A student's completed admissions application allows them to be automatically considered for the Academic Excellence Scholarship. Students are awarded based on the average of the applicant pool as every student is rated using the same metric based on high school rank and test scores. Eligible students will have a competitive academic profile; typically a total score of 1170 on the new SAT (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing plus Math) or an ACT Composite of 24, with a class rank in the top 20 percent. Students without a class rank can still be considered for Academic Excellence Scholarships. In such cases, the University determines scholarship eligibility based on the standing of applicants with similar academic credentials. Students who are unable to take the ACT/SAT test due to the ongoing pandemic or other extenuating circumstances will still be considered for Academic Excellence Scholarships. In such cases, the University determines eligibility based on other criteria, such as class rank and high school GPA. First-time in college merit scholarship recipients are eligible to receive up to four years of awards or until they graduate, whichever comes first, provided that Texas A&M-Kingsville renewal requirements are satisfied each academic year. For out-of-state residents, this academically competitive scholarship will qualify the student to pay in-state tuition during the semesters in which the scholarship is disbursed. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.