Southeast Colleges with Scholarships for a 3.5 GPA
A 3.5 GPA is where things start to get very real in the Southeast. At this level, your student is no longer just hoping for “some help.” At many schools in this region, they may be in range for meaningful merit money — especially if they also bring solid ACT or SAT scores.
Southeast strategy tip: This is one of the strongest regions in the country for merit aid. Many schools use scholarships as a recruiting tool, especially for strong out-of-state students. That means a 3.5 GPA can go much further here than many families expect.
The Southeast is also one of the few regions where families can sometimes find real transparency. Some colleges publish scholarship grids that clearly show what GPA and test score combinations may lead to automatic awards. Others lean more competitive or holistic, but the overall culture in this region is still much more merit-friendly than what families see in many other parts of the country.
👉 Just want to see the scholarships?
Jump to the list ↓
What this means: In the Southeast, a 3.5 GPA often puts your student in a range where real scholarship leverage begins — not just small discounts, but sometimes serious merit consideration or automatic award tiers.
Important context: This page focuses on colleges in the Southeast where a 3.5 GPA may put your student in range for scholarship opportunities. Some awards are automatic, some are competitive, and many depend on test scores, timing, residency, and how the college calculates GPA.
Why a 3.5 GPA Matters in the Southeast
In the Southeast, a 3.5 GPA often lands right on an important line. It may not guarantee the biggest scholarship at every college, but it is frequently enough to move a student from “possible consideration” into a much more serious merit conversation.
What makes this region different is that many schools still openly compete for strong students. That means GPA matters, test scores still matter at many campuses, and scholarship policies are often easier to understand than they are in more opaque regions.
CRP Insight: In the Southeast, a 3.5 GPA is often where parents stop hearing “maybe” and start seeing actual scholarship pathways.
That matters because this is one of the few regions where a family can sometimes build a realistic list around merit strategy — not just admissions odds.
What Changes at a 3.5 GPA
At this GPA range, families start to move out of pure guesswork and into a much more strategic zone. In the Southeast especially, this is where schools may begin to sort students into clear scholarship buckets.
- Automatic merit becomes more realistic at many Southeast public universities.
- The “grid” advantage starts to matter — some schools publish clear scholarship charts where a 3.5 GPA plus a certain ACT or SAT score may translate into a specific award level.
- Out-of-state recruitment becomes a real factor, especially at colleges trying to attract strong students from outside their home state.
- Competitive scholarships become more viable, especially if the student also brings leadership, rigor, or stronger test scores.
- Timing matters more than many parents realize — applying early can make a real difference at some colleges.
Reality check: A 3.5 GPA can open the door to strong merit in this region, but the biggest awards often still depend on test scores, separate scholarship applications, or very early deadlines.
Pro tip: In the Southeast, “3.5 GPA” does not always mean the same thing at every school. Some colleges recalculate GPA using only core classes, while others may add weight for AP, IB, dual enrollment, or honors coursework. Always check how the college calculates GPA for merit awards.
Merit Leverage in the Southeast
In the Southeast, merit aid is often not just a bonus — it is part of the enrollment strategy. Colleges use scholarships to attract students they want, especially students who can raise the academic profile of the incoming class.
CRP Insight: In this region, a strong ACT or SAT can amplify a 3.5 GPA in a big way. At the right school, the score is what pushes a student from “nice merit” into “this is a serious offer.”
Families should also remember that institutional merit is not always the only source of money. In several Southeast states, college scholarships may stack with state-funded aid programs, which can make the final price much better than the school’s merit chart alone suggests.
- Target colleges with published merit grids first. These schools are often the easiest to evaluate clearly.
- Use test scores strategically. In this region, they can still move the needle a lot.
- Apply early. Some schools award their best merit to students who get in the pipeline sooner.
- Compare full aid packages, not just scholarship names.
- Do not ignore state programs. Grants like Bright Futures, HOPE, Zell Miller, MTAG, or HELP can add meaningful value depending on the student and state.
Tip: A college with a smaller automatic award but strong state aid or lower tuition may still beat a flashier scholarship on paper. Always compare the final net cost.
Student Scenarios: What This Looks Like in Real Life
A 3.5 GPA can play out very differently in the Southeast depending on whether the student has strong test scores, is applying out of state, or is aiming for published automatic merit versus more competitive scholarship pools.
The Grid Winner
3.5 GPA + strong ACT/SAT: This student is often the clearest Southeast scholarship case. At colleges with published grids, a stronger score may move them into a top-tier automatic merit bracket or much closer to one.
The Out-of-State Recruit
3.5 GPA + willing to cross state lines: This is where the Southeast can really shine. Some public universities in this region are much more aggressive with merit for out-of-state students than families expect.
The Strong-but-Not-Perfect Applicant
3.5 GPA + decent rigor + average test profile: This student may not hit the very biggest automatic awards, but they are often still in range for meaningful merit at a long list of regional publics and mid-tier state schools.
The Stack-and-Compare Family
3.5 GPA + state aid eligibility: This family wins by layering school-based merit with programs like Bright Futures, HOPE, Zell Miller, MTAG, or HELP — then comparing the actual net price instead of chasing brand names.
Scholarship Matches
Based on a 3.5 GPA | Southeast Region
Showing Merit Scholarship Opportunities
These are colleges in the Southeast where a 3.5 GPA may put your student in range for scholarship opportunities. Some schools below use automatic merit grids, while others rely more on competitive or holistic review. Click through to each college page for the details.
Regional strategy note: In the Southeast, this GPA becomes even more powerful when paired with stronger test scores. Families should also check whether the student may qualify for state-funded aid that can stack on top of school-based merit.
Important: Some scholarships labeled as “automatic” may still depend on GPA recalculation, test score cutoffs, early deadlines, residency rules, or available funding. Always verify details on the college’s official scholarship page.
Scholarship Matches
Based on a GPA 3.5 | Southeast profile. Institutions with actionable merit aid identified.
Colleges Listed
126
795 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.
🏛️ Rhodes College
$34,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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
Get the Game Plan →
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.
🏛️ University of Alabama at Birmingham
$28,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ University of Alabama
$28,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
Get the Game Plan →
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.
+ 14 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Hampton University
$25,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ VA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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
Get the Game Plan →
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.
🏛️ Presbyterian College
$24,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ SC
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
🏛️ Maryville College
$22,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ University of Louisville
$21,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KY
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)
$20,942 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
+ 25 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Florida Southern College
$20,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Lipscomb University
$20,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Samford University
$20,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Alcorn State University
FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ MS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Christian Brothers University
$18,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Belhaven University
$17,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Auburn University
$17,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
Get the Game Plan →
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.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Union University
$17,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ President's Scholarship (Freshman)
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 27 | SAT: 1260
Strategic Note: Strong students with a 27 to 28 ACT and an A-minus average. If your student is in this tier and sitting at a 27 or 28, pushing to a 29 does not raise this award by a dollar — but it opens the door to the Founders' Scholarship competition. That is the only reason to retake.
+ 8 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Mississippi State University
$17,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
Get the Game Plan →
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.
+ 12 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.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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 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.
+ 7 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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 6 more qualifying scholarships 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.
+ 9 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 6 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.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ Jacksonville State University
$10,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Automatic
Guaranteed for high-stat profiles
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Gamecock Excellence
GPA: 2.00 | ACT: 29 | SAT: 1330 | Ends: May 1
Strategic Note: Students with a 29–30 ACT or 1330–1380 SAT and GPAs of at least 2.0, with the largest awards going to GPAs 3.0 and higher.
+ 12 more qualifying scholarships 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.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships 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.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 7 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ William Carey University
$9,100 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ University of Tampa
$9,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
🏛️ Alabama State University
$8,328 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 10 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Radford University
$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ VA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ University of North Florida
$8,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Grambling State University
FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ LA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Southern University
$7,350 / YRGPA 3.5+ LA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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)
Get the Game Plan →
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.
+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 6 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 9 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Longwood University
$5,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ VA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Nicholls State University
$4,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ LA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Academic Honor Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 21 | Ends: Jan 31
Strategic Note: Students with at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA and a qualifying ACT score win only if their GPA/test combination lands in one of Nicholls' funded grid cells. The strongest awards go to students closer to a 3.8–4.0 GPA and/or the higher ACT bands, especially 30+.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Delta State University
$3,225 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
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.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 9 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ University of Arkansas–Fort Smith
$2,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AR
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Bronze
GPA: 3.25 | ACT: 21 | Ends: May 1 (annual Fall merit scholarship deadline)
Strategic Note: Freshmen who cross either a 21 ACT or a 3.25 GPA — a genuinely accessible entry point.
🏛️ Southern Adventist University
$2,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Renewable Southern Union Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 21 | SAT: 1060
Strategic Note: Any admitted student from those seven states who clears one modest academic bar. The academic requirement is genuinely low and it is an or, not an and, so a 3.0 GPA alone does it even with no test score at all. If you are from Georgia, Florida, or the Carolinas, count on this. The strategic question is not whether you will get it but whether $2,000 a year actually replaces what you are giving up. Florida Bright Futures and Georgia HOPE can be worth considerably more than that at an in-state public, so run the full net price comparison rather than treating this as a wash.
🏛️ Virginia State University
$2,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ VA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Trojan Trailblazer Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: May 1
Strategic Note: First-time freshmen with a 3.50-3.74 GPA at time of application.
🏛️ University of Central Arkansas
$2,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AR
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Future Leaders Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: May 3
Strategic Note: First-time freshmen with a 3.50 to 3.74 GPA who submit admission and documents by the May 3 deadline. A supportive floor for students building momentum rather than topping the class.
🏛️ Northwestern State University of Louisiana
$1,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ LA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Transfer Excellence Scholarship
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: With completed transfer evaluation (rolling)
Strategic Note: First-time transfer students who arrive with at least 30 transferable credit hours and a cumulative college GPA of 3.25 or higher. The key is that these are first-time transfer students pursuing a first associate or bachelor's degree — students who already hold a degree are not eligible. Submitting complete official transcripts early speeds up the evaluation.
+ 6 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Northern Kentucky University
$1,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KY
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Commonwealth Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: No published deadline. NKU awards merit from the admission file until funds run out, so apply early in senior year.
Strategic Note: Solid B-plus students in Kentucky, Ohio, or Indiana. It is a modest award, but it sits on top of the in-state rate and any donor money the student wins.
🏛️ Georgia Southern University
$1,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ GA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ First-Year Merit Scholarships
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: February 1, 2027
Strategic Note: Georgia residents with a recalculated core GPA of 3.50 or higher who finish their admission file by February 1. The GPA used is the core academic GPA rebuilt during admissions review, not the cumulative GPA printed on the high school transcript, so the two often differ.
🏛️ Mississippi Valley State University
FULL RIDEGPA 3.5+ MS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Presidential Academic Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 24 | Ends: February 1
Strategic Note: A 24 ACT sits comfortably above what most MVSU applicants bring, so this one lands with a small slice of each incoming class. The good news is there is no essay, no interview, and no committee deciding whether your student is special enough. If the 3.0 and the 24 are on paper by the deadline, the award follows. That makes it one of the most winnable full rides in Mississippi for a student who tests well. The harder part comes later — 30 earned credits a year at a 3.25 means 15 hours a semester with mostly A's and B's, and one dropped course can put renewal in jeopardy.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Mississippi Christian University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ MS
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Transfer Academic Scholarship
GPA: 2.00 | Ends: No deadline
Strategic Note: Any transfer with a pulse and 12 credit hours gets something here. If you are coming from a Mississippi community college with a 3.5 or better, this stacks with the Speed Scholarship and the Transfer Scholarship Competition, and the combined package is where MC gets genuinely competitive against the public universities. If your GPA is under 3.0 you still get an award, just a smaller one, and you are locked out of the interview competition.
🏛️ North Carolina A&T State University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ NC
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ University Merit Scholarships
GPA: 3.25 | ACT: 24 | SAT: 1160 | Ends: November 1 (priority scholarship consideration)
Strategic Note: Admitted freshmen with roughly a 3.8 or better weighted GPA and strong honors, AP, or IB rigor. When scores are submitted, competitive applicants are usually around 1160 SAT or 24 ACT. A&T superscores both tests. Exact cutoffs move with funding and the applicant pool.
🏛️ Morehouse College
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ GA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Morehouse College Academic Award (MCAA)
GPA: 3.40 | Ends: Governed by admission application deadlines.
Strategic Note: Admitted students with a 3.4+ high school GPA and a strong distinguished-activity profile, ranked and selected by the awards committee.
🏛️ Bellarmine University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ KY
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Public Price Promise (State Flagship Match)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: No separate application. Reviewed and awarded with the comprehensive financial aid offer.
Strategic Note: First-year students who plan to live on campus all four years and whose Bellarmine cost after aid would otherwise run above their home-state flagship. Kentucky students qualify without a GPA cutoff.
🏛️ Old Dominion University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ VA
●Automatic
Predictable tier-based criteria
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Monarch Scholarship (In-State Merit)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Considered with the admissions application (Dec 1 priority)
Strategic Note: Most winners: Virginia first-year students admitted with a 3.0+ GPA and a solid transcript. ODU's most recent Common Data Set shows freshmen with no financial need who received institutional merit averaged about $8,011.
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.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ University of Louisville
$30,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ KY
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
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.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Emory University
$25,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ GA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
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.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ North Carolina A&T State University
FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ NC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
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.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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
+ 2 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.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Troy University
$12,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Elite Selection
Top 1–2% / Interview / Highly Restrictive
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Chancellor's Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 25 | SAT: 1230 | Ends: December 1
Strategic Note: Students in the mid to high 20s on the ACT with a 3.5 or better who file the portal application on time. This is the widest of Troy's meaningful merit bands and where most strong applicants actually land, and it is also the award that carries an automatic invitation to apply to Troy's honors program. One wrinkle: Troy's scholarships page lists the range as a 25 to 29 ACT while Troy's honors page lists the same award as a 26 to 29. Both pages agree on 1230 to 1350 for the RSAT. If your student is sitting right at a 25, apply anyway and let Troy sort it out.
+ 10 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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 Semi-Finalist Scholarship Package
GPA: 3.00
Strategic Note: Roughly the top one percent of PSAT takers in your state. If your child took the PSAT junior year and scored high enough for Semi-Finalist, this is essentially guaranteed money once they are admitted. If they did not, there is no application to submit and no way to earn this one after the fact.
+ 25 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 6 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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
+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Alcorn State University
$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ CAAS Scholars Program
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 20 | SAT: 1020 | Ends: April 1 (typical CAAS scholarship deadline for high school applicants)
Strategic Note: High-achieving CAAS majors with leadership and community service who submit strong applications and meet GPA and test score thresholds.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Southern University
$10,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ LA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ CF Industries Foundation Scholars
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: January 5
Strategic Note: Engineering and Agriculture majors who meet geographic restrictions and demonstrate strong academic performance.
+ 10 more qualifying scholarships 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.
+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ William Carey University
$9,800 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ PTK Distinction Award
GPA: 3.50
Strategic Note: Transfer students who were in Phi Theta Kappa at their community college and remember to send the proof. That last part is where most of the money gets left behind. This pays $700 a year more than the standard transfer Presidential award for the exact same 3.50 GPA, and the only difference is a single form. If you were ever inducted into PTK, dig up the certificate. There is also a lesser-known path here for students who earned 12 or more dual credit hours in high school with a 3.5 and hold PTK membership.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 6 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 16 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships 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.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 10 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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 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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 5 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.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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 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.
+ 2 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
🏛️ 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.
+ 4 more qualifying scholarships 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.
+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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 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.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 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.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships 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.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 12 more qualifying scholarships 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
Get the Game Plan →
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.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ Austin Peay State University
$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
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.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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 (Transfer)
GPA: 2.75 | Ends: February 15
Strategic Note: This is the most reachable competitive award for transfer students by GPA floor. Four thousand dollars will not cover tuition on its own, but it is real money for a transfer who would otherwise get nothing beyond the Marion 9 transfer tier.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships 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.
+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Georgia State University
$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ GA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
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.
+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ University of North Alabama
$4,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
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.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ 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.
🏛️ 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.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ University of Tennessee Southern
$2,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ UTAA Legacy Scholarship
GPA: 3.00
Strategic Note: One student per campus, so the odds here are genuinely thin — but the eligible pool at a school of about a thousand students is thin too. The ACT requirement is the sneaky one: it floats to match whatever UT Southern's average was last year, so it is a moving target rather than a fixed number. If there is a UT diploma in the family and your student has a 3.0, it costs one phone call to find out where to apply.
🏛️ Southern Adventist University
$2,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ SVAD Create Scholarship
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: April 15
Strategic Note: Students with a real body of work and something to say about it. Southern awards multiple of these, so this is not a single-winner competition, which meaningfully improves your odds compared to most portfolio scholarships. The written portion is where applications get separated. Asking you to name your weakest piece and explain why is a test of whether you can think critically about your own work, and a defensive or evasive answer reads badly. Pick a genuine weakness and show that you understand it. Also note this rewards depth over breadth. Four categories exist, but a focused, coherent submission in one lane beats a scattered sampler.
🏛️ Mississippi University for Women
$2,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: September 14 (transcript submission)
Strategic Note: The best-value transfer award at The W and the one families miss most often. At a 3.0 the regular transfer scale pays you $1,000 through the Keirn Award — PTK membership at the same GPA pays $2,000 and covers out-of-state fees on top. If you are at community college and eligible to join PTK, joining is worth roughly a thousand dollars a year. Early College High School students who are PTK members qualify too, which is an unusual door most people do not know exists.
+ 8 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Jackson State University
$2,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Medallion Award Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | ACT: 21 | SAT: 1060 | Ends: January 15
Strategic Note: Two thousand dollars a year is real money, but be clear-eyed that it is a dent in the bill, not a solution to it. The more useful way to read this tier is as a signal of how close your student is to something much bigger. A 22 ACT gets 2,000 dollars a year. A 23 gets tuition covered. That is one question right on a test morning. The catalog also says limited awards are available, so even students who clear the 21 and the 3.0 are not assured of getting it. Apply by January 15 and do not count it in your budget until it is in writing.
+ 6 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ University of Louisiana at Monroe
$2,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ LA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Spirit Scholarships (Cheer, Hawkline, Mascot)
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Tryout dates occur each spring; check ULM Spirit Groups and Hawkline for the current tryout calendar and packet deadlines.
Strategic Note: Students who earn a roster spot through Cheer, Hawkline, or Mascot tryouts and maintain the required GPA, team participation, and good standing. This is talent-and-commitment money, not a general scholarship.
🏛️ Auburn University
$2,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ AL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Alumni Scholarships (Legacy)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: February 14 AUSOM priority; parent/guardian life membership may be required by February 1
Strategic Note: Legacy students who complete AUSOM correctly and meet the alumni membership requirements. This is not huge money, but it is exactly the kind of one-time Auburn-connected award families can miss if they do not understand the alumni relationship rules.
🏛️ University of South Florida
$2,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Black Leadership Network (BLN)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Feb 15 (AwardSpring closes)
Strategic Note: Incoming frosh/Tampa Bay area; ~3.0+ GPA; BLN event participation
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Louisiana Tech University
$1,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ LA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Ruth & J.N. Walpole First Generation Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: April 1 College of Education scholarship deadline.
Strategic Note: First-generation teaching majors in the College of Education who have financial need and are working toward a teaching degree. This is not big headline money, but it can help with the practical gaps that remain after TOPS, Pell, and Tech merit.
+ 4 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ University of Kentucky
$1,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ KY
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Academic Excellence Scholarship Program (Current Undergraduates)
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: June 1 (annual)
Strategic Note: Current UK students who have already proven themselves in college with at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA and who submit a strong ScholarshipUniverse application by the deadline. This is not freshman recruiting money; it is a continuing-student reward for performance after enrollment.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ McNeese State University
$1,500 / YRGPA 3.5+ LA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Louisiana Lagniappe Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Mid-February (scholarship portal deadline)
Strategic Note: Students with at least a 3.0 GPA who apply early and have a complete scholarship file before funds are exhausted.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Wake Forest University
FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ NC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Army ROTC Scholarships
GPA: 2.50 | Ends: Oct 13, Jan 19, Mar 16 (national Army ROTC scholarship boards)
Strategic Note: Students with at least a 3.0 GPA, solid academics, strong physical fitness, leadership experience, and who meet Army medical and eligibility standards.
🏛️ Tougaloo College
$1,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ WATAC Scholarship
GPA: 2.75 | Ends: May 31
Strategic Note: Students with a documented financial need and a connection to the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area have the clearest shot, but do not count yourself out if you are from elsewhere, because the regional piece is stated as a preference and six awards is a decent number for a school this size. The community college set-aside is the quiet opportunity here. If you are transferring in from a two-year school, you are competing for a reserved slot rather than the open pool. The 2.75 bar is low by scholarship standards, so what separates applicants is the 250-word essay and whether the packet arrived complete and on time.
+ 5 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ George Mason University
$1,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ VA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Mid-February (February 17 in the most recently posted cycle)
Strategic Note: NOVA transfers with top Mason grades and deep campus involvement.
🏛️ Florida Atlantic University
$1,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Education Abroad Scholarship
GPA: 2.75 | Ends: Spring abroad early November; Summer abroad early March; Fall abroad early June
Strategic Note: Students who already have an approved study abroad plan and submit complete applications that connect the experience clearly to their academic or career goals.
🏛️ University of Tampa
$1,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ FL
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ President's Leadership Fellows (PLF)
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Applications open after admission and close in the spring; the Fall 2026 cohort closed April 12. Confirm the current date on UT's PLF page.
Strategic Note: First-year admits with a demonstrated track record of leadership and service — student government, team captain roles, sustained volunteer work, founded initiatives — plus solid academics (3.0+ unweighted). Selection leans on evidence of ongoing commitment rather than one-off accomplishments. Students who can articulate why they want to grow as a leader (not just list titles) consistently make it through.
🏛️ Lipscomb University
$1,000 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Hidden Gem
3.8+ GPA / 30+ ACT typical profiles
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ College of Business Swang Scholars Program
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 30 | SAT: 1360 | Ends: January 7
Strategic Note: Strong business-minded students who clear the 30 ACT and 3.5 GPA gate and can show genuine business interest in an essay and interview. Cohorts run small, roughly seven to ten students. Do not choose Lipscomb over another school because of this award, since the cash is 1,000 dollars once. Do apply if you are already coming, because the doors it opens in Nashville are the actual payoff.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Rhodes College
$500 / YRGPA 3.5+ TN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Youth For Understanding / HOBY Scholarship
GPA: 2.00 | Ends: With admission materials; external listings cite January 15 as a consideration date
Strategic Note: Students who took part in Youth For Understanding or HOBY programs and clearly report that involvement on the admission application.
🏛️ West Virginia University
$500 / YRGPA 3.5+ WV
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ WVU Leadership Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Application usually opens in October; deadline is August 1. Limited funds are awarded first-come, first-served.
Strategic Note: Students who already hold one of the listed honors and submit proof early. It is small, but it stacks, renews, and is first-come, first-served, so many eligible students simply never send the paperwork.
🏛️ Delta State University
$500 / YRGPA 3.5+ MS
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Phi Theta Kappa Catalyst Award
GPA: 3.00
Strategic Note: Any Phi Theta Kappa member transferring in with a 3.0 and 42 hours, which is a large share of the students who join PTK in the first place. This is close to free money for anyone who already paid the membership dues. The amount is modest at $1,000 a year, but it layers on top of the Emerald or Magnolia transfer awards, and that stacking is the real point. If a student is at a Mississippi community college and eligible for PTK but has not joined, the dues are worth it purely on this arithmetic.
🏛️ Samford University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ AL
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Harry B. Brock Jr. Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: December 1
Strategic Note: Incoming freshmen who declare prebusiness on the admission application, clear the 3.0 GPA floor, and line up a recommender early. Because the pool is limited to declared prebusiness students, the competition is far smaller than for university-wide awards.
🏛️ Appalachian State University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ NC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Advisory Board Scholarship for Excellence in Computer Science
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: ASAP cycle, typically Dec. 1–Feb. 7.
Strategic Note: Sophomore, junior, or senior Computer Science majors who are full-time, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, and are active in the department.
🏛️ Jacksonville University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ FL
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: At admission / rolling
Strategic Note: High-achieving community college transfer students with a cumulative transfer GPA of 3.5 or higher and verified PTK membership.
🏛️ Morehouse College
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ GA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Morehouse College Talent Awards
GPA: 2.00
Strategic Note: Students in Music-department ensembles who fulfill all rehearsal and performance duties.
🏛️ Mississippi Valley State University
FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ MS
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Transfer Scholarship, Valley
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: June 15th
Strategic Note: Community college students who planned the transfer from the start. The AA completion requirement is the real filter here — a lot of students bank 50 or 60 credits and move on without the degree in hand, and those students get nothing from this award no matter how good their grades were. The 3.25 is demanding but reachable for anyone taking community college seriously. If your student is at a Mississippi community college right now and thinking about MVSU, the single most valuable piece of advice is to sit down with an advisor and make sure every remaining course counts toward finishing the AA, not just toward credit hours.
🏛️ Mississippi Christian University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ MS
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Transfer Scholarship Competition
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: May 29
Strategic Note: Transfers with a 3.0 who bother to register, which is a surprisingly small slice of the transfer class. Most transfer students are working, juggling schedules, and never see this page. The essay prompt about an irreplaceable object is a personal one rather than an academic one, so a thoughtful answer from someone with a real life story tends to land better than a polished but generic one. If you are a Mississippi resident on the Speed Scholarship, know your ceiling here is $1,000 before you commit the time.
🏛️ Millsaps College
FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ MS
●Conditional Path
Requires specific designation (e.g., National Merit)
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Premier Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 28 | SAT: 1300 | Ends: December 11, 2026 at 4 p.m. CST
Strategic Note: Sixteen students a year, and the 3.5 unweighted plus 28 ACT floor is where most families get their hopes up wrongly - that is the door, not the win. Millsaps admits students with a 21 to 28 ACT middle range, so a 28 puts you at the very top of their applicant pool and the actual scholars will mostly sit above it. What separates finalists is the essay, the two letters and how you carry yourself at Scholars Weekend in February. If your student is at 28 exactly and has a genuinely strong recommendation from someone outside the classroom, this is worth the effort - the optional portfolio is where an unusual kid can stand out. If your student is at 3.5 flat with a 28 flat and a thin activity record, plan on the regular merit award and treat Premier as the lottery ticket.
🏛️ Charleston Southern University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ SC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: March 31
Strategic Note: Rising juniors and seniors with at least a 3.0 GPA, full-time enrollment, proven financial need, and a strong application representing the Alumni Association well.
🏛️ University of North Carolina Charlotte
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ NC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ UNC Charlotte Alumni Association Scholarship
GPA: 3.40 | Ends: Apr 1 (portal-wide deadline for most NinerScholars awards); Feb 15 early action deadline applies to a select group of freshman-only scholarships
Strategic Note: Current students who have made themselves visible on campus. A 3.4 GPA gets you considered; sustained service and a real leadership role is what separates applicants.
+ 3 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ University of West Georgia
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ GA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ SCFM Journalism-Preference Scholarships
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Spring; exact SCFM scholarship deadlines are posted annually.
Strategic Note: SCFM students with at least a 3.00 GPA, demonstrated financial need, and a clear journalism connection. A student who can show reporting, writing, media work, student publication experience, or a serious journalism direction is likely a stronger fit than a general communication applicant.
🏛️ Belmont University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ TN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ School of Music Named & Endowed Awards
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Audition timelines; first round typically aligned with Nov 1 Early Action I
Strategic Note: Outstanding music students (voice, keyboard, instrumental, etc.) who major in music and present strong auditions; roughly a quarter to a third of auditioning students receive some level of music scholarship.
🏛️ North Carolina State University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ NC
●Competitive
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Caldwell Fellows
GPA: 3.25 | Ends: Application opens in Pack ASSIST in the fall and closes in early January
Strategic Note: This is for current NC State first-year students who have already shown strong academics, service, leadership, and campus engagement. The most realistic candidates usually have strong first-year grades and a clear pattern of serving and leading, not just a good high school resume.
🏛️ The Citadel
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ SC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Star of the West International Summer Study Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | Ends: Uses The Citadel's consolidated summer scholarships application, which opened January 5 and closed January 20 for summer 2026, with awards announced by February 1. Expect a similar early-January window each year.
Strategic Note: Cadets with a 3.5+ GPA who plan to apply for highly competitive graduate programs or fellowships such as Rhodes, Marshall, or Truman, and who submit a specific, well-budgeted proposal.
🏛️ Trevecca Nazarene University
FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ TN
●Conditional Path
Requires specific designation (e.g., National Merit)
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ The J.O. McClurkan Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 28 | SAT: 1300 | Ends: Friday, February 19, 2027
Strategic Note: Be clear-eyed here - Trevecca named three McClurkan recipients for 2026. Three. Meeting the 28 ACT and 3.5 GPA bar only earns you the right to apply, and plenty of qualified students never get the McClurkan Day invitation. What separates finalists is not the transcript, it is a documented track record of service and leadership that a committee can see and ask about across an interview table. Apply if you clear the numbers, because the upside is full tuition and the application costs you an afternoon. Just do not build your college budget around winning it. Your realistic number at Trevecca is the Strickland or Dunning award you already qualify for automatically.
🏛️ Milligan University
FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ TN
●Elite Selection
Top 1–2% / Interview / Highly Restrictive
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Jeanes Honors Scholarship
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 29 | SAT: 1340 | Ends: December 1
Strategic Note: Two students out of an entering class, so treat this as a lottery ticket you happen to be qualified for, not a plan. The 3.5 and 29 ACT gate is not especially high for a school Milligan's size, which means the pool clearing the bar is much larger than two. What separates winners is the interview and the resume, not the transcript. Faculty are picking students they want in seminar rooms, so demonstrated leadership, service, and the ability to hold a real conversation about ideas matter more than another tenth of a GPA point. Here is the practical part. Everyone who applies for Jeanes and does not win is automatically considered for a Hopwood award instead, so the downside of applying is a few hours of work and the upside is real money either way. Apply.
+ 2 more qualifying scholarships available.
Click Get the Game Plan → to see the full strategy.
🏛️ Georgia Southern University
FULL TUITIONGPA 3.5+ GA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Army ROTC Scholarships
GPA: 2.50 | ACT: 19 | SAT: 1000 | Ends: National deadlines are set by U.S. Army ROTC each year.
Strategic Note: Students who are serious about commissioning as U.S. Army officers, not just students looking for scholarship money. Strong applicants usually have solid academics, leadership potential, physical fitness, and willingness to accept the military service commitment.
🏛️ University of Alabama
FULL RIDEGPA 3.5+ AL
●Conditional Path
Requires specific designation (e.g., National Merit)
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Academic Elite Scholarship / Witt Fellows
GPA: 3.50 | ACT: 32 | SAT: 1420 | Ends: Dec 5
Strategic Note: Extremely high-achieving students who first make it through the Witt Fellows pathway. This is full-ride-level money, but the pool is tiny and students need more than high scores — they need strong essays, interview strength, leadership, service, and the kind of academic depth that stands out in a very small finalist group.
🏛️ Norfolk State University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ VA
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Spartan Family Plan
GPA: 2.00 | Ends: Aug 1 (Fall) / Dec 1 (Spring)
Strategic Note: Families with at least two immediate family members enrolled at NSU who maintain required GPA and submit the application by the semester deadline.
🏛️ Winthrop University
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ SC
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ Close Scholars Program
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: Late March (March 27 in the 2026 cycle)
Strategic Note: South Carolina residents who already live a service-heavy life and can realistically commit 112 volunteer hours every semester on top of classes.
🏛️ LeMoyne-Owen College
AWARD VARIESGPA 3.5+ TN
●Hidden Gem
Holistic review / Not guaranteed
Get the Game Plan →
How This Is Awarded
→ LOC General Academic Award
GPA: 3.00 | Ends: March 15 per the 2025-2026 catalog, April 19 per the financial aid webpage. The two published sources conflict — confirm directly with the college.
Strategic Note: Realistically this goes to students who are already enrolled and already doing well. The 3.0 floor plus a division chair recommendation means somebody in your major has to know your name and be willing to vouch for you, which quietly favors students who show up to office hours, join the department club, and are not invisible in class. Incoming freshmen are not shut out, since admissions recommends awards for new students too, but the machinery is built around current students. If your GPA is a 2.9 you are not in the conversation. If it is a 3.5 and a professor likes you, you have a real shot.
