Arizona Scholarships

Introduction to Arizona scholarships

According to data collected from Ballotpedia, public university tuition in Arizona increased 97% between 2005-2006 and 2015-2016. This whopping statistic is a clear indicator that students pursuing higher education in Arizona can and should take advantage of the dozens of Arizona scholarships sponsored by private organizations and universities alike.

In this post, we dive into all types of scholarships opportunities available for Arizona’s prospective and current college students to apply for to help pay for college. Keep reading for the good stuff! 

Scholarships in Arizona

Top Arizona scholarships offered by colleges & universities

The University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University are Arizona’s three public universities. Below you will find information on some of the top scholarship awards offered by these institutions.

University of Arizona

Arizona Tuition Award 

  • Awards up to $35,000 per academic year
  • This highly competitive award is offered to a select number of non-Arizona high school graduates (must be a US citizen) who are first-time degree-seeking students
  • To be considered, students only need to submit a complete University of Arizona admission application by the designated deadline

To learn about University of Arizona’s other tuition awards for international students, community college transfer students, and Arizona residents, check out their financial aid and scholarships page.

Arizona State University

New American University Scholarship for Arizona Residents 

  • Awards vary depending on a student's academic record - you can use their scholarship estimator tool to get an estimate. 
  • The New American University Scholarship is a merit-based award open to Arizona residents who will be incoming college freshmen. This scholarship is split up into several different types of awards: President’s Award, Provost’s Award, Dean’s Award, University Award. 
  • To be considered, students only need to submit a complete Arizona State University admission application by the designated deadline.

For non-Arizona resident students interested in other New American University Scholarships, check out ASU’s scholarship page for more information.

Northern Arizona University

Lumberjack Scholars Award

  • This full-tuition award covers 100% of NAU Flagstaff Mountain campus tuition, minus fees and expenses, for Arizona residents
  • Students must have at least a 3.5 GPA to be considered. Selection is also based on a student’s completion and/or progress in the 16 college prep courses that are required for admission - students may not receive a letter grade lower than a “B” in any of the required core courses to remain eligible for the scholarship.
  • Incoming freshmen are automatically considered for the Lumberjack Scholars Award, as well as all other merit and need-based tuition awards, when they apply to NAU.

To learn about other awards available to Arizona residents and non-residents, check out NAU’s scholarship page.

Save on college tuition with the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

Arizona is one of the 16 member states and territories (including California, Colorado, Washington, and many others!) that participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, which is a program designed to provide “steep nonresident tuition savings for Western students”. Over 160 colleges and universities across the 16 member states participate in WUE, providing Western students with many options for pursuing higher education outside of their home state while still being able to save money. 

If you’re determined to be eligible for WUE, and decide to enroll in a WUE institution outside of your home state, you will pay no more than 150% of that institution’s resident tuition rate. Through WUE, the average student saves over $9,000! 

Head to the WUE website to learn more about your options.

Additional financial aid resources for Arizona students

In addition to the various Arizona scholarships that are out there for prospective and current college students in the Grand Canyon state, there are also some great online resources out there for students looking to learn more about Arizona colleges and universities, paying for college, and financial aid as a whole. 

  • Pay4CollegeArizona - Website run by The Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education which provides information for students and parents on filing the FAFSA (College Goal FAF$A), Arizona-specific grants, and more. This resource is a great starting point!
  • AZ Community Colleges - Launching point for students interested in learning about and possibly attending one of Arizona’s many community colleges. 
  • College Depot - Run through the Phoenix Public Library, the College Depot is a “free, full-service college access center” where students seeking information about earning a college degree can connect with a college advisor 6 days a week.