Navigating Alabama Merit Scholarships: A Comprehensive Guide

For students in Alabama aspiring to higher education, merit scholarships represent a crucial avenue for financial aid. These scholarships, awarded based on academic achievement and potential, can significantly alleviate the burden of college tuition and related expenses. This article provides a comprehensive overview of merit scholarship opportunities in Alabama, focusing on eligibility requirements, application processes, and renewal criteria.

Understanding Merit Scholarships

Merit scholarships recognize and reward students' hard work and academic excellence. Unlike need-based aid, these scholarships primarily consider a student's GPA, test scores (ACT or SAT), class rank, and other indicators of academic promise. Several Alabama colleges and universities offer merit-based scholarships to attract qualified and highly motivated students.

University of Alabama (UA) Merit Scholarships

The University of Alabama offers generous scholarship opportunities for qualifying students. Many scholarship opportunities are included in your admission application. All students who have submitted an application and all supporting documents by the listed deadline are evaluated holistically, based upon academic and non-academic information provided on their admission application. Academic components considered include high school GPA and academic honors. Students may apply for additional competitive scholarships not included in the admission application through ASAM. Students will gain access to ASAM via myBama once they are admitted. Only scholarships for which a student may be eligible will appear in ASAM. To apply for these potential scholarship opportunities, a student must be admitted by the competitive scholarship deadline for their applicable semester (listed below) and have completed the scholarship applications in ASAM by that deadline.

National Merit Scholarships at UA

First-time freshmen recognized as National Merit Finalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation are strongly encouraged to submit all application materials by the December 5 priority deadline to ensure consideration. To be considered for the National Merit Scholarship at UA, students must be recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a third-party organization that recognizes and honors academically talented students in the United States.

UA Scholarship Renewal Criteria

To maintain automatic merit and competitive scholarships awarded through Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, students must maintain at least a cumulative 3.0 UA GPA and earn at least a cumulative 67% of the total UA credit hours attempted. The cumulative UA GPA and UA credit hours include all courses taken through the University. Attempted credit hours are defined as any credit hours for which a student is enrolled after the add/drop registration period has ended. Earned credit hours are defined as any credit hours for which a student earns credit for a course. Review will take place each semester after grades are finalized.

The Scholarship Warning Period allows students a second opportunity to earn at least a cumulative 3.0 UA GPA and earn at least a cumulative 67% of the total UA credit hours attempted. Students will be awarded their scholarship during the warning period.

Students who have experienced an extenuating circumstance that prevented them from meeting the terms of this academic stewardship will have an opportunity for additional consideration. Students are required to submit documentation with their appeal form. Students are only eligible to submit one appeal. Appeal decisions and requirements are final and not subject to further review. Students cannot appeal their appeal decision. Students that fail to meet the terms of their appeal are not eligible for another appeal.

UA Scholarship Deferral and Study Abroad

Returning students who wish to defer future semesters of scholarship may do so for up to one year (two semesters) by completing the Scholarship Deferral Form located on the Admissions & Scholarships page in myBama. Students who are participating in a co-op rotation do not need to complete this form. Please note, for co-op students, all scholarships are deferred to future semesters. Students who enroll at another college or university during a fall or spring semester while away from UA will forfeit all remaining semesters of scholarship. However, students may take courses during a summer term at another institution without impacting their scholarship standing at UA.

After completing one year of study at UA, students may request the use of most University scholarships for approved study aboard programs. Students can make the request by completing the Scholarship Study Abroad Request Form located on the Admissions & Scholarships page in myBama. Students must complete this form during the semester prior to studying abroad. The use of scholarship during a study abroad program must be used for undergraduate coursework and will count as one semester of scholarship in full despite the amount of credit hours taken.

Students awarded an automatic merit or competitive scholarship may request to use their scholarship toward a summer semester. Students can make the request by completing the Scholarship Summer Request form located on the Admissions & Scholarships page in myBama. Submission of this form does not guarantee committee approval. The amount of scholarship awarded is dependent upon the type of scholarship you have been awarded and the number of credit hours you have registered for during that term. Funds will disburse five days before the start of classes.

UA Scholarship for Graduate School

Students who were awarded either a UA Competitive Admissions Scholarship, a UA Competitive Achievement Scholarship, an Alabama Prestige Scholarship or an automatic merit scholarship who have also maintained academic stewardship requirements may request to use any remaining scholarship semesters upon graduation for Graduate School or Law School here at the University. Certain freshman program-based scholarships may also be eligible. Eligible students must be enrolled full-time as degree-seeking graduate or law students in main campus programs. You must enroll in graduate or law school at UA during the immediate available semester (excluding summer) after you graduate with your undergraduate degree. If a student’s residency status changes between the undergraduate and the graduate/law studies, the scholarship shall also be adjusted - that is, an out-of-state scholarship would be adjusted to the corresponding in-state award based on the criteria for the year in which the scholarship was originally awarded. The combination of any tuition-limited graduate/law financial support (fellowships/assistantships/scholarships) and an undergraduate automatic merit scholarship cannot exceed the cost of tuition. Students may request to defer undergraduate scholarships to a semester in which they are not receiving graduate/law school financial support. Interested students need to complete the Scholarship use for Graduate School request form on the Admissions & Scholarships page in myBama during the semester in which they plan to graduate. All requests for use of scholarship semester(s) will be reviewed by the scholarship committee. Submission of this form does not guarantee committee approval.

Alabama residents that have been admitted to an AMP program and were awarded an automatic merit scholarship, a UA Competitive Admissions scholarship, a UA Competitive Achievement scholarship or an Alabama Prestige scholarship from Student Financial Aid and Scholarships may request a one or two-semester scholarship extension, as further support of their UA studies. Certain freshman program-based scholarships may also be eligible. Academic Elite, Presidential Elite and National Merit Scholarship Recipients may only request an extension of their tuition scholarship. Interested students need to complete the AMP Scholarship Extension Request Form on the Admissions & Scholarships page in myBama during their eighth semester at UA. All request for scholarship extensions will be reviewed by the scholarship committee.

UA Scholarship Gap Request

High school seniors wishing to take a gap in between high school and college may request to change their scholarship term to a future date. Interested students should complete the Scholarship Gap Request Form located on the Admissions & Scholarships page of their myBama account after the final scholarship notification round in early March for students admitted for summer or fall.

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Merit Scholarships

UAB awards merit scholarships for a wide range of academic achievements. Current high school seniors who apply to UAB with test scores or as test-optional will be considered for merit scholarships. Current high school seniors admitted with test scores are automatically considered for ACT- and GPA-based merit scholarships. UAB does not consider superscores for admission or scholarship purposes. Current high school seniors admitted without test scores are considered for scholarships based on information provided in the admission application and supporting documentation.

While the university cannot advise applicants on whether or not to apply with test scores, students can compare their test scores to these Fall 2024 averages of incoming freshmen: 26.5 ACT and 3.8 GPA. Applicants with scores at or above the averages typically have more scholarship opportunities when applying with a test score. Students who apply for admission with test scores of 33-36 ACT or 1450-1600 SAT and a high school GPA of at least 3.5, as well as qualifying test-optional applicants, will be invited to compete for the Regions, Ireland, or McCallum Presidential endowed scholarships through answering a series of questions in BSMART, the Blazer Scholarship Management and Resource Tool. Please note that these scholarships have an earlier submission deadline of February 1.

Read also: Looking at Alabama's Schedule

UAB is a destination for academically talented students, and we are proud to recognize and award multiple national and international scholars. National scholarships are stackable on any merit awards, but students are eligible to receive only one of the awards below.

UAB Birmingham Promise Scholarship

The UAB Birmingham Promise Scholarship is an opportunity available to students who graduate from a Birmingham City School. In addition, students must complete and submit the FAFSA by May 1 to determine eligibility for federal grants (Pell and SEOG). Once a student is awarded UAB merit scholarships and/or federal grants for which they qualify, the UAB Birmingham Promise Scholarship may be awarded to cover the remaining required tuition and fees only for up to 15 credit hours per semester. Housing and meal plan costs are not covered by this scholarship. This scholarship may be awarded for up to four years (eight semesters) provided the student meets academic and application renewal requirements by posted deadlines each year. This scholarship does not cover summer semesters. Students do not have to qualify for merit scholarships or federal grants to receive the UAB Birmingham Promise Scholarship, but they must have a FAFSA on file to reflect their aid options.

Additional UAB Scholarship Opportunities

UAB offers departmental, performance, and more scholarship opportunities to admitted and current students. Students interested in these scholarships should complete the BSMART Scholarship Application in the Blazer Scholarship Management and Resource Tool (BSMART). Completing the application submits student information to multiple departments and units on campus for scholarship consideration. Students can complete the BSMART Scholarship Application beginning August 1.

University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Freshman Academic Scholarships

UAH recognizes new first-time freshmen who have demonstrated superior academic achievement in high school. All Freshman Academic Scholarships are four-year awards for fall and spring semesters, renewable each semester based on full-time student status and satisfactory academic progress. Award amounts are based on each student's high school GPA, and ACT or SAT superscore, and residency status. Students are encouraged to take the ACT and/or SAT multiple times.

ACT has recently implemented several changes to the ACT Test, including making the Science section of the test optional. In light of this, UAH has decided it will not consider the Science section of the ACT for admissions or scholarships for the 2026-2027 application cycle. Our Admissions Team wants to clarify how this change affects students applying for the Summer and Fall 2026 terms.

University of South Alabama (USA) Scholarships

The University of South Alabama offers various scholarships, including the Freshman Admission Achievement scholarship.

Freshman Admission Achievement Scholarship

To be eligible, students must apply using the test-optional admissions process. Students with better ACT and/or SAT scores are encouraged to submit their scores. Application by the priority deadline date will be considered.

Other USA Scholarship Opportunities

The University of South Alabama also offers scholarships to support students with unmet needs. There is no other application necessary. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) between February 1st and July 1st each year for consideration.

The Abraham Mitchell Business Scholars Program allows elite business students to develop to their full potential, offering unique opportunities throughout their four years of enrollment.

Students must maintain at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA to renew their Honors program award each year.

Additional Scholarship Programs

American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Program Scholarship

This scholarship is for students who completed their state’s respective session of the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State programs. The priority date to have applied for this scholarship is February 15, 2025.

Craig H. Neilsen Foundation Scholarship

The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation Scholarship wants to make a 4-year degree attainable for all students committed to a college education.

General Scholarship Advice

Scholarships can significantly offset college tuition. It's essential to research and apply for as many scholarships as possible to minimize student loan debt.

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