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.

Scholarship Application

First-year students accepted for admission by mid-January receive automatic consideration for competitive merit scholarships First-year students and transfer students accepted for admission by mid-January receive automatic consideration for select-need based scholarships. A scholarship application is not required.


First-year students and transfer students accepted for admission by mid-January and current Auburn students can apply for consideration of other institutional scholarships, including general and departmental 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. First-year students accepted for admission by mid-January receive consideration for first-year student scholarships. A scholarship application is not required for competitive merit scholarships.

February 1 is the scholarship deadline. Incoming and current Auburn students must complete the scholarship application through AUSOM to receive general and departmental scholarship consideration.

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 June 1 to receive departmental scholarship consideration. 

In addition to completing the required fields, students are encouraged to complete the application to the fullest extent to maximize scholarship consideration. More information can be found on Scholarship Consideration on AUSOM.

The General Application includes consideration for many departmental scholarships. However, some colleges require completion of a Supplemental Application within AUSOM for departmental 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 departmental scholarships awarded by the college 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. More information can be found on Application Types on AUSOM.

Students who submit an application receive a confirmation email to their Auburn email 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 competitive merit scholarship and typically do not receive more than one general scholarship.

Students may receive a combination of competitive merit, select need-based, general, and departmental 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.

Competitive merit scholarships are awarded mid-November, mid-December, and late January. Recipients are notified by email to their Auburn email account and by postal mail to their permanent address.

Select need-based scholarships are awarded mid-February. Recipients are notified by email to their Auburn email account.

General and departmental scholarships are awarded in early March. Recipients are notified by email to their Auburn email account.

Departmental scholarships in the College of Nursing, Harrison College of Pharmacy, and College of Veterinary Medicine are awarded in early July. Recipients are notified by email to their Auburn email account.

Visit Dates and Deadlines for more information.

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.

Competitive merit, select need-based, and general scholarships awarded by early March have a response deadline of May 1.

Response deadlines for departmental scholarships may vary, but most awarded by early March have a response deadline of May 1. If a response deadline earlier than May 1 is noted, recipients have the option to request in writing an extension of their decision until May 1.

Departmental scholarships awarded by the College of Nursing, Harrison College of Pharmacy, and College of Veterinary Medicine in early July have a response deadline of seven (7) days from offer date.

Competitive 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.

Scholarship opportunities intended to support Auburn University’s goal of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion among its student body, which is key to its educational mission, are awarded by the Office of University Scholarships and each of the 12 colleges. Scholarships are available through the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM) and can be found by browsing “All” scholarships and searching by the keywords or phrases:

  • Accessibility
  • Diversity
  • Financial need
  • First-generation
  • Pell grant

Students can also find links to specific scholarship foundations or organizations with a focus on diversity under Scholarship Resources or by using a recommended external scholarship search engine. Additionally, students of Native American descent should contact their local tribal council regarding scholarship opportunities.

 

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.

The State of Alabama does not have a state-sponsored merit-based scholarship for its residents. Auburn is unable to match funds awarded through state-sponsored merit-based scholarship programs by other states to its residents. This includes funds awarded through, but not limited to, the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship, Georgia HOPE Scholarship, Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES), Louisiana's Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), South Carolina Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, and Tennessee HOPE Scholarship.

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

Beneficiaries of Alabama Prepaid Affordable College Tuition (PACT) Program 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 first-year students 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 competitive 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.

Fall 2023 First-Year Student Scholarships

First-year students accepted for admission by mid-November were considered for competitive merit scholarships in November.

Spirit of Auburn Presidential, Founders, Excellence, University, and 1856 Scholarships were awarded to Alabama residents. Academic Presidential, Heritage, and Charter Scholarships were awarded to non-residents. Additional qualified students not awarded in November will continue to receive consideration for first-year student scholarships in December and January.

First-year students were awarded competitive merit scholarships in November based on the student’s high school GPA and ACT score or equivalent SAT score.

Competitive merit scholarship recipients awarded in November had an average high school GPA of 4.28 and an average ACT score or equivalent SAT score of 31.

The deadline for updated test scores to be received by Auburn and considered for first-year student scholarships is January 10.

Auburn uses the information on the transcript submitted with the application for admission for scholarship consideration. The deadline to submit a transcript for students not yet accepted for admission is December 1. For admitted students, the GPA used for admission consideration will be the same one used for scholarship consideration.

We do not re-award a competitive merit scholarship not accepted by the original recipient. We anticipate this occurrence and award competitive merit scholarships to a larger number of students than we expect will enroll based on past enrollment data and analysis.

All admitted first-year students may qualify for other scholarships, including need-based scholarships. First-year students accepted for admission who are Alabama residents will receive automatic consideration for select need-based scholarships awarded mid-February. Students must complete the scholarship application in the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM) by February 1 for general and departmental scholarship consideration.

Select need-based scholarships require financial need, and approximately one-half of general and departmental scholarships include a preference or requirement for financial need, which is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). General and departmental scholarships will be awarded in early March, requiring the FAFSA to be received by February 1 for maximum scholarship consideration. Students selected for FAFSA verification will not be eligible for financial aid, including need-based scholarships, if this process is incomplete. The FAFSA and other requirements, if necessary, should be received by February 1 for need-based scholarship consideration.

First-Year Student Scholarships

For students enrolling fall 2023, first-year student scholarships will be awarded as competitive merit scholarships, achievement scholarships, and leadership scholarships. Consideration for competitive merit scholarships is based on high school GPA and standardized test score. Consideration for achievement and leadership scholarships is based on high school GPA and information provided on the scholarship application.

Verify Auburn has received your most recent academic information in the Applicant Portal. Updated highest scores from individual tests must be received by Auburn by January 10. To ensure accurate superscoring, Auburn does not accept the ACT Superscore report. Scores received after this deadline will not be reviewed for competitive merit scholarship consideration.

For students who apply for admission as traditional applicants, standardized test score may also be considered. For students who apply for admission as test optional applicants, the academic assessment during the evaluation for admission may also considered. 

More information on competitive merit scholarships, including estimated award amounts, can be found in first-year student 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 first-year student 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 first-year student 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 first-year student 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 first-year student 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 first-year student 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 departmental 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 first-year student 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.

General and Departmental Scholarships

Each general and departmental 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 students who have not previously been recognized with a scholarship valued at resident tuition or greater.

Additionally, priority consideration for general scholarships is given to:

  • First-year students who havee a high school GPA and a standardized test score at or above our middle 50%.
  • Transfer students who have a minimum 3.5 transfer GPA and a minimum 45 transfer hours.
  • Current students who are pursuing a first undergraduate degree; have a minimum 3.5 cumulative, unadjusted Auburn GPA at the conclusion of fall semester; and are projected to achieve junior class standing at the conclusion of spring semester.
While new and current Auburn University students receive consideration for general and departmental scholarships, most general scholarships are awarded to incoming students, and most departmental scholarships are awarded to current students. Department scholarship availability and requirements for consideration vary by college and department.

Most general and departmental scholarships are awarded to one recipient and at an average award amount of $1,500 to $2,000 for one year. Award amounts vary based on available funding for each scholarship.

Some general and departmental scholarships include an academic achievement criterion determined by cumulative Auburn GPA for current students, transfer GPA for transfer students, and high school GPA for first-year students. For first-year students who apply for admission as traditional applicants, standardized test score may also be considered. Updated test scores must be received by Auburn by January 10. For students who apply for admission as test optional applicants, the academic assessment during the evaluation for admission may also be considered.

Approximately one-half of general and departmental scholarships include a preference or requirement for a recipient with financial need. Financial need is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)**, which must be received by Auburn by February 1. Students selected for financial need verification are not eligible for need-based scholarships if the verification process is incomplete.

Leadership or community service may be considered in the awarding of general and departmental scholarships based on information provided through the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM).

The number of general and departmental 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 and department in which they are majoring to inquire about departmental scholarship opportunities.

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, a student may obtain an Enrollment Verification in AU Access under My Academics tab or by visiting the Office of the Registrar. The Office of the Registrar is located in Langdon Hall and can be reached at (334) 844-4770. Visit Enrollment Verification for more 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 Requesting an Official Transcript 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 and Renewal

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 Direct Deposit Information (Fast & Easy Refunds) in AU Access on My Finances. More information on refunds and the Direct Deposit of Student Refunds Policy can be found here.

Competitive 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. Eligibility for scholarship renewal for the upcoming academic year is reviewed at the end of spring semester.

Competitive 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 applied as a credit to the student’s university billing account at the amount indicated in the scholarship award letter. While a comprehensive review of available scholarships and award amounts is conducted each year, all scholarships are not adjusted annually. Current students eligible for renewal of a first-year student scholarship will not be affected by future changes in award amounts.

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 a student's co-op schedule, there will be a year where it will be necessary to enroll summer term to stay on course to renew a four-year competitive merit scholarship. Similar to enrollment for fall or spring term, students must enroll for a minimum of 12 credit hours during summer term for the scholarship to disburse.

Scholarship funds may be applied to study abroad program fees when a student participates in an Auburn-led study abroad programs and exchange programs 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) 844-3667, or email auab@auburn.edu.
Last updated: 12/02/2022