🎓 SAT Scores and Automatic Scholarships: What You Should Know in 2025

If you’re to study in the U.S., there’s good news—your SAT score could earn you thousands of dollars in scholarships automatically. No extra forms. No additional essays. Just your academic performance.

Automatic merit scholarships are a hidden gem for international students, especially from countries like Nigeria, Ghana, or Kenya, where access to funding is limited.

In this blog post, we’ll walk through how these scholarships work and give you a detailed list of universities that offer them in 2025.

📌 What Are Automatic Scholarships?

These are merit-based scholarships that universities award based on your SAT score and GPA—sometimes ACT or class ranking too. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application. If your results meet the criteria, the school awards the scholarship automatically once you apply for admission.

📘 Why the SAT Still Matters

Even in the age of "test-optional" policies, the SAT remains a strong factor for scholarship eligibility. For international students, it’s often the most objective way for universities to assess academic potential.

Higher scores = higher scholarship tiers. Simple as that.

🏆 Universities That Offer Automatic SAT Scholarships in 2025

Below is a list of U.S. universities that offer automatic scholarships for international students based on SAT scores and GPA.

University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa, AL

• Scholarship: Presidential, Foundation in Excellence, Collegiate

• Award: Up to full tuition (≈ $28,000/year)

• SAT Requirement:

  • 1360–1390 → $8,000

  • 1400–1420 → $10,000

  • 1430–1450 → $12,000

  • 1460–1480 → $15,000

  • 1490–1600 → Full Tuition

• GPA: 3.5+

• Renewal: Maintain 3.0 GPA

University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) – Oxford, MS

• Scholarship: Academic Merit Awards

• Award: Up to $25,344 over 4 years

• SAT Requirement: 1130+

• GPA: 3.0+

• Renewal: Maintain academic standing

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Louisiana Tech University – Ruston, LA

• Scholarship: Bulldog Out-of-State Fee Waiver

• Award: Up to $9,500/year

• SAT Requirement:

  • 1300–1390 → $8,500

  • 1400+ → $9,500

• GPA: 3.75–4.0

• Renewal: Full-time enrollment + GPA

  
  

University of Texas at Arlington – Arlington, TX

• Scholarship: Maverick Academic Scholarship

• Award: $2,000 – $8,000/year

• SAT Requirement: 1100+

• GPA: 3.0+

• Renewal: Up to 4 years

Texas State University – San Marcos, TX

• Scholarship: President’s Honor Scholarship

• Award: Up to $12,000/year

• SAT Requirement: 1420+

• GPA: Top 25% or 3.5+

• Renewal: Maintain eligibility

University of Louisville – Louisville, KY

• Scholarship: National Scholars Program

• Award: $15,000/year

• SAT Requirement: 1230+

• GPA: 3.0+

• Renewal: Based on academic progress

Wichita State University – Wichita, KS

• Scholarship: Freshman Merit Scholarship

• Award: Up to $4,800/year

• SAT Requirement:

  • 1200–1350 → $3,500/year

  • 1360+ → $4,800/year

• GPA: 3.5+

• Renewal: With GPA

Arizona State University – Tempe, AZ

• Scholarship: New American University Award

• Award: Varies (partial to full tuition)

• SAT Requirement: 1350+ recommended

• GPA: 3.5+ recommended

• Note: Varies by major & admission date

Troy University – Troy, AL

• Scholarship: International Education Scholarship

• Award: $9,000/year

• SAT Requirement: 1060+

• GPA: 3.0+

• Renewal: Full-time enrollment + progress

University of Nevada, Reno – Reno, NV

• Scholarship: Nevada Advantage Scholarship

• Award: Up to $15,000/year

• SAT Requirement: 1250+

• GPA: 3.25+

• Renewal: Academic eligibility

  
  

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

• Meeting the minimum doesn’t guarantee the award—aim higher for better chances.

• Deadlines matter. Most priority deadlines fall between November and January.

• Always send your official SAT scores through the College Board website.

💡 Final Thoughts

Your SAT score can do more than just get you accepted—it can save you money. A lot of it.

Many African students miss out on these opportunities simply because they don’t know they exist. Hopefully, this list gives you a head start.

If you're preparing for the SAT, getting the right guidance early makes a difference. At CTS Education, we work with students across Africa to prepare, register, and match with schools that reward their scores.

Got questions? Contact us here.