Scholarships and early college credit

Earn college credit without losing the first-year scholarship.

Arizona's three universities give their biggest automatic awards to first-year students. College courses can help an application, but the timing matters. Here is what each university publishes, as of October 2026.

The rule that matters most: finish before graduation

All three universities treat college courses taken during high school as compatible with first-year status. The risk is college enrollment after high school graduation and before the student starts at the university.

ASU says a student is not eligible for its New American University Scholarship after enrolling at another college or university between high school graduation and starting at ASU. Summer courses are the stated exception.
University of Arizona scholarship terms for 2026-27 say dual enrollment during high school does not affect eligibility, but credit attempted after high school does. Summer enrollment right before the fall term at UA is the stated exception.
NAU counts a dual-enrolled student who has not yet graduated as a first-year applicant.

Watch the on-demand clock. ASU's on-demand online courses allow up to a year to finish. A senior who starts one in spring could still be working on it after graduation. Plan senior-year courses to end before graduation day, or ask the target university's financial aid office first.

Sources: ASU New American University Scholarship · UA 2026-27 scholarship terms and conditions · NAU admissions FAQ · ASU's online course FAQ

ASU: New American University Scholarship

Automatic for admitted first-year students, with no separate application. It is based on the unweighted GPA in the 16 high school core courses. ASU calls the amounts planning estimates, not guarantees. Arizona residents, Metro Phoenix campuses, per year:

Core GPA	Award	Per year
4.0 and up	President's	$9,000
3.81 to 3.99	Provost's	$8,000
3.41 to 3.80	Dean's	$5,000
3.11 to 3.40	University	$3,000
3.01 to 3.10	Academic Achievement	$1,000

Awards are made on a rolling basis. ACT or SAT scores are not required but can raise the award.

Source: tuition.asu.edu, first-year New American University Scholarship

University of Arizona: Wildcat Tuition Award

For selected Arizona resident high school graduates entering as first-time, full-time students. UA considers students for merit aid when they apply and file the FAFSA, through a review of the full academic record rather than a published GPA table. Awards depend on available funds.

Priority deadline: apply by UA's November 1 Early Action deadline for priority merit consideration. Students admitted for spring are not eligible.

Sources: UA first-year merit scholarships · UA 2026-27 terms and conditions

NAU: freshman tuition scholarships

Automatic consideration with no extra steps, based on unweighted high school core GPA, renewable for three more years. Arizona residents, per year (NAU's page is headed Fall 2026):

Core GPA	Award	Per year
3.75 to 4.0	Lumberjack Scholars	$11,000
3.5 to 3.74	President's	$9,000
3.4 to 3.49	Dean's with Distinction	$6,500
3.0 to 3.39	Dean's	$5,000
Admitted, up to 2.99	Opportunity	$2,500

Source: NAU freshman tuition scholarships

Need-based programs for Arizona residents

ASU: Arizona Promise (Pell-eligible, 2.50 GPA, FAFSA by April 1), Obama Scholars (family income limits, FAFSA and ASU application by January 15), and the University Grant for families who are not Pell-eligible.
University of Arizona: Arizona Promise Grant covers remaining tuition and mandatory fees for Pell-eligible residents with at least a 2.5 core GPA; application and FAFSA by April 1.
NAU: Access2Excellence covers full undergraduate tuition for residents with household income of $65,000 or less; FAFSA by April 1.

Each program has more conditions than fit here. Read the page before counting on one.

Sources: ASU programs for Arizona residents · UA Arizona Promise Grant · NAU Access2Excellence

Paying for the courses themselves

ASU says online college courses are not eligible for federal financial aid. The costs are $25 to start a course and $400 only if the student adds the credit.

ASU online course FAQ

ESA families

The ESA handbook sets the rules for what account funds can pay for, and they change by year. Ask the ESA office before using account funds for ASU course fees.

The GPA still decides

ASU and NAU awards come from the high school core GPA. A college course that takes time from core classes can cost more than it earns. Plan the load with that in mind.

Planning senior-year courses?

On a free call we'll map which courses fit before graduation and which can wait.

Book a free 20-minute call or ask a question by email

This is a general guide, not financial aid advice for a specific student, and scholarship rules and amounts change every year; check each university's current pages before relying on them. Caveat Academic Services offers independent college preparation services and is not affiliated with Arizona State University, the University of Arizona or Northern Arizona University. Each college decides which credits it accepts; Caveat does not promise that credit will transfer.