University of North Alabama Scholarships (2026–2027)
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Last Updated on June 19, 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: ~89%
- Middle 50% ACT: 23
- Middle 50% SAT: 1100
- Average GPA: 3.5
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📌 University of North Alabama at a Glance
Average Net Price
$13,768/year (in-state estimate)
Average paid for residents.
Automatic Merit
$1,000–$10,000/yr
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
12 opportunities
1 automatic · 2 competitive · 6 hidden gem · 3 honors
Merit Evaluation
Holistic Review / Varies
Merit depends on profile rigor.
Testing Policy
Test-optional
Superscores ACT/SAT.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Feb 1 • FAFSA: Mar 1
Honors College
Honors Program Available
This is one of those schools that can quietly make a college list work financially. North Alabama leans heavily into automatic merit, which means if your student hits certain GPA and test score ranges, the money isn’t a guessing game—it’s predictable. That’s a big deal for families trying to build a balanced list without relying on “hope scholarships.”
Students who do best here are the ones who want a smaller, more personal campus and are willing to use merit strategically—especially out-of-state families looking for a strong discount. If your student is solid academically but not chasing ultra-selective schools, this is the kind of place where you can lock in real value early and reduce stress later in the process.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes — University of North Alabama is test-optional.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 23; SAT: 1100.
Average net price? About $13,768/yearyear after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
Yes — participates in none.
💰 Cost of Attendance at University of North Alabama 2026-2027
📅 2026–2027 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2025–2026). Universities typically finalize the next year’s rates in the spring, and we’ll update this page once official 2026–2027 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) |
$10,200 |
$20,400 |
| Housing & Meals (typical) |
$9,425 |
$9,425 |
| Total (Direct Costs) |
$19,625 |
$29,825 |
Average Federal Net Price: $13,768 — 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.
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
Automatic
Excellence Scholarships
📅 Deadline: March 2
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000–$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies annually with institutional scholarship funding and applicant pool. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Excellence Scholarships generally stack with most other institutional and external aid up to billed cost of attendance. Some housing, athletic, or specialized awards may have additional restrictions. Earning $250 or more in institutional scholarships qualifies domestic out-of-state students for in-state tuition rates.
💡
Strategic Detail
UNA groups several automatic academic awards, including Opportunity, Vanguard, Academic, and Valedictorian/Salutatorian awards, under a broader Excellence Scholarships structure. Award amounts vary and are not shown as a precise fixed grid in the source row.
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Who Actually Wins
Most winners: First-time freshmen with solid to strong GPAs, course rigor, and, when submitted, competitive ACT/SAT scores. UNA does not publish a simple fixed GPA/test-score grid for every award level, so families should treat this as automatic review but not a guaranteed dollar amount.
* 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.
Note: UNA does not publish exact dollar tiers for the Excellence Scholarships. On average, institutional awards are around $4,700/year, with wide variance based on GPA, rigor, and test scores. Top automatic merit recipients may reach $8,000–$10,000/year, with renewal subject to year-to-year funding and student progress.
Do I need to apply separately? No, all freshmen are considered automatically for scholarships with their admission application by the March 2 priority date.
Does UNA superscore the ACT or SAT? Yes. UNA considers the highest sub-scores across test dates if you submit test results.
Can automatic scholarships stack with other aid? Yes, in most cases up to billed cost of attendance. Some housing/athletic aid has restrictions; check award letters.
Are there other automatic scholarship perks? Earning $250+ in merit scholarships automatically qualifies out-of-state domestic students (including Honors) for in-state tuition—a savings of ~$10,000 per year. Border-county residents in TN and MS also pay in-state tuition by rule.
Sources:
UNA Scholarships Overview — https://una.edu/financial-aid/scholarships.html
UNA Academic Excellence Policy and Award Ranges — https://una.edu/financial-aid/scholarships.html
UNA Freshman Priority Deadlines — https://go.una.edu/scholarships
🏆 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.
App Required
Leadership Scholarship
📅 Deadline: March 1
Non-Renewable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~20 ACT
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stackable with UNA Excellence Scholarships and most other institutional and external aid up to billed cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for freshman admission, then submit the UNA Leadership Scholarship application and a detailed 1-2 page activity résumé by the March 1 priority deadline.
Selection criteria: Emphasis on documented leadership roles, volunteerism, service, and activities in grades 9-12, along with academic eligibility.
💡
Strategic Detail
Competitive one-time $1,000 leadership award for entering freshmen. Requires a separate leadership application and a detailed activity résumé.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who have real leadership and service on paper, not just one club membership. The activity résumé matters here: UNA is looking for students who can document leadership roles, volunteer work, school involvement, or community engagement during high school.
App Required
Boys/Girls State Leadership Scholarship
📅 Deadline: March 1
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~20 ACT
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stackable with UNA Excellence Scholarships and most other institutional and external aid up to billed cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for freshman admission, submit the Leadership Scholarship application and activity résumé by March 1, and provide documentation of Boys State or Girls State participation.
Selection criteria: Boys State/Girls State participation plus leadership résumé and academic eligibility.
💡
Strategic Detail
Provides $1,000 per year, typically $500 per semester, for up to four years to eligible Boys State or Girls State participants who enroll at UNA and meet renewal requirements.
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Who Actually Wins
Students who attended Boys State or Girls State and complete UNA's leadership scholarship process correctly. This is a narrow but very actionable award: if the student has the Boys/Girls State credential, they should not skip the leadership application.
* 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.
Note: UNA’s only major academic merit scholarships for freshmen are automatic (Excellence tiered awards). Competitive campus opportunities are routed through the Honors College, academic units, and the donor/foundation portal. If major new university-wide awards launch, this table will be updated.
Can freshmen apply for competitive scholarships? Yes, but these are through AcademicWorks, academic departments, or special status (e.g., Boys/Girls State, major-based scholarships), not a university-wide automatic or apply-once process.
Where should I look for more? Departmental sections in the UNA scholarship portal, the Honors College website, and the AcademicWorks donor catalog all post additional opportunities with their own eligibility and cycle windows.
Sources:
UNA Competitive/Departmental Scholarships — https://una.academicworks.com/
UNA Scholarships Overview — https://una.edu/financial-aid/scholarships.html
Honors College — https://una.edu/honors/
College Ready Parent — https://collegereadyparent.org/university-of-north-alabama-scholarships/
Endowed Scholarship List — https://una.edu/financial-aid/scholarships.html
💎 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.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Army ROTC Scholarships
📅 Deadline: October 27, January 19, and March 16 national boards; campus deadlines vary
✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
ROTC tuition or housing/meal scholarship with book allowance and stipend
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPA👥 ~Varies annually based on Army ROTC national and campus allocations. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
ROTC scholarships can cover full tuition and fees or housing and meals, plus book allowance and monthly stipend. They may stack with some aid up to cost-of-attendance limits, but can also change how institutional aid is packaged.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through national and campus Army ROTC scholarship processes, then contract with UNA's ROTC program and meet academic, fitness, medical, and service requirements.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes academic performance, leadership, physical fitness, medical qualification, and officer potential.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
ROTC coverage may include full tuition and fees or housing and meals, plus book allowance and monthly stipend. Exact benefits depend on Army ROTC award type, year, student status, and contracting requirements.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who are serious about the Army ROTC path, not just students looking for another scholarship. The student needs academic readiness, fitness, medical qualification, leadership potential, and willingness to accept the service commitment.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Band Performance Awards
📅 Deadline: May 1 continuation application; rolling audition dates
✓ Renews
$500–$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited; based on music department scholarship budget and ensemble needs. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Band awards generally stack with other institutional scholarships up to billed cost, but renewal requires continued ensemble participation and meeting program expectations.
📄
How to Apply
Complete a music department audition and any required scholarship or continuation forms to be considered for band performance awards.
Selection criteria: Awards are based primarily on musical ability, audition performance, ensemble needs, and continued participation.
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Strategic Detail
Awards commonly depend on audition results, instrument needs, ensemble participation, and available music department funding.
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Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Talented musicians who audition successfully and actually participate in UNA marching or concert ensembles. This is performance and participation money, not general music-interest money.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Endowed & Departmental Awards
📅 Deadline: March 1
Non-Renewable
$500–$2,500/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies by endowed fund and annual earnings across departments. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
These awards usually supplement other institutional and external aid and can be combined up to cost-of-attendance limits, but terms vary by donor and department.
📄
How to Apply
Complete UNA's general scholarship application in AcademicWorks and any department-specific requirements by March 1 to be matched to endowed and departmental funds.
Selection criteria: Awards are made according to donor-specified criteria such as academics, need, major, involvement, and service.
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Strategic Detail
Umbrella row for endowed and departmental awards. Individual fund details, amounts, renewal terms, and criteria are listed inside AcademicWorks.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who match specific donor criteria, often by major, GPA, financial need, activity, or background, and complete the AcademicWorks application on time. This is the classic hidden-gem bucket: real money, but not one simple scholarship everyone qualifies for.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
First-Gen Student Current Use Scholarship
📅 Deadline: March 1
Non-Renewable
$1,000–$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies with annual donor funding. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Designed to supplement other aid for first-generation students and may stack with merit and need-based programs up to cost-of-attendance limits.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through UNA AcademicWorks and indicate first-generation college status and financial need. FAFSA should be on file for need-based review.
Selection criteria: Selection prioritizes first-generation status and level of financial need.
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Strategic Detail
Current-use donor-supported award for first-generation college students with need. Exact amount and number of awards may vary with donor funding.
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Who Actually Wins
First-generation students with financial need who complete AcademicWorks and have FAFSA information available. This is not broad merit money; it is targeted support for students whose family background and financial need match the donor intent.
App Required
Presidential Mentors Academy (PMA)
📅 Deadline: February 1
✓ Renews (2.7 GPA, 4 yrs)
$2,000–$2,600/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~18 ACT👥 ~Cohort-based; limited number of new PMA scholars selected each year. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
PMA awards may be combined with automatic merit and other scholarships, subject to overall cost-of-attendance limits and program requirements.
📄
How to Apply
Submit a PMA application through UNA's AcademicWorks or Presidential Mentors Academy process by February 1, in addition to the general admission and scholarship applications.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes academic preparation, leadership, background, and engagement potential in PMA activities.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
PMA provides annual scholarship support plus book assistance and may extend limited funding into a possible fifth year when program and academic requirements are met.
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Who Actually Wins
Students who fit the PMA mission and are willing to participate in the program, not just students looking for another small scholarship. The best fit is a student who meets the academic threshold, brings leadership or potential, and will engage with mentoring, programming, and cohort support.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Service & Leadership Scholarships (LaGrange Society, Miss UNA, Ambassadors)
📅 Deadline: March 1 general leadership applications; individual campus deadlines vary
Non-Renewable
👥 ~Limited to number of leadership positions and titles available each year. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards may stack with other institutional scholarships up to billed cost of attendance, but role-specific benefits and housing awards may have additional restrictions.
📄
How to Apply
Apply, audition, or interview for campus leadership roles such as LaGrange Society, student ambassadors, or Miss UNA through the appropriate campus offices by posted deadlines.
Selection criteria: Selection based on leadership, service record, communication skills, and role-specific performance.
🎤 Interview🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Composite row for role-based leadership and service scholarships. Some roles may provide larger awards than others, and requirements vary by campus office.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students selected for visible service and leadership roles at UNA. This is not general leadership money; it is tied to actually being chosen for roles such as LaGrange Society, ambassador positions, or Miss UNA.
App Required
Leadership Scholarship (incl. Boys/Girls State)
📅 Deadline: March 1
✓ Renews
👥 ~Limited number of awards each year based on funding winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with automatic merit and other awards up to cost-of-attendance limits.
📄
How to Apply
Incoming freshmen apply through UNA’s AcademicWorks portal and provide documentation of leadership roles or Boys/Girls State participation.
Selection criteria: Selection focuses on documented leadership, service, and involvement.
💡
Strategic Detail
CRP HTML highlights a $1,000 leadership scholarship and an automatic $1,000 benefit for students who attended Boys State or Girls State; details and selection are managed through UNA’s scholarship portal.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming freshmen with documented leadership—especially student government, officers, and Boys/Girls State participants—who complete the application by March 1.
* 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.
Some award values and cutoffs reflect recent UNA postings; categories, amounts, and deadlines may shift by program and year, so always verify in AcademicWorks and with department liaisons.
- Campus organizations, Greek life, and dozens of endowed funds offer additional support; see the UNA AcademicWorks portal for live listings.
- FAFSA is required for all need-based and many donor-based programs.
Can these scholarships stack with automatic or Honors awards? Yes, but total scholarships cannot exceed billed costs. Housing/meal awards may not stack.
How do you apply? Most are through UNA’s AcademicWorks/Scholarship Portal in addition to admission. ROTC has national and campus application cycles. Some leadership scholarships require resume or verification of Boys/Girls State.
Are these renewable? Most are renewable if GPA, participation, or other criteria are maintained. PMA and ROTC may provide up to five years of support.
When are deadlines? PMA is Feb 1, Endowed/departmental is March 1. ROTC and Music/Performance scholarships have federal/national, rolling, and campus-specific timelines.
Sources:
Presidential Mentors Academy — https://una.edu/pma/
UNA General/Endowed Scholarships — https://una.academicworks.com/
Service, Campus Leadership, and ROTC — https://una.edu/financial-aid/scholarships.html
Music/Band Scholarships — https://una.edu/music/scholarships.html
ROTC National Deadlines — https://rotcconsulting.com/rotc-scholarship-deadlines-board-dates/
Departmental Awards — https://una.edu/financial-aid/scholarships.html
🎖️ 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.
App Required
Honors Housing Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies
✓ Renews (3.25 GPA, 2 yrs)
🏫 3.3+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with other scholarships up to billed cost. Only one housing-related award can typically be claimed at a time.
📄
How to Apply
Apply and be admitted to the Cole Honors College and live in approved on-campus housing. Eligible Honors freshmen receive the housing scholarship when they meet Honors and housing requirements.
Selection criteria: Follows Honors admission decisions; continued eligibility based on GPA and Honors engagement.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Housing scholarship for eligible on-campus Honors freshmen, available for up to four semesters when students maintain Honors standing and continued participation.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Honors freshmen who choose to live on campus and stay active in the Honors College. This is a valuable add-on, but families should not count it unless the student is admitted to Honors and plans to use approved housing.
App Required
Honors Tuition Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies
✓ Renews (3.25 GPA, 4 yrs)
🏫 3.3+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with most other institutional and external scholarships up to direct billed cost of attendance, subject to Honors standing and GPA requirements.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission to UNA and submit a separate application to the Delores and Weldon Cole Honors College. The tuition scholarship follows Honors admission for eligible incoming Honors freshmen.
Selection criteria: Holistic Honors admission review considering GPA, rigor, leadership, service, and writing; scholarship follows Honors admission.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Incoming Honors freshmen receive $650 per semester for up to eight semesters if they maintain the minimum GPA and active participation in Honors.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students admitted to the Cole Honors College who stay active in Honors and maintain the required GPA. This is not a large award by itself, but it is predictable Honors add-on money when the student qualifies.
App Required
In-State Tuition Classification (Honors)
📅 Deadline: Varies
✓ Renews (3.25 GPA, 4 yrs)
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Reduces billed tuition for domestic out-of-state Honors students to the in-state rate and can combine with other scholarships, subject to billed cost and Honors rules.
📄
How to Apply
Apply and be admitted to the Cole Honors College as a domestic U.S. student from outside Alabama. Honors admission triggers in-state tuition classification for eligible out-of-state Honors students.
Selection criteria: Granted with Honors admission for eligible out-of-state domestic students; continued based on Honors standing.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Honors materials state that domestic U.S. students in the Honors College receive in-state tuition rates regardless of residency. The dollar value is an estimated annual savings compared with standard out-of-state tuition and should be refreshed with current tuition rates.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state domestic students admitted to the Cole Honors College who remain in good Honors standing. For non-Alabama families, this may be the biggest Honors-related value because it changes the tuition classification, not just adds a small scholarship.
* 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.
- Experiential Learning Support: Scholarships and travel funding for Honors students on study abroad/study away/research projects (continuing students apply within Honors)
- Endowed Honors Scholarships: Additional donor awards available through UNA’s AcademicWorks portal (apply as a continuing Honors student)
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 experiences
- Special transcript and diploma designation
Is admission automatic? No; students must apply separately to the Cole Honors College.
Does Honors add extra time to graduation? No. Honors classes frequently substitute for standard core requirements.
Do I need to apply for Honors scholarships? No—all listed awards are automatic with Honors admission.
Can awards stack with other scholarships? Yes—up to direct billed cost of attendance. Only one housing award may be claimed at a time.
Sources:
Cole Honors College Overview — https://una.edu/honors/
UNA Honors College Scholarships — https://una.edu/honors/admissions-scholarships.html
UNA AcademicWorks — https://una.academicworks.com/
Tuition and Fees — https://una.edu/tuition
⭐ 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.
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.
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