University of Evansville Scholarships (2025–2026)

University of Evansville Scholarships (2025–2026)

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

If your student is looking at private colleges in Indiana, the University of Evansville is worth a close look. Families often assume private means out of reach, but between strong automatic merit awards, state programs, and UE’s own hidden gems, the real price is usually far lower. We’ll walk you through the details step by step — and don’t forget to check Indiana’s state aid guide for additional grants that can stack with UE scholarships.


💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Evansville

Expense In-State Out-of-State
Tuition (12–18 credits) $44,470 $44,470
Mandatory Fees $1,544 $1,544
Housing & Meals (typical) $15,830 $15,830
Books & Supplies (allowance) $1,200 $1,200
Transportation (allowance) $1,750 $1,750
Personal Expenses (allowance) $1,800 $1,800
Loan Fee (allowance) $70 $70
Total (before aid) $66,664 $66,664
Average Net Price: $20,230 (2022–23 NCES data). This is what families actually paid on average after scholarships and grants — no loans included.
State Aid Programs: UE does not participate in MSEP reciprocity. However, Indiana residents may qualify for the Frank O’Bannon Grant or 21st Century Scholars. Example: A qualifying Indiana student could receive up to $10,000+ from state aid on top of UE merit scholarships, reducing the net price significantly.

Cost of Attendance FAQs

Who qualifies for Indiana state aid? Indiana residents who meet FAFSA deadlines and income/academic requirements.

How much can these state programs reduce the bill? State grants often add $7,000–$10,000+ per year for qualifying students, stacking with UE scholarships.

Do I need a separate application? No — just file the FAFSA by Indiana’s April 15 deadline to be considered automatically.


✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships

The University of Evansville automatically considers every admitted freshman for generous merit scholarships. Awards are based on weighted GPA or test scores (whichever is higher). Test-optional applicants are eligible too, and students can add “engagement awards” (Visit, FAFSA, Essay) worth up to $3,000 total.

Scholarship Award Amount Eligibility Separate App? Renewable? Who Actually Wins?
Presidential $30,000–$33,000 4.25+ GPA or 30 ACT / 1390 SAT; +$1,000 each for Visit, FAFSA, Essay No Yes (3.0 GPA; 24 credits/year) Top students with very strong GPAs or ACT 30+ / SAT ~1400*
Dean’s $26,000–$29,000 4.0 GPA or 27 ACT / 1280 SAT; engagement awards apply No Yes Many “A” students with ACT high 20s / SAT ~1250–1300*
Faculty $23,000–$26,000 3.75 GPA or 25 ACT / 1200 SAT; engagement awards apply No Yes Solid “A-/B+” students; ACT ~25 / SAT ~1200*
Academic $21,000–$24,000 3.50 GPA or 23 ACT / 1130 SAT; engagement awards apply No Yes Strong “B+/A-” students with ACT low 20s / SAT ~1100*
Aces $18,000–$21,000 3.25 GPA or 21 ACT / 1060 SAT; engagement awards apply No Yes Solid “B” students with ACT ~21 / SAT ~1050*
Purple Varies Below 3.25 GPA or test threshold; engagement awards still apply No Yes Students below other cutoffs; awards reduced but available

*GPA/test score ranges are based on published cutoffs; actual thresholds can shift slightly year to year depending on applicant pool and funding.

Automatic Merit FAQs

Do I need to apply separately? No — students are automatically considered when they apply for admission.

Are test scores required? No — UE is test-optional. They’ll use whichever is higher (GPA or test) when awarding.

Can I stack merit with other scholarships? Yes, but the total of UE scholarships and gift aid cannot exceed full-time tuition (12–18 credits per semester).

Are these renewable? Yes — generally for up to 4 years if you maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and 24 credits each year.


🏆 Competitive Scholarships

The University of Evansville offers a handful of competitive scholarships that go beyond automatic merit. These are prestigious awards tied to national recognition programs, and they can dramatically reduce or even eliminate tuition costs.

Scholarship Award Amount Eligibility Separate App? Renewable? Who Actually Wins?
National Merit Finalist Scholarship Full Tuition Must be a National Merit Finalist and designate UE No (just submit Certificate of Merit) Yes (maintain GPA/credits) National Merit Finalists who list UE as their first-choice school
College Board National Recognition $35,000/yr (2025 cohort) Students honored by College Board’s National Recognition Programs (First-Gen, Rural/Small Town, etc.) No (submit recognition certificate) Yes Recognized students with solid academics; awards are limited but generous

📌 Want the bigger picture? See our full guide to the National Merit Scholarship.

Competitive Scholarship FAQs

What makes these scholarships competitive? They are limited and tied to national recognition programs, not just GPA or test scores.

Are they renewable? Yes — most cover up to four years as long as you maintain UE’s GPA and credit requirements.

Can they stack with automatic merit? No — UE caps total gift aid at the cost of full-time tuition, so these replace (not add onto) automatic awards.

Do I need to file the FAFSA? Yes — UE requires the FAFSA for consideration of all scholarships and grants, even merit-based awards.


💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

Beyond automatic and competitive awards, UE has several lesser-known programs that can quietly save families thousands of dollars. These include need-based guarantees, special Indiana/Kentucky awards, ROTC benefits, and department- or donor-backed funds.

Scholarship Award Amount Eligibility Separate App? Renewable? Who Actually Wins?
Aces Opportunity Grant (AOG) Full Tuition (after state/federal aid) Indiana residents with AGI under $60k or free/reduced lunch; must qualify for Indiana state grant; FAFSA by Apr 15 No — automatic if eligible Yes, up to 4 years Lower-income Indiana students who file FAFSA on time
Hoosier Aces Scholarship Tuition + fees + $10,000 toward housing/meals (2026 cohort); full housing/meals in 2025 cohort Indiana residents who meet AOG criteria + 3.75 GPA; FAFSA by Apr 15 No — automatic if eligible Yes, up to 4 years High-achieving Indiana students with strong GPAs and very low SAI
Army ROTC Room & Board Scholarship Covers standard room & board Contracted Army ROTC cadets in good standing at UE (via Wabash Battalion) Yes — ROTC contracting process Yes, while contracted Students pursuing Army ROTC who meet fitness and academic standards
Scouting Scholarship $1,500/year Eagle Scouts and Girl Scouts Gold Award recipients No — provide documentation Yes (per UE renewal policies) Students with Scouting’s top rank who submit proof
UE Kentucky Excellence Award $1,500/year Kentucky residents graduating from a Kentucky high school No Yes Kentucky grads attending UE, often stacking with merit
Ensemble Participation Scholarship (non-music majors) Varies (UE doesn’t publish a fixed amount) Non-music majors accepted via audition into UE ensembles (band/choir/orchestra) Yes — ensemble audition Yes, if ensemble requirements are met Strong performers who commit to ensemble participation
Art Portfolio Scholarship $1,000/year Art majors who submit a portfolio by May 1 and are recommended by faculty Yes — portfolio submission Yes (per UE renewal policies) Committed art students with a solid portfolio
National Need for Nursing Scholarship (Direct-entry Nursing) $25,000/year Students who gain direct entry into UE’s Nursing program No separate app; program admission required Yes Nursing-focused students meeting direct-entry standards
Languages & Cultures Essay Scholarship Up to $1,000/year Incoming French/German/Spanish students; write an on-campus essay during a visit Yes — in-person essay Renewable up to 3 additional years (department nomination) Language majors/minors who demonstrate proficiency and progress
Languages & Cultures Study Abroad Award $500 (departmental) Languages & Cultures majors studying abroad (faculty nomination) Departmental process Often one-time Language majors planning approved study abroad
Lois & Betsy Hamburg UE Scholarship (Vanderburgh Community Foundation) Two awards of ~$5,100 (2025 example) Vanderburgh Co. HS seniors attending UE or current UE students; financial need considered Yes — apply via VCF Not stated (typically one-year) Local students with need who meet VCF criteria and deadline

Note: UE caps total institutional gift aid at the equivalent of full-time tuition; departmental and donor awards typically coordinate within that cap. Outside donor funds (like VCF) are applied per UE’s outside-scholarship policy.

Hidden Gem FAQs

Are these programs automatic? Aces Opportunity and Hoosier Aces are automatic if you meet the criteria. Departmental awards (Music, Art, Languages) and donor funds (VCF) require auditions/portfolios or a separate application.

Can these awards stack with merit scholarships? Yes — but UE caps total scholarships at the equivalent of full-time tuition. Housing/meal and donor awards can further reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Do I have to file the FAFSA? Yes — required for AOG/Hoosier Aces and recommended for coordinating institutional and donor aid.

Why not include the “Harding Scholarship Competition” here? UE lists Harding on a prestigious external scholarships page, but it’s not a UE-funded award; we keep the Hidden Gems focused on UE/departmental/ROTC and locally administered donor funds.


Final Thoughts

Private colleges can feel out of reach, but the University of Evansville shows how merit, state aid, and hidden scholarships can bring costs down dramatically. Whether your student qualifies for automatic awards, lands a recognition scholarship, or takes advantage of Indiana-only programs, there are real ways to make UE affordable. Use this guide as a roadmap — and remember, every dollar in scholarships is one less you’ll have to cover out of pocket.

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✅ Last updated: September 5, 2025

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