Overview of UA's Scholarship Philosophy

Getting a scholarship can make college much less expensive, and the University of Alabama (UA) is known for having a lot of scholarships for high-achieving students. This article gives a complete list of all the scholarships available for the 2026–2027 school year. It includes information on who may apply, what benefits they offer, how to apply, and strategic advice to increase your chances of getting a big prize.

The University of Alabama invests a lot of money in scholarships to attract the best students from the US and throughout the world. There are two main types of scholarships at the university:

• Automatic Merit Scholarships: Given out based only on a math formula that takes your core high school GPA plus your top ACT or SAT superscore and combines them. You will get the reward if your numbers fulfill the requirements.
• Competitive Scholarships: To get one of these, your whole application is reviewed. The selection committee looks at more than just grades, including leadership, community service, essays, and letters of reference.

The first step in strategically positioning your application is to understand this difference.

1. Presidential Elite Scholarship

The Presidential Elite Scholarship is the most prestigious and complete grant for new freshmen at the University of Alabama.

Scholarship Benefits

This is a full-ride-plus scholarship that pays for almost everything and gives you extra money for enrichment activities. The benefits are:

• Full Tuition Coverage: For up to four years of undergraduate study (eight semesters) and one graduate or law degree at UA, as long as you are accepted into that program.
• On-Campus Housing: Covers the usual room rate for your first year of living on campus (Housing and Residential Communities will give you a room).
• Annual Stipend: A $1500 extra scholarship each year (for a total of $6000 over four years) to help with additional school costs.
• Enrichment Award: A one-time payment of $2000 after finishing one year of school at UA. This fund is only for use in a research project or an international study trip, meant to encourage students to get involved in academics and the world.
• Value: For out-of-state students, the overall value of this package during four years of undergraduate education can be more than $120000. When you add in the graduate school benefit, it can be even more.

Eligibility Requirements

The requirements are purely numerical and cannot be changed:

• GPA: A 4.0 or higher unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale in all necessary core high school classes.
• Test Scores: A perfect 36 on the ACT or a perfect 1600 on the SAT (just the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math sections).
• Application Deadline: The institution must get all application documents, including official test scores provided directly from the testing agency, by December 15 2025 for Fall 2026 consideration.

Application Process

You don’t have to fill out a second application for the Presidential Elite Scholarship. You are immediately considered when you:

1. Send in your whole application for undergraduate admission to the University of Alabama.
2. Make sure that your official high school transcript shows a core GPA of 4.0 or higher.
3. Make sure that the ACT and/or College Board sends your certified perfect score report to UA by the deadline. The ACT code is 0052 and the SAT code is 1830.

2. Automatic Merit Scholarship Tiers

UA has a structured tier of automatic rewards for students who don’t quite meet the Elite scholarship’s flawless scores. These are mostly meant to help pay for out-of-state tuition, making UA a very appealing choice for high-achieving students who don’t live in Alabama.

The table below shows the different levels and the perks that come with each one for the 2026–2027 school year (values are yearly and can be renewed).

Key Notes on Automatic Scholarships

• GPA Calculation: UA only looks at core academic courses (English, math, science, social studies, and a foreign language) to figure out your GPA. When they get your transcript, they will use their own scale to figure out your GPA again.
• Superscoring: UA takes your best scores from each section on all test dates and combines them to make your highest possible composite ACT or SAT score. You can and should take the tests again to raise your superscore and advance up a tier in the scholarship.
• Renewal Requirements: To keep these scholarships for all four years, you must:
  • Keep a cumulative 3.0 GPA at the University of Alabama.
  • Successfully finish at least 67% of all credit hours attempted (usually 24 credit hours per year).

3. Competitive Admissions Scholarship

Eligibility and Value

The UA Competitive Admissions Scholarship is a very important chance for individuals with great overall profiles who may not have the top test results.

• Value: Awards range from $6000 a year to full tuition.
• Considerations: The scholarship committee looks at everything as a whole, including:
  • Academic Components: Difficulty of high school curriculum, GPA, class rank, and academic accolades.
  • Non-Academic Components: Leadership (in school, community, or work), involvement in extracurricular activities, relevant volunteer experience, work background, and non-academic distinctions and awards.

Application Process

There is no special application for these scholarships, just like the automatic ones. When you send in your full application for admission by the priority deadline, you are automatically considered for the Competitive Admissions Scholarship. Your main resources for presenting your case for this prize are your application essays and activities list.

4. Alabama Scholarship Award Manager (ASAM)

The Alabama Scholarship Award Manager (ASAM) interface opens up a whole new world of scholarship opportunities once you are accepted to the University of Alabama. A lot of students forget to do this important step. ASAM is a central place where you can apply for hundreds of other scholarships sponsored by:

• Different academic colleges and departments, like the College of Engineering and the Culverhouse College of Business.
• Certain majors and programs.
• Alumni groups and private gifts.

These scholarships can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year, and you can often get them on top of your automatic merit scholarship. Most of the time, the application asks you broad questions that help the system find scholarships that you are eligible for. Some could need more short essays or other materials. The same day that applications and ASAM profiles are due is also the priority admission deadline: December 5 2025 for Fall/Summer 2026 entrance.

5. Strategic Application Timeline for 2026–2027

Follow this timeline to ensure you are considered for all types of funding:

• Spring/Summer 2025 (Junior Year):
  • Start taking the ACT/SAT and work toward getting the score you want by the autumn of your senior year.
  • Build Your Profile: Get extensively involved in community service and leadership roles. These experiences will make your application for a competitive scholarship stronger.
• August 2025 (Senior Year):
  • Start Your Application: As soon as the UA application for admission opens, fill it out.
  • Ask for Recommendations: Get letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors as soon as you can.
• October to November 2025:
  • Retake Tests: Take the ACT/SAT one last time to try to raise your superscore.
  • Submit FAFSA: You don’t have to do this to get merit assistance, but you do have to do it to get need-based help and federal loans. FAFSA opens in December 2025. The FAFSA code for UA is 001051.
• December 5 2025: THE MOST IMPORTANT DEADLINE
  • Make sure UA gets all of your admission materials, including all of your transcripts and official test scores.
  • This is the last day to apply for the Competitive Admissions Scholarship and to be given preference for automatic merit awards.
• December 15 2025: FINAL DEADLINE for Presidential Elite
  • To be eligible for the Presidential Elite Scholarship, all materials must be sent by this date.
• After Admission (January 2026 Onward):
  • Complete ASAM: As soon as you get your admission announcement, log onto your myBama portal and finish your ASAM profile before the deadline.

Tips for Success

• Superscore is Your Best Friend: Don’t let one test date get you down. Work on making each section better to boost your composite superscore.
• Apply Early: Sending in your application long before the December deadline shows interest and puts you at the top of the list for all award considerations.
• Don’t Ignore ASAM: Take the ASAM portal just as seriously as your main application. You may get thousands of more dollars in funding by spending more time there.
• Contact Financial Aid: The UA Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Scholarships is a great place to go if you have inquiries or special needs. Don’t be afraid to contact them.
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Final Thoughts

The University of Alabama’s scholarship program shows a strong commitment to making a world-class education available to everyone. You can position yourself to get a life-changing financial reward if you learn how the system works, prepare well, and meet all of your deadlines. Always check the University of Alabama’s Office of Undergraduate Scholarships website for the most up-to-date and authentic information.