Jump to: Competitive Scholarships | Automatic Merit Scholarships | Scholarship Review and Awarding | Scholarship Policies
Common Questions
What scholarships does The University of Alabama offer?
The University of Alabama offers automatic merit scholarships, competitive scholarships awarded by Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, and additional competitive scholarships awarded by the National Alumni Association, academic colleges and departments across campus. Scholarship opportunities vary by student type. Visit your relevant scholarships page to explore what is available to you.
What GPA do I need for a scholarship at The University of Alabama?
For in-state freshmen, automatic merit scholarships begin at a 3.0 GPA combined with qualifying test scores. For out-of-state and international freshmen, a 3.5 GPA is required for all automatic merit scholarship tiers. Transfer students must have at least a 3.5 GPA and 45 hours of transferable coursework to be considered for automatic merit scholarships.
Competitive scholarships use a holistic review that considers GPA alongside non-academic factors. Visit your relevant scholarships page for full details.
What is the scholarship deadline for The University of Alabama?
Deadlines vary by student type and entry term. Visit the Financial Aid Timeline for a full breakdown of all deadlines.
Can I get a scholarship at The University of Alabama without submitting test scores?
For scholarship purposes, a standardized test score is required to be eligible for automatic merit scholarships. Students who do not submit a test score remain eligible for competitive scholarships, which use a holistic review of academic and non-academic information. UA does not use superscores for scholarship purposes — only official ACT composite or SAT total scores from a single test date are accepted.
Does UA offer scholarships for transfer students?
Yes. In-state transfer students are eligible for automatic merit scholarships based on cumulative GPA, as well as competitive scholarships awarded by Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. Out-of-state and international transfer students are eligible for competitive scholarships. All transfer students may also be eligible for additional scholarships through ASAM. Visit your relevant scholarships page for full details.
Competitive Scholarships
How do I apply for competitive scholarships?
Freshmen:
- Fall/Summer 2027 Admits
- Most competitive scholarships awarded by Student Financial Aid and Scholarships are included in the admission application. Apply to UA and submit all supporting documents by December 4 to be considered for these competitive scholarships.
- If you are admitted before December 4, you will gain access to the Alabama Scholarship Award Manager (ASAM) through myBama where additional competitive scholarship opportunities may be available. Students are advised to submit all required application materials at least two weeks prior to the December 4 scholarship deadline to allow adequate time to review and apply for competitive scholarship opportunities in ASAM.
- Spring 2027 Admits
- Most competitive scholarships awarded by Student Financial Aid and Scholarships are included in the admission application. Apply to UA and submit all supporting documents by November 2 to be considered for these competitive scholarships.
- If you are admitted before November 2, you will gain access to the Alabama Scholarship Award Manager (ASAM) through myBama where additional competitive scholarship opportunities may be available. Students are advised to submit all required application materials at least two weeks prior to the November 2 scholarship deadline to allow adequate time to review and apply for competitive scholarship opportunities in ASAM.
Transfers:
- Fall/Summer 2027 Admits
- Most competitive scholarships awarded by Student Financial Aid and Scholarships are included in the admission application. Apply to UA and submit all supporting documents by March 1 to be considered for these competitive scholarships.
- If you are admitted before March 1, you will gain access to the Alabama Scholarship Award Manager (ASAM) through myBama where additional competitive scholarship opportunities may be available. Students are advised to submit all required application materials at least two weeks prior to the March 1 scholarship deadline to allow adequate time to review and apply for competitive scholarship opportunities in ASAM.
- Spring 2027 Admits
- Most competitive scholarships awarded by Student Financial Aid and Scholarships are included in the admission application. Apply to UA and submit all supporting documents by October 1 to be considered for these competitive scholarships.
- If you are admitted before October 1, you will gain access to the Alabama Scholarship Award Manager (ASAM) through myBama where additional competitive scholarship opportunities may be available. Students are advised to submit all required application materials at least two weeks prior to the October 1 scholarship deadline to allow adequate time to review and apply for competitive scholarship opportunities in ASAM.
Can I make changes to the Awards & Experience section of my admission application for scholarship purposes?
No. Once your admission application has been submitted, changes cannot be made.
In the Alabama Scholarship Award Manager (ASAM), can I make changes to the scholarship application(s) and/or requested supporting materials?
Incoming freshmen can make changes to all applications in ASAM except their general scholarship application. Application changes must be submitted by December 4 in order to be considered; spring admits can make changes up to November 2.
Incoming transfer students can make changes to all applications in ASAM except their general scholarship application. Application changes must be submitted by March 1 in order to be considered; spring admits can make changes up to October 1.
Returning students can make changes to all applications up to March 1.
What is the freshman competitive scholarship notification timeline?
- February – Notifications for most competitive scholarships awarded by Student Financial Aid and Scholarships are released for students who met the priority deadline for submitting an application and all supporting documents.
- April – Notification of college and departmental scholarship awards go out to prospective students who met the priority deadline.
Who will be considered for competitive scholarships awarded by Student Financial Aid?
Incoming freshmen students with a test inclusive or test optional admission application and all supporting documents submitted by December 4 will be eligible.
If I already have an automatic merit scholarship, can I receive both the automatic merit and another competitive scholarship?
Some competitive scholarships awarded by Student Financial Aid and Scholarships are stackable with automatic merit scholarships.
Can students apply for competitive scholarships after the deadline?
No, students will not receive consideration for competitive scholarships if the deadline has passed. Students may appeal for additional consideration due to extenuating circumstances. Please visit the Scholarship Policy webpage to learn more about our Incoming & Returning Student Scholarship Appeals Policy.
Are there scholarship opportunities for currently enrolled UA students?
Yes. Students can complete the Current Student Scholarship Application for opportunities available in the following academic year. The deadline is March 1 of the spring semester. Please visit the Current Student Scholarship website to learn more.
Can two or more colleges on campus review my freshman or transfer application for scholarship consideration?
No. A student’s application will only be reviewed by the college marked on the admission application. An incoming freshman or transfer student cannot list two majors.
Automatic Merit Scholarships
How will I be notified if I am eligible for a freshman automatic merit scholarship?
For students enrolling in the summer or fall semester, freshman automatic merit scholarship information will be made available in early February.
For students enrolling in the spring, they will be notified via their Crimson email in mid-December.
When will I be notified if I am eligible for a transfer automatic merit scholarship?
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 1 priority deadline. Admitted students that submit their admission application and all supporting documents by the May 1 deadline will be notified in mid-May.
For students enrolling in the spring, students will be notified of their automatic merit scholarships via their Crimson email in mid-December.
What standardized test dates and GPA timelines are accepted for freshman automatic merit scholarship consideration?
Only official ACT composite scores or official SAT total scores submitted by the testing agency are accepted for automatic merit scholarships. Students who self-report test scores must send official scores to be eligible for automatic merit scholarships. UA does not use superscores for scholarship purposes.
For students applying for fall or summer admission, only scores from tests prior to the deadline of their senior year in high school and the GPA after completion of their junior year are considered for automatic merit scholarships.
Students who did not meet the December 4 priority deadline will be considered for scholarships on a funds available basis.
For students applying for spring admissions, only scores from tests taken through and submitted by November 2 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 November 2.
If I am an incoming freshman and I have not submitted an application and all supporting documents by the December 4 priority deadline, can I still receive an automatic merit scholarship?
Students who did not meet the December 4 priority deadline will be considered on a funds available basis.
Students may appeal for additional consideration due to extenuating circumstances. Please visit UA’s Scholarship Policy to learn more.
I’ve been named a National Merit Finalist. What is my next step?
National Merit Finalists must name The University of Alabama as their college of choice with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation before May 1. To learn more visit UA’s National Merit Scholars page.
Scholarship Review and Awarding
If I don’t receive the value I hoped for from a competitive scholarship, can I be reviewed again?
No. Students may appeal for additional consideration due to extenuating circumstances only. Please visit UA’s Scholarship policy page to learn more.
Will UA re-award scholarships if a previous recipient fails to enroll?
Yes, there will be a re-award period following the registration deadline, typically in late August. The likelihood of additional scholarships is small, and not all scholarships are eligible to be re-awarded. It is in your best interest to prepare for The University of Alabama with your current financial aid award and scholarship offer.
Scholarship Policies
Will a tuition scholarship adjust if I take more or less than full time hours?
The scholarship will automatically adjust to the tuition charge if the charge is more or less than a full-time course load.
Will a break in enrollment affect my scholarship?
Yes. A break in enrollment could affect a student’s scholarship. For more detail about our Returning Student Break in Enrollment policy please visit the Scholarship Policy webpage.
Can undergraduate students use remaining semesters of undergraduate scholarships toward 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. To learn more about the Scholarship Use for Graduate School Policy please visit the Scholarship Policy webpage.
Are high school students that take a gap year eligible for scholarships?
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. To learn more about our First-time Freshman Gap Term/Year policy please visit the Scholarship Policy webpage.
Can students use their automatic merit or competitive scholarship to study abroad?
Yes. Most university scholarships can be used toward a university approved study abroad program. To learn more about our Study Abroad Policy please visit the Scholarship Policy webpage.
Can students use their automatic merit or competitive scholarship toward summer courses?
Yes. Students can use most scholarships towards summer courses. To learn more about the Scholarship Use for Summer Semester Policy please visit the Scholarship Policy webpage.
Do external scholarships, military benefits or college saving plans impact scholarships at UA?
No. However, scholarships at UA could possibly impact these external funds. Please consult with the external scholarship, military benefits or college savings plan representatives to determine if your funds will be impacted by scholarships received at UA. Students with military benefits should also contact our Veterans and Military Affairs Office at (205) 348-0983 or email vma@ua.edu.
Do residency changes impact my scholarship values?
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. Email scholarships@ua.edu to find out if your residency change will impact your scholarship.
What is regular room rate?
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. If you live in an alternative dorm where double room occupancy is the largest available option, then the cost associated with the double room would be the value of the housing scholarship.