2024 Arizona College Benefits

Staying in-state for college in Arizona offers numerous advantages, especially when it comes to merit scholarships based on high school performance. Both Northern Arizona University (NAU) and the University of Arizona (U of A) offer substantial financial incentives for Arizona residents who excel in their core high school classes. The core classes are English, History, Math, and Science. GPA is unweighted so an "A" in the class is significant regardless of whether or not it is an honors class. So, when choosing classes, it is important to consider whether you will work hard enough in the honors class or would you be better off taking the on-level class to get an A. These scholarships not only help offset tuition costs but also recognize and reward students who have demonstrated academic excellence throughout high school.

NAU offers several merit scholarships for the tuition of 2024/2025 fall and spring semesters. The cost of in state tuition is around $12,500 per year not including other costs like room and board and books. Scholarships for Arizona residents based on the student’s GPA in core classes are:

      ·       GPA 3.75 - 4.0: full tuition covered

      ·       GPA 3.5 - 3.74: $9,000

      ·       GPA 3.4 - 3.49: $6,500

      ·       GPA 3.0 - 3.39: $5,000

      ·       GPA up to 2.99: $2,500

U of A has a similar program for merit scholarships covering tuition for 2024/2025 fall and spring semesters. The cost of in state tuition only is about $13,000 per year. The merit scholarships are based on core high school GPAs:

      ·       GPA 4.0: $12,500 (according to representative at U of A the other $500 for tuition is typically covered)

      ·       GPA 3.9 - 3.99: $10,000

      ·       GPA 3.75 - 3.899: $8,000

      ·       GPA 3.5 - 3.749: $5,000

      ·       GPA 3.25 - 3.499: $3,000

      ·       GPA 3.0 - 3.349: $2,000

      ·       GPA up to 2.75: $750

ASU also offers merit scholarships, but their information is not as public, and the amount varies. The cost of in state tuition is around $11,600. ASU offers this calculator to estimate scholarship qualification amounts: https://scholarships.asu.edu/estimator

When deciding which high school classes to take, it’s essential to consider your ability to excel in these core subjects. Merit scholarships at NAU and U of A are based on the grades received in the core courses, regardless of the school’s grading scale. By prioritizing academic performance in core classes, Arizona students can maximize their chances of qualifying for these valuable scholarships. This strategic approach not only enhances college affordability but also sets a solid academic foundation for future success.