First-Year Merit Scholarships for Out-of-State Students

Fall 2025-Spring 2026

The Flagship Scholars Commitment Program provides admissions-based scholarships to high-achieving out-of-state students. A range of scholarship amounts are awarded at the time of admission based on a student’s high school GPA and the rigor of coursework completed. No additional application is required to be considered for admissions-based scholarships.

Eligibility Criteria

Based on the student’s academic performance in high school, including GPA and rigor of coursework.
Applicants must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA in order to qualify for admissions-based scholarships.
Standardized test scores, such as the SAT and ACT, are optional for admissions.

Scholarship Programs

*EARLY ACTION INCENTIVE: December 1, 2024
Submit your complete admissions application by December 1, 2024 to be considered for the maximum amount of merit award possible.

Students who apply early action may be eligible to receive an additional $3,000-$5,000 merit “Early Action Award.”

Flagship Match Commitment

Available Annual Award Range:
$14,133 to $19,386

The Flagship Match Scholarship allows eligible out-of-state students from specified states to attend UMaine at the same cost as their home state’s flagship institution. Qualifying students will receive a substantial scholarship that is applied to UMaine’s out-of-state tuition and fees. The amount of the scholarship will vary depending on the tuition and fee rates of the flagship institution in the student’s home state.

Flagship Leaders Commitment

Available Annual Award Range:
$9,000-$12,000

Specialized Scholarship Programs

UMaine National Merit Award

Eligibility Criteria: Semi-finalists and finalists with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation

Award Amount: 100% tuition and mandatory fees, up to 30 credits per academic year (renewable for four years with a maintained 3.3 GPA)

2025-2026 Scholarship Terms and Conditions

First-year students are highly encouraged to file a FAFSA by March 1 in order to be considered for the maximum amount of financial aid funds. Filing a FAFSA is not required to receive merit-based scholarships at the time of admission.
Scholarship amounts are a financial commitment made to students by the University of Maine. Some or all of the commitment funds may be replaced on the financial aid offer by other Federal, University, and Endowed scholarships and/or grants.
Awards are renewable for up to 8 semesters over 4 years, or 120 credits, whichever comes first, provided that the student meets specific renewal criteria.
Scholarship amount is determined at the time of admission and will remain fixed throughout the student’s undergraduate career, provided the student meets renewal eligibility requirements.
Student must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (see Office of Student Financial Services for more information).
Student must maintain at least part-time enrollment (no fewer than 6 graded credit hours per semester) leading to an undergraduate degree at UMaine.
Students are required to meet a minimum cumulative GPA each academic year in order to maintain eligibility for admissions-based scholarships. Students will be sent a formal letter with the required GPA that they must meet.
Maine Top Scholar Awards and UMaine National Merit Award require students to maintain full-time enrollment (no fewer than 12 graded credit hours per semester) leading to an undergraduate degree at UMaine.

Enrollment Based Adjustments

UMaine’s initial financial aid offers are based on the assumption that a student will enroll in 15 credits per semester. Some types of aid, including merit scholarships and institutional grants, are adjusted for students who enroll in fewer than 15 credits.