4-Year Merit Scholarships

Starting in Fall 2024, BYU-Idaho will award automatic merit scholarships to incoming freshmen and transfer students. This scholarship is renewable for up to four years. To renew, you must maintain a cumulative BYU-Idaho GPA of 3.75 or higher, which is checked annually at the end of each Winter semester.

How do we decide who gets the scholarship?

Incoming Freshman

This chart shows who can get the scholarship based on grades and test scores:

Transfer Students

Your transfer GPA will be calculated using the transcripts received in the Admissions Office prior to your admission to BYU-Idaho.  

The chart below shows who can get the merit scholarship based on transfer grades from a previous university:

2024-2045 Merit Scholarship for Transfer Students by GPA

Do you qualify for this scholarship?

Incoming freshman enrolled as campus students without an earned bachelor’s degree.

• Freshmen are students who have earned less than 12 resident BYU-Idaho credits and less than 24 college credits post-high school.

Transfer Students enrolled as campus students without an earned bachelor’s degree.

• Have earned less than 12 BYU-Idaho credits and more than 24 transfer college credits post-high school.
• Evaluated based on cumulative GPA from prior university.
• Your transfer GPA will be calculated using the transcripts received in the Admissions Office prior to your admission to BYU-Idaho.
  
  • High school transcripts and test scores aren’t needed if you meet transfer student requirements.

How do you apply?

You will be automatically evaluated for the merit-based scholarship as soon as BYU-Idaho receives your high school transcripts and test scores or previous university transcripts.

• All high school transcripts, SAT/ACT Test scores or previous university transcripts must be processed with the university by the transcript deadline. Transcripts and test scores must be in the student record by this deadline.
• If you indicate that you will complete a qualifying homeschool program, you can self-report your home school GPA on the admissions application, you will then be required to submit home school transcripts if you are admitted. Visit Home and Private School Prospective Students for more information.

*BYU-Idaho accepts test scores sent from SAT or ACT, from the high school transcript, or screenshots with your name, birthday, and all sub-scores as well as composite scores.

If your scores change you can be re-evaluated by sending transcripts and test scores to transcriptsubmit@byui.edu by the transcript deadline.

How much money would you receive?

Award amounts are based on Member tuition rates.

2024-2025 Merit Scholarship Award Amounts

• BYU-Idaho merit scholarships are awarded each Fall, Winter, and Spring semester for four years.
• Your award amount depends on how many credits you’re taking on the  Financial Aid Determination Date(FADD)
  
  • If you change your credit load before the FADD, your award will change too.
• Credits do not need to be Program Applicable, (apply to your major)
• Only courses taken for credit are included in your credit count for this scholarship. 
  
  • Audited courses do not qualify.

How do you keep your scholarship?

• Enroll in at least 6 credits
• Maintain a cumulative 3.75 GPA at the end of Winter semester each year.
• You’re no longer eligible for the next year if you’ve earned 120 or more credits by the end of Winter semester. 
  
  • All credits on your official transcript count, including Advanced Placement, language exam credits, and transfer credits

Are you a missionary or planning to serve? Here's what you need to know!

Future Missionaries: If you qualify for an automatic merit scholarship before your mission, you have the option to defer the scholarship until you return. Contact the Admissions Office to let them know about your mission call and defer the scholarship.

Recently returned missionaries: can get this award if test scores and transcripts are processed with the university by the transcript deadline listed above. Transcripts and test scores must be in the student record by this deadline.

Can you combine this scholarship with other scholarships?

To increase your financial support, your Merit Scholarship can be combined (“stacked”) with other BYU-Idaho scholarships, but the total can’t be more than full LDS tuition. These include:

• Academic Scholarship
• The BYU-Idaho Scholarship (need-based)
• Talent Scholarships
• Returned Missionary Scholarship (this scholarship can be awarded over full tuition)

For example, if you receive a Half Tuition Merit Scholarship, you could also apply for and receive a Talent Scholarship from the Music department, increasing your total award, but not going over your tuition cost.

How can I check my scholarship status?

• Awards will show in your financial aid portal and award letters sent as awards are processed

If you have questions about whether you qualify, your award amounts, stacking awards or any other concerns, please email scholarships@byui.edu

When will I receive my scholarship?

• The scholarship is disbursed to your student account the first week of the semester
• It's applied first to tuition charges
• Be sure to sign up for eRefund so any remaining funds can go directly to your bank account