Auburn Freshman Scholarships

Auburn University is committed to making a world-class education accessible and affordable for all students. First-Year students may qualify for a variety of scholarships and financial aid opportunities to help reduce the cost of attendance.

Merit-based, need-based, and departmental scholarships are available to recognize academic excellence and financial need. Through a combination of institutional scholarships and federal aid, Auburn seeks to empower students to pursue their academic goals with confidence and support.

First-Year Student Scholarships

Students can apply for all institutional scholarships through the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM) on AU Access. Students complete one application per academic year.

Tax Note: Scholarship amounts exceeding tuition, fees, and books may be considered taxable income

Competitive Merit Scholarships

• No scholarship application is required.
• Automatic consideration is based on high school GPA and ACT/SAT superscore.
• Your admission application including application fee, high school transcript, and official test scores from the testing agency—must be complete by December 1. Updated test scores must be received by January 11 to be considered for scholarship reconsideration.
• Students must enroll summer or fall immediately after high school graduation to receive consideration.
• Award ranges (based on previous year; subject to change):
  • Residents: $5,000-Full Tuition and Student Services Fees per year
  • Non-residents: $7,000-$17,000 per year
• Competitive merit scholarships are renewable for up to 8 semesters with a minimum cumulative, unadjusted 3.0 Auburn GPA and 24 Auburn credit hours earned per academic year.
• Notification begins mid-November and continues through early February.

How to Apply

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is here to support your academic journey. Follow the steps below to apply for aid, and be sure to complete your requirements early to maximize your eligibility. Visit our Preparing for 2026-27 FAFSA page for FAFSA tips.

Step 1: Complete the FAFSA

To apply for financial aid at Auburn University, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

You'll need to:

• Create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID
• Invite your parent (if dependent) to contribute
• Provide electronic consent and signatures to transfer federal tax info

Already submitted the FAFSA but didn’t list Auburn? Log in and submit a correction to add our school code.

Step 2: Submit the Scholarship Application in AUSOM

All institutional scholarships, including general and departmental awards, are managed through the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM) in AU Access, where students may complete an optional application to provide additional information for consideration.

• Students submit AUSOM once per academic year
• The application should be completed by the February 12 priority date for full consideration. Applications received after this date may still receive consideration.

Step 3: Review Your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS)

After your FAFSA is processed (within 3 to 5 business days), you’ll receive a FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS).

• Check your Student Aid Index (SAI)
• Review your reported info for accuracy
• Make corrections if needed by logging back in to FAFSA
• Check your Auburn email often for updates

Step 4: Confirm Receipt in AU Access

Once Auburn receives your FAFSA:

• Log into AU Access → My Finances → Financial Aid Requirements
• Complete any additional documentation if requested

If selected for verification, respond promptly. Delays or inactivity can prevent aid from being offered. Verification may take 2 to 3 weeks.

Step 5: Review and Respond to Your Aid Offer

After completing all requirements, your aid offer will be emailed to your Auburn address.

• View and accept/decline federal aid in AU Access
• Notify us of any external aid (e.g., private scholarships, loans) to avoid over-awards or repayments.

Step 6: Understand Disbursement

Visit our Maintain Aid and Notification of Federal Aid Disbursement pages to learn when and how your aid will be disbursed.