Competitive Admissions Scholarships | Automatic Merit Scholarships | Additional Scholarship Opportunities
The University of Alabama offers generous scholarship opportunities for qualifying students. To maximize your scholarship opportunities, you should complete the following steps:
- Step One: Apply for admission and scholarships.
- Step Two: Complete additional scholarship applications if applicable in the Alabama Scholarship Award Manager (ASAM).
- Step Three: Explore additional scholarship opportunities.
Learn more about how to complete these steps and the scholarship opportunities they provide below.
STEP 1: APPLY FOR ADMISSION & SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships Included in Your UA Undergraduate App
Your admission application includes your scholarship application for many scholarship opportunities. As a first-time freshman applicant, you must submit the following to be considered for admission:
- Application for admission
- Official high school transcript
- Your official ACT or SAT test score (optional)
- Visit UA’s International Admissions Requirements page
The following scholarships are included in your admission application:
- All automatic merit scholarships
- Most competitive scholarships awarded by Student Financial Aid and Scholarships (including the UA Competitive Admissions Scholarship and the UA Competitive Achievement Scholarship)
- Most competitive scholarships awarded by the Alumni Association and other colleges and departments across campus
Please refer to the Scholarships and Financial Aid timeline for deadline information relevant to your intended entry term.
Automatic Scholarships
2026 International Freshman Automatic Merit Scholarships
| Scholarship | Test Score* | GPA | Yearly Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimson Legends | 25-26 ACT or 1200-1250 SAT | 3.50+ | $6,000 |
| Capstone | 27 ACT or 1260-1290 SAT | 3.50+ | $8,000 |
| Collegiate | 28 ACT or 1300-1320 SAT | 3.50+ | $10,000 |
| Foundation in Excellence | 29 ACT or 1330-1350 SAT | 3.50+ | $15,000 |
| UA Scholar | 30-31 ACT or 1360-1410 SAT | 3.50+ | $24,000 |
| Presidential | 32-36 ACT or 1420-1600 SAT | 3.50+ | $28,000 |
*Composite or Total Test Score
PRESIDENTIAL ELITE
A student with a 4.0+ GPA and 36 ACT OR 1600 SAT will be selected as a Presidential Elite Scholar and will receive:
- Value of tuition for up to four years or eight semesters for degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate or law studies
- First year of on-campus housing at regular room rate (based on assignment by Housing and Residential Communities)
- $1,500 per year supplemental scholarship for four years
- $2,000 one-time allowance for use in research or international study (after completing one year of study at UA)
Please have standardized test scores sent directly to The University of Alabama from the testing agency.
- SAT code is 1830
- ACT code is 0052
- A Note About Test Scores: The optional writing section on the SAT or ACT is not required for admission or scholarship purposes. Only students who take the ACT or SAT prior to high school graduation with qualifying test scores and grade point average by the stated deadlines may be eligible for the above automatic merit scholarships.
- A Note About Gap Years: Students who have taken a gap year between completion of high school and enrolling at The University of Alabama and have qualifying test scores and grade point averages may be awarded automatic merit scholarships based on the amounts advertised for the year that the student would have enrolled immediately following high school graduation. Please reach out to scholarships@ua.edu for prior year automatic merit scholarship values and its criterion. For a full listing of the Scholarship Gap Year Policy, visit our scholarship policy webpage.
Deadline
- Spring 2026: UA will consider the following for admitted students that submit an admission application and all supporting documents by December 15:
- GPAs after completion of a student’s junior year
- Test scores through December 15 of a student’s senior year
- Summer/Fall 2026: UA will consider the following for admitted students that submit an admission application and all supporting documents by the December 5 priority deadline:
- GPAs after completion of a student’s junior year
- Test scores through December of a student’s senior year
Notifications
Qualifying admitted students will automatically receive automatic merit scholarships. Notifications are sent approximately two weeks following admission or submission of official test scores from the testing agency.
2026 International UA Competitive Admissions Scholarship
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. Non-academic items include leadership experience, volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, employment and non-academic honor.
This scholarship has a value of $6,000 up to tuition.
Deadline
To ensure priority consideration, students should submit an application and all supporting documents according to the deadline for their entry term.
- Spring 2026: November 3
- Summer/Fall 2026: December 5
Notifications
- 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. If you do not receive a notification for an early round, your scholarship application will roll to the final round for further review.- Notifications can be expected in late February.
- Spring Admits:
- Notifications can be expected in mid-December.
Step 2: Complete Scholarships In Alabama Scholarship Award Manager (ASAM)
Students may apply for additional competitive scholarships not included in the admission application through ASAM. These scholarships involves a separate application or require additional information and are awarded by the Alumni Association, the academic colleges, and departments across campus.
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. Students should complete their admission application in a timely manner to ensure time to complete opportunities that may be available in ASAM.
December 5 is the deadline to complete scholarship applications in ASAM and submit any additional requested materials for summer and fall admits.
November 3 is the deadline to complete scholarship applications in ASAM and submit any additional requested materials for spring admits.
Please visit the Scholarships FAQ page for additional details about UA’s competitive and automatic scholarships.