Automatic 4-Year Award

Automatic 4-Year Award for Incoming Freshman Students 
As an academically successful freshman, our Minot State Automatic 4-Year Award program empowers you with a renewable financial aid opportunity. 

To qualify, you must be admitted (Apply Now) to Minot State by the priority deadline of  July 1 if you are applying for the fall semester or by  December 1 for the spring semester. Awards are based on your official unweighted high school grade point average (GPA) and ACT or SAT score. No additional application beyond your application for admission is required.  

The combination of your final unweighted high school GPA and best composite ACT or equivalent combined SAT score provided to the Minot State Enrollment Services Office determines your award amount. Your award will be disbursed equally between fall and spring semesters when meeting the renewable award criteria and are subject to change. 

Automatic 4-Year Award:

UP TO $12,000 OVER 4 YEARS
ACT Score:
30+
(or 1360+
SAT score)
High School GPA Award per Year
3.8 – 4.0 $3,000
3.5 – 3.79 $2,000
3.0 – 3.49 $1,500
Note: With a GED score of 165+ and a score 30 or higher on the ACT, you are eligible for $1,500/year.

UP TO $8,000 OVER 4 YEARS
ACT Score:
26 - 29
(or 1230 – 1350
SAT score)
High School GPA Award per Year
3.8 – 4.0 $2,000
3.5 – 3.79 $1,500
3.0 – 3.49 $1,000
 Note: With a GED score of 165+ and a score between 26 and 29 on the ACT, you are eligible for  $1,000/year.

UP TO $6,000 OVER 4 YEARS
ACT Score:
21 - 25
(or 1060 – 1220
SAT score)
High School GPA Award per Year
3.8 – 4.0 $1,500
3.5 – 3.79 $1,000
3.0 – 3.49 $750
 Note: With a GED score of 165+ and a score between 21 and 25 on the ACT, you are eligible for $750/year.

UP TO $4,000 OVER 4 YEARS
ACT Score:
19 - 20
(or 990 – 1050
SAT score)
High School GPA Award per Year
3.8 – 4.0 $1,000
3.5 – 3.79 $750
3.0 – 3.49 $500
Note: With a GED score of 165+ and a score of 19 or higher on the ACT, you are eligible for $500/year.

4-Year Award
$2,000 over 4 years
4-Year Award
Students who do not provide a test score for admission for the Academic Years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023* High School GPA Award per Year
3.5-4.0 $500

*If test scores are provided, the student will be awarded based on the original Automatic 4-Year Award

Award programs are subject to change without notice and are subject to the availability of funds.

Notice! Freshman Award Priority Deadline: July 1 for fall semester 
(an award may occur after the priority deadline, if funds are available)
  • You must be a new first year freshman student* with US or Canadian citizenship
  • As an eligible and fully admitted new freshman applicant, you will be evaluated based on the following information recorded by the Minot State Enrollment Services Office:
    • Unweighted high school GPA or GED score of 165+ (for GED tests taken after 2014)
    • Composite ACT score or equivalent total SAT score (superscore is not used to determine eligibility)
    • Full admission acceptance to Minot State by July 1 for fall applicants and December 1 for spring applicants 
    • New freshman students who start in the summer semester will be evaluated and awarded with the following fall semester applicants
    • A student fully admitted to Minot State after the priority deadline may be eligible if funding is available

        *Transfer students are not eligible for the Automatic 4-Year Award

You must:

  • Be enrolled in 12 or more Minot State credits by the end of the 100% refund period for the 16 week semester (Financial Aid census date) each fall and spring semester
    • Collaborative classes are not eligible in the 12 credit enrollment minimum and do not count as completed credits for the award
    • Remedial Minot State credits do count as completed credits
    • Credit requirement includes graduating semester
  • Be continuously enrolled in consecutive fall and spring semesters as an undergraduate student
    • Spring semester admits are required to complete a minimum of 12 credits in their first semester to renew for the next year
  • Maintain 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA. 
  • Successfully complete 24 or more total Minot State credits during the fall and spring semesters
    • Successful completion requires a D or higher grade
    • The summer term can be used to complete your 24 total credits or to improve your GPA if needed
    • Students who withdraw or do not complete the 24 total credits per academic year will not be eligible to renew the award for subsequent years

Automatic 4-Year Awards:

  • Are renewable up to eight consecutive fall and spring semesters if criteria is met
  • Will be disbursed equally between fall and spring semesters
  • Will be evaluated for renewal at the end of each spring semester 
  • Will be reduced if review of your final unweighted high school GPA is lower than the recorded in-progress high school GPA
  • Will be discontinued when your undergraduate degree is posted
  • Are subject to change
  • Students eligible for more than one tuition award program will receive the greater of the awards being offered.

Automatic 4-Year Awards are not available to a student who is:

  • Eligible for a more beneficial program such as the Minot State Employee Spouse/Dependent Tuition Waiver or ND Veterans Dependent Tuition Waiver program
  • Enrolled in Study Abroad experiences with no regular Minot State tuition charged
  • Enrolled in programs that require remission of tuition to other organizations
  • Pursuing a graduate degree
  • Transferring to Minot State  

Your Automatic 4-Year Award may be reduced or terminated in situations where you are eligible for direct tuition payment from a third party payer.

The maximum amount you can receive from institutional funds cannot exceed an amount equal to the tuition, fees and books, and room and board (if living on campus). Institutional funds include tuition waivers and scholarships.