First-Year Students
Scholarships available to first-year students are included on this page. Some of the scholarship types also have their own page with more information. We encourage you to also visit those pages and our frequently asked questions.
Competitive Merit Scholarships
Competitive merit scholarships are renewable for four years. First-year students must enroll summer or fall immediately following high school graduation to receive consideration.*
Consideration
- First-year students accepted for admission by early February receive automatic consideration. A scholarship application is not required.
- Consideration is based on high school GPA and standardized test score. Verify Auburn has received your academic information in the Applicant Portal. The high school GPA that determined eligibility for admission will be the same GPA that determines eligibility for scholarships. Auburn will accept the ACT Superscore Report. Auburn will also calculate a superscore for the SAT and any individual score reports from ACT. Only your best testing result will be used for scholarship consideration. Updated highest scores from individual tests must be received by Auburn by January 10. Scores received after this deadline will not be reviewed for competitive merit scholarship consideration.
Awards
- Scholarships are awarded competitively. Consideration does not guarantee an award. Each entering class competes with itself. Actual awards are determined based on the number of qualified admitted students, the credentials of those applicants, and available funding.
- First-year students accepted for admission earlier are more likely to receive an award.
- Scholarships are awarded mid-November, mid-January, and early February.
- Recipients are notified by email to their Auburn email account and by postal mail to their permanent address.
Information on scholarship payment and renewal can be found at Competitive Merit Scholarships.
Fall 2024 Scholarship |
Minimum High School GPA Required |
Minimum ACT Score Required* |
Estimated Annual Award Amount |
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Spirit of Auburn Presidential Scholarship
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3.5 | 33-36 | $11,000 |
| Spirit of Auburn Founders Scholarship | 3.5 | 30-32 | $9,000 |
| Spirit of Auburn University Scholarship | 3.5 | 28-29 | $5,000 |
Fall 2024 Scholarship |
Minimum High School GPA Required |
Minimum ACT Score Required* |
Estimated Annual Award Amount |
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Academic Presidential Scholarship
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3.5 | 35-36 | $17,000 |
| 3.5 | 33-34 | $15,000 | |
| Academic Heritage Scholarship | 3.5 | 31-32 | $11,000 |
| Academic Charter Scholarship | 3.5 | 29-30 | $7,000 |
*Equivalent SAT scores are available at auburn.edu/testscores.
National Merit Finalists should contact the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to name Auburn University as their first choice institution by May 1. - For more information how students qualify as National Merit Finalists, please visit National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
National Merit Finalists receive a stipend of $4,000 over four years at $1,000 per year. Depending on eligibility as determined through completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)*, eligible students may receive an additional $1,000 annually. National Merit Finalists who are Alabama residents may receive the National Scholars Presidential Scholarship valued at $42,000 over four years at $11,000 per year , which will replace a previously awarded competitive merit scholarship.
To receive scholarship funds, students must enroll at Auburn for a minimum of 12 credit hours each term by the last day to add courses for the term (the 15th class day). Scholarship funds are applied as a credit to the student’s university billing account at the amount indicated in the scholarship award letter. Scholarship awards are divided equally between fall and spring semester and disbursed a maximum of 10 days before the semester begins. Exceptions are only granted to this requirement during the semester a student is graduating and enrolled in Achieve the Creed (UNIV 4AA0). To qualify for the exception, students must be enrolled for Auburn credit hours to receive scholarship payment and are expected to enroll at least half-time for a minimum of six credit hours.
Competitive merit scholarships are available for a maximum of eight semesters, independent of academic program. To be eligible for renewal, students must have a minimum 3.0 unadjusted Auburn GPA and have earned a minimum of 24 Auburn credit hours from fall to spring of the current academic year. Eligibility for scholarship renewal for the upcoming academic year is reviewed at the end of spring semester.
Students who plan to enroll summer term and wish for their competitive merit scholarship to be applied during that term should email the Office of University Scholarships. Scholarship funds requested for summer term will contribute to the maximum eight semester total. Students must be eligible for scholarship renewal at the end of spring semester to request payment for summer term.
Students who are unable to enroll at Auburn for an expected term for any reason should contact the Office of University Scholarships. Exceptions are granted for students who obtain a medical resignation or military withdrawal or participate in the Cooperative Education Program. Students who obtain a medical resignation or military withdrawal or participate in the Cooperative Education program during the fall or spring semester of an academic year may be granted through the summer term to meet renewal requirements.
Competitive merit scholarships may only be applied toward the completion of a first undergraduate degree. Students may use scholarship funds for professional study (i.e. pharmacy or veterinary medicine) or an Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s (ABM) Program, provided they have not already completed a first undergraduate degree, have semesters of eligibility remaining, and are eligible for renewal. Students who graduate early are ineligible to receive the balance of unused funds in their final semester and may not apply unused funds to graduate study or a second undergraduate degree.
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.
Auburn University is committed to providing a nurturing and vibrant community founded upon the fundamental dignity and worth of its members in an environment that promotes integrity, responsibility, and mutual respect. The Auburn Creed is the foundation upon which these values are established. Standards of acceptable behavior for students and student organizations are reflected in the Code of Student Conduct and other university policies. Suspension from the university for academic or non-academic conduct violations may result in scholarship termination.
For complete scholarship payment and renewal guidelines, click here.
Select Need-Based Scholarships
Select need-based scholarships will be awarded to Alabama residents and are renewable for four years. First-year students must enroll summer or fall immediately following high school graduation to receive consideration.*
Consideration
- First-year students accepted for admission by early February receive automatic consideration. A scholarship application is not required.
- Consideration is based on financial need and high school GPA. For students who apply for admission as test optional, the academic assessment during the evaluation for admission is also considered.
- Financial need is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which must be received by Auburn. Students selected for financial need verification are not eligible for need-based scholarships if the verification process is incomplete.
- A minimum 3.0 high school GPA is required for consideration.
- Additional consideration is given to first-generation college students and students from underserved areas in Alabama.
Awards
- Scholarships are awarded competitively. Consideration does not guarantee an award.
- In the most recent first-year student entering class, scholarships were awarded at $2,000 or $5,000. The award amount may vary year to year based on the number of eligible students.
- Students may receive a select need-based scholarship in addition to other scholarships awarded.
- Select need-based scholarships are awarded beginning mid-January and monthly through mid-March, with recipients notified by email to their Auburn email account.
*Please visit First-year Student Scholarships under Frequently Asked Questions for more information on specific enrollment situations that may impact select need-based scholarship eligibility.
Information on scholarship payment and renewal can be found at Select Need-Based Scholarships.
Achievement and Leadership Scholarships
Achievement and leadership scholarships will be awarded as funding permits and are renewable for four years. First-year students must enroll summer or fall immediately following high school graduation to receive consideration.*
Consideration
- First-year students accepted for admission by early February and complete the scholarship application in the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM) by February 14 receive consideration.
- Consideration is based on high school GPA and information provided on the scholarship application. For 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.
- Priority consideration is given to Alabama residents.
Awards
- Scholarships are awarded competitively. Consideration does not guarantee an award.
- The average high school GPA for achievement and leadership scholarship recipients in the most recent first-year student entering class was 4.29. The average award amount for achievement and leadership scholarship recipients in the most recent entering class was $1,500 to $2,000 per year for four years.
- Students may not receive an achievement and a leadership scholarship. Students also may not receive an achievement or leadership scholarship and a competitive merit scholarship.
- If funding permits, scholarships are awarded by early May, and recipients are notified by email to their Auburn email account.
*Please visit First-year Student Scholarships under Frequently Asked Questions for more information on specific enrollment situations that may impact achievement and leadership scholarship eligibility.
General and Departmental Scholarships
General scholarships are awarded by the Office of University Scholarships and departmental scholarships are awarded by the academic colleges. New and current Auburn University students receive consideration for general and departmental scholarships. First-year students must enroll summer or fall immediately following high school graduation to receive consideration.*
Consideration and Criteria
- First-year students accepted for admission by early February and complete the scholarship application in the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM) by February 14 receive consideration.
- Some 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. Students selected for financial need verification are not eligible for need-based scholarships if the verification process is incomplete.
- Many general and departmental scholarships include a geographic criterion defined as high school attended or city, county, or state of residence. A majority of those include a preference for a recipient who is an Alabama resident.
- Departmental scholarships include an academic program criterion, primarily defined as college or major in which enrolled, and vary in availability and award amount by college and academic program.
Awards
- Scholarships are awarded competitively. Consideration does not guarantee an award.
- 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.
- Students may receive a general or departmental scholarship in addition to a competitive merit scholarship or select need-based scholarship.
- Students who have previously been awarded a scholarship valued at resident tuition or greater, currently $11,016 for the 2024-25 academic year, may be less likely to receive a general or departmental scholarship, unless the student is an Alabama resident and has high unmet financial need.
- Scholarships are awarded in early May, and recipients are notified by email to the Auburn email account.
*Please visit First-year Student Scholarships under Frequently Asked Questions for more information on specific enrollment situations that may impact general and departmental scholarship eligibility.
