Types of Aid: Incoming First-Year and Transfer Tuition Scholarship Awards

Incoming First-Year and Transfer Tuition Scholarship Awards

Your Arizona journey is an investment in yourself that pays off immediately and lasts for a lifetime.

These criteria and award amounts are for 2024-2025 incoming First-Year and Transfer students only. 

First-Year Students  Transfer students  International Students

Incoming First-Year Awards

For questions about merit tuition awards for incoming first-year students, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Resident and Non-Resident Merit Tuition Awards Based on GPA

Use the following Color Key to determine which Tuition Award you qualify for based on your 6th semester core unweighted high school GPA.

Color Key

Resident Wildcat Awards

Distinction Award ($10,000-$12,500)
Excellence Award ($5,000-$8,000)
Recognition Award ($750-$3,000)

Non-Resident Arizona Awards

Distinction Award ($30,000-$32,000)
Excellence Award ($12,500-$20,000)
Recognition Award ($1,000-$7,500)
Core GPA Range 
Resident Wildcat Awards
Non-Resident Arizona Awards
4.0
$12,500 $32,000*
3.90 - 3.999
$10,000 $30,000*
3.75-3.899
$8,000 $20,000
3.50 - 3.749
$5,000

$12,500

 

3.25 - 3.499
$3,000 $7,500
3.0 - 3.249
$2,000 $2,500
2.75 - 2.999
$750 $1,000

*Non-Resident admits for Fall 2024 who have been offered the Arizona Distinction Award must commit by May 1, 2024.

All financial aid awards listed above are divided into two equal disbursements paid to the student, half in the fall term and half in the spring term, unless otherwise noted.

GPA calculated is based on your core unweighted high school GPA through your sixth semester. To be eligible, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The Resident Wildcat Awards also require that the student be classified as an Arizona resident for tuition purposes. The Non-Resident Arizona Awards require that the student be classified as a non-Arizona resident for tuition purposes. 

  • Students must submit their complete Fall 2024 University of Arizona Admissions application no later than May 1, 2024.
  • Students must submit their official 8th semester transcript for verification.
  • Students admitted for the Spring semester are not eligible for the First Year Merit awards listed above.
  • Full eligibility and renewal criteria will be available soon on the 2024-2025 terms and conditions page. 

Initial first-year merit tuition scholarship offers are based on self-reported grades provided by the student at the time of admission. The scholarship award offers become final and cannot be appealed after the admissions grade verification is complete.

Home Schooled Students:

Incoming first-year students who are home schooled will be comprehensively reviewed for Arizona merit aid (Wildcat and Arizona awards) based on their complete application, including portfolio/course work submitted by the admission deadline.

For questions about merit tuition awards for incoming first-year students, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Incoming Transfer Awards

For questions about merit tuition awards for incoming transfer students, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Awards listed above are based on Cumulative College GPA and Total Attempted College Units, which includes all attempted coursework from accredited institutions post-high school and dual enrollment units. Unaccredited and non-credit college attendance does not impact eligibility but attendance at a four-year institution does impact eligibility. To be eligible, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. 

  • Students must have only attended community college after their high school graduation. Any students that have enrolled at a four-year (college or university) institution after graduation from high school are not eligible.
  • Students must complete the University of Arizona admission application as listed below in order to be considered.
    • Fall 2024: Deadline July 1, 2024 
    • Spring 2025: Deadline December 1, 2024
  • Students must be meeting the selection criteria at the time of admission in order to be considered. 
  • Full eligibility and renewal criteria will be available soon on the 2024-2025 terms and conditions page. 

Incoming First Year and Transfer Global Wildcat Tuition Awards 

In recognition of students who exhibit an outstanding academic performance, the University of Arizona offers the Global Wildcat Award for incoming International first-year and transfer students. 

Review Global Wildcat Awards

For questions about merit tuition awards for incoming international students, please contact the Office of International Admissions.

Additional Scholarships

Visit Scholarship Universe, our scholarship-matching tool for admitted University of Arizona students. SU connects Wildcats to millions of dollars in internal and external scholarships.

We search, Wildcats apply. 

Learn More

Arizona merit tuition awards are not available for use in University of Arizona Online programs, with the exception of the Online Transfer Tuition Scholarship.

All financial aid awards are divided into two equal disbursements paid to the student, half in the fall term and half in the spring term, unless otherwise noted.