💰 McNeese State University Merit Scholarships

Total Scholarships

15

Automatic

11

In-State Awards

$500-$9,000/yr

Out-of-State Awards

$500-$9,000/yr

Multi-Year Awards

$250-$1,500 total

Typical Requirements for Automatic Merit

2.5 GPA / 21 ACT

What you'd actually pay at McNeese State University

Tuition & fees

$6,647

−

Largest annual award

$9,000

=

Students receiving it pay about

$0/yr

Tuition and fees only — housing (about $10,644), books and travel are extra. Awards must still be won and may carry renewal conditions. Need-based aid is separate and may reduce this further.

Official Scholarship Information

View complete details on McNeese State University's website

Visit School Website →

Automatic merit scholarships at McNeese State University — no separate application

11 awards granted on your admission application, based on GPA and test scores.

Academic Excellence Award (3.5+)

Award

$3,500/yr in-state

$3,500/yr out-of-state

In-State Requirements

GPA 3.5+ • ACT 21+ • SAT 1060+

**Presidential Award** ACT 30-36 / SAT 1360-1600 3.25+ $2,500 $2,000 $9,000 **University Scholars Award** ACT 27-29 / SAT 1260-1350 3.50+ $2,250 $1,750 $8,000 3.25 – 3.49 $2,000 $1,750 $7,500

Eligibility: 6-semester GPA on a 4.00 scale (at the end of junior year) Minimum qualifying score earned by March 31, 2025 ACT/SAT test dates Awards are only made to students who are fully accepted for regular admission

How to apply: ["Complete the Application for Admission and Scholarships", "submit official test scores", "submit transcripts", "fully accepted for regular admission"]

📋 Earn 12 credit hours each regular semester and maintain the specified GPA for renewal. Scholarships available Source ↗

Distinguished Achievement Award

Award

$250-$1,250/semester in-state

$250-$1,250/semester out-of-state

In-State Requirements

GPA 2.5+

**Eligibility:** * 2.50 GPA or above * Possess leadership characteristics, abilities or qualities **Value: $250 – $1,250/semester**

Eligibility: 2.50 GPA or above; possess leadership characteristics, abilities or qualities

How to apply: ["2.50 GPA or above", "demonstrated leadership characteristics"]

Source ↗

H.C. Drew Scholarship

Award

$250-$1,250/semester in-state

Requirements

GPA 2.5+

**Eligibility:** * 2.50 GPA or above * Enrollment in one of the following areas of study: ... * Southwest Louisiana Resident **Value: $250-$1,250/semester**

Eligibility: * 2.50 GPA or above * Southwest Louisiana Resident

How to apply: ["2.50 GPA or above", "enrollment in specified areas of study", "Southwest Louisiana resident"]

Source ↗

International - First Time Freshmen

Award

$1,000/yr in-state

$1,000/yr out-of-state

In-State Requirements

GPA 3.0+ • SAT 1200+

Eligibility: **First Time Freshmen:** To be considered for this scholarship, **students must have a** **minimum high school GPA of 3.0** **and meet one of the following minimum test scores**: #### **Transfer Students:** To be considered for this scholarship, students must qualify with regular admission into the University with at least 12 college level hours. | **GPA** | **Award Per Year** | | ------- | ------------------ | | 2.5-2.9 | $ 500 | | 3.0+ | $1000 |

How to apply: ["new students must indicate on Application for Admission that they want to be considered for scholarships"]

Source ↗

John McNeese Award (3.25-3.49)

Award

$5,000/yr in-state

$5,000/yr out-of-state

In-State Requirements

GPA 3.2+ • ACT 24+ • SAT 1160+

**Presidential Award** ACT 30-36 / SAT 1360-1600 3.25+ $2,500 $2,000 $9,000 **University Scholars Award** ACT 27-29 / SAT 1260-1350 3.50+ $2,250 $1,750 $8,000 3.25 – 3.49 $2,000 $1,750 $7,500

Eligibility: 6-semester GPA on a 4.00 scale (at the end of junior year) Minimum qualifying score earned by March 31, 2025 ACT/SAT test dates Awards are only made to students who are fully accepted for regular admission

How to apply: ["Complete the Application for Admission and Scholarships", "submit official test scores", "submit transcripts", "fully accepted for regular admission"]

📋 Earn 12 credit hours each regular semester and maintain the specified GPA for renewal. Scholarships available Source ↗

John McNeese Award (3.5+)

Award

$5,500/yr in-state

$5,500/yr out-of-state

In-State Requirements

GPA 3.5+ • ACT 24+ • SAT 1160+

**Presidential Award** ACT 30-36 / SAT 1360-1600 3.25+ $2,500 $2,000 $9,000 **University Scholars Award** ACT 27-29 / SAT 1260-1350 3.50+ $2,250 $1,750 $8,000 3.25 – 3.49 $2,000 $1,750 $7,500

Eligibility: 6-semester GPA on a 4.00 scale (at the end of junior year) Minimum qualifying score earned by March 31, 2025 ACT/SAT test dates Awards are only made to students who are fully accepted for regular admission

How to apply: ["Complete the Application for Admission and Scholarships", "submit official test scores", "submit transcripts", "fully accepted for regular admission"]

📋 Earn 12 credit hours each regular semester and maintain the specified GPA for renewal. Scholarships available Source ↗

Louisiana Lagniappe Scholarship

Award

$250-$1,500/semester in-state

$250-$1,500/semester out-of-state

In-State Requirements

GPA 3.0+

**Eligibility:** * 3.00 GPA or above **Value: $250 – $1,500/semester**

Eligibility: 3.00 GPA or above

How to apply: ["3.00 GPA or above"]

Source ↗

McNeese Foundation Freshman Honor Award

Award

$250-$1,000/semester in-state

$250-$1,000/semester out-of-state

In-State Requirements

GPA 2.5+

**Eligibility:** * 2.50 GPA or above * Posses leadership quality **Value: $250 – $1,000/semester**

Eligibility: 2.50 GPA or above; Possess leadership quality

How to apply: ["2.50 GPA or above", "demonstrated leadership"]

Source ↗

Presidential Award

Award

$9,000/yr in-state

$9,000/yr out-of-state

In-State Requirements

GPA 3.2+ • ACT 30+ • SAT 1360+

**Presidential Award** ACT 30-36 / SAT 1360-1600 3.25+ $2,500 $2,000 $9,000 **University Scholars Award** ACT 27-29 / SAT 1260-1350 3.50+ $2,250 $1,750 $8,000 3.25 – 3.49 $2,000 $1,750 $7,500

Eligibility: 6-semester GPA on a 4.00 scale (at the end of junior year) Minimum qualifying score earned by March 31, 2025 ACT/SAT test dates Awards are only made to students who are fully accepted for regular admission

How to apply: ["Complete the Application for Admission and Scholarships", "submit official test scores", "submit transcripts", "fully accepted for regular admission"]

📋 Earn 12 credit hours each regular semester and maintain the specified GPA for renewal. Scholarships available Source ↗

University Scholars Award (3.25-3.49)

Award

$7,500/yr in-state

$7,500/yr out-of-state

In-State Requirements

GPA 3.2+ • ACT 27+ • SAT 1260+

**Presidential Award** ACT 30-36 / SAT 1360-1600 3.25+ $2,500 $2,000 $9,000 **University Scholars Award** ACT 27-29 / SAT 1260-1350 3.50+ $2,250 $1,750 $8,000 3.25 – 3.49 $2,000 $1,750 $7,500

Eligibility: 6-semester GPA on a 4.00 scale (at the end of junior year) Minimum qualifying score earned by March 31, 2025 ACT/SAT test dates Awards are only made to students who are fully accepted for regular admission

How to apply: ["Complete the Application for Admission and Scholarships", "submit official test scores", "submit transcripts", "fully accepted for regular admission"]

📋 Earn 12 credit hours each regular semester and maintain the specified GPA for renewal. Scholarships available Source ↗

University Scholars Award (3.50+)

Award

$8,000/yr in-state

$8,000/yr out-of-state

In-State Requirements

GPA 3.5+ • ACT 27+ • SAT 1260+

**Presidential Award** ACT 30-36 / SAT 1360-1600 3.25+ $2,500 $2,000 $9,000 **University Scholars Award** ACT 27-29 / SAT 1260-1350 3.50+ $2,250 $1,750 $8,000 3.25 – 3.49 $2,000 $1,750 $7,500

Eligibility: 6-semester GPA on a 4.00 scale (at the end of junior year) Minimum qualifying score earned by March 31, 2025 ACT/SAT test dates Awards are only made to students who are fully accepted for regular admission

How to apply: ["Complete the Application for Admission and Scholarships", "submit official test scores", "submit transcripts", "fully accepted for regular admission"]

📋 Earn 12 credit hours each regular semester and maintain the specified GPA for renewal. Scholarships available Source ↗

Other scholarships at McNeese State University (4)

These require a separate application, or the school does not publish their eligibility criteria.

International - Graduate Student Scholarship (3.0+)

$1,000/yr

Eligibility: **First Time Freshmen:** To be considered for this scholarship, **students must have a** **minimum high school GPA of 3.0** **and meet one of the following minimum test scores**: #### **Transfer Students:** To be considered for this scholarship, students must qualify with regular admission into the University with at least 12 college level hours. | **GPA** | **Award Per Year** | | ------- | ------------------ | | 2.5-2.9 | $ 500 | | 3.0+ | $1000 |

How to apply: ["continuing students may submit the Academic Scholarship Application or send resume to scholarshipdocs@mcneese.edu", "foreign credential evaluation required for transcripts from non-US institutions (graduate)"]

Source ↗

International - Transfer Students (2.5-2.9)

$500/yr

Eligibility: **First Time Freshmen:** To be considered for this scholarship, **students must have a** **minimum high school GPA of 3.0** **and meet one of the following minimum test scores**: #### **Transfer Students:** To be considered for this scholarship, students must qualify with regular admission into the University with at least 12 college level hours. | **GPA** | **Award Per Year** | | ------- | ------------------ | | 2.5-2.9 | $ 500 | | 3.0+ | $1000 |

How to apply: ["continuing students may submit the Academic Scholarship Application or send resume to scholarshipdocs@mcneese.edu"]

Source ↗

International - Transfer Students (3.0+)

$1,000/yr

Eligibility: **First Time Freshmen:** To be considered for this scholarship, **students must have a** **minimum high school GPA of 3.0** **and meet one of the following minimum test scores**: #### **Transfer Students:** To be considered for this scholarship, students must qualify with regular admission into the University with at least 12 college level hours. | **GPA** | **Award Per Year** | | ------- | ------------------ | | 2.5-2.9 | $ 500 | | 3.0+ | $1000 |

How to apply: ["continuing students may submit the Academic Scholarship Application or send resume to scholarshipdocs@mcneese.edu"]

Source ↗

Talent Award

**Eligibility:** Proficiency in one of the following activities: art, music performance (instrumental and voice), band, debate, theatre, Cowgirl Kickers, cheerleading, rodeo Proficiency is demonstrated through an audition or portfolio presentation. **Value: Varies by area**

Eligibility: Proficiency in one of the listed activities; proficiency is demonstrated through an audition or portfolio presentation.

How to apply: ["audition or portfolio presentation", "proficiency in specified activity"]

Source ↗

Common questions about McNeese State University scholarships

How much merit aid does McNeese State University give?

Published awards range $500-$9,000/yr. McNeese State University lists 15 merit scholarships in total.

What GPA or test scores do you need for a scholarship at McNeese State University?

The lowest published threshold across automatic awards is 2.5 GPA / 21 ACT. Individual scholarships set their own cutoffs.

Does McNeese State University give merit scholarships to out-of-state students?

Yes. Awards for out-of-state students run $500-$9,000/yr.

Is there a full-ride scholarship at McNeese State University?

The largest published award covers full tuition, though not housing and other costs.

Do you have to apply separately for merit scholarships at McNeese State University?

11 of the published awards are granted automatically on your admission application, with no separate scholarship application.

More on McNeese State University

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Other LA schools with automatic merit scholarships

Dillard University New Orleans, LA → Grambling State University Grambling, LA → Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA → Louisiana State University-Shreveport Shreveport, LA → Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA → Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches, LA → Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, LA → University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette, LA →