University of North Alabama Scholarships (2025–2026)

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 Alabama schools, the University of North Alabama (UNA) can be a surprisingly affordable option. Between automatic scholarships, unique programs like the Presidential Mentors Academy, and Honors perks that lower tuition, there are real savings here—especially for families near the Alabama–Tennessee–Mississippi border. This guide pulls together everything parents need to know, from costs to aid options. Be sure to also check our Alabama state aid guide for statewide programs.

💰 Cost of Attendance at University of North Alabama

Expense	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition & Fees (12–18 credits, flat rate)	$10,200	$20,400
Housing & Meals	$9,425	$9,425
Books & Supplies	$1,480	$1,480
Travel	$1,120	$1,120
Personal	$1,600	$1,600
Total (before aid)	$23,825	$34,025

Average Net Price: $11,024 (2022–2023). This is what families actually paid on average after grants and scholarships—no loans included.

Special Tuition Programs at UNA:
• Border-County Rate: Residents of nearby Mississippi & Tennessee counties pay in-state tuition.
• $250 Scholarship Rule: Any nonresident awarded $250+ in UNA scholarships is reclassified to in-state rates.
• Honors College: All domestic Honors College scholars with an award pay in-state tuition.

Example: A nonresident paying $20,400 for tuition drops to $10,200 once classified as in-state—a savings of about $10,200 per year.

Who qualifies? Border-county residents, Honors College scholars, or any student with at least $250 in UNA institutional scholarships.

How much can you save? Around $10,000+ per year in tuition if reclassified as in-state.

Is it automatic? Yes—classification updates when residency or scholarship eligibility is verified.

✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Excellence Scholarships (Opportunity, Vanguard, Academic, Valedictorian/Salutatorian)	Varies – not publicly posted; awards depend on GPA, rigor, and (if submitted) ACT/SAT	First-time freshmen; automatic review at admission; stronger GPAs and coursework increase awards	No	Yes – must maintain full-time enrollment and Satisfactory Academic Progress	Students with ~3.3–3.6 GPA often receive entry-level awards; 3.7–4.0 GPAs with rigor and ACT ~24+ typically qualify for higher tiers (estimate)*

Note: UNA does not publish exact dollar tiers for the Excellence Scholarships. Based on university data, the average institutional award is about $4,700/year, with many students receiving between $1,000–$7,000/year. Top automatic merit recipients may reach $8,000–$10,000/year, though exact cutoffs shift each year. (Estimate based on UNA affordability data and student award patterns).

Do I need to apply separately? No, all freshmen are considered automatically when they apply for admission by the March 1 priority date.

Does UNA superscore the ACT or SAT? Yes. UNA considers the highest sub-scores across test dates when evaluating for scholarships if you choose to submit test scores.

Can automatic scholarships stack with other aid? In most cases, yes—up to the direct billed cost of attendance. Athletic awards and housing awards may have restrictions.

🏆 Competitive Scholarships

Some scholarships at UNA require extra steps like applications, essays, or interviews and are limited to a smaller number of students. These awards are not automatic, and the competition means they typically go to students with strong academics, leadership, and service profiles.

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?

Note: As of the 2025–2026 cycle, UNA does not list separate university-wide competitive merit scholarships outside of the Honors College or departmental programs. This table will remain blank unless new awards are announced.

Why is the table blank? UNA’s primary scholarships are automatic (Excellence) or tied to the Honors College or specific departments. Those are covered in their own sections.

Does this mean my student can’t apply for competitive awards? They can—but the applications will be through the Honors College, academic departments, or outside providers, not a central UNA competitive program.

Will new scholarships be added? It’s possible. UNA occasionally introduces competitive or donor-based scholarships. Families should recheck in winter/spring when the scholarship portal updates.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

Beyond automatic and competitive awards, UNA has a few programs that can make a big difference for certain groups of students—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds or who take on service or ROTC commitments.

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Presidential Mentors Academy (PMA)	$2,000–$2,600 per year, plus $500 book allowance for sophomores through seniors; 5th year support if needed	Underrepresented minority freshmen with minimum 3.0 GPA; ACT 18+ if submitted	Yes – AcademicWorks portal by Feb 1	Yes – B average, credit-hour progress, PMA participation	Students of color with strong academics and leadership/service involvement
Service & Leadership Scholarships (e.g. LaGrange Society, Miss UNA, Ambassadors)	$1,000 up to full tuition depending on role	Selected campus leaders or pageant winners	Yes – interviews, auditions, or selection required	Varies by role	High-visibility student leaders chosen through competitive selection
Army ROTC Scholarships	Full tuition & fees (or housing/meal stipend), plus book allowance and monthly living stipend	U.S. citizens meeting academic and physical standards; service commitment	Yes – national and campus-level ROTC application	Yes – maintain GPA, fitness, and ROTC standing	Students committed to Army officer training and service; STEM majors and leaders often competitive
Leadership Scholarship (incl. Boys/Girls State)	$1,000/year; automatic $1,000 for Boys/Girls State attendees who enroll	Incoming freshmen with leadership record and volunteerism; resume required; Boys/Girls State participation	Yes – application with leadership resume	Yes – maintain GPA and active involvement	High school leaders, student government officers, and Boys/Girls State attendees
First-Generation Student Current Use Scholarship	$1,000–$2,000/year	Incoming freshmen who are the first in their family to attend college	Yes – AcademicWorks portal	Yes – maintain academic progress	First-gen students with demonstrated need and academic promise
Band Performance Awards	$500–$2,000/year depending on ensemble and audition results	Students selected through Department of Music auditions	Yes – audition required	Yes – contingent on ensemble participation	Musically talented students who commit to marching band or other performance ensembles
Endowed & Departmental Awards	$500–$2,500/year (depending on fund)	Varies by donor criteria, major, GPA, or financial need	Yes – AcademicWorks portal (Nov–Feb)	Varies	Students fitting donor-specified criteria (e.g., Chemistry, Physics, Political Science, Nursing majors)

Disclaimer: Award amounts and GPA/ACT requirements are based on the most recent publicly available UNA information. Some ranges are estimates derived from UNA program descriptions and may vary year to year depending on funding and applicant pool.

Additional club- and organization-based scholarships (e.g., Greek life, campus groups) are available through UNA’s AcademicWorks portal, but award amounts are not published and vary widely.
Some endowed scholarships across majors list demonstrated financial need as a key factor; filing the FAFSA is required for consideration.

Do these scholarships stack with automatic merit? Usually yes, as long as the total does not exceed direct billed cost of attendance. Housing scholarships may not stack with each other.

How do I apply? Most hidden gems require a separate application through UNA’s AcademicWorks portal, ROTC offices, or Student Engagement.

Are these renewable? Many are, but renewal depends on GPA, participation, and in some cases, continued service or leadership roles.

When are deadlines? PMA is due Feb 1; other endowed awards typically open in November and close in late winter or early spring. ROTC follows national and local board timelines.

⭐ College Specialty

UNA may be a midsize public university, but it has carved out a strong reputation in a few fields that give students a clear edge after graduation. Whether your student is eyeing the music industry, healthcare, or business, UNA has programs with proven outcomes and statewide or national recognition.

Standout Program: UNA’s Entertainment Industry degree is one of the most established in the Southeast, offering hands-on training in professional recording studios and live-event venues. With a 50+ year history, the program has produced alumni working across Nashville, Muscle Shoals, and beyond.

Business (AACSB Accredited) — Sanders College of Business & Technology is AACSB-accredited, placing it among the top ~6% of business schools worldwide.
Nursing — Anderson College of Nursing & Health Professions posts some of the highest NCLEX pass rates in Alabama (98%+ in recent years).
Education — Teacher preparation programs with strong placement across Alabama’s public school districts; consistently recognized for affordability and accessibility.

🎖️ Honors College

The Delores and Weldon Cole Honors College at UNA gives high-achieving students smaller classes, closer faculty mentoring, and scholarships that start automatically upon acceptance. Admission is competitive but holistic, with GPA, rigor, service, and leadership all taken into account—not just test scores.

What a Typical UNA Honors Student Looks Like:
GPA in the 3.7–4.0 range*, challenging coursework (AP/IB/dual enrollment), leadership or service record, and strong writing or interview skills.
*Test scores are optional, but ACT 24+ is considered competitive.

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Honors Tuition Scholarship	$650 per semester (up to 8 semesters)	First-time freshmen admitted to the Honors College	No – automatic with Honors admission	Yes – maintain 3.25 GPA and Honors participation	Incoming Honors freshmen who maintain strong academics each year
Honors Housing Scholarship	$4,000 per year for up to 4 semesters	First-time freshmen admitted to the Honors College	No – automatic with Honors admission	Yes – maintain Honors standing	Honors freshmen who live on campus and stay active in the program
In-State Tuition Classification	Pays at in-state tuition rate (saves ~$10,200/year)	All domestic U.S. Honors College students, regardless of state	No – automatic with Honors admission	Yes – while student remains in Honors College	Out-of-state Honors students; this benefit alone halves tuition costs

Experiential Learning Support: Scholarships and travel funding for Honors students participating in study abroad, study away, or research projects (continuing students apply within Honors).
Endowed Honors Scholarships: Additional donor-funded awards available each year through UNA’s AcademicWorks portal (for continuing Honors students who apply).

Honors Perks That Matter:

Priority registration and small Honors seminars
Dedicated Honors housing and community space
Faculty mentoring and thesis support
Funding for study abroad and research
Special transcript and diploma designation

Is admission automatic? No, students must apply separately to the Cole Honors College.

Does Honors add extra time to graduate? No. Honors courses replace some core requirements, so most students still graduate in four years.

Do I need to apply for Honors scholarships? No. The tuition, housing, and in-state classification awards are automatic once admitted.

Can these awards stack with other scholarships? Yes—up to the direct billed cost of attendance. Students may only receive one housing scholarship at a time.

📎 Official Links

Final Thoughts

For families looking at the University of North Alabama, the takeaway is clear: this is a school where scholarships can really move the needle. Between automatic awards, special tuition reclassifications, the Presidential Mentors Academy, and the Honors College’s built-in benefits, many students will pay far less than the sticker price. If your student is willing to apply early, stay engaged, and look at hidden gems like leadership or band scholarships, UNA can be one of the most affordable paths to a four-year degree in Alabama.

✅ Last updated: September 18, 2025