Auburn Freshman Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Auburn University

This page summarizes the scholarships available to first‑year students. Note that total grants and scholarships cannot exceed the published cost of attendance. Several scholarship categories have separate pages with additional details — please review those pages and our Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

General enrollment requirement (applies to several scholarships)
- First‑year students must enroll in the summer or fall term immediately following high school graduation to be considered for these awards.*

Competitive Merit Scholarships
- Renewal: These scholarships are renewable for up to four years.
- Automatic consideration: First‑year applicants who have a complete admission file (application, application fee, official test scores sent by the testing agency, and high school transcript) submitted by December 1 and who are admitted through Early Action by early February receive automatic consideration. No separate scholarship application is required.
- Academic criteria: Consideration is based on high school GPA and standardized test performance. Confirm that Auburn has your academic records via the Applicant Portal. The same high school GPA used to determine admission eligibility will be used for scholarship eligibility.
- Test scores: Auburn accepts the ACT Superscore Report and will calculate a superscore for the SAT and for any individual ACT score reports. Only the best testing result will be used for scholarship review. Any updated highest scores from individual tests must arrive at Auburn by January 12; scores received after that date will not be considered for competitive merit scholarships.
- Award process: Scholarships are awarded competitively; being considered does not guarantee an award. Each incoming class is evaluated against itself. Award decisions depend on the number of qualified admits, applicant credentials, and available funding.
- Timing: Students admitted earlier in the cycle have a higher likelihood of receiving awards. Competitive merit scholarships are distributed mid‑November, mid‑January, and early February.
- Notification: Recipients will be notified by email to their Auburn email account and by postal mail to their permanent address.

Select Need‑Based Scholarships (Alabama residents)
- Renewal: These scholarships are renewable for four years.
- Eligibility: Select need‑based scholarships are available to Alabama residents. First‑year students must enroll in the summer or fall immediately after high school graduation to be considered.
- Consideration: Applicants admitted by early March receive automatic consideration; no separate scholarship application is required. Selection is based on demonstrated financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which must be submitted to Auburn. Students chosen for federal verification are not eligible for need‑based awards until the verification process is complete.
- Awards: A student may receive a select need‑based scholarship in addition to other scholarship types. Awards begin mid‑January and are issued monthly through mid‑March.
- Notification: Recipients are notified by email to their Auburn email account.
- Additional info: Information on scholarship payment and renewal can be found on the Select Need‑Based Scholarships page.

Achievement and Leadership Scholarships
- Renewal: These awards are renewable for up to four years and are granted as funding allows.
- Eligibility: First‑year students must enroll in the summer or fall immediately after high school graduation to be considered.
- How to apply: For general and departmental achievement/leadership scholarships, applicants admitted by early February should complete the scholarship application in the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM) by the February 16 priority date to receive priority consideration. Applications submitted after February 16 may still be reviewed.
- Criteria: Consideration is based on high school GPA and the information provided on the AUSOM application. For applicants who applied as traditional (test‑reported) students, standardized test scores may also be used; updated scores must be received by Auburn by January 12. For applicants who applied test‑optional, the academic assessment performed during admission review may be considered.
- Residency priority: Priority consideration is given to Alabama residents.
- Awards: These scholarships are competitive; consideration does not ensure an award. For the most recent entering class, the average recipient high school GPA was 4.29, and the typical award ranged from $1,500 to $2,000 per year for four years.
- Restrictions: A student may not receive both an achievement and a leadership scholarship, nor may a student receive an achievement or leadership scholarship in combination with a competitive merit scholarship.
- Timing: If funds permit, these scholarships are awarded by early May.
- Notification: Recipients are notified by email to their Auburn email account.

Notes
- Scholarships listed here apply to first‑year students only.
- For details about specific enrollment scenarios that could affect eligibility (for competitive merit, select need‑based, or achievement and leadership scholarships), please consult First‑year Student Scholarships in our Frequently Asked Questions.*