Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

We receive a number of inquiries about the availability of scholarships and the process for consideration and selection. Almost all of these questions are answered in the information provided throughout our site. Some of the most frequently asked questions, as well as some of the more unusual questions, may be found here.

Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager

Admitted incoming students and current students can apply for all institutional scholarships, including merit scholarships, general scholarships, and department scholarships, by completing the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM) application within AU Access. Students are only required to complete the AUSOM application once each academic year.

AUSOM can be found within AU Access on Admitted Students for incoming students and on My Finances for incoming students who have submitted the confirmation deposit and current students. Students use their AU Access User Name and Password to log in. The User Name is provided in the acceptance for admission letter for incoming students, and account activation is required prior to login.

When accessing AUSOM through secure home, office, or school networks, a firewall may block or prevent access. It may be helpful to access AUSOM through a network or computer in another location.

Students are encouraged to review Scholarship Dates & Deadlines to ensure maximum scholarship consideration. February 1 is the scholarship deadline. Incoming and current Auburn students must complete the scholarship application through AUSOM by 4:45 p.m. CST to receive scholarship consideration.

Incoming transfer students accepted to the Nursing professional program, as well as current Auburn students accepted to the Nursing or Veterinary Medicine professional program or enrolled in the Pharmacy professional program must complete the scholarship application through AUSOM by 4:45 p.m. CST on June 1 to receive department scholarship consideration. 

In addition to completing the required fields, students are encouraged to complete the application to the fullest extent to maximize scholarship consideration.

The General Application includes consideration for many department scholarships. However, some colleges or schools require completion of a Supplemental Application within AUSOM for department scholarship consideration. Supplemental Applications appear to students who must answer additional questions to receive consideration for department scholarships and are based on the student's major.

Students should only complete the questions that pertain to the academic major studying or planning to study. Students are encouraged to complete all Supplemental Applications as well as the General Application. Within the General Application, students have an opportunity to indicate interest in receiving consideration for certain special interest scholarships, which also requires completion of a Supplemental Application.

If there is a change in major, students should review their scholarship application to answer possible additional questions for department scholarship consideration in the new major.

In some cases, general scholarships awarded by the Office of University Scholarships and department scholarships awarded by the college or school in which enrolled or planning to enroll require additional information specific to individual scholarships. Students are encouraged to review the suggested list of these Recommended Opportunities and provide any information requested to receive further consideration for those scholarships.

Students who submit an application receive a confirmation email to their TigerMail account. Complete and submitted applications are indicated by “Complete” on the Applications tab within AUSOM. Students who have an incomplete General Application will be directed there upon login until complete.
Students must respond to all scholarship offers through AUSOM by May 1. Click on the AUSOM graphic on 'Admitted Students' or 'My Finances' in AU Access. Select the scholarship name on the tile within the 'Needs Attention' section on the 'My Applications' tab. Select 'Accept' or 'Decline' after reviewing the Offer Letter.

General Information

As a general practice, students are ineligible to receive more than one Merit Scholarship and typically do not receive more than one General Scholarship. Students may receive a combination of alumni, merit, general, and department scholarships, provided the total amount awarded in institutional scholarships does not exceed Auburn’s annual estimated cost of attendance. External scholarships do not contribute to this total, and Auburn University does not limit external scholarships by number or amount. However, any amount received in scholarships may affect the amount of federal financial aid for which students are eligible. Individual scholarships awarded by other internal or external sources may have restrictions which require them to be awarded or disbursed at a lesser amount.

Merit scholarships are awarded in early February. General and department scholarships are awarded in early March. If selected, students will be notified by award letter to their permanent address or by email to their TigerMail account.

Students who have been awarded a scholarship must accept their scholarship online through the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM). AUSOM can be found within AU Access on Admitted Students for incoming students and on My Finances for incoming students who have submitted the confirmation deposit and current students. Students should follow the instructions as prompted to review the scholarship offer and click “Accept” under the appropriate scholarship.

Scholarship acceptance is non-binding. However, a number of scholarships are re-awarded to other deserving students. Should a student wish to decline a scholarship offered by Auburn, he or she should do so through AUSOM at the earliest opportunity.

All merit and general scholarships have a response deadline of May 1. Response deadlines for department scholarships may vary, but if a deadline earlier than May 1 is noted, recipients should have the option to request in writing an extension for their decision until May 1.

Merit scholarships are over awarded based on the response rate from previous years and are not re-awarded if declined. All other scholarships are re-awarded if declined.

The Provost Leadership Undergraduate Scholarship (PLUS & PLUS-T) program has a goal of increasing diversity among the undergraduate student population at Auburn University. The PLUS program assists participants financially by providing a scholarship renewable up to four years, and supports them academically and socially to ensure they succeed at Auburn University.

Additional scholarship opportunities that give preference to students from diverse backgrounds are awarded by the Office of University Scholarships and individual colleges and schools. These are available through the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM), found by browsing “All” scholarships and searching by the keywords or phrases “diversity,”"first generation," "Federal Pell Grant," or "disability."

The Alabama GI Dependents' Scholarship program is an academic scholarship program administrated by the State of Alabama, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and applies to the dependents of Alabama’s disabled veterans. Additional information about this program may be found here.

The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.

Additional scholarship opportunities for veterans and their dependents are available through the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM), found by browsing “All” scholarships and searching by the keywords or phrases “veteran,” "armed forces," "military," or "American Legion." Students are also encouraged to contact Auburn University’s Veteran Resource Center for additional information and benefits available to veterans and their dependents.

At this time, Auburn University does not have scholarships available specifically for students of Native American descent. Students should contact their local tribal council regarding scholarship opportunities or visit one of the American Indian websites listed under Other Links.

Auburn does not honor or match funds awarded through state-sponsored scholarship programs in other states. This includes funds awarded through Georgia Hope, Tennessee Hope, Florida Bright Futures, Louisiana TOPS, etc.

Residency is determined by the Office of the Registrar. For more information on residency requirements, please visit Residency or call (334) 844-2544.

Recipients of PACT or another prepaid tuition plan should complete the Prepaid Tuition Plan Notification form located on AU's Student Financial Service's website to request payment of funds. The website can also be accessed on My Finances in AU Access. Having a prepaid tuition plan does not adversely affect a student’s consideration for scholarships.

Prior to full-time enrollment at Auburn, students are ineligible for scholarship consideration. Once students are admitted as incoming freshmen or transfer students, they should complete the scholarship application by the deadline to receive consideration.

Invoking the Grade Adjustment Policy will adjust a student’s cumulative Auburn GPA. For general scholarship consideration and merit scholarship renewal, the Office of University Scholarships only reviews a student's unadjusted, cumulative Auburn GPA. The unadjusted, cumulative Auburn GPA includes the grade(s) earned before the Grade Adjustment Policy was invoked. The Undergraduate Grade Adjustment Policy (GAP) provides more information.

Freshman Scholarships

Students who enroll in college level course work while still enrolled in and attending high school may be considered for scholarships, provided the college level course work is complete prior to high school graduation. To be eligible for freshman scholarships, students must enroll at Auburn the summer or fall term immediately following high school graduation.
For scholarship consideration, there is not a limit on the number of hours earned through dual enrollment.

Students who graduate in May or June of their senior year and enroll summer term at another postsecondary institution receive their freshman scholarship as awarded beginning fall term when they enroll at Auburn. These students are not penalized for summer enrollment prior to enrolling at Auburn.

Students who graduate in December or January of their senior year and enroll at Auburn the spring term immediately following high school graduation may be considered for freshman scholarships for the upcoming academic year beginning fall term. Students who enroll at another postsecondary institution the spring term following high school graduation and prior to enrollment at Auburn are transfer students and ineligible for freshman scholarship consideration.

Students who graduate in May or June of their junior year and enroll at Auburn the summer or fall term immediately following high school graduation receive consideration for freshman scholarships. Students who enroll at another postsecondary institution the fall or spring term following high school graduation are automatically transfer students and ineligible for freshman scholarship consideration.

Students who graduate in May or June of their senior year and do not enroll at Auburn the summer or fall term immediately following high school graduation are ineligible for freshman scholarship consideration. In limited or extenuating circumstances, students accepted for summer or fall term and awarded a merit scholarship may request a deferment subject to review and approval of their admission and scholarship until spring term. Students enrolling spring term and not previously approved for an admission and scholarship deferment may apply for general and department scholarships as current students during that term for the following academic year.

Students who wish to take a gap year, a year off between high school graduation and enrollment at Auburn, should apply for admission for the following fall term. Eligibility for admission and freshman scholarships will be evaluated with the applicants for the following year, and students are subject to the scholarship requirements and award amounts for that year. Students who enroll at another postsecondary institution during a gap year are automatically transfer students and ineligible for freshman scholarship consideration.

For students enrolling fall 2022, freshman scholarships will be awarded as merit scholarships and achievement scholarships. Incoming freshmen who apply for admission with a test score will receive consideration for merit scholarships. Incoming freshmen who apply for admission as test optional and do not send a test score will receive consideration for achievement scholarships.
Incoming freshmen who apply for admission as test optional and send a test score will be considered for merit or achievement scholarships. Consideration will be based on the highest test score received at the time of the award or the academic assessment during the evaluation for admission, depending on which benefits the student most.
More information on freshman scholarships, including estimated award amounts, can be found in merit scholarships and achievement scholarships.

General and Department Scholarships

Each general and department scholarship has unique criteria with geographic location (high school, city, county, state), academic achievement, financial need, and academic major the most common considerations. For general scholarships, priority consideration is given to incoming freshmen who have not previously been recognized with a scholarship valued at resident tuition or greater. Students with a test score at or above the average test score of Auburn's most recent freshman class are more likely to receive an award. Department scholarship availability and requirements for consideration vary by college/school and department.
General and department scholarships are awarded at an average of $1,500 to $2,000 for one year. Award amounts vary based on available funding for each scholarship.
Approximately 50% of general scholarships state a preference for an incoming freshman recipient, making the process for awarding these scholarships very competitive for current students. The number of general scholarships for which any student is considered may be limited if financial need or geographic location is also a consideration. Current students should contact the college/school and department in which they are majoring to inquire about department scholarship opportunities.
Incoming freshmen will receive consideration for all scholarships for which they meet all required criteria, independent of a standardized test score. Students who have achieved a core GPA and overall GPA at or above our middle 50% GPA are more likely to receive a scholarship.
Leadership or community service may be considered in the awarding of general scholarships and department scholarships based on information provided through the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM).

External Scholarships

External scholarship electronic payments should be sent using a preferred institutional payment method - ACH, automated clearing house or credit card. New ACH external scholarship donors may contact our scholarship specialist for assistance setting up their account for payments. Funds received via a preferred institutional payment method will be credited to the student's billing account within 3 business days.

Alternately, external scholarship checks may be sent to University Scholarships at 108 Mary Martin Hall for processing. All external scholarship checks should include the student’s full name and the student’s identification number.

Please note delays associated with the mail services provider may impact when the check is received by our office. It may take up to 7 business days following receipt for funds to be credited to the student's billing account.

External scholarship checks may be mailed to:

Office of University Scholarships
Attn: External Scholarships
108 Mary Martin Hall
Auburn University, Alabama 36849-5145
externalscholar@auburn.edu

 

Auburn University does not limit the number or amount of external scholarships a student can receive. However, external scholarships received may affect the amount of federal financial aid for which a student is eligible.

Occasionally, external scholarship donors require proof of enrollment prior to sending funds. If so, students should contact the Office of the Registrar located in Langdon Hall at (334) 844-4770 or visit Enrollment Certification for information on requesting enrollment verification.

External scholarship donors may also require that current students provide proof of academic standing to continue to receive funding. If so, students should contact the Office of the Registrar or visit Request Transcripts for information on requesting an official transcript.

External scholarship donors who make a scholarship payment by paper check will receive a check from Auburn for funds returned.
Similar to institutional scholarships awarded, external scholarships at a minimum of $1,000 are automatically divided into equal payments for fall and spring semesters. External scholarships awarded at less than $1,000 are applied in full for the academic term in which they are received. External scholarship donors may request exceptions to these practices in the documentation enclosed with payment.

Scholarship Payment

Scholarships are applied as credits on the student’s university billing account on a semester basis. In compliance with federal guidelines, financial aid and scholarships cannot physically disburse on the student's billing account prior to a maximum of 10 days before each semester begins. If at any time credits on the bill exceed university charges (i.e. tuition, fees, on-campus housing), a refund can be issued for the difference. Refunds are issued as direct deposits to the checking or savings account of the student's choice, which can be set up on Banking Direct Deposit Information in AU Access on My Finances.

Tuition scholarships include tuition for 12 or more credit hours per semester for Spirit of Auburn Presidential Scholarships awarded to Alabama residents. Alabama residents awarded a National Merit Presidential Scholarship who enrolled prior to Fall 2018 receive tuition for 12 or more credit hours per semester. In the event tuition increases, tuition scholarships will be increased accordingly. Registration fees, student fees, and other mandatory fees, as well as professional fees, differential tuition, and program fees in specific colleges and schools, are not included.

Merit scholarship recipients must earn a minimum of 24 Auburn credit hours from fall to spring semester of each academic year and achieve a minimum 3.0 cumulative, unadjusted Auburn GPA by the end of each spring semester to be eligible for renewal of their scholarship for the next academic year.

Merit scholarship guidelines are provided with the student's award notification and can be viewed in the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM).

The Family Portal allows students to grant access to parents and families to view their academic schedule and grades. More information about access to this resource can be found on the Parent & Family Programs' Access to Resources. 

 

Scholarship funds are not available for academic terms when a student is participating in the Auburn University Cooperative Education Program. Scholarship funds will be applied to the next term when the student will be enrolled full time, until all semesters of eligibility have been used. For more information on available programs, please visit Cooperative Education Program, call (334) 844-4744, or email charliewilder@auburn.edu.

Four-year scholarships awarded by the Office of University Scholarships are available for eight semesters. When you participate in a co-op program, the end term for your scholarship is extended each semester that you are working until you have used all eight semesters of your scholarship as an undergraduate student.

Our office routinely generates reports of students who are participating in co-op each semester, and we automatically adjust scholarships accordingly, so there is no need to notify us when you co-op or when you return. We will send an email to your Auburn email address when your scholarship is adjusted.

If you co-op two semesters in a row, please contact our office to complete a Request for Non-Payment form. Schedule an appointment with a scholarship advisor to discuss your co-op schedule.

The tables below show typical co-op schedules and the criteria that will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for scholarship renewal for the following academic year.

Students who co-op spring term must earn a total of 24 Auburn hours between fall and summer of the current academic year and maintain a 3.0 cumulative, unadjusted Auburn GPA.
Term Schedule Renewal
Fall AU Must earn a total of 24 Auburn hours between fall and summer and
Spring Co-op maintain a 3.0 cumulative, unadjusted Auburn GPA.
Summer AU

  

Students who co-op fall and summer of an academic year must earn a total of 12 Auburn hours during spring semester and maintain a 3.0 cumulative, unadjusted Auburn GPA.
Term Schedule Renewal
Fall Co-op Must earn a total of 12 Auburn hours during spring semester and
Spring AU maintain a 3.0 cumulative, unadjusted Auburn GPA.
Summer Co-op

 

Yes, during your co-op schedule there will be a year where it will be necessary to attend school during the summer to stay on course to renew your scholarship. Just like during any other semester, you must enroll for a minimum of 12 credit hours for your scholarship to pay.
Scholarship funds may be applied to study abroad program fees when a student participates in an Auburn University faculty-led program through Auburn Abroad and will earn a minimum of 12 Auburn credit hours. For more information on eligible programs, please visit Auburn Abroad, call (334) 844-5001, or email auab@auburn.edu.
Last updated: 07/12/2021