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Automatic Scholarships Based on SAT/ACT Scores in 2025
What’s Covered
- Automatic College Scholarships Awarded Based on SAT/ACT Scores
- Don’t Forget the National Merit Scholarship
- How Does Your SAT/ACT Score Impact Your Chances of Acceptance?
Merit scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence or excellence in other areas and can go a long way in reducing the cost of college attendance. While many outside scholarships require you to submit essays or other materials to be considered for an award, some offer them automatically based on factors such as your GPA or SAT/ACT scores.
Below is a list of colleges that offer scholarships automatically based on test scores. (Note: These scholarships are generally awarded based on SAT or ACT scores, but many also require a certain minimum GPA.)
Automatic College Scholarships Awarded Based on SAT/ACT Scores
1. Alabama State University
Presidential Academic Scholarship: Full Ride
Requirements: 3.76 GPA and 26 ACT or 1240 SAT
Academic Excellence Scholarship: Full Tuition Plus (tuition plus required fees and books)
Requirements: 3.51 GPA and 22 ACT or 1160 SAT
Academic Incentive Scholarship: Full Tuition Plus (tuition plus $500 for books)
Requirements: 3.00 GPA and 20 ACT or 1020 SAT
2. Colorado Christian University
Distinguished Achievement Scholarship: $22,000 per year
Requirements: 1370 SAT or 30 ACT and a 4.0 GPA
A number of other scholarships based on SAT/ACT scores are also available at CCU—a comprehensive list is found on the university’s website.
3. Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky awards scholarships to both in-state and out-of-state incoming freshmen based on their ACT scores and high school GPA. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $8,000 annual awards.
4. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
FAMU Scholars: N/A
Requirements: 1320 SAT or 28 ACT (including a 670 on the SAT math section or 28 on the ACT math subject area)
5. Florida Gulf Coast University
President’s Gold: $5,000 per year
Requirements: 3.9 GPA and 1320 SAT or 28 ACT; Florida residency
President’s Silver: $3,000 per year
Requirements: 3.5 GPA and 1220 SAT or 25 ACT; Florida residency
Blue and Green Scholars (non-residents): $15,000 per year
Requirements: 3.9 GPA and 1320 SAT or 28 ACT
Blue and Green Directors (non-residents): $10,000 per year
Requirements: 3.5 GPA and 1220 SAT or 25 ACT
6. Howard University
HU Presidential Scholarship
HU Achievers Scholarship
HU Founders Scholarship
HU Capstone Scholarship
HU Leadership Scholarship
HU Opportunity Grant
HU Access Grant
Eligibility requirements and award amounts are not available. However, Howard University’s merit-based awards are determined based on students’ SAT/ACT scores and high school GPA.
7. Idaho State University
Presidential: $7,500 per year
Requirements: 3.0 GPA and 32 ACT or 1420 SAT; Idaho residency
Smaller awards are available for lower ACT and GPA combinations, ranging from $1,000 to $7,000 per year. Merit-based scholarships at Idaho State University are open only to in-state students.
8. Jacksonville State University
Gamecock Prestige Scholarship: $5,000 to $10,500 annually
Requirements: 1390 SAT or 31 ACT and 2.0 GPA
9. Louisiana State University (LSU)
TOPS Awards: $3,731.49 to $4,131.49 per semester
Requirements: 20 ACT and 2.5 GPA
There are three levels of TOPS awards—Honors, Performance, and Opportunity—each with its own ACT and GPA requirements.
10. Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University offers a range of SAT/ACT-based scholarships, starting at $2,000 for students who have ACT scores between 23 and 24 or SAT scores between 1130 and 1190, along with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.749. The most valuable scholarship available is the:
Presidential: $9,000 or $9,500
Requirements: 33 ACT or 1450-1600 SAT with a GPA of 3.0 to 3.749 GPA for $9,000 or 3.75 to 4.0 for $9,500
Smaller awards are available for lower ACT and GPA combinations.
11. Middle Tennessee State University
Centennial Scholarship: $8,000
Requirements: 1490 SAT or 34 ACT and 3.5 GPA
Trustee Scholarship: $5,000
Requirements: 1360 SAT or 30 ACT and 3.5 GPA
Presidential Scholarship: $4,500
Requirements: 1200 SAT or 25 ACT and 3.5 GPA
True Blue Scholarship: $3,500
Requirements: 1100 SAT or 22 ACT and 3.5 GPA
12. Michigan Technological University
Presidential Scholars Program: $1,000 to $5,500 per year
The school automatically awards students based on a combination of their high school academic record, including cumulative GPA and SAT or ACT score. The minimum GPA required for scholarship consideration is a 3.50. The minimum eligible standardized test score is a 1110 on the SAT or 22 on the ACT. You can estimate your award amount on the university’s scholarship page.
13. Ohio State University
Maximus, Provost, and Trustees Scholarships: $1,000 to $3,000 per year
National Buckeye Scholarship (out-of-state): $13,500 per year
Eligibility requirements are not available. However, the school seeks to admit highly competitive students, as demonstrated through GPA, class rank, the rigor of high school curriculum, and ACT or SAT scores.
14. Oklahoma State University (OSU)
OSU automatically awards scholarships to incoming in-state and out-of-state students based on a combination of SAT/ACT scores and GPA. Awards range from $15,000 to $1,000 annually.
15. Tarleton State University
The President’s Guaranteed Scholarship program at Tarleton State University provides awards to students who graduate in the top half of their high school class. Awards are based on SAT or ACT scores—the better the score, the more generous the award.
16. Texas State University
President’s Honor Scholarship: $12,000
Requirements: 1420 SAT or 32 ACT and top 25% of graduating class or IB diploma or AP Capstone Diploma
Renewal criteria: 3.25 Cumulative Texas State GPA, complete 28 passing Texas State hours/year (fall/spring), and have undergraduate status
Texas State Achievement Scholarship: $6,000 to $8,000
Requirements: 1160 to 1410 SAT or 24 to 31 ACT and top 25% of graduating class or IB diploma or AP Capstone Diploma
Renewal criteria: 3.25 Cumulative Texas State GPA, complete 28 passing Texas State hours/year (fall/spring), and have undergraduate status
Texas State Distinguished Scholarship: $4,000 to $5,000
Requirements: 1160 SAT or 24 ACT and top 35% of graduating class or IB diploma or AP Capstone Diploma
Renewal criteria: 3.25 Cumulative Texas State GPA, complete 28 passing Texas State hours/year (fall/spring), and have undergraduate status
17. Texas Tech University
Freshmen Merit Scholarship Program: $1,000 to $9,000
Requirements: 1100 SAT or 22 ACT and 3.0 GPA
18. Tuskegee University
Distinguished Presidential: Full tuition, room/board, and $300 book voucher
Requirements: 1300-1420+ SAT or 28-32+ ACT and 3.7 GPA
University Merit: Full tuition and $300 book voucher
Requirements: 1200 to 1290 SAT or 25 to 27 ACT and 3.5 GPA
University Achievement: $10,000
Requirements: 1100 to 1190 SAT or 22 to 24 ACT and 3.3 GPA
Alabama Incentive Grant: $5,000 plus housing
Requirements: 1030 to 1090 SAT or 20 to 21 ACT and 2.8 GPA
Tuskagee University Grant: $8,000
Requirements: 1030 to 1090 SAT or 20 to 21 ACT and 3.1 GPA
19. University of Alabama in Huntsville
All Freshmen Academic Scholarships: $2,000 to Full tuition
Requirements: 1060 SAT or 21 ACT, 3.0 GPA, and Alabama residency
The University of Alabama in Huntsville also offers $2,000 awards to students who meet the GPA requirement but apply test-optional.
20. University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa
Presidential Elite Scholar: Full tuition plus one-year housing, $1,500 stipend for four years, and $2,000 one-time allowance for research or study abroad
Requirements: 1600 SAT or 36 ACT and a 4.0 GPA
Presidential Scholar: Full tuition for in-state students and $28,000 per year for out-of-state residents
Requirements: 1360 SAT or 30 ACT and a 3.50 GPA
Additional scholarships are available for students with SAT scores of at least 1200 or ACT scores of 25 and 3.5 GPAs.
21. University of Kentucky
Otis A. Singletary Scholarship: Full tuition and $10,000 housing stipend
Requirements: 1450 SAT or 33 ACT and 3.8 GPA
Presidential Scholarship: Full tuition
Requirements: 1390 SAT or 31 ACT and 3.5 GPA
Provost Scholarship (in-state): $2,500 to $5,000
Requirements: 1230 SAT or 26 ACT, 3.3 GPA, and Kentucky residency
Bluegrass Spirit (out-of-state): $5,000 to $12,500
Requirements: 1200 SAT or 25 ACT, 3.0 GPA, and not a resident of Kentucky
22. University of Illinois – Chicago
Chancellor’s Fellows: $7,500 per year
Requirements: 1450 SAT score or 33 ACT and 3.7 GPA
23. University of Louisiana – Monroe
President’s Distinguished: $6,000 academic scholarship, $5,000 housing award, $4,500 study abroad stipend, and a laptop
Requirements: 33 ACT and a 3.7 GPA
Smaller awards are available for lower ACT and GPA combinations.
24. University of Mississippi
Academic Merit Resident Scholarships: $1,000 to $9,900
Requirements: 1130 SAT or 23 ACT, 3.0 GPA, Mississippi residency
Academic Merit Non-Resident Scholarships: $1,500 to $9,900
Requirements: 1200 SAT or 25 ACT and 3.0 GPA
25. University of Missouri
A number of scholarships are automatically awarded to applicants who are Missouri residents with certain SAT/ACT and GPA combinations. The highest scholarship award for in-state applicants is $7,200 per academic year, and the smallest award is $1,000. You can view the standardized test scores and GPA groupings, along with their corresponding scholarship, on the university’s website.
Awards for out-of-state applicants can reach $21,500 per year. Smaller awards are available for lower SAT/ACT and GPA combinations. There is even a Border State Award for students from states neighboring Missouri with certain standardized test scores and GPA combinations.
26. University of Tennessee
In-State Volunteer Scholarship: $3,000 to $9,000
Requirements: 1300 SAT or 28 ACT
Non-Resident Volunteer Scholarship: $8,000 to $18,000
Requirements: 1300 SAT or 28 ACT
27. University of Texas – Arlington
Presidential Honors Scholarship: $13,000
Requirements: Several factors are considered, such as high school rank, GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and rigor of high school courses
Presidential Scholarship: $10,000
Requirements: Several factors are considered, such as high school rank, GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and rigor of high school courses.
28. University of Oklahoma
Various scholarships for in-state and out-of-state applicants, ranging from $2,000 to $17,000 per year. The minimum requirements for the smallest scholarship are a combination of a 1160 SAT or 24 ACT and a 3.25 GPA.
29. University of Wyoming
Cowboy Commitment (in-state): $500 to $6,500 per year
Requirements: 1060 SAT or 21 ACT, 3.0 GPA, and Wyoming residency
Brown and Gold Commitment (out-of-state): $3,000 to $12,000 per year
Requirements: 1060 SAT or 21 ACT, 3.0 GPA
The Cowboy Commitment and Bown and Gold Commitment are based on a combination of SAT/ACT scores and GPA—the higher your standardized test scores and GPA, the higher the award. The distribution scales for in-state and out-of-state students are found on the university’s website.
30. Utah State University
Resident Scholarships: $1,500 per year to full tuition and student fees
Requirements: 960 SAT or 18 ACT and 2.7 GPA
Non-Resident Scholarships: $11,500 per year to full tuition and student fees
Requirements: 960 SAT or 18 ACT and 2.7 GPA
Awards are based on a combination of SAT/ACT scores and GPA—the better your standardized test score and GPA combination, the more generous the award. The distribution schema is found on the university’s website.
Don’t Forget the National Merit Scholarship
You can automatically qualify for generous scholarships if you get a top score on the PSAT in your junior year.
Applicants with top 1% scores in their state are given National Merit Semifinalist status and can compete for finalist status and scholarships of $2,500. In addition to the $2,500 awards that the roughly 7,500 National Merit Scholarship winners receive, some colleges grant additional scholarships if you list them as your first choice on your National Merit materials.
For example, National Merit Finalists get a full-ride scholarship at the University of Alabama, and National Merit Semifinalists get full tuition at Washington State University.
How Does Your SAT/ACT Score Impact Your Chances of Acceptance?
Colleges measure the strength of your academic profile using the Academic Index. The Academic Index measures your GPA and standardized test scores, including the SAT and ACT. Many selective schools will reject applicants who don’t have a high enough Academic Index before even looking at their application (though this has changed somewhat with test-optional policies).
In light of this, it’s critical to have a competitive ACT or SAT score to receive merit-based scholarships and gain admission into top-rated schools. To see how your test scores impact your admissions chances, you can use CollegeVine’s free Admissions Calculator. This tool considers your GPA, extracurriculars, test scores, and more to determine your personal chances at your dream school. Plus, it will offer tips on how you can improve your profile to increase your chances of acceptance!
You may also want to enter the $2,000 No Essay CollegeVine Scholarship—all you have to do is create a free CollegeVine account or fill out your chancing profile if you already have one. Awards are paid out directly to students to cover educational costs.
