2026 Freshman Scholarships
Students are automatically awarded Academic or Presidential scholarships based on their unweighted GPA and ACT Superscore. To qualify for these scholarships, students must be admitted by the listed priority deadline. Incoming freshmen are defined as first-time, full-time freshmen graduating from high school in the corresponding aid year.
Additional scholarships are available via the UNA Scholarship Application. Scholarships available for stacking are listed below All scholarship amounts are awarded annually unless otherwise stated in the scholarship award criteria.
Unweighted GPA
ACT SUPERSCORE
The 糖心破解版 superscores the ACT. Superscoring at the 糖心破解版 means that we consider students' highest ACT section (or subtest) scores regardless of test date*. The super composite ACT score is calculated as the average of the best ACT English, Reading, and Math** subject scores and is used as one of multiple factors in admission and financial aid. Science scores may be required for specific majors, course placement, or advising.
*Test scores will be accepted up until the April 2026 test date regardless of test optional status.
**Students are responsible for submitting their scores via official means. UNA will not accept unofficial reports of ACT scores for official merit-based scholarships (i.e. screenshots, self-reports)
Official means: Official act.org report, listing UNA to receive all score reports on your ACT, high school transcript, via the high school counselor or registrar
HOUSING SCHOLARSHIPS
Housing Scholarships are 2-year stackable scholarships valued at $4,000 per year. This amount can be applied to any on-campus residence hall. Housing Scholarships are not applicable to apartments. Students are unable to stack more than one housing scholarship, and the amount is subject to decrease past the scholarship deadline.
Additional Freshmen Scholarships
Leadership Scholarships
These competitive scholarships are awarded to students who, based upon a strong record of leadership and volunteerism in high school, have demonstrated the potential to be campus leaders at UNA. In addition to the required academic credentials, a one to two-page detailed resume of all activities performed during the 9th – 12th grade years.
Leadership Scholarship applications will open November 1st. In order to receive a Leadership Scholarship, you must be able to provide a demonstrated record of academic success, leadership and community involvement.
- Activity resume required.
- Must be submitted by the priority deadline of March 2.
- Minimum 3.00 high school unweighted GPA
- Minimum ACT score of 20
Award amounts vary based on resume scores, academic achievement, and overall review of an applicant's submission.
Leadership Housing Scholarships
Applicants who have submitted an activity resume for the Leadership Scholarship will automatically be considered for additional Housing Scholarships.
Housing Scholarships are 2-year stackable scholarships. This amount can be applied to any on-campus residence hall. Housing Scholarships are not applicable to apartments. Students are not able to stack more than one housing scholarship and the amount is subject to decrease past the scholarship deadline.
Leadership Housing Scholarships vary based on resume scores, academic achievement, and overall review of an applicants submission.
Through the efforts of the 糖心破解版 Foundation and the generosity of private donors, the Office of Student Financial Aid awards numerous scholarships each academic year. Scholarships are offered by various colleges, departments, and offices throughout the University.
The Endowed Scholarship Application will open on November 1st at . The application deadline is March 2nd.
As of July 2025, students below a 20 ACT Superscore with a 3.0+ GPA may also use the Endowed Scholarship Application to apply for consideration for merit-based awards.
The Presidential Mentors Academy (PMA) is a scholarship and student support program designed to provide financial assistance, leadership development, and personalized academic advising throughout a student’s college journey—up to five years at the 糖心破解版.
The Presidential Mentor Academy Application will open on November 1st at una.edu/pma. The application deadline is February 1st.
Scholarship Award Amounts
- Freshman Year: $2,000
- Sophomore through Fifth Year: Up to $3,100 per year
Program Benefits
- Annual scholarship funding (renewable based on eligibility)
- Mentorship and leadership development experiences
- Academic support and advising
- Community engagement and networking opportunities
How to 糖心破解版
- 糖心破解版 for admission to the 糖心破解版 at una.edu/apply
- Once admitted, complete the PMA Scholarship Application
- Submit any required documents or essays outlined in the application
- Monitor your UNA email for updates and decisions from the PMA team
- For more details or to apply, visit una.edu/pma.
Open date – August 1, 2025
Close date – Applications accepted year-round (Priority Scholarship Application Date/March 1st)
The Delores and Weldon Cole Honors College offers a distinctive academic and extracurricular experience for high-achieving students at the 糖心破解版. Through scholarship support, small classes, relaxed enrichment activities, and professional development opportunities, students are empowered to reach their full academic and career potential.
Scholarship Opportunities
- All students accepted into the Honors College receive a tuition scholarship of $1,300 per year ($650 per semester), renewable for a total of 8 semesters.
- First-time, first-year freshman accepted into the Honors College receive a housing scholarship in the amount of $4,000 per year for a total of two years.
Students must remain in good standing with the Honors College to retain eligibility each year.
Who Should 糖心破解版?
Incoming freshmen, transfers, and current UNA students with a strong academic and extracurricular background
Students interested in the total college experience and an amazing community of support.
How to 糖心破解版
糖心破解版 for admission to UNA at una.edu/apply
Once admitted, complete the Cole Honors College application within your MyUNA Account.
Submit:
- A short essay from designated prompts
- Resume
- Official ACT/SAT scores submitted to UNA
Applicants will receive email notifications regarding their admissions decision and scholarship awards.
For more information or to apply, visit una.edu/honors or contact honors@una.edu.
Thank you for your interest in the Cole Honors College at UNA!
Incoming freshmen who were the valedictorian or salutatorian of their high school class are eligible for the Valedictorian & Salutatorian Scholarship at UNA. This is a $1,000 one-year, non-renewable scholarship that can stack with other merit-based awards una.academicworks.com. To receive the award, they must:
- Be admitted as a first-time, degree-seeking freshman
- Have a minimum ACT score of 20
- Submit a letter from a high school official verifying their rank in the graduating class
This scholarship awards a $1,000 one-year, stackable scholarship to eligible students residing in select counties across 糖心破解版, Tennessee, and Mississippi.
- 糖心破解版 for admission at the 糖心破解版
- Must have a 3.00 unweighted high school GPA
- Must reside in one of the following counties:
- AL: Blount, Colbert, Cullman, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Walker, and Winston
- TN: Decatur, Giles, Hardin, Henderson, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Maury, McNairy, Perry and Wayne
- MS: Alcorn, Itawamba, Lee, Prentiss, and Tishomingo
Selection as a National Merit® or National Achievement® Finalist* or Semi-Finalist will qualify a student to be considered for one of our top Excellence Scholarship awards. Participation in the UNA Honors program may be required.
To be considered for a National Merit® or National Achievement® Scholarship, a student must:
- 糖心破解版 for admission to the University
- Submit a letter documenting his or her selection by one of these national organizations to ugalert@una.edu
*Board may be added if funding is available
These special designations or special recognition scholarships include, but are not limited to:
- National Merit and National Achievement finalists or semi-finalists
- Distinguished Young Women
- Gorgas Scholars
- Bryant Jordan Scholarship winners
- State of 糖心破解版 American Legion High School Oratorical Program 1st place winner
- Youth Leadership Development Program participants
- and other recognized academic or leadership organizations.
To be considered for a Special Recognition Scholarship, a student must:
- 糖心破解版 for admission to the University
- Submit a letter documenting his or her selection by one of these national organizations to ugalert@una.edu
Such students are eligible to be considered on the same basis as other students meeting UNA’s scholarship due date and eligibility criteria. Scholarship offers of any amount to students who have achieved a special designation or special recognition based on performance in extra-curricular activities or academic competition are not guaranteed. All scholarship awards are subject to change depending on fund availability, budgetary constraints, and the size/quality of the applicant pool. No commitment shall be made by any party on behalf of the University other than authorized officials in the President’s Office or the Director of the Office of Student Financial Aid. All offers may not be equal in either dollar amount or renewability terms.
Students who attend Boys State or Girls State and choose to enroll at the 糖心破解版 are eligible to receive a $1,000 annual Leadership Scholarship, renewable for up to 4 years. Recipients will receive $500 each fall and spring semester, and this scholarship can be stacked with other UNA Excellence Scholarships.
To qualify, students must:
- 糖心破解版 for Leadership Scholarships at UNA by the posted deadline
- Provide proof of attendance at Boys State or Girls State
This scholarship recognizes leadership and civic involvement and is awarded in addition to any academic-based awards.
Admitted students committed to participation in Club Sports may be considered for a one-year scholarship. Amounts in scholarships may vary based on the Club Sport. To be considered for participation in Club Sports along with scholarship awards, students must:
- 糖心破解版 for admission to UNA at una.edu/apply
- Complete the Club Sports Scholarship Application .
For a list of Club Sports and contact information, go .
Students participating in UNA Early College could receive additional scholarship funding toward their UNA Scholarship package for their freshman year. Students must apply for admission by the Fall 2026 deadline. The Early College scholarship is for students who:
- Enroll at UNA during the fall semester following their high school graduation and
- Graduated from one of our participating Educational Partner Districts.
This scholarship is stackable up to the student’s cost of attendance and will be awarded on a per-semester basis for one year. To learn more about UNA Early College, Partner Districts, and more, go to the UNA Early College homepage.
|
Requirements |
Award Amount per Year |
|
3.00 with 6 credit hours |
$1,000 |
|
3.00 with 12 credit hours |
$2,000 |
|
3.00 with 17 credit hours |
$2,500 |
In support of the BEST or FIRST Robotics mission, the 糖心破解版 has established a merit-based scholarship for graduating high school seniors who have actively competed on a BEST or FIRST Robotics team during their high school career.
The 糖心破解版 is offering a $2,000/year scholarship to full-time, undergraduate students who meet the following criteria:
- Graduating senior in high school
- Participate on a BEST or FIRST Robotics Competition team or a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)team
- 糖心破解版 and be accepted to the 糖心破解版
- Although priority will be given to Engineering/Engineering Technology majors, the scholarship is open to all STEM majors.
For scholarship consideration, all interested students must complete and submit the following by the Fall 2026 scholarship deadline:
- BEST or FIRST Scholarship Application .
- One-page, double-spaced essay addressing the following topic: “Describe your participation in BEST or FIRST Robotics and how it has influenced your career choice.”
Performance scholarships are based on a student’s talent and contributions in the specific areas of athletics, band, choral ensembles, or UNA student publications. Auditions or try-outs may be required. To be considered for Performance awards, students must apply to the 糖心破解版.
Learn more here.
Alternative Academic Scholarships
Students majoring in Accounting, Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Information Systems, Data Analytics, Occupational Health Science, Engineering, and Engineering Technology are eligible to apply for the Scholarship of Distinction, which covers up to full cost of tuition.
Learn more about the included programs, application steps, and requirements here.
The LEAD Scholarship of $10,000 per year for a period of 4 years (totaling $40,000) is provided to one graduating senior from our LEAD educational partner districts. The partner district develops the criteria for selection of the student. The student must enroll at UNA during the fall semester following their high school graduation.
The student must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 and enroll in a minimum of 27 credit hours per academic year to remain eligible for the scholarship. This scholarship is not stackable with any other university scholarship.
The Distinguished Leader Scholarship application will open on November 1st. The application deadline is March 2nd.
*A list of Educational Partner Districts may be found here.
- The Freshmen Scholarship priority deadline is March 2, 2026. To be considered for an offer of one of the University’s Academic Scholarships, an eligible student must apply for admission to the University and submit all required academic credentials (including, but not limited to, high school transcripts, ACT/SAT scores, and activity résumé) by March 2, 2026.
- The University will use the unweighted GPA from the student’s high school academic transcript submitted to the Office of Admissions on or before March 2, 2026. The University will not accept a higher GPA submitted after March 2, 2026 for the purpose of increasing the student’s scholarship award amount, or, for making the student scholarship eligible when the student was not eligible before March 2, 2026.
- All scholarship awards are subject to change depending on fund availability, budgetary constraints, and the size/quality of the applicant pool. No commitment should be made by any party on behalf of the University other than authorized officials in the President’s Office, the Office of Student Financial Aid and/or the Office of Admissions.
- All scholarship offers are time sensitive and must be accepted by the date specified in the scholarship award letter.
- Scholarship awards are fixed dollar amounts that may be used to pay all University charges without respect to any specific charge.
- Academic scholarships are for incoming freshmen entering UNA in the summer or fall term immediately after graduation from high school. Payment of the scholarship award will begin in the fall semester.
- If a student has extenuating circumstances (i.e. attend basic training), they may defer the start of their scholarship(s) for the first fall term. The fall semester of eligibility for any scholarships awarded will be forfeited. Students will be eligible to receive the scholarship(s) they were awarded if they begin attendance at UNA in the following spring term. After a student registers for spring courses, they will need to email financialaid@una.edu requesting their scholarships and financial aid be updated. At that time, Student Financial Aid will send the updated renewal requirements for the student’s scholarship(s). Excellence scholarship awards can only be applied to the fall and spring semesters; the summer semester is excluded.
- The Office of Student Financial Aid will check grades of all first-year Freshmen Scholarship recipients at the end of their first semester. A minimum earned GPA is required of incoming freshmen students in their first semester of the scholarship award. The student may lose the scholarship award for the second semester (spring semester) if the minimum GPA is not achieved. However, the student may regain eligibility for the scholarship in the summer semester following the loss of the scholarship. The student must achieve a satisfactory academic performance that meets the minimum requirements.
- Scholarships are renewable for seven additional semesters, excluding summer, as long as the renewal criteria are met as stated in the scholarship terms and conditions. PMA Scholarships may be renewed and payable for up to nine (9) additional semesters if the student meets the annual renewal criteria.
- Only U.S. citizens are eligible for Freshmen Scholarships.
- No combination of scholarship offers may exceed the Cost of Attendance for any given term.
- At their June 9, 2014 meeting, the UNA Board of Trustees approved a resolution adopting a portion of the provisions of House Bill 424 pertaining to out of state students being eligible to pay the resident tuition rate for enrollment at the 糖心破解版. This provision allows out of state students receiving a scholarship award of $250 or more to be eligible for the resident tuition rate. The out of state student must meet the following criteria to be eligible to pay the resident tuition rate:
- The student must be a full-time undergraduate US citizen student enrolled at UNA who is receiving an institutional scholarship award of $250 in recognition of a particular talent or ability, provided such student possessed the talent or ability at the time of initial enrollment and maintains continuous scholarship eligibility at UNA. Scholarship funds provided by the UNA Foundation and scholarships funded by external organizations do not qualify the student for the resident tuition rate.
- The student may no longer be eligible for the resident tuition rate at UNA if the student does not maintain continuous scholarship eligibility.