The Distinguished Scholars Award Program is a merit scholarship for U.S. high school graduates. Eligible scholars will receive an award to cover the cost of tuition minus the sum of Bright Futures, the National Merit award, or other scholarships and awards. The scholarship will cover fees associated with tuition, minus the postal fee and the $35 orientation fee. Students are eligible to receive the award for a maximum of eight semesters. Students must maintain enrollment in the degree program under which this award was made. Students may not change majors. A student must enroll in fifteen credit hours per semester. Awards are not made during the summer term.
To be eligible for the Distinguished Scholars Award, applicants must: be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; have a 4.0 GPA; have an SAT score of 1440 (must earn a 700 on the SAT math section) or an ACT score of 32 (must earn a 32 on the ACT math section); earn a standard US high school diploma or its equivalency (unless the student completes a home education program or earns a high school diploma from a non-US high school while living with a parent who is on military or public service assignment away from the US); and be college-ready (no remediation or remedial courses). This is renewable upon completing 15 credits each semester and maintaining a 3.3 GPA.