The Academic Scholars Program, established by the state Legislature and governor in 1988 and operated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, provides scholarships to academically outstanding students who attend an Oklahoma college or university.
Scholarship Details
- Scholarship covers room, board, tuition, books, and incidental fees for up to eight semesters
- Award amounts vary depending on the institution attended and the student’s qualification status
- For fall 2024, automatic qualifiers receive $6,500 for attending OU, OSU, or The University of Tulsa; $5,000 for other four-year Oklahoma colleges or universities; and $4,500 for two-year colleges
- Institutional nominees receive $4,000 for OU, OSU, or The University of Tulsa; $3,200 for other four-year colleges; and $3,000 for two-year colleges
Eligibility Criteria
- Oklahoma students automatically qualify by meeting one of the following:
- National Merit Scholar, National Merit Finalist, or U.S. Presidential Scholar designation
- 99.5 percentile on ACT or SAT (ACT total score of 137 or SAT total score of 1540 for fall 2025)
- Institutional nomination is also available; contact the college or university’s financial aid office for nomination details
- To continue receiving the scholarship, scholars must:
- Maintain full-time enrollment each semester
- Complete at least 24 credit hours annually
- Maintain a 3.25 cumulative GPA each year
How to Apply
- Automatic qualifiers (99.5 percentile ACT/SAT or National Merit/Presidential Scholar designation) should complete the online application form
- Submit the required documentation with the online application; State Regents staff will verify and may request additional information if needed
- Students without automatic qualification should contact their college or university financial aid office for details on the nomination process
- Approved applicants will receive award notification letters starting in late February
Academic Scholars receive a scholarship to help cover the cost of room, board, tuition, books and incidental fees for up to eight semesters. The actual value of the scholarship varies based on the institution the scholar chooses to attend.