University of Louisiana at Monroe Scholarships (2026–2027)

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Last Updated on September 10, 2026
What This Page Covers:
  • Tuition, housing, and average family net price
  • Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
  • Flagship and hidden-gem awards
  • Honors and stacking strategy

📊 Admissions Snapshot

  • Acceptance Rate: ~91%
  • Middle 50% ACT: 22
  • Middle 50% SAT: 1080
  • Average GPA: 3.5

ULM is the kind of school that rewards paperwork more than it rewards heroics. There is no essay committee handing out the big awards here. There is a published grid, your student’s GPA and ACT or SAT score land them in a box on that grid, and the money follows automatically. That is genuinely good news for families who do not want to spend senior year chasing scholarship applications. It also means the whole game is getting the application and the test scores in on time.

The wrinkle at ULM is that a Louisiana family and an out-of-state family are playing two completely different games on the same campus, and both games have a second layer most people miss. Read the box below before anything else.

Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →

📌 University of Louisiana at Monroe at a Glance

Average Net Price
$11,633/year (in-state estimate)
Average paid for residents.
Automatic Merit
$1,000–$6,000/yr, plus a matching housing award
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
17 opportunities
10 automatic · 5 hidden gem · 2 honors
Typical Qualifiers
GPA 3.0+; ACT 20+ / SAT 1030+
Benchmarks for top-tier awards.
Testing Policy
Test-optional to apply, scores required for money
Superscores ACT/SAT.
Key Deadlines
Priority: May 1 • FAFSA: Feb 15
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Residency & Waivers
ACM
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at ULM (Read This First)

  • Two different score rulebooks on one campus. ULM superscores the ACT and SAT for its own scholarships. TOPS, the Louisiana state award, does not. LOSFA requires a composite score from a single sitting. Your student can qualify for a bigger ULM award and a smaller TOPS award off the exact same test dates.
  • Test-optional to get in, test-required to get paid. ULM’s own admissions page says it plainly: ACT/SAT scores are required for scholarship consideration. A student who applies without scores can be admitted and still get zero merit.
  • The Housing Award is the half of the offer nobody mentions. Every merit tier except the smallest one comes with a matching housing award, which roughly doubles the ULM money. It only applies if your student lives on campus, it only pays residence hall and meal plan charges, and it never refunds as cash.
  • Online freshmen get nothing. First-time freshmen who enroll in an online degree program are not eligible for academic scholarships at all.
  • One academic scholarship, period. Students receive exactly one Freshman Academic Scholarship, the highest they qualify for. Tiers do not stack with each other. Housing, TOPS, Foundation awards, and the out-of-state waiver do stack on top.
  • Pre-pharmacy families, read this twice. The Out-of-State Warhawk Scholarship is valid only for the pre-pharmacy program. The moment a student is admitted to the professional PharmD program it disappears, and the College of Pharmacy has only a limited number of separate out-of-state awards.

FAQ

Is this college test-optional? Yes — University of Louisiana at Monroe is test-optional.

What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 22; SAT: 1080.

Average net price? About $11,633/year after aid.

Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? Yes — participates in ACM.

Sources:
ULM Freshman Scholarships: https://www.ulm.edu/scholarships/freshmen.html
ULM Out-of-State Warhawk Waiver: https://www.ulm.edu/scholarships/outofstate.html
ULM Study Abroad Scholarships: https://www.ulm.edu/scholarships/study-abroad.html
ULM Music Scholarships and Auditions: https://ulm.edu/music/scholarships.html
ULM Foundation Scholarships Portal: https://ulm.academicworks.com/
ULM Auditions and Spirit Group Try-Outs: https://ulm.edu/auditions/
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Louisiana at Monroe 2026-2027

📅 2027–2028 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2026–2027). Universities typically finalize the next year’s rates in the spring, and we’ll update this page once official 2027–2028 numbers are released.

Planning tip: At large public universities, tuition, fees, and housing usually increase modestly each year (often in the 2–5% range). For early budgeting, families may want to plan for roughly $1,000–$1,500 more in-state or $2,000–$3,000 more out-of-state in total direct costs once new rates are published.

Category (2026–2027) In-State Out-of-State
Tuition & Mandatory Fees (2 semesters) $9,190 $21,290
Housing & Meals (typical) $10,500 $10,500
Total (Direct Costs) $19,690 $31,790

Average Federal Net Price: $11,633 — this is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships (no loans), based on the most recent federal data. Your specific cost could be significantly lower or higher depending on your financial aid eligibility and merit scholarships. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.

📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options

ULM charges nonresidents a $12,100 out-of-state fee on top of the in-state rate. The Out-of-State Warhawk Scholarship is worth $6,050 per semester, or $12,100 per year, which cancels that fee exactly. A nonresident who qualifies pays the same tuition and fees as a Louisiana student, then stacks academic merit and the housing award on top.

Qualifying is not hard by national standards: a 2.5 cumulative high school GPA, an ACT composite of 21 or SAT total of 1060, an ACT English of 15 or SAT English of 440, and an ACT Math of 16 or SAT Math of 430. Transfer students need 12 college hours and a 2.5 college GPA.

One warning for pre-pharmacy families: the Warhawk Scholarship is only valid for the pre-pharmacy program. Once a student is admitted to the professional PharmD program it goes away, and the College of Pharmacy has only a limited number of separate out-of-state awards.

ULM also participates in the Academic Common Market (ACM), which can waive out-of-state fees for students whose home state does not offer their major.

🧮 The Warhawk Waiver Math (Out-of-State Families)

This one is worth doing on paper, because ULM does not spell it out anywhere in one place.

  • Out-of-state tuition and fees: $21,290
  • In-state tuition and fees: $9,190
  • The nonresident premium: $12,100
  • The Out-of-State Warhawk Scholarship: $12,100

The waiver cancels the premium exactly. A qualifying out-of-state student pays the Louisiana rate. Then academic merit and the housing award stack on top of that. The bar is a 2.5 GPA and a 21 ACT or 1060 SAT, which is a low fence for a benefit that size.

Louisiana Families: TOPS Comes First

If you live in Louisiana, TOPS is usually the largest single line on the page, and it is a state program rather than a ULM one. ULM’s own scholarship grid shows estimated TOPS amounts running from roughly $5,788 to $10,065 a year depending on award level. You apply by completing the FAFSA or the LOSFA online application, and the state deadline is July 1. See our Louisiana aid and grants guide for the full TOPS breakdown.

FAQ — Cost of Attendance at ULM

Can an out-of-state student really pay in-state prices at ULM?
Effectively yes, if they qualify for the Out-of-State Warhawk Scholarship. It is worth $6,050 per semester, or $12,100 per year, and that is the precise size of ULM’s nonresident fee. It is not a discount on top of a discount. It brings a nonresident’s tuition and fees down to the resident number, and merit money layers on after that.

What is the Housing Award and why is it not in the tuition column?
It is a second award ULM attaches to most merit tiers, matching or nearly matching the tuition award. It only exists for students who live in ULM housing, and it can only be applied to residence hall and meal plan charges. It will not roll over into a refund check. That is why we treat it separately: it is real money, but only if your student is living on campus.

What FAFSA deadline should I actually use?
ULM lists two different priority dates on its own website. The Steps to Apply page says April 1. The Financial Aid FAQ says February 15. We are publishing February 15, because filing by the earlier of two conflicting dates costs you nothing and missing the real one costs you money. Separately, Louisiana residents have a hard July 1 state deadline for TOPS, and that one has no flexibility at all.

Is the average net price of about $11,633 realistic?
That is the federal figure for what families actually paid after grants and scholarships, and for a Louisiana resident with TOPS it is a fair picture. It is a poor guide for an out-of-state family, because it is dominated by in-state students receiving TOPS. Out-of-state families should build their own number from the waiver math above.

Can we get so much aid that ULM takes some back?
Yes, and at ULM this is a live risk rather than a theoretical one. If total aid plus scholarships exceeds the federal cost of attendance, ULM reduces the package in a set order: federal loan aid first, then institutional and other aid, then state scholarships and grants including TOPS. A Louisiana student stacking a top merit tier, a housing award, TOPS, and a Foundation scholarship can bump the ceiling.

Does ULM have a net price calculator?
Not one we could find working. ULM’s financial aid pages do not carry a net price calculator link, and the URL third-party sites cite for it returns a 404. What ULM does publish is a Tuition and Fee Estimator and a Fee Bill Worksheet, both linked in our official links section below. Those give you a billing estimate rather than an aid estimate, so plan to call the financial aid office at 318-342-5320 for anything closer.

Does ULM participate in any regional tuition programs?
Yes. ULM takes part in the Academic Common Market through the Southern Regional Education Board. If your home state does not offer your student’s intended major, that can waive out-of-state fees. For most families the Warhawk Scholarship is the simpler and faster path, but ACM is worth asking about for unusual majors.

Sources:
https://www.ulm.edu/scholarships/outofstate.html
https://www.ulm.edu/financialaid/costofattend.html
https://www.ulm.edu/financialaid/faq.html
https://www.ulm.edu/financialaid/stepstoapply.html

📅 ULM Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)

  • Fall of senior year: Apply to ULM. The admission application is the scholarship application. There is no second form.
  • February: ULM Foundation scholarship portal opens for its one-month window. Separate application, separate money.
  • May 1: ULM’s published priority deadline for the 2026-2027 cycle.
  • May 31: Hard stop for official ACT and SAT scores to reach ULM.
  • July 1: Louisiana’s TOPS deadline (FAFSA or LOSFA application). No extensions.

Parent rule of thumb: ULM has posted a late-January priority date in past cycles and then extended it. Do not plan around the extension. Aim for late January and treat May 1 as the backstop, not the target.

Automatic Merit Scholarships — University of Louisiana at Monroe

These awards are handed out off a published grid using GPA and the ACT or SAT. No separate application, no essay, no interview. Your student applies to ULM, sends official scores, and lands in a box. ULM does superscore both the ACT and SAT for its own money, so retaking the test is worth it here.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
President’s Distinguished (ACT 33–36; GPA 3.5–4.0)
📅 Deadline: May 1
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$6,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~33 ACT✎ ~1450 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
This award can stack with ULM’s on-campus housing award when the student lives in the residence halls, plus TOPS for Louisiana residents or the Out-of-State Warhawk Waiver for qualifying nonresidents. Total aid is still capped at cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: this is ULM's strongest automatic academic tier. The $6,000 you see is the tuition award. A student who lives in ULM housing also gets a $6,000 Housing Award on top, which doubles the ULM money to $12,000 a year. That housing money can only be applied to residence hall and meal plan charges and never refunds as cash. The laptop and the Top Hawks study abroad stipend are real perks but should not be counted as money off the bill.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
This is the top automatic band: students with a 33–36 ACT or 1450+ SAT and a strong high school GPA. For families, the key detail is that this is not a full ride by itself, but it can become much stronger when paired with housing, TOPS, or the nonresident waiver.
Automatic
President’s Distinguished (ACT 30–32; GPA 3.5–4.0)
📅 Deadline: May 1
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~30 ACT✎ ~1360 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can stack with ULM’s housing award when the student lives on campus, plus TOPS for Louisiana residents or the Out-of-State Warhawk Waiver for qualifying nonresidents, up to the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: $5,000 tuition award, plus a $5,000 Housing Award if the student lives on campus, for $10,000 a year in ULM money. ULM's grid splits this band internally (a 31 or 32 and a flat 30 draw the same ULM award but a different TOPS estimate for Louisiana residents). Students in the 30 to 32 range also receive a laptop.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Strong test-takers with a 30–32 ACT or comparable SAT and a 3.5+ GPA. This is a useful automatic award for families who want predictable merit without chasing a committee-based scholarship.
Automatic
Academic Excellence (ACT 27–29; GPA 3.5–4.0)
📅 Deadline: May 1
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$3,250/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~27 ACT✎ ~1260 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
May stack with the on-campus housing award, TOPS for Louisiana residents, or the Out-of-State Warhawk Waiver for qualifying nonresidents. ULM still caps total aid at cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: $3,250 tuition award, plus a matching $3,250 Housing Award for students living on campus, so $6,500 a year in ULM money for a residential student. The housing half is conditional. It only applies against residence hall and meal plan charges, and it does not refund.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 27–29 ACT or similar SAT score and a 3.5+ GPA. This is the kind of award that can quietly make ULM much more affordable, especially when combined with TOPS or a waiver.
Automatic
Academic Merit (ACT 23–26; GPA 3.5–4.0)
📅 Deadline: May 1
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~23 ACT✎ ~1130 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can combine with a ULM housing award if the student lives on campus, plus TOPS or the Warhawk Waiver when eligible. Total aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: $2,000 tuition award, plus a matching $2,000 Housing Award for on-campus students. Look at the full package before you judge it. For a Louisiana family, TOPS is usually the bigger line item at this score band. For an out-of-state family, the Warhawk waiver is.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 23–26 ACT or comparable SAT and a 3.5+ GPA. This tier is important because it rewards students who may not be top testers but still have a strong academic record.
Automatic
Ace’s Award (ACT 20–22; GPA 3.5–4.0)
📅 Deadline: May 1
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~20 ACT✎ ~1030 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
May stack with TOPS for Louisiana residents or the Warhawk Waiver for qualifying nonresidents, subject to the cost-of-attendance cap. This tier does not include the paired housing award shown in higher bands.
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: $1,000, and this is the one tier on ULM's grid with no Housing Award attached. It is a small award on its own. Its real job is to sit alongside TOPS or the Warhawk waiver, which are doing the heavy lifting at this score range.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 20–22 ACT or comparable SAT and a 3.5+ GPA. This is a smaller automatic award, but it can still matter when layered with state aid or a nonresident waiver.
Automatic
President’s Distinguished (ACT 30–36; GPA 3.0–3.49)
📅 Deadline: May 1
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~30 ACT✎ ~1360 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
May stack with the on-campus housing award when the student lives in ULM housing, plus TOPS for Louisiana residents or the Out-of-State Warhawk Waiver for qualifying nonresidents. Total aid remains capped at cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: this tier matters for students who test better than their transcript reads. $5,000 tuition award, plus a $3,000 Housing Award for on-campus students. Note that the housing half is smaller here than in the 3.5+ GPA band, so the GPA gap costs money twice.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
High test-score students whose GPA lands in the 3.0–3.49 range. This is a good example of why testing can still matter: a strong ACT/SAT can unlock a higher award even when the GPA is not in the very top band.
Automatic
Academic Excellence (ACT 27–29; GPA 3.0–3.49)
📅 Deadline: May 1
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~27 ACT✎ ~1260 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can stack with ULM’s on-campus housing award when applicable, plus TOPS or the Out-of-State Warhawk Waiver if the student qualifies. Total aid is limited by cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: $3,000 tuition award, plus a $2,500 Housing Award for on-campus students. Only count the housing half if your student actually plans to live in the residence halls, because it cannot be applied anywhere else.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 27–29 ACT or comparable SAT and a GPA between 3.0 and 3.49. This is a solid automatic award for students whose test score helps strengthen the overall merit picture.
Automatic
Academic Merit (ACT 23–26; GPA 3.0–3.49)
📅 Deadline: May 1
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~23 ACT✎ ~1130 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can stack with a housing award when the student lives on campus, plus TOPS or the Warhawk Waiver when eligible. ULM caps total aid at cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: $2,000 tuition award, plus a $1,500 Housing Award for on-campus students. Treat this as one piece of the package rather than the whole strategy. For Louisiana students TOPS is usually larger, and for out-of-state students the Warhawk waiver is much larger.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 23–26 ACT or comparable SAT and a GPA from 3.0 to 3.49. This tier is not flashy, but it gives families a predictable starting discount.
Automatic
Ace’s Award (ACT 20–22; GPA 3.0–3.49)
📅 Deadline: May 1
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~20 ACT✎ ~1030 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
May stack with TOPS or the Warhawk Waiver when eligible, subject to the cost-of-attendance cap. No housing award is attached to this tier on the ULM grid.
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: $1,000, with no Housing Award attached at this tier. Small guaranteed money still counts, but at this score band the family's real leverage is TOPS for residents or the Warhawk waiver for nonresidents.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 20–22 ACT or comparable SAT and a 3.0–3.49 GPA. This is a baseline automatic award, so families should pair it with state aid, waiver eligibility, or other campus aid when possible.
Automatic
Out-of-State Warhawk Waiver
📅 Deadline: May 1
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$12,100/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~21 ACT✎ ~1060 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with one freshman academic merit scholarship and, when applicable, a housing award. Like most institutional aid, the total package is capped at ULM’s cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: this is not a scholarship check. It is a nonresident fee waiver, and the distinction matters because it reduces what ULM charges rather than adding spendable money to the account. The math is unusually clean: out-of-state tuition and fees run $21,290 against $9,190 in-state, a gap of exactly $12,100, which is exactly what this waiver is worth. A qualifying out-of-state student pays the Louisiana rate, then stacks academic merit and the housing award on top of that.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
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.
Data last verified May 25, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

🏠 Do Not Forget the Housing Award

The amounts in the cards above are the tuition awards. ULM attaches a second Housing Award to every tier except Ace’s Award, and it roughly doubles the ULM money for a student living on campus.

Tier Tuition Award Housing Award ULM Total
GPA 3.5 to 4.0
President’s Distinguished, ACT 33-36$6,000$6,000$12,000
President’s Distinguished, ACT 30-32$5,000$5,000$10,000
Academic Excellence, ACT 27-29$3,250$3,250$6,500
Academic Merit, ACT 23-26$2,000$2,000$4,000
Ace’s Award, ACT 20-22$1,000none$1,000
GPA 3.0 to 3.49
President’s Distinguished, ACT 30-36$5,000$3,000$8,000
Academic Excellence, ACT 27-29$3,000$2,500$5,500
Academic Merit, ACT 23-26$2,000$1,500$3,500
Ace’s Award, ACT 20-22$1,000none$1,000

Housing Awards apply only to students living in ULM residence halls, cover residence hall and meal plan charges only, and never refund as cash. Students in the 30 to 32 range also receive a laptop. Students at 33 to 36 receive a laptop plus a study abroad stipend of up to $4,500.

Note: Students receive the single highest automatic award they qualify for. The tiers do not stack with each other. They do stack with TOPS, Foundation scholarships, talent grants, and the Out-of-State Warhawk Scholarship.

Automatic Merit — FAQs (ULM)

Is there a separate scholarship application at ULM?
No. The admission application is the scholarship application. Apply, send official scores, and ULM places your student on the grid automatically.

Does ULM superscore the ACT or SAT?
Yes for ULM’s own awards. ULM uses the highest ACT composite or superscore, or the highest SAT total. This is the opposite of what a lot of Southern publics do, and it means a retake can genuinely move your student up a tier.

Then why does everyone say Louisiana does not superscore?
Because TOPS does not. LOSFA requires a composite score, and it explicitly does not accept ACT superscores. So a Louisiana student can hold a superscored 27 that earns ULM’s Academic Excellence award while TOPS still reads their best single sitting of 25. Two rules, one student, same test dates. Check both before assuming a retake changed everything.

What are the TOPS score cutoffs?
Opportunity at 20, Performance at 23, Honors at 27, Excellence at 31, all on a single-sitting composite. ULM’s grid shows the estimated dollar value at each level alongside its own awards.

My student is applying test-optional. Are they still eligible?
No. ULM’s admissions page states that ACT/SAT scores are required for scholarship consideration. Test-optional at ULM applies to getting in, not to getting paid. If merit matters to your family, send scores.

Are these renewable?
Yes. Academic scholarships run eight semesters or until the bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first, with a 3.0 GPA and full-time enrollment. Pharmacy students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree keep the full eight semesters.

Does an online degree program change anything?
Completely. First-time freshmen who enroll in an online degree program are not eligible for academic scholarships. This catches families who assume online is just a delivery preference.

What if my student’s GPA and test score point to different tiers?
ULM runs two separate grids, one for a 3.5 to 4.0 GPA and one for 3.0 to 3.49. A strong test score still pays at the lower GPA band, just less, and the housing half shrinks too. That is worth showing a junior who thinks senior-year grades no longer matter.

Sources:
https://www.ulm.edu/scholarships/freshmen.html
https://www.ulm.edu/admissions/highschool.html
https://mylosfa.la.gov/act-sat-information

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

We will be straight with you: ULM does not run a competitive flagship scholarship program. There is no full-ride finalist weekend, no nominated scholars program, no committee award that eclipses the merit grid. The biggest institutional money at ULM is the money your student is already guaranteed by their GPA and test score.

That is not a knock. It is a different philosophy, and for a lot of families it is the better one. At a school with a big competitive program, a strong student might spend three months on essays and interviews for a scholarship that seven people get. At ULM, the top of the grid is published, guaranteed, and known in October of senior year. You can budget around it. What ULM will not do is close a $15,000 gap for a student who just missed a tier, because there is no committee to appeal to.

✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at ULM?

Aid Type Stacks with Merit? ULM Parent Translation
Another automatic tier No Students receive one Freshman Academic Scholarship, the highest they qualify for.
Housing Award Yes, automatically Comes attached to the tier, but only if the student lives on campus. It pays housing and meal plan charges only.
TOPS (Louisiana residents) Yes Usually the largest single item for an in-state family. State money, state deadline, separate rules.
Out-of-State Warhawk Scholarship Yes ULM’s own out-of-state grid shows it stacked with every merit tier. Worth $12,100 a year.
ULM Foundation scholarships Yes The gap fillers. Separate February application. Reapply every year.
Talent and spirit awards Yes Band, choir, cheer, Hawkline. Audition-based, open to all majors.
ROTC Partly ROTC tuition benefits can overlap with tuition scholarships. Confirm packaging with both offices.
Everything, at once Up to a ceiling Total aid cannot exceed the federal cost of attendance. Past that, ULM cuts loans first, then institutional aid, then state aid including TOPS.

This institution does not offer designated Competitive scholarships at this time.

❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs

Does ULM have a full-ride scholarship?
Not an institutional one. The largest ULM package on the published grid is $6,000 in tuition money plus a $6,000 housing award. A Louisiana resident who adds TOPS at the Honors level can get close to covering direct costs, and an out-of-state student stacking the Warhawk waiver with the top tier reaches $24,100 a year. But there is no single ULM award that covers everything.

Is ULM a National Merit school?
No. ULM does not offer a National Merit Finalist package. If your student is a semifinalist and National Merit money is a priority, they will want to look at schools that publish a Finalist award.

Is ULM a Stamps or QuestBridge partner?
No to both.

So where does a high-stats student find the competitive money here?
Two places. First, the ULM Foundation portal, where donor-funded awards are competitive within their own criteria. Second, the Honors Program, which awards its own scholarships competitively after a student’s first semester on campus. Both are covered further down this page.

Should a very strong student rule ULM out then?
Not necessarily. Look at the actual number rather than the headline. A 33 ACT out-of-state student is looking at roughly $24,100 a year in ULM and waiver money against a $31,790 direct cost. Plenty of schools with flashier competitive programs will not land a strong student anywhere near that reliably.

Sources:
https://www.ulm.edu/scholarships/
https://www.ulm.edu/scholarships/outofstate.html
https://ulm.academicworks.com/

🧠 Parent Strategy: ULM’s One-Month Window

Almost everything in this section runs through a portal your student has to log into separately, and the biggest one is open for exactly one month a year.

  1. Get admitted first. The Foundation portal uses a ULM login, so admission comes before scholarships.
  2. In February, sign in to the ULM Foundation portal and complete the General Application. It auto-matches your student to opportunities.
  3. Do not stop there. Browse the Opportunities tab manually and apply to anything that fits by major, home parish, background, or interest.
  4. Put a reminder in the calendar for next February. Foundation awards are not automatically renewed. Students must reapply every single year.
  5. If your student sings, plays, dances, or cheers, book an audition. Talent grants are open to all majors, not just music majors.

Parent translation: skip February and your student still gets their automatic merit. They just miss the layer of money that closes the last few thousand dollars.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

None of these are automatic. Most take an application, an audition, or a tryout. All of them stack on top of merit, which is exactly what makes them worth the trouble.

App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Band Talent Grant (Sound of Today Band)
📅 Deadline: Spring audition dates
✓ Renews
$500–$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Dependent on ensemble needs and annual budget. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Usually stacks with academic merit, TOPS, Foundation scholarships, and the Warhawk Waiver within ULM’s cost-of-attendance cap. Some out-of-state music students may also qualify for a music-related nonresident waiver.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the Sound of Today or music scholarship interest/audition process and audition if required. Awards are made by ULM music faculty based on talent, ensemble needs, instrumentation, and available funding.
Selection criteria: Faculty review of audition quality, ensemble fit, prior accomplishments, instrumentation needs, and program funding.
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: a classic hidden gem, because it sits nowhere near the main academic scholarship grid. Two details families miss. First, joining the Sound of Today requires no audition, but getting the talent grant does, and the audition sets the dollar amount. Second, ULM's music page says students who live outside Louisiana may also be awarded an out-of-state tuition waiver through music, which can be worth far more than the grant itself.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who can contribute to the Sound of Today or another ULM ensemble. This is not limited to music majors. The trigger is audition strength, section need, and willingness to participate.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
First Generation Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship
📅 Deadline: February  ·  📢 Results: Awards generally announced by late July.
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000–$2,500/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies with endowment earnings and donor criteria. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can stack with ULM merit, TOPS, and other institutional aid within cost of attendance. Students generally need to reapply through the Foundation portal each year.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the ULM Foundation AcademicWorks General Application during the Foundation scholarship window, then answer any first-generation, residency, and financial-need follow-up questions required for matching.
Selection criteria: Need-based review considering first-generation status, Louisiana residency, academic standing, and donor-specific criteria.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: this is the kind of award families often miss because it lives inside the Foundation scholarship portal, not on the main freshman merit chart. It will not replace a full tuition scholarship, but it can help close the remaining gap for first-generation students.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Louisiana first-generation undergraduates with financial need who complete the Foundation application and match the donor criteria. This is especially worth flagging for first-gen families because it is not part of the automatic merit grid.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
ULM Foundation Scholarships
📅 Deadline: February  ·  📢 Results: Foundation scholarship awards are typically announced by the end of July.
✓ Renews
$500–$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies by endowed fund and annual earnings. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Generally stacks with ULM merit awards, TOPS, and the Warhawk Waiver, subject to cost-of-attendance limits. Students usually need to reapply each year for continued consideration.
📄
How to Apply
Sign in to the ULM Foundation AcademicWorks portal during the scholarship window, complete the General Application, then review and complete any recommended opportunities or supplemental questions under the Opportunities tab.
Selection criteria: Donor-specific committee review; academics, service, leadership, major, residency, financial need, and fund restrictions may be considered.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: every admitted ULM student should at least check this portal. The individual awards may be smaller than automatic merit, but Foundation scholarships are exactly the type of supplemental money that can lower the final bill after the big-ticket aid is already counted.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who take the extra step to complete the Foundation application and match donor criteria such as major, parish, academics, service, leadership, financial need, or background. This is one of the easiest places for families to leave money on the table.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Merlin Reiser Super First Generation Scholarship
📅 Deadline: February  ·  📢 Results: Most Foundation awards are announced by the end of July.
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000–$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited; determined by endowment earnings and donor guidelines. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Intended to supplement other aid and may stack with merit, TOPS, Foundation awards, and the Warhawk Waiver within cost of attendance. Students should expect to reapply each year.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the ULM Foundation AcademicWorks portal during the February–March scholarship cycle. Complete the General Application and any Super First Generation supplemental questions tied to first-generation status, Louisiana residency, financial need, and donor criteria.
Selection criteria: Holistic review emphasizing first-generation status, financial need, academic progress, Louisiana residency, and donor priorities.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: this is another first-gen pocket of money inside ULM’s Foundation system. The award is smaller than major merit, but it is exactly the kind of supplemental scholarship that can help with the leftover bill after merit, TOPS, and grants are applied.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Louisiana first-generation students who show financial need, stay in good academic standing, and match the donor’s first-gen scholarship priorities. This is not automatic — students need to complete the Foundation application.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
ROTC Scholarships & Benefits
📅 Deadline: November 15
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition/fees or room & board; books and stipend
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Set annually by the U.S. Army and local detachment. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
ROTC tuition benefits may replace or reduce the usefulness of other tuition-specific scholarships. Book allowances and monthly stipends generally stack within cost-of-attendance rules, but families should verify packaging with ULM and Army ROTC.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through Army ROTC national high school or campus-based scholarship boards, enroll in ULM Army ROTC, and meet academic, medical, physical fitness, and service-commitment requirements. Students should confirm with the ROTC office whether benefits will apply to tuition and fees or an approved room-and-board option.
Selection criteria: Holistic ROTC selection based on academics, leadership, fitness, medical qualification, interview performance, and potential for military service.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: ROTC can be a major affordability path, but it should not be presented like ordinary scholarship money. The funding can be substantial, but the student must want the military path, understand the commitment, and stay eligible physically, medically, and academically.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who are serious about military service and can meet ROTC academic, leadership, fitness, medical, and interview standards. This can be one of the biggest dollar opportunities on campus, but it comes with real service obligations.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Spirit Scholarships (Cheer, Hawkline, Mascot)
📅 Deadline: Spring tryouts
✓ Renews (2.5 GPA)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPA👥 ~Limited by roster spots and annual funding. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with academic merit, the housing award, TOPS, and Foundation scholarships within ULM's cost-of-attendance cap. ULM does not publish an out-of-state fee waiver for spirit groups, so do not assume one.
📄
How to Apply
Attend a Cheer Recruitment Clinic or the posted Hawkline and Ace try-outs. Cheer try-outs are held in May with recruitment clinics the preceding fall. Complete team paperwork if selected and hold the required GPA, conduct, and participation standards.
Selection criteria: Coach and judge assessment of technical skills, performance quality, attitude, reliability, and overall fit for the Spirit program.
🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: Cheer members in good standing receive a Spirit Scholarship of at least $1,000 per semester, which is $2,000 a year and can run higher. Hawkline members in good standing also receive a Spirit Scholarship, though ULM does not publish that amount. This is talent and commitment money, so it only belongs in your plan if the student was going to try out anyway.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
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.
Data last verified May 25, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
The Talent Grant Detail Most Families Miss

Joining the Sound of Today marching band requires no audition. You just fill out an intent to participate form. But getting the Band Talent Grant does require an audition, and the audition is what sets the dollar amount. Two different things, easy to conflate.

More importantly, ULM’s music page states that students who live outside Louisiana may also be awarded an out-of-state tuition waiver through music. For a nonresident family, that side door can be worth more than the talent grant itself. Ask about it directly.

❓ Hidden Gems FAQ

When exactly does the ULM Foundation application open?
ULM’s portal currently says the general application is open during the month of February, with awards announced by the end of July. Past cycles have run roughly February 8 through March 8. Because ULM has stated it slightly differently in different places, check the portal in late January and do not assume you have until March.

Who is eligible for Foundation scholarships?
Broader than most people expect. Admitted high school seniors, incoming transfer and graduate students, currently enrolled students, international and out-of-state students, traditional and non-traditional students, and ULM Online students. If your student is enrolled or admitted, they can apply.

My student is first-generation. Is there anything specific?
Yes, and it is worth the ten extra minutes. ULM’s Foundation system carries a First Generation Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship and a Merlin Reiser Super First Generation Scholarship. Neither shows up on the automatic merit grid, so a family looking only at the main scholarship page would never know they exist.

Do we have to audition in person for talent grants?
No. ULM accepts video auditions, and students who cannot make a posted date can usually schedule another one. For 2026 the instrumental dates are January 30, February 6 during the Honor Band Festival, and February 20, with drumline and color guard on April 25. Choral auditions are January 30 and February 20.

What do spirit group scholarships actually pay?
ULM publishes that Cheer members in good standing receive Spirit Scholarships of at least $1,000 per semester. Hawkline members in good standing also receive a Spirit Scholarship, but ULM does not publish that figure, so ask the coach. Cheer tryouts are held in May with recruitment clinics the preceding fall.

Can current ULM students get these?
Yes, and this is where hidden gems differ most from the merit grid. The automatic awards are locked in as a freshman. Foundation scholarships, talent grants, spirit scholarships, and Honors awards are all open to continuing students, which means a student who missed out as a freshman still has a path.

What about ROTC?
ULM has an Army ROTC program, but it is a detachment. Grambling State is the host school, and junior and senior level military science courses meet on Grambling’s campus even for enrolled ULM students. The money can be substantial, but the commitment is real and the logistics are worth understanding before your student signs anything.

Sources:
https://ulm.academicworks.com/
https://ulm.edu/auditions/
https://ulm.edu/music/scholarships.html
https://www.ulm.edu/rotc/

The Honors Program at ULM

One naming note before anything else, because it changes what you should expect. ULM runs an Honors Program, not an Honors College. That is not a technicality. At schools with an Honors College, honors admission usually arrives with a scholarship attached. At ULM, honors admission and honors money are two separate events, and the money comes second.

The ULM Honors Program is open to all undergraduate students, domestic and international, in every major. Classes are small, sometimes as small as five students, and the emphasis is on discussion and depth rather than extra workload. Students choose among three completion tracks: Honors in the Major, Honors in the University, or Honors in the College.

  • Application: Separate from admission. Requires ACT scores, a short statement, three letters of recommendation, and a transcript.
  • Graduation requirement: A minimum 3.5 GPA by junior year, plus the coursework and research for the chosen track.
  • Honors in the College track: 20 hours of honors coursework, independent honors research, and a 3.4 GPA or higher.

Honors Scholarships

Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
President’s Top Hawks Study Abroad Opportunity Award
📅 Deadline: May 1
Non-Renewable
$4,500
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~33 ACT✎ ~1450 SAT👥 ~Limited to students awarded the President’s Distinguished Scholarship with the Top Hawks component for that year. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
This is a one-time study abroad award, not flexible bill money. It may stack with other aid within cost-of-attendance rules, but it is meant for approved ULM study abroad expenses.
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: this is a nice value-add for ULM’s very top automatic merit students, but parents should not count it as money off the regular semester bill. It only helps if the student actually uses an approved study abroad opportunity.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Top-testing President's Distinguished scholars, typically ACT 33-36 or SAT 1450+ with a strong GPA, who received the Top Hawks component and then participate in an eligible ULM study abroad program.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
George and Ruth Smith Memorial Honors/Humanities Scholarship
📅 Deadline: February  ·  📢 Results: Awards are typically announced by the end of July.
✓ Renews (3.5 GPA, 2 yrs)
$1,000–$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA👥 ~Limited by endowment earnings; multiple awards may be made in some cycles. winners/yr🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Typically stacks with ULM academic merit awards, TOPS, the Warhawk Waiver, and other institutional aid, subject to ULM’s cost-of-attendance cap.
📄
How to Apply
Be admitted to ULM and complete the ULM Foundation AcademicWorks General Application during the February–March scholarship window. Eligible humanities students should also complete any supplemental questions for the George and Ruth Smith Memorial Humanities Scholarship opportunity.
Selection criteria: Holistic donor-funded review of humanities academic performance, GPA, service or leadership, Honors engagement when applicable, and financial need.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP take: this is useful for the right student, but families should not confuse it with a broad freshman Honors College scholarship. It is better viewed as a later-stage, donor-funded award for strong humanities students who stay engaged and keep their GPA high.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Upper-division humanities students with a 3.5+ GPA who complete the Foundation application and match the donor criteria. This is not a general honors award for every freshman. It is targeted at juniors and seniors in humanities-related majors.
Data last verified May 25, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
The Timing That Trips Families Up

ULM’s Honors scholarships are awarded competitively, after a student has completed their first semester. That means an incoming freshman cannot count Honors money in their first-year budget. It is real, it is worth pursuing, and it arrives a year later than most families assume when they see “honors scholarship” on a college website.

Where High-Achieving Students Actually Find Money at ULM
  • The top of the merit grid. A 33 to 36 ACT earns $6,000 plus a $6,000 housing award, a laptop, and a study abroad stipend of up to $4,500 through the President’s Top Hawks Fund. That is the biggest guaranteed package on campus and it has nothing to do with Honors.
  • The Foundation portal in February. Donor-funded awards frequently favor academic records, service, and leadership.
  • Honors scholarships after semester one. Competitive, based on performance already on the board.
  • Departmental research money. Especially in pharmacy, toxicology, and aviation, where undergraduates get pulled into real projects early.

Honors Program — FAQs (ULM)

Is Honors admission automatic for high scorers?
No. It is a separate application with essays, recommendations, and transcripts, reviewed on its own timeline.

Does getting into Honors come with a scholarship?
Not at entry. Honors scholarships at ULM are awarded competitively to students pursuing an honors certificate, after the first semester is complete.

Are honors courses harder?
Different rather than harder. The classes are small enough for real discussion and the work leans toward depth and independent research rather than volume.

Can out-of-state students join?
Yes. The program is open to all undergraduates including international students, and honors students still receive the Out-of-State Warhawk Scholarship and merit awards they qualify for.

Is it worth it if the money comes later?
For students headed toward pharmacy school, graduate school, or research, the independent research requirement and the faculty access are the point. Treat the scholarship as a bonus rather than the reason.

Sources:
https://www.ulm.edu/honors/
https://www.ulm.edu/scholarships/
https://www.ulm.edu/scholarships/freshmen.html

⭐ College Specialty

ULM is a mid-sized public university in Monroe with about 8,700 students, and if you judge it by size or name recognition you will misread it badly. This is a school with two or three genuinely unusual programs sitting inside an otherwise ordinary regional university. If your student wants one of those programs, ULM is a serious option. If they do not, it is a solid, affordable, easy-to-get-into school and that is fine too. Knowing which situation you are in is the whole point.

The Program That Puts ULM on the Map:
College of Pharmacy. ULM runs Louisiana’s only publicly supported comprehensive center for pharmaceutical education, research, and service. If your student wants a PharmD from a state school in Louisiana, this is the address. That also explains why ULM draws out-of-state students from well beyond the region.
  • Toxicology: This is the one nobody expects from a school this size. ULM’s toxicology program was the first of its kind in the South and remains one of only six in the country. It offers a bachelor’s degree and a PhD track, and it doubles as one of the strongest pre-pharmacy paths available anywhere.
  • Aviation: ULM trained pilots for the war effort in 1939 and launched the first four-year aviation degree in 1967. The program is an accredited AABI member, sends a flight team to national NIFA competition, and now includes a degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Management that puts students into real drone work in precision agriculture.
  • Health sciences: A deep bench for a campus this size, including nursing, dental hygiene, speech-language pathology, and marriage and family therapy, several of which run public clinics where students get hands-on hours early.
  • Business: The College of Business and Social Sciences is the practical, career-pipeline half of campus, and it houses the aviation program, which is an unusual and useful pairing for students who want the airline management side rather than only the cockpit.

The honest summary for a parent: ULM’s specialties are narrow and deep rather than broad and prestigious. A student aiming at pharmacy, toxicology, a health profession, or aviation gets access here that they would fight for elsewhere. A student who is undecided gets a low-cost, low-pressure place to figure it out, which has its own real value.

✅ Wrapping It Up

Here is the short version. ULM is not a school where a scholarship gets won. It is a school where a scholarship gets calculated. The grid is published, the awards are guaranteed, and a family can know in October of senior year almost exactly what ULM will cost. For parents who are tired of the theater around merit aid, that predictability is worth a lot.

The two things that decide your number are not on the main scholarship page. If you live in Louisiana, TOPS is probably the biggest line, and it runs on state rules that are stricter than ULM’s, especially the single-sitting score requirement. If you live anywhere else, the Out-of-State Warhawk Scholarship is the whole ballgame, because it erases the nonresident premium down to the dollar and asks for only a 2.5 GPA and a 21 ACT in return. Merit and the housing award stack on top of either one.

The mistakes that cost families money here are unglamorous. Applying test-optional and losing every dollar of merit. Assuming the housing award is cash. Skipping the February Foundation window. Enrolling in an online program without realizing that disqualifies freshmen from academic scholarships. Not one of those requires a bad student. They just require a family that did not read the fine print.

And if your student is aiming at pharmacy, toxicology, or aviation, weigh this differently. Those programs are why students travel to Monroe. Just watch the pre-pharmacy waiver rule, because that one has a real cliff in it.

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Leo Dimilo

Leo Dimilo founded CollegeReadyParent after going through the college affordability maze with his own daughter. He builds these guides the way he wishes someone had built one for him: no paywall, no lead generation, and no pretending the process is simpler than it is. More about Leo →

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