Middle Tennessee State University's 2027-28 guaranteed scholarships pay $3,500 to $8,000 a year to students with a 3.5 GPA and a 22+ ACT, from any state. There's no scholarship application, but everything must be on file by December 1, 2026.
Middle Tennessee State University calls its chart "guaranteed" in so many words. It's also one of the simplest: a single GPA requirement and four ACT bands, the same for in-state and out-of-state students. Compare it with Tennessee and Memphis. For the basics, see what an automatic scholarship chart is.
MTSU scholarship chart for 2027-28
| Scholarship | ACT | GPA | Per Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centennial Scholarship | 34-36 | 3.5 | $8,000 |
| Trustee Scholarship | 30-33 | 3.5 | $5,000 |
| Presidential Scholarship | 25-29 | 3.5 | $4,500 |
| True Blue Scholarship | 22-24 | 3.5 | $3,500 |
The chart is published in ACT bands. A qualifying SAT is at least 1100, which counts toward the bottom tier. Awards renew for up to four years (eight semesters).
The part that surprises people: below 3.5, nothing; above it, only the ACT matters
The 3.5 GPA is a hard floor. A 3.49 GPA earns nothing from this chart, even with a 36 ACT. Above 3.5, GPA stops mattering: a 3.5 and a 4.0 with the same score get the same award. The biggest single step is at the top. Going from a 33 to a 34 ACT adds $3,000 a year ($12,000 over four years), more than any other jump on the chart.
Deadline and how awards are made
To be considered, MTSU must have all of these on file by December 1, 2026:
- the application for admission and the application fee
- a qualifying official ACT (22+) or SAT (1100+)
- a sixth-semester transcript showing your GPA through junior year
- proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
MTSU sends offers by March, and you have to accept the scholarship to receive it. If you're admitted and have a qualifying score on file by December 1, a higher December test score can still upgrade your award.
What this means for you
- Protect the 3.5. It's the single requirement every tier shares.
- If you're at 32 or 33, a retest for 34 is worth $12,000. That's the biggest jump on the chart.
- Tennessee residents can add the HOPE Scholarship. It pays up to $2,250 a semester at a four-year college with a 21 ACT or 3.0 GPA; see Tennessee HOPE Scholarship requirements.
- Out-of-state students qualify on the same terms. There's no separate, lower out-of-state chart.
- Compare it with Tennessee and Memphis, or check all charts at once with the scholarship finder.