Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to UAB Merit Scholarships

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) recognizes and rewards academically talented students through a variety of merit-based scholarship programs. These scholarships provide financial assistance to incoming freshmen, transfer students, and current students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievements. This article provides a comprehensive overview of UAB's merit scholarship opportunities, eligibility requirements, and application processes.

Merit Scholarships for High School Seniors

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.

Test Scores and GPA Considerations

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.

Prestigious Scholarship Opportunities

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.

National and International Scholars

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.

Merit Scholarships for Transfer Students

Merit-based transfer scholarships are awarded using information from your admission application.

Transfer Presidential Scholarship

Each year, The University of Alabama at Birmingham proudly welcomes exceptional students who began their college journey at an Alabama Community College. The Transfer Presidential Scholarship provides $6,250 per semester for 4 semesters ($12,500 annually; fall and spring semesters only). Students must be currently enrolled in a community college within the state of Alabama. All application materials must be submitted by February 17, 2026. After reviewing applications, the UAB Scholarship Committee will invite select candidates for an interview. If awarded the scholarship, students must enroll at UAB for fall 2026 as a full-time degree-seeking undergraduate student (minimum 12 UAB undergraduate credit hours).

Eligibility Criteria for Transfer Students

Admitted to UAB - Must be admitted to an undergraduate program at UAB by the scholarship deadline.
GPA - Must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, including your most recent grades. (An updated, official transcript that contains the most recent semester's grades must be received prior to the scholarship deadline.
Citizenship - U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or onshore students on select visa types.

*Stackable with Transfer Excellence or Transfer Pathway; membership must be noted on your official community college transcript, or faculty sponsors may submit a letter to UAB Undergraduate Admissions on school letterhead, verifying your membership. All documentation must be received by the March 1 deadline for fall admits (December 1 deadline for spring admits).

Additional 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. The BSMART Application submission deadline is April 1.

BSMART Scholarship Application

Students interested in departmental, performance, and other scholarship opportunities 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 Application beginning August 1.

Read also: Guide to UMN Merit Scholarships

Alabama Scholarship Award Manager (ASAM)

Most competitive scholarships awarded by Student Financial Aid and Scholarships are included in the admission application. If you are admitted before October 1, November 3, December 5 or March 2, you will gain access to the Alabama Scholarship Award Manager (ASAM) through myBama where additional competitive scholarship opportunities may be available.

The 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.

General Scholarship Information

Scholarship Notification Timeline

Late February - Scholarship notifications released for students who met the priority deadline for submitting an admission application and all supporting documents.

Scholarship Stacking

In addition, certain prestigious competitive scholarship packages are not stackable with automatic merit scholarships or a UA Competitive Admission, UA Competitive Achievement Scholarship or Alabama Prestige Scholarship. Yes, you can receive a UA Competitive Admissions Scholarship, UA Competitive Achievement Scholarship or Alabama Prestige Scholarship and additional competitive scholarships like alumni, departmental or college-specific scholarships.

Scholarship Reconsideration

Students are not typically reviewed again after receiving a UA Competitive Admissions Scholarship offer. However, students whose scholarship value, eligibility and/or academic profile was impacted by an extenuating circumstance have the opportunity to submit a scholarship appeal for reconsideration.

Read also: Applying for Loyola Scholarships

Scholarship Re-Award Period

Yes, there will be a re-award period following the registration deadline, typically in late August. The likelihood of additional scholarships is small and re-awards will not include automatic merit scholarships, UA Competitive Admissions Scholarships, UA Competitive Achievement Scholarships or Alabama Prestige Scholarships.

Deadline Considerations

No, students will not receive consideration for competitive scholarships if the deadline has passed. Students may appeal for additional consideration due to extenuating circumstances.

Current Student Scholarship Opportunities

Yes. Students can complete the Current Student Scholarship Application for opportunities available in the following academic year. The deadline is March 2 of the spring semester.

College-Specific Application Review

No. A student’s application will only be reviewed by the college marked on the admission application.

Freshman Automatic Merit Scholarship Information

Yes. For students enrolling in the summer or fall semester, freshman automatic merit scholarship information will be made available in early February. Transfer automatic merit scholarships will be released in early April for admitted students that submit their admission application and all supporting documents by the March 2 priority deadline. Only official ACT composite scores or official SAT total scores submitted by the testing agency are accepted for automatic merit scholarships. Students who did not meet the December 5 priority deadline will be considered for scholarships on a funds available basis.

Spring Admissions

For students applying for spring admissions, only scores from tests taken through and submitted by December 15 of their senior year in high school and the GPA after completion of their junior year are considered for automatic merit scholarships. Students must submit their official qualifying test score and/or transcripts by December 15. Qualifying test score and/or transcripts submitted after December 15 are not considered for freshman automatic merit scholarship purposes. Students may appeal for additional consideration due to extenuating circumstances.

National Merit Finalists

I’ve been named a National Merit Finalist. National Merit Finalists must name The University of Alabama as their college of choice before May 1.

Scholarship Renewal Requirements

Students are required to have a cumulative 3.0 UA GPA and to earn at least a cumulative 67% of the total UA credit hours attempted in order to maintain their merit scholarships.

Impact of Enrollment Breaks

Yes. A break in enrollment could affect a student’s scholarship.

Scholarship Usage in Graduate School

Yes. Students with remaining semesters of an undergraduate automatic merit scholarship, UA Competitive Admissions Scholarship, UA Competitive Achievement Scholarship or Alabama Prestige Scholarship can use their remaining semesters toward graduate school. Students with a scholarship package can use the tuition portion of their scholarship towards graduate school.

Gap Year Requests

Yes. Admitted new first time freshmen can request a gap year by submitting the Scholarship Gap Request Form located on the Admissions & Scholarships page of their myBama account.

Study Abroad Programs

Yes. Most university scholarships can be used toward a university approved study abroad program.

Summer Courses

Yes. Students can use most scholarships towards summer courses.

External Funds

No. However, scholarships at UA could possibly impact these external funds.

Residency Changes

Yes. Automatic merit scholarships and many competitive scholarship values are impacted by residency changes as many values are representative of the tuition charge. Therefore, if the tuition charge changes, the scholarship value typically changes as well.

Housing Scholarships

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.

International Scholarship

The UAB International Scholarship, valued at US $7,500 per year, is available to applicants who are currently living outside of the US and are enrolling as first-year, full-time, degree-seeking students in an undergraduate program at UAB. The examined GPA will be the cumulative GPA at the time of admission. All scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis as funds are available and are renewable for a total of four years (or eight academic semesters).

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