The University of Alabama offers some of the most generous scholarship opportunities in the country for qualifying students. Students should be admitted and meet the deadlines below to qualify for automatic merit and competitive scholarships.

FIRST-TIME, MAIN-CAMPUS
FRESHMAN TIMELINES 

SPRING 2026

• August 1 – The UA Undergraduate App opens. Your admission application includes your scholarship application for many scholarship opportunities.
• October – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens.
• Priority Deadline – November 3 – Submit all application materials by the priority deadline to ensure consideration for admission and scholarships.

Students applying after the priority deadline will not receive consideration for competitive scholarships.
• After November 3 – Applications after the priority deadline will receive consideration on a space-available basis.
• Dec 15 – Automatic merit scholarship deadline for admitted students.
• Dec 15 – Official score reports due for automatic merit consideration, including for students who self-reported test scores on their application for admission.

SUMMER AND FALL 2026

• August 1 – The UA Undergraduate App opens. Your admission application includes your scholarship application for many scholarship opportunities.
• October – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens. Please check the FAFSA website for the most up-to-date information about when it will open for your intended entry term.
• Priority Deadline – December 5 – Submit all application materials by the December 5 priority deadline to ensure consideration for admission and scholarships. Students applying after the priority deadline will not receive consideration for competitive scholarships.
• After December 5 – Applications after the priority deadline will receive consideration on a space-available basis.
• Late February – Scholarship notifications released for students who met the priority deadline for submitting an admission application and all supporting documents. This includes the UA Competitive Admissions Scholarship, the UA Competitive Achievement Scholarship and the Alabama Prestige Scholarship.
• Early April – Notification of college and departmental scholarship awards go out to prospective students who met the priority deadline.

TRANSFER TIMELINES 

SPRING 2026 

• August 1 – The UA Undergraduate App opens. Your admission application includes your scholarship application for many scholarship opportunities.
• October 1 – Automatic merit scholarship and competitive scholarship deadline for admitted students. Students should submit an admission application and all supporting documents by the October 1 deadline to ensure consideration. 
• October – The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens. Please check the FAFSA website for the most up-to-date information about when it will open for your intended entry term.

SUMMER AND FALL 2026

• August 1 – The UA Undergraduate App opens. Your admission application includes your scholarship application for many scholarship opportunities.
• October – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens.
• Competitive Scholarships Deadline – March 2 – Students must apply before March 2 to be considered for competitive scholarships included in the admission application. Students admitted by March 2 will have access to apply for additional competitive scholarships via Alabama Scholarship Award Manager (ASAM).
• Early April – Notifications for automatic and competitive scholarships go out to students who met the priority deadline.
• May 1 – Automatic merit scholarship scholarship deadline for admitted students.
• Mid-May – Notifications for automatic scholarships go out to students who met the May 1 deadline.