Understanding the National Merit Scholarship at the University of Alabama: Requirements and Opportunities

The University of Alabama (UA) offers various scholarship opportunities, including the prestigious National Merit Scholarship. This article breaks down the requirements for obtaining and maintaining merit-based scholarships, with a particular focus on the National Merit Scholarship. It also covers aspects like academic stewardship, appeals processes, deferral options, study abroad considerations, summer semester funding, and the possibility of extending scholarships for graduate or law school.

National Merit Scholarship and Initial Eligibility

The Craig H. National Merit Scholarship is a significant award for first-time freshmen recognized as National Merit Finalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. 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. To be considered for the National Merit Scholarship at UA, students must be recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation is a third-party organization that recognizes and honors the academically talented students of the United States.

To ensure consideration for the National Merit Scholarship at UA, it's strongly encouraged to submit all application materials by the December 5 priority deadline. UA evaluates students holistically, considering both academic and non-academic information provided in their admission application. Academic components considered include high school GPA and academic honors. Summer/Fall Admits: Several factors go into a student’s competitive award, and it will not be uncommon for students admitted by an earlier date to receive a later notification.

Maintaining Academic Stewardship: GPA and Credit Hours

Once awarded a merit-based scholarship, including the National Merit Scholarship, students must maintain specific academic standards to ensure continued eligibility. The purpose of measuring and enforcing academic stewardship requirements is to ensure scholarship recipients maintain the academic success that is expected of them and make progress toward graduation.

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 to remain on automatic merit and competitive scholarships awarded through Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. The cumulative UA GPA and UA credit hours includes 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.

A review will take place each year after spring grades are finalized in May.

Scholarship Advisory Period

The Scholarship Advisory 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 advisory period.

Appealing Scholarship Decisions

Initial scholarship eligibility may be appealed if a student has experienced extenuating circumstances that prevented them from meeting scholarship eligibility criteria and/or deadlines. Continuing scholarship eligibility may be appealed if a student did not meet renewal criteria for their automatic merit and competitive scholarships, Alabama Advantage Scholarship, and/or Sworn Officers Scholarships and has experienced extenuating circumstances that hindered academic performance. The appeal form is available in the myBama portal in the Admissions & Scholarships page from March 15 - May 30.

If the appeal is approved, students will be placed on modified scholarship advisory. Scholarship criteria will be reviewed according to the terms and conditions the student received upon reinstatement. Students are not allowed to upload/submit documentation to 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.

Deferring Scholarship Semesters

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. 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. Current students who withdraw prior to the add/drop deadline for the term will not impact their scholarship. Current students who withdraw after the add/drop deadline for the term will lose that semester of scholarship as it will have already been paid out. Being granted a medical withdrawal can impact your scholarship standing. Additional information regarding extenuating circumstances can be found under the scholarship appeals section of this page.

Read also: Eligibility for National Awards

Using Scholarships for Study Abroad

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.

Scholarship Use for Summer Semesters

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.

Scholarship Adjustments and the Cost of Attendance

Automatic merit scholarships, UA Competitive Admissions scholarships, UA Competitive Achievement scholarships or other competitive scholarships values are impacted by residency changes. If the tuition charge changes, the scholarship value typically changes as well. Institutional scholarships will be reduced to prevent exceeding the full cost of attendance.

Extending Scholarships for Graduate or Law 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.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

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. The Student Financial Aid staff is dedicated to making the federal aid process as straightforward as possible. Financial assistance available through this office includes federal aid - grants, loans, work study and information about student employment.

Housing Scholarship and Room Rate Definition

Regular room rate is defined as the largest room option in a particular dorm. Example: Riverside, Lakeside and Ridgecrest have four-person suites. The cost associated with the four-person suite would be the value of the housing scholarship in this circumstance.

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