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Coastal Carolina University is committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and recognizes outstanding freshman and transfer students through its merit award program. Merit Awards are based on academic criteria as demonstrated by performance in a rigorous high school program and by performance on standardized test scores, or by performance at a regionally accredited college or university based on collegiate GPA. New, incoming undergraduate students, both freshmen and transfers, are eligible for consideration.

University merit awards are automatically awarded to academically qualified applicants (new freshmen and transfers) who apply to the University by published priority application deadlines.

Freshman Application Deadlines:

Early Decision: October 15

Early Action: November 15

Regular Decision: February 1

Spring Semester: November 1

Transfer Application Priority Dates:

Fall Semester: June 1

Spring Semester: November 1

Historically, funding exhausts and is limited for applicants who apply after published priority application dates.

Students are eligible to receive only one award from the merit-based award program. This includes the VPA Merit-based and PGM Merit-based awards. Out-of-state students who are granted access to the Academic Common Market tuition waiver are not eligible for additional tuition reduction through the University's merit award program. The Honors Program invitation is not considered a merit-based award.

Eligible students are notified of the merit award in the acceptance letter.

Want to see if you might qualify for a merit award? Use the True Cost Calculator. This is a great tool to get an estimate of the cost to attend CCU. You can use this tool by manually entering your academic information. In addition, you can manually enter income information or if you have completed the FAFSA you can enter the student aid index number from the email confirmation you received after filling out the FAFSA. You can access the True Cost Calculator here.

Freshmen Merit Awards 

Merit award eligibility for freshmen applicants is determined using a holistic review of all credentials that the applicant submits. The following factors will assist in the comprehensive review: 

• Cumulative high school grade point averages – both weighted and unweighted.
• Institutionally calculated “core” grade point average (see Freshman Admission Requirements for more information).
• Rigor of high school coursework (ie. Honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, dual enrollment).
• Rank within graduating class (if applicable).
• Academic recommendations.
• Letters of recommendation.
• Writing samples/Essay/Personal Statement.
• Resumes, including leadership and work experience, as well as extracurricular involvement and activities.
• Standardized test scores (if applicable) - SAT (combined math and evidenced based reading and writing scores) or ACT (composite score).

Additional items for merit award consideration may be uploaded electronically at https://apply.coastal.edu/register/admissionsupload.  

 Transfer Awards 

For transfer awards, the cumulative collegiate GPA, which includes all college coursework attempted will be used to determine eligibility. Awards extended based on undisclosed or incomplete coursework may be reduced or rescinded at the institution’s discretion. Transfer students typically have a minimum of 30 transferable credit hours to qualify for merit awards.

General Information

Refer to your Merit Award Policy included in your offer letter for renewal criteria and other conditions.

• All applicants are reviewed for merit award eligibility. No separate application is required.
• Students qualify for only one merit award. Merit awards cannot be combined with other merit awards.
• Annual renewal conditions must be met to renew annual merit awards.
• Students must be enrolled as a full-time student (12 to 18 credit hours per semester).

 *South Carolina Scholar Award

Students must be first-time freshmen graduating from a South Carolina high school and ranking within the top 10 percent of their graduating class.

 †Visual and Performing Arts Awards

Following an audition or portfolio review, the department faculty may recommend a student for consideration.

Students must major in art studio, graphic design, music, or theatre arts (all concentrations) to qualify for this award.

Click the links below for more information on auditions or portfolio reviews.  

Visual Arts or Graphic Design       Music      Theatre Arts

 ‡PGA Golf Management Awards

Students must be admitted to the PGA Golf Management program by March 31. Students will receive instructions for applying to the PGA Golf Management program in their acceptance letter.