, because there is no published application form.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ King University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ H.M. "Jack" Trayer Music Scholarship
GPA: 3.00
Strategic Note: Students who can actually play, and who are willing to commit to ensemble participation on the faculty's terms. The 3.0 is a real floor, not a suggestion, and it has to be maintained. Where you land in the two-to-five-thousand range is entirely about the audition, so this is one of the few King awards where preparation genuinely moves the number. Current students can audition too, which is unusual and worth knowing if you did not get it as a freshman.

🏛️ University of Wisconsin–Green Bay

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ WI
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Dr. Charles Ihrke Scholarship Fund (STEM)
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: February 15
Strategic Note: Incoming full-time undergraduate STEM majors who are U.S. citizens or nationals, carry a minimum 3.3 high school GPA, and demonstrate significant financial need. Need is assessed first by Financial Aid — then academic merit determines the final award order among qualifying students.

🏛️ Fort Hays State University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KS
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Robert N. Munsell Pre-Engineering Scholarship
GPA: 2.00 | Ends: Typically follows the university scholarship cycle; refer to Physics scholarship flyer and FHSU portal for current dates.
Strategic Note: Up to two full-time, on-campus students in the Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics, preferably pre‑engineering majors, who meet department qualifications and donor intent.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ University of Georgia

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ GA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ UGA Alumni Association & Chapter Scholarships
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Spring; many chapter deadlines are around March 1, but dates vary by chapter.
Strategic Note: Students who match a local chapter's criteria and actually complete the extra application. This is the kind of scholarship families can miss because it is not part of the main admissions award letter.

🏛️ Virginia Tech

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ VA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Global Education Office (GEO) Scholarship
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Feb 6 (fall programs); Sep 6 (winter and spring programs); Dec 6 (summer programs)
Strategic Note: Students with financial need headed to a VT-billed study abroad program who apply by the cycle deadline.

🏛️ University of North Texas

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ UNT Foundation & Donor Scholarships
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: March 1
Strategic Note: Students whose profile lines up with specific donor intentions — strong GPA in a particular major, demonstrated financial need, first-generation status, ties to specific Texas regions, or specific identity-based criteria. One general application can match you to a dozen or more individual awards.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Kansas State University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KS
●Elite Selection
Top 1–2% / Interview / Highly Restrictive
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Edgerley-Franklin Leadership Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Dec 15
Strategic Note: Up to five students per year — typically high school seniors with a 3.5+ best GPA and a genuine track record of addressing challenges in their communities. Low-income and first-generation applicants are explicitly encouraged. Strong essays and interview performance carry significant weight.

🏛️ University of Alaska Fairbanks

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AK
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Nanook Brotherhood Project Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Confirm with the Honors College; most UAF foundation awards close February 15
Strategic Note: Members of the Nanook Brotherhood Project or the Brother 2 Brother student organization with a 3.0 cumulative GPA who can show real commitment to community engagement, volunteer service, and social justice.

🏛️ Bethune-Cookman University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ STEM-Ex Scholarship (STUT-STEMEx)
GPA: 2.80 | Ends: The program page still shows a May 1 deadline from the 2023 cycle and has not been refreshed since. Treat early May as the working target, but confirm the current date with the STEM-Ex coordinator in the Office of Student Financial Aid before relying on it.
Strategic Note: STEM students with financial need who commit to program requirements such as mentoring, workshops, and academic support activities.

🏛️ Drake University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Institute for Public Democracy Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: January 29
Strategic Note: Students who are passionate about democracy, civic leadership, and public participation — any major welcome. Scientists, artists, and activists are as important here as pre-law students. Preference given to applicants with demonstrated financial need.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of North Florida

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Schilling STEM Scholarship
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: No published deadline. Automatic consideration upon acceptance to UNF.
Strategic Note: Florida-resident STEM majors with demonstrated financial need. The 3.3 GPA minimum sits well below UNF's admitted midrange, so most admitted STEM students clear the academic bar easily. The FAFSA is the real filter. Within the qualified pool, UNF gives priority to the highest GPAs.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Pepperdine University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ CA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ First Wave Ambassador Scholarship
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: Early April for the following year
Strategic Note: First-gen students who were active in the First-Gen club and want a leadership role. Club members get preference.

🏛️ University of Houston

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ College & Departmental Scholarships
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: March–April
Strategic Note: Students who apply early, meet GPA, and demonstrate leadership in their major/field.

🏛️ University of North Carolina Asheville

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Business Department Scholarships (Massey, Kahn, Gould Killian)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: March 31
Strategic Note: Declared management and accountancy majors who show strong academic performance, leadership, and engagement with the department or business community.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of Florida

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering Awards
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: Application window opens in September through Scholarship Universe
Strategic Note: Engineering majors with 3.3+ GPA & involvement

🏛️ Sam Houston State University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Physics Scholarships (Calvert / Steele / Wilson & others)
GPA: 2.80 | Ends: February 15, 2027 for the Fall 2027 cycle. Most SHSU departmental and donor funds inside Scholarships4Kats share this date. Complete the S4K General Application by November 1 first, then go back and apply to the individual opportunity.
Strategic Note: Physics or dual-degree students with GPAs around 2.8–3.0 or higher and good academic progress; stronger test scores can help incoming freshmen qualify.

🏛️ Towson University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MD
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Porter Family Scholarship in Mathematics and Computer Science
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Departmental (check the Mathematics scholarships page)
Strategic Note: Math or computer science majors with at least a 3.0 GPA and demonstrated financial need. File the FAFSA so need can be confirmed.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Arkansas Tech University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AR
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Transfer Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Fall: priority May 1 / final July 15; Spring: priority December 1 / final January 12
Strategic Note: PTK members with 12+ for-credit hours and a 3.5 GPA; awarded competitively and limited in number.

+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Northern Illinois University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IL
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Forward, Together Forward Scholarship
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Set annually in MyScholarships; confirm each cycle
Strategic Note: Continuing students who have done something real on campus or in DeKalb and can write about it with honesty rather than polish. Past recipients have been tutors, student organization leaders, and first-generation students juggling jobs with full course loads. The 2.5 GPA floor is deliberately low because this award is about character first.

🏛️ Boise State University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ ID
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Alumni Legacy Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Feb 25
Strategic Note: Legacy students with a 3.5 or higher unweighted GPA and a detailed activities resume whose alumni relative belongs to the Boise State Alumni Association. Competitive: qualifying does not guarantee an award.

🏛️ Miami University (Ohio)

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OH
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Bridges Program Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Bridges application closes in late September of senior year
Strategic Note: Seniors with at least a 3.0 GPA (or top 25% of class) and a rigorous schedule who attend a fall Bridges session, then apply, get admitted, and enroll at Oxford. First-generation status and financial need are considered; test scores are not required.

🏛️ Purdue University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Class of 1937 Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Mid-January, exact date announced each fall
Strategic Note: Continuing students with a real record of campus leadership who can write about it well. The application asks for a list of significant leadership involvement plus reflective prompts on accomplishments and future potential, and it requires online recommendations.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Christopher Newport University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ VA
●Elite Selection
Top 1–2% / Interview / Highly Restrictive
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ President's Leadership Program (PLP) Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 26 | SAT: 1250 | Ends: Feb 15
Strategic Note: Students who have actually led something in high school, not just joined it, and who can talk about it in the interview. CNU says competitive applicants typically have at least a 3.5 GPA and a 1250 SAT or 26 ACT, and test-optional applicants are reviewed with extra weight on course rigor, essays, and the interview.

🏛️ Rider University

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NJ
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Study Abroad Scholarships (Aberger, Madison Miller, Doris DeYoung, Bush International Immersion)
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Varies by award and term; most internal scholarship deadlines fall in late spring for the following academic year.
Strategic Note: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors in good academic standing with compelling study abroad plans and, for some funds, demonstrated financial need or prior language study.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of Cincinnati

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OH
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Choose Ohio First Scholarship (STEMM Majors)
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: November 1 (one UC page lists December 1)
Strategic Note: Ohio students with a 3.25-plus GPA who declare a participating STEMM major on the application and are complete by November 1.

🏛️ University of Southern Indiana

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IN
●Elite Selection
Top 1–2% / Interview / Highly Restrictive
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Harolyn Atwater Torain Leadership Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: December 1, 2026 (USI application, Torain application and supplemental items; late applications not accepted)
Strategic Note: Freshmen with at least a 3.0 GPA and a genuine record of leadership in school or community organizations — especially students who've worked across cultures or communities. The program also values civic engagement. There are 20 spots available annually, and the interview matters as much as the application.

🏛️ University of Texas at Tyler

$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Patriot Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 26 | SAT: 1240 | Ends: December 1 admission and scholarship deadline; confirm intent to enroll by May 1 to lock in the offer.
Strategic Note: High-achieving freshmen with a 3.5+ high school GPA OR 26+ ACT / 1240+ SAT, selected through UT Tyler's holistic competitive review. Strong leadership and engagement help differentiate where awards land on the $1K-$5K spectrum.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of North Carolina Greensboro

$4,616 / YRGPA 3.5+ NC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ STAMPS 3.0 Scholars Program
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: By invitation; window varies by cycle
Strategic Note: Pell-eligible incoming first-year students and community college transfers heading into one of the six eligible science and math majors, with a 3.0 or better and a real interest in research.

🏛️ Emporia State University

$4,522 / YRGPA 3.5+ KS
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Shepherd Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: The application period opens during the spring semester each year.
Strategic Note: Juniors with a genuine body of work and two faculty willing to write for them. Because the application demands a work sample plus two letters sent under separate cover by professors, this quietly rewards students who built relationships with faculty — which at a school ESU's size is very achievable but requires deliberate effort starting freshman year. Twelve awards against an entire junior class with a 3.0 makes this genuinely competitive, and the 3.0 floor is low enough that the GPA is not what separates winners. The work sample and the letters are. Tell your freshman to keep their best papers and go to office hours.

🏛️ Grambling State University

$4,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ LA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Jessie L. Burgess, Jr. Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Follows the donor scholarship cycle; check current-year dates in AwardSpring for the exact window.
Strategic Note: Incoming freshmen with a minimum 3.5 GPA who declare Computer Science, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, or Computer Information Systems as their major. Five slots available makes this far more accessible than a typical single-recipient donor award — a well-qualified tech freshman who applies has a real shot.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

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🏛️ Carson-Newman University

$4,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Compass Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 21 | Ends: February 1
Strategic Note: Out of state students with ordinary credentials. The bar is genuinely low, a 3.0 or a 21 ACT, so the real filter is simply whether you knew to apply and got the form in by February 1. That makes this one of the highest return applications on this entire list. The exclusions matter though. If you are chasing Honors Premier, the Tarr music scholarship, or a Bonner award, understand you cannot hold Compass alongside them.

🏛️ Ball State University

$4,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ IN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Admitted by Jul 1
Strategic Note: Indiana community college graduates with a 3.5 GPA who were inducted into Phi Theta Kappa and remember to send the letter. The letter is the step people skip.

🏛️ Oral Roberts University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OK
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Margaret L. Lesher Foundation Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Feb 1–May 15
Strategic Note: Upper-level print or broadcast journalism majors with at least a 3.0 GPA and demonstrated financial need.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Texas State University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Rodeo Austin Scholarship (Business)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: BOSS window Dec–Feb
Strategic Note: Business students with strong academics, leadership, need, and Rodeo Austin eligibility/preference.

🏛️ Northern Kentucky University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KY
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Eva G. Farris Business Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 25 | Ends: Central NKU scholarship application, mid-January (Jan 16 in the 2026 cycle).
Strategic Note: The broadest business award at NKU, with 70 to 90 recipients a year. Most B.S.B.A. students with a 3.0 who file the central application are in the running, which is why filing matters more than stats.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Eastern Kentucky University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KY
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Transfer Student Merit Scholarships
GPA: 3.00
Strategic Note: Kentucky community college students with a 3.0+ college GPA who plan to finish on campus. Phi Theta Kappa members who attended their PTK college within the past five years can add a $1,500 annual PTK scholarship on top of the transfer award.

🏛️ Butler University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IN
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Compass Center Scholars Program
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Nov 1 (Common App) and Nov 15 (Compass Center application via your Butler status page). Early Action or Early Decision applicants only; Regular Decision applicants are not eligible.
Strategic Note: Fewer than 10 incoming students per year — those with strong academics and authentic experience in, or a genuine passion for, interfaith dialogue, leadership, and service. A religious affiliation is not required, but demonstrated curiosity about diverse perspectives absolutely is.

🏛️ Old Dominion University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ VA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ David Allan Derbyshire Leadership Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Posted each year by the Center for Career and Leadership Development
Strategic Note: Most winners: students who can show real, unpaid leadership and service and write honestly about how they grew as leaders.

🏛️ University of the Incarnate Word

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ UIW Theatre Arts Scholarship
GPA: 2.50
Strategic Note: High school graduates or current college students with at least a 2.5 GPA whose audition (two contrasting monologues) or design/technology portfolio impresses the Theatre Arts faculty.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ North Dakota State University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ ND
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ ND Native American Scholarship + Match
GPA: 2.00 | Ends: Jul 15 (state application)
Strategic Note: ND tribal members maintaining required GPA and/or demonstrating need.

🏛️ University of Maryland

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MD
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Maryland Degree Completion Scholarship
GPA: 2.00 | Ends: Rolling (Scholarship Universe)
Strategic Note: Seniors in good academic standing with at least a 2.0 GPA, a current FAFSA showing need, maxed-out federal loans and an outstanding UMD balance.

🏛️ Temple University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ PA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Diamond Research Scholars
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: February (2026 deadline was Feb 18)
Strategic Note: Students who line up a faculty mentor early and submit a clear, specific project proposal.

🏛️ American University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ DC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Stephen C. Grebe Memorial Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Offered each spring for the following summer.
Strategic Note: Biology students who line up a faculty research mentor and apply in the spring.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Mercer University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ GA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Mercer Undergraduate Research Scholars (MURS)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Late March (recent MURS summer application deadline range)
Strategic Note: Undergraduates with strong faculty-backed research proposals and good academic standing who are ready to commit to full-time summer research.

🏛️ University of Tennessee–Martin

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Dunham Scholars
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: February 1 (College of Business scholarship application deadline)
Strategic Note: High-achieving upperclass Accounting or Business/Consumer Services majors with GPAs of 3.5 or higher and strong departmental engagement.

🏛️ Utah Valley University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ UT
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Sterling Scholar: Region Winner
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: May 15 (Sterling Scholar application and award verification)
Strategic Note: Utah seniors named Sterling Scholar Region Winners in any category who enroll at UVU as freshmen. The competition happens through the Sterling Scholar program, not at UVU.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of North Alabama

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded

→ Leadership Housing Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 20 | Ends: March 1 priority deadline
Strategic Note: Students whose Leadership résumé is strong enough to be selected but who are also planning to live in a UNA residence hall — this is not for students moving off campus. Because it is stackable with the main Leadership Scholarship and worth $4,000 a year for two years, it is one of the highest-value hidden benefits of just taking the time to build a good activity résumé.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Queens University of Charlotte

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded

→ Preyer History Fellows
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Department timeline; varies by year and is posted by the History program.
Strategic Note: History majors who keep a 3.0 and actually ask. Current students file the Preyer application through the department. Prospective students contact the department chair directly, which almost nobody does.

🏛️ Alabama State University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Black & Gold Scholarship
GPA: 2.75 | ACT: 18 | SAT: 940 | Ends: February 15
Strategic Note: This is the most accessible listed ASU competitive academic scholarship by GPA/test-score floor. It can matter for families because a student with a 2.75 GPA and 18 ACT may still be in the conversation for institutional aid, but the amount varies and the separate application deadline is important.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

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🏛️ Austin Peay State University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded

→ Austin Peay Promise
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Offered year-round; apply early, since other scholarship opportunities have their own deadlines.
Strategic Note: Any TBR or Hopkinsville community college student with 30+ hours and a 3.0. This is not a competition — it is a grid, and it is generous at the top. If your student is sitting at a 3.72 with a semester to go, pushing to a 3.75 is worth a thousand dollars a year, which is a rare case where chasing a fraction of a GPA point actually pays.

🏛️ Georgia State University

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ GA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded

→ State Farm Scholars Program (Georgia State LIFT, Perimeter College)
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Apply for summer-term admission to Perimeter College; program application dates posted by Georgia State LIFT
Strategic Note: Students with financial need coming primarily out of DeKalb County high schools who are willing to start at Perimeter's Decatur Campus in the summer and stay engaged with the cohort programming. Graduation rates for this group have run far above the university average, so the wraparound support is doing real work.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of Massachusetts Boston

$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded

→ Comprehensive Scholarship
GPA: 3.30 | Ends: October 15 (most recent cycle; confirm in AcademicWorks each fall)
Strategic Note: Continuing students with 24+ UMass Boston credits and strong grades. Preference may go to students who do not already receive significant scholarship aid.

+ 1 more qualifying scholarship available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Illinois State University

$3,772 / YRGPA 3.5+ IL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Federal TEACH Grant
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: Rolling (aid cycle)
Strategic Note: Education majors committed to teaching in high-need fields

🏛️ University of Hartford

$3,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ CT
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded

→ University Emeriti Association Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Mid-March (March 13 in 2026, 4 p.m.)
Strategic Note: Rising juniors and seniors with a 3.5 or higher GPA and a real record of service, backed by strong faculty letters.

+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ Utah Tech University (formerly Dixie State)

$3,400 / YRGPA 3.5+ UT
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ 1-Year Current Student Scholarship (Utah Residents)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: June 1
Strategic Note: Utah students who had a strong first year after missing out on freshman merit. A 3.75 college GPA wins the same $3,400 a year as the Chancellors award.

🏛️ Indiana University Bloomington

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ IN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
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How This Is Awarded

→ C & C First-Generation Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Portal priority Feb 1–Mar 10
Strategic Note: First-gen, Pell-eligible students with ≥3.0 GPA who meet deadlines.

🏛️ Prairie View A&M University

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ PVAMU General University Scholarships
GPA: 2.75 | Ends: April 1
Strategic Note: Admitted undergraduates with at least a 2.75 GPA who file the General Scholarship Application early (the window opens December 1) and complete every supplemental question. Strong academic profile plus a clear story about leadership, service, or financial need closes the deal.

🏛️ Baylor University

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Student Foundation Scholarship
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Dec 1
Strategic Note: Continuing Baylor undergraduates with financial need, solid academic performance, and a strong application. This is not freshman-entry money, but it is a useful Baylor-connected award for students already enrolled.

🏛️ University of Tulsa

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ OK
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ International Baccalaureate Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Submit IB diploma documentation with your admission file; the award is automatically triggered once IB diploma completion is verified and you enroll full-time at UTulsa.
Strategic Note: Students who complete the full IB diploma (not just IB courses or certificates) with at least a 3.0 high school GPA and enroll full-time at UTulsa. As long as you finish the diploma and stay enrolled full-time, this is essentially an automatic add to your aid package — no extra application or essay required.

🏛️ University of Houston–Clear Lake

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ President's Excellence Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Jan 15 (priority); April 1 (final)
Strategic Note: Incoming freshmen with a strong mid-3s+ academic record, an engaged campus-involvement story, and a recommendation letter submitted by the January priority deadline.

+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.

Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.

🏛️ University of West Florida

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Mertis “Sunny” Brown Biology Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: March 1 (typical departmental deadline; apply at least two months before the term).
Strategic Note: Research-focused biology students working on wild bird projects under faculty mentorship.

🏛️ Liberty University

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ VA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ TEAA Scholarship (Teacher Education Access for All)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Spring application window (School of Education emails eligible students)
Strategic Note: Education majors with a 3.0+ cumulative GPA, all A's and B's in education courses, Gate 2 green status in their program, and financial need. Preference may go to first-generation students.

🏛️ New Mexico State University

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NM
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ College of Engineering & NMEF Scholarships
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: February–March (varies by specific scholarship and year)
Strategic Note: Engineering majors with GPAs usually at or above 3.0–3.5 who show academic promise, involvement, or research activity.

🏛️ Rowan University

$3,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ NJ
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ RIPPAC Leadership Corps
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Invites mid-to-late March; applications usually due mid-June
Strategic Note: Domestic students with at least a 3.0 high school GPA who are serious about politics or government. Any major is welcome, but it is not a fit for 3+4 medical or 4+1 accelerated degree students.

🏛️ University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire

$2,700 / YRGPA 3.5+ WI
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Blugold Fellowship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: February 1
Strategic Note: Academically strong, curious first-year students from any major who show interest in faculty-mentored research and submit strong essays.

🏛️ Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ IN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Bakota Family Scholarship
GPA: 2.70 | Ends: Aug 30
Strategic Note: Sophomore electrical, mechanical, or chemical engineering students with at least a 2.7 GPA who held full-time summer employment between freshman and sophomore years.

🏛️ Tennessee Tech University

$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Golden Opportunity Grant
GPA: 3.20 | ACT: 22 | SAT: 1100 | Ends: Dec 15 (ScholarWeb application); Jan 15 (FAFSA and all materials)
Strategic Note: Tennessee residents who are US citizens or permanent residents with at least a 3.2 GPA, 22+ ACT or 1100+ SAT, demonstrated financial need via FAFSA, and a track record of community service. Priority goes to students with GPAs in the 3.20–3.39 range who might not qualify for the higher Presidential Scholars tiers — this grant is specifically designed for that group.

🏛️ Nicholls State University

$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ LA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Nicholls Foundation Donor & Department Scholarships
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Posted per semester on the Available Scholarship Opportunities page; fall deadlines typically fall in mid-to-late September
Strategic Note: Students who match a specific fund's criteria win these. That might mean the right major, class year, parish, GPA, leadership background, or donor preference. Families should not ignore this bucket because smaller $500–$3,000 awards can be the difference between an affordable bill and a painful one.

🏛️ High Point University

$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ NC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Junior Scholars Program Scholarship
GPA: 3.45 | ACT: 25 | SAT: 1220 | Ends: Counselor or independent educational consultant nomination due April 15 of the student's junior year. Accepted students are notified over the summer.
Strategic Note: High school juniors with demonstrated interest in HPU and either a 3.45 to 4.0 unweighted GPA with a 1220+ SAT or 25+ ACT, or a 3.6 to 4.0 GPA test-optional. Leadership or achievement in academics, community service, the arts, athletics, entrepreneurship, or international experience all count as qualifying pathways.

🏛️ Long Island University

$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ NY
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ High School Scholars Award
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Award applied automatically upon LIU enrollment after earning required High School Scholars credits.
Strategic Note: Students who completed at least six LIU credits in high school through the High School Scholars Program and maintained a strong GPA in those courses.

🏛️ Chapman University

$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ CA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Gene Haas Foundation Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Online form through Fowler Engineering; check the page each year for the current window.

🏛️ Trinity University

$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ TX
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Storer and Tillman Christian Leadership Scholarship
GPA: 2.00 | Ends: Nov 1 (ED/EA admission) / Dec 1 (scholarship application)
Strategic Note: Prospective first-year and transfer students with demonstrated Christian service, leadership, and financial need.

🏛️ Delaware State University

$2,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ DE
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →

How This Is Awarded

→ Hornets L.I.F.T. Marketing and Media Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Not listed on the page; check with DSU Marketing and Communications each year.
Strategic Note: Marketing and mass comm majors with a 3.0+ GPA who have real work to show (content, design, video, campaigns).

Strategy for a 3.5 GPA

At a 3.5 GPA, the goal is no longer just finding scholarships — it’s maximizing them. Many students at this level qualify for meaningful automatic merit, but the biggest opportunities often come from combining strong academics with smart application strategy.

Key insight: At this level, test scores can be the difference between partial scholarships and full tuition offers. Even a small increase can unlock significantly higher award tiers.

Many colleges use tiered systems where GPA sets eligibility and test scores determine value. Others offer competitive scholarships where essays, leadership, and timing all play a role.

  • Target full tuition and top merit schools. This is where the biggest value opportunities begin.
  • Apply early — priority deadlines matter. Many high-value scholarships close months before regular admission deadlines.
  • Use test scores strategically. Superscoring and retesting can significantly improve outcomes.
  • Include a mix of automatic and competitive schools. This balances predictability with upside.
  • Look at honors colleges. These often come with additional funding, perks, and smaller class experiences.

Tip: Don’t just look at GPA cutoffs. Some colleges award higher scholarships to students slightly above the threshold — so even a small GPA increase (or strong senior grades) can matter.

This is one of the strongest GPA ranges for merit aid. With the right approach, families can often reduce costs significantly — and in some cases, even reach full tuition or better.

👉 You can also explore full tuition scholarships here and full ride opportunities here.

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