Axe ’Em, Jacks!
The Academic Excellence Scholarship offers $1,500 to $6,000 in scholarships per year to first-year students based on a holistic review of academic credentials. Beginning fall 2023, any student earning the designation of valedictorian from their high school automatically receives the $6,000 offer amount of the Academic Excellence Scholarship. If specific criteria are met, the scholarship may be renewed for three additional years after the initial offer while pursuing the first baccalaureate degree.
Applying for the Academic Excellence Scholarship Program
Students are automatically considered and evaluated for the scholarship when officially admitted to the university, so a formal application for the Academic Excellence Scholarship is not required. Scholarships will be offered to eligible students who are admitted to the university by June 30 for the upcoming fall term and meet all scholarship requirements by that date.
Any student who qualifies based on a review of academic credentials and is admitted to the university by June 30 for the upcoming fall term will receive an Academic Excellence Scholarship. The scholarship amount is divided evenly between the fall and spring terms.
Renewal information
If your first offer was fall 2022 - present
Eligibility for renewal each year is dependent on meeting all the program requirements listed below when grades are finalized at the end of each spring term, including:
- continuous full-time enrollment in SFA for fall and spring semesters
- completion of 24 cumulative course hours during the fall and spring terms
- and the maintaining of, at minimum, the same GPA on file at the time of your first award year.
If you received your first offer fall 2022 or later, you must maintain the GPA that correlates with your initial scholarship offer amount.
If your GPA increases, you still only are eligible for the scholarship amount that correlates with the GPA on file at the time of your first aid year.
| First Offer Amount | Renewal GPA | Renewal Offer Amount |
|---|---|---|
| $6,000 | 3.50+ | $6,000 |
| $5,000 | 3.25 | $5,000 |
| $3,000 | 3.25 | $3,000 |
| $2,500 | 3.00 | $2,500 |
| $1,500 | 2.75 | $1,500 |
If your GPA decreases when grades are posted at the end of the spring term, you are not eligible for renewal.
GPAs and respective award amounts are not transferable, so the student must maintain the GPA for the initial award amount. A drop in GPA or hours will result in the scholarship not being renewed.
If your first offer was fall 2021 or prior
Eligibility for renewal each year is dependent on meeting all the program requirements listed below when grades are finalized at the end of each spring term, including:
- continuous full-time enrollment in SFA for fall and spring semesters
- completion of 24 cumulative course hours during the fall and spring terms
- and the maintaining of, at minimum, the same GPA on file at the time of your first aid year.
If you received your first offer fall 2021 or earlier, you must maintain a 3.25 GPA or higher for a scholarship renewal of $3,000.
If your GPA decreases when grades are posted at the end of the spring term, you are not eligible for renewal.
| First Offer Amount | Renewal GPA | Renewal Offer Amount |
|---|---|---|
| $3,000 | 3.25+ | $3,000 |
A drop in GPA or hours will result in the scholarship not being renewed.