Oklahoma Academic Scholars Program

Oklahoma's flagship merit award goes to students scoring at or above the 99.5th percentile on the ACT or SAT, or named National Merit Scholars or Finalists or U.S. Presidential Scholars. The state payment stacks with campus tuition waivers, so total packages differ by school; at the University of Oklahoma, automatic qualifiers have seen roughly $24,000 a year. Public colleges may also nominate a limited number of additional scholars who fall short of the automatic score, and those slots are competitive. Renewal runs up to four years with a 3.25 GPA and 24 credit hours a year, and the money only pays at an Oklahoma institution. No single statewide date governs it: your campus certifies qualifiers and sets its own nomination timeline, so call its scholarship office in the fall of senior year. The program was renamed the Oklahoma Rising Scholars Award in 2025.

How hard is the Oklahoma Academic Scholars Program to win?

This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives.

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

• Fewer rivalsOpen only to Oklahoma residents
• Fewer rivalsAn official transcript is required
• Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only

How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the Oklahoma Academic Scholars Program?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

• ✓Must be a resident of Oklahoma
• ✓Open to high school seniors
• ✓Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card)

What the application takes

• Transcript required. Request it from the school registrar ahead of the deadline.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is June 30, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around June 30 each year. Your Oklahoma campus certifies qualifiers and sets nomination dates, so contact its scholarship office in early senior fall; some list March 1.

Qualifying ACT or SAT score in hand

By senior fall

Campus nomination dates, often winter

March 1 at some campuses 2027

Award year closes

June 30, 2027

Common questions about the Oklahoma Academic Scholars Program

More state grants & programs

• 802 Opportunity Grant
  Full tuition and the $100 administrative fee at CCV (last-dollar)
• Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program
  Varies by SAI and school type per statutory table (amounts prorated if funding is short)
• Alabama Student Grant Program
  Up to $3,000/yr ($1,500 per semester; actual amount depends on state funding)
• Alaska Education Grant
  $500-$4,000/yr based on need and enrollment level
• Alaska Performance Scholarship
  $3,500-$7,000/yr depending on tier
• Arizona Promise Program
  Full tuition & mandatory fees at Arizona public universities (last-dollar)

Lists this award appears on

• Oklahoma Scholarships and State Grants
• No-Essay Scholarships
• Renewable Scholarships (Multi-Year Awards)
• Scholarships With June Deadlines