10 Alabama Scholarships For College Students
Christen Arafeh 
10 Alabama Scholarships For College Students
Alabama, also known as the "Heart of Dixie" is located in the heart of the Deep South. With very diverse geography, from mountains in the north to beaches in the south, the outdoor life is great and landscape is beautiful in Alabama. The state is also known for being culturally diverse and competitive in sports, with great food and music as well as having one of the lowest cost of living among the different states in the US. The state’s economy was mainly dependent on agriculture in the past but in modern times has diversified to include other industries like manufacturing, finance, technology and aerospace. With the low cost of living and real estate prices, along with good employment opportunities, it is a good idea to look at Alabama as a place to study college and eventually work and settle in.
Some College Information for the State of Alabama
While the average graduation rate of college students in Alabama is lower at 42.28% than the US average graduation rate of 55.61% for the academic year 2020-21, the State of Alabama still boasts some great colleges and universities.
Auburn University is ranked #99 among National Universities in the U.S. News 2022 Best Colleges rankings. Life at Auburn University can be enjoyable for students as Auburn, Alabama has been ranked one of the best places to live. Forbes has consistently ranked Auburn on its lists for Best Places to Retire and Best Small Places for Business and Careers. Football is a particularly big attraction in the fall. Total tuition and fees per semester for residents average $5,209 while it is $14,011 for non-residents.
Samford University is ranked #136 among National Universities in the U.S. News 2022 Best Colleges rankings but is the top ranked university in Alabama according to the Wall Street Journal. It is a Christian institution located in Birmingham, Alabama, in the central region of the state. The school is found in a suburban setting and the class sizes of this private institution are generally small. Samford is regularly recognized as one of the top Christian universities in the United States, and receives consistently high marks for value and great school academics. However, you do not have to be a Christian student to attend this college. The average annual tuition fee here is $35,360.
The University of Alabama is ranked #148 among National Universities in the U.S. News 2022 Best Colleges rankings. It is the State of Alabama's oldest university. Located in Tuscaloosa, it is the flagship campus of the University of Alabama system. This university has a highly ranked school of law and its Alabama Crimson Tide sports teams are notorious competitors in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference. University of Alabama students continue to win prestigious national awards. Fifty-nine UA students have been named Goldwater Scholars. The University of Alabama has produced a total of 16 Rhodes Scholars, 16 Truman Scholars, 36 Hollings Scholars and 16 Boren Scholars. Total cost of attendance per year for the 2021-22 academic year is $31,054 in-state and $51,398 out-of-state.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is also ranked #148 among National Universities in the U.S. News 2022 Best Colleges rankings, tied with the University of Alabama. Featuring a highly ranked school of medicine, UAB is a comprehensive urban university with a nationally recognized academic health center. UAB is the only public, four-year degree granting university in the state's largest metropolitan area. UAB is the largest research institution in the state of Alabama and is the largest single employer in the state. Total cost of attendance per year of Undergraduate Programs in Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering for the 2021-22 academic year is $10,710 in-state and $25,500 out-of-state. Total cost of attendance per year of Undergraduate Programs in Health Professions, Public Health, Nursing for the 2021-22 academic year is $12,630 in-state and $30,150 out-of-state.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) is ranked #263 among National Universities in the U.S. News 2022 Best Colleges rankings. It is located in Huntsville, Alabama, which has been named one of the best places to live by U.S. News & World Report. UAH is known for engineering and science programs, including astrophysics, atmospheric science, aerospace engineering, cybersecurity, and digital animation. UAH is a public research university and is home to more than a dozen on-campus research centers and labs. It also maintains strong partnerships with federal agencies and commercial organizations that include the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, the Missile Defense Agency, the DIA Missile and Space Intelligence Center, and the U.S. Army Materiel Command. Its in-state tuition and fees are $11,338; out-of-state tuition and fees are $23,734.
Studying College in Alabama - Costs and Student Loans
There are other great colleges and universities in Alabama. However, even with some of these great schools being public colleges or universities, there are still a lot of costs to be incurred, with the average tuition & fees of Alabama colleges is $7,018 for Alabama residents and $13,441 for students from other States (Alabama State 2021 Average Tuition Costs) per year. These costs may cause you to incur debt in the form of student loans to allow you to pay for tuition and other cost of attendance.
While the average student loan debt in Alabama is slightly lower at $37,100 versus the average student loan debt of the entire United States at $39,351 (U.S. Student Loan Debt Statistics), this is still a hefty amount to be saddled with after graduation. It is then definitely worth your while to look for financial aid with scholarships to help lessen the financial burden on you and your family and allow you to afford studying in one of these great colleges in Alabama with as little debt as possible.
Scholarships for Alabama Students
While it is a good idea to look anywhere and everywhere for scholarship packages to help you with your college costs, and even with some great scholarship search engine websites like scholarships.com available, we have listed 10 possible sources for scholarship funds below.
Award Amount: $36,000
Deadline: January 3, 2022
Eligibility: Women who are U.S. citizens and residents of the state of Alabama who attend or plan to attend a four-year Alabama college or university that is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
This is a renewable scholarship and is awarded annually for four years or until graduation, whichever comes first. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, have an ACT of 23, and attend a college/university full-time. Renewable upon a 2.5 GPA.
Award Amount: $2,500
Deadline: February 19, 2022
Eligibility: Students 18 years or older with a high school diploma. Must be a full-time student with at least a 2.8 cumulative GPA with a 3.0 GPA in engineering courses. Must be a citizen of the U.S. or Canada with plans to attend an academic institution located in the U.S. or Canada.
The Airgas - Terry Jarvis Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate student pursuing a minimum four-year bachelor's degree in welding engineering (WE) or welding engineering technology (WET); however, priority will be given to welding engineering (WE) students interested in pursuing a career with an industrial gas or welding equipment distributor.
Priority is given to those who demonstrate financial need and to those who have interest in pursuing a career with an industrial gas or welding equipment distributor by prior work experience, clubs, organizations or extra-curricular activities. Priority is given to those individuals residing or attending school in Alabama, Georgia or Florida. This is a renewable scholarship for up to 4 years.
Award Amount: $4,000
Deadline: February 27, 2022
Eligibility: High school senior or first-time college freshman beginning in fall of the year the scholarship is awarded, be a U.S. citizen, be an Alabama resident and be planning to enroll in an Alabama eligible educational institution in fall. Must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 2.75 and an ACT score of 26 or below.
The CollegeCounts Scholarship provides funding assistance to Alabama high school students who demonstrate a financial need and a genuine desire to make a difference.
Award Amount: $1,000
Deadline: March 1, 2022
Eligibility: Applicants must be under 21, entering college in the upcoming fall and meet the Tall Club International (TCI) height requirement minimums: 5'10" for women and 6'2" for men, barefoot. You must also find a local Tall Club member to sponsor you. If you are interested in applying for a TCI Scholarship Award, you must contact a TCI Member Club closest to you for sponsorship.
Tall Clubs International annually awards student scholarship(s) of up to $1,000 each to tall students who are under 21 years of age and attending their first year of college in the following fall.
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 1, 2022
Eligibility: Must be an Alabama resident who is an incoming freshman and graduated from Guntersville High School in Alabama.
The Hallman Scholarship was established in honor of Charlie and Edith Hallman for the benefit of deserving students who have graduated from Guntersville High School.
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 1, 2022
Eligibility: Must be a full-time native-born Alabama student who has attained Junior status and is majoring in Mathematics.
Established in memory of Newbern Bush, a retired faculty member who taught mathematics.
Award Amount: $2,000
Deadline: March 1, 2022
Eligibility: Applicants must be a senior in high school and have at one time played in a Dixie Youth Baseball league.
From the very beginning, the leaders of Dixie Youth Baseball knew they wanted to develop a college scholarship program that would help former players obtain a college education. There is no relationship between the award of a scholarship and athletic ability. Be aware the NCAA rules may prohibit acceptance of this scholarship if a student will be participating in a collegiate athletic program.
Award Amount: $3,500
Deadline: March 9, 2022
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school seniors who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and high SAT and ACT scores.
The NIADA Foundation promotes the academic growth of youth throughout the United States and awards scholarships annually at the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association Convention. The Foundation proudly sponsors four young men or women each year who have displayed outstanding academic merit or abilities in education. An essay will also be required as part of the application.
Award Amount: $5,000
Deadline: March 12, 2022
Eligibility: Applicants must be female high school seniors or graduates enrolling or enrolled in a STEM field at an accredited two-year technical program, four-year undergraduate program, or graduate program hopefully to be used for a career in the automotive industry and at a college or university in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Applicants must also have a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA.
The SAWF Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to women enrolled or enrolling in a STEM field at an accredited two-year technical program, four-year undergraduate program or a graduate program with a preference for those interested in the automobile and mobility industry.
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Available only for undergraduate study at public institutions in Alabama.
The Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) Police Officers and Firefighters Survivors Educational Assistance Program is a grant covering tuition, fees, books and supplies for dependents and eligible spouses of Alabama police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty. There is no limit on the amount awarded to recipients.
Need Assistance With Application for Scholarships to Alabama Colleges?
We've shown you 10 options to get scholarship money for students planning to attend college in Alabama, whether you are a resident of Alabama or from out-of-state. However, there is still a wide variety of scholarships out there available for you to grab, hopefully minimizing or even completely eradicating the dreaded student loan debt.
To help with your application for Alabama scholarships and all other scholarships you may be interested in, we have a Scholarship Accelerator program that can help speed up and organize your scholarship application process, allowing you to handle any scholarship application deadline with ease and also opening up opportunities for you to apply to more scholarships.
Categories: scholarships, state scholarships
About the Author
Christen is the founder of Hive Education. She is passionate about helping families navigate the college application and admissions processes. She helps students set goals to work towards their own debt-free degrees with her personalized scholarship searches, scholarship courses, and by sharing her scholarship strategies that won her over $900,000 in for her own college education. With four years of experience in higher education, two years working with teens in inner city high schools in New Orleans, and starting her first college consulting company during a pandemic in 2020 she strives to make college accessible for everyone, especially for first generation, low income, and minority students. In her spare time she loves to share her love for books with her daughters. You can find her on Facebook.
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