State-by-State Scholarships You’re Missing (2025)

Most students leave state-based money on the table. In 2025, the fastest wins often come from three places you haven’t fully tapped: your state aid agency (grants you don’t repay), “Promise”/lottery programs (especially for community college or in-state publics), and automatic merit at flagship universities (published grids you can stack). Use the quick plan below, then scan the state-by-state finder and build your shortlist.

How to use this guide (5-step plan)

• List your states (home state + any state where you may attend).
• Search the 3 buckets in each state: state aid agency, Promise/lottery, and flagship auto-merit.
• Note priority dates (state grants and campus funds are first-come, first-served).
• Stack funding: state grant + Promise (if eligible) + flagship or departmental merit + outside scholarships.
• Submit early: aim 2–4 weeks before each priority date to avoid portal crunch.

What people miss (and why it matters)

• State grant portals: many require you to file early and list an in-state college to be considered.
• Promise/lottery awards: last-dollar aid can make community college or in-state options dramatically cheaper.
• Automatic merit charts: flagship and regional campuses publish GPA/test grids—if you’re above the median, you may qualify without a separate application.

Download the quick-finder CSV

Triage your search with our state keyword cheat sheet (agency, Promise/lottery, flagship auto-merit): State-by-State Scholarships 2025 — Keywords CSV. Upload it to your drive, add columns for links/deadlines, and share with your family or counselor.

State-by-state quick finder (what to search)

Tip: Type the exact phrases in quotes with your state name in your search bar. Start with your home state; then check any state you’re considering for college.

• Alabama — “Alabama state grant” / “Alabama Promise scholarship” / “University of Alabama automatic merit chart”
• Alaska — “Alaska higher education grant” / “Alaska Performance Scholarship” / “University of Alaska scholarships”
• Arizona — “Arizona state grant” / “Arizona Promise Program” / “Arizona State University automatic merit”
• Arkansas — “Arkansas state financial aid” / “Arkansas Academic Challenge (lottery)” / “University of Arkansas merit grid”
• California — “California Cal Grant” / “California Promise (college fee waiver/CCC)” / “UC/CSU campus merit scholarships”
• Colorado — “Colorado state grant” / “Colorado Promise tuition” / “CU Boulder automatic scholarships”
• Connecticut — “Connecticut state grant” / “Pledge to Advance Connecticut / Promise” / “UConn merit scholarships”
• Delaware — “Delaware SEED/INSPIRE scholarship” / “Delaware state grant” / “University of Delaware merit chart”
• District of Columbia — “DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG)” / “DC Promise scholarship” / “UDC scholarships”
• Florida — “Florida Bright Futures” / “Florida First Generation Matching Grant” / “UF/FSU automatic merit”
• Georgia — “Georgia HOPE/Zell Miller” / “Georgia Promise / free tuition” / “UGA automatic scholarships”
• Hawaii — “Hawaii state grant” / “Hawaii Promise Program” / “UH Mānoa scholarships”
• Idaho — “Idaho Opportunity Scholarship” / “Idaho Promise” / “Boise State automatic scholarships”
• Illinois — “Illinois MAP grant” / “Illinois Promise” / “UIUC freshman merit chart”
• Indiana — “Indiana Frank O’Bannon grant” / “21st Century Scholars” / “IU Bloomington scholarship grid”
• Iowa — “Iowa Tuition Grant” / “Last-dollar scholarship Iowa” / “Iowa State automatic merit”
• Kansas — “Kansas state grant” / “Kansas Promise Scholarship” / “KU scholarships automatic”
• Kentucky — “Kentucky CAP/KEES” / “Work Ready Kentucky scholarship” / “UK automatic merit”
• Louisiana — “Louisiana TOPS” / “Louisiana Promise” / “LSU scholarship grid”
• Maine — “Maine state grant” / “Maine Free College / Promise” / “UMaine merit scholarships”
• Maryland — “Maryland state grant” / “Maryland Promise / Community College Promise” / “UMD automatic scholarships”
• Massachusetts — “MASSGrant” / “Massachusetts Tuition equity / Promise” / “UMass Amherst merit chart”
• Michigan — “Michigan Achievement Scholarship” / “Michigan Promise / Reconnect” / “MSU/U-M merit scholarships”
• Minnesota — “Minnesota State Grant” / “North Star Promise” / “U of M freshman scholarships automatic”
• Mississippi — “Mississippi HELP/MTAG/MESG” / “Mississippi Promise” / “Ole Miss automatic scholarships”
• Missouri — “Missouri Access Missouri grant” / “A+ Scholarship” / “Mizzou automatic merit”
• Montana — “Montana state grant” / “Montana Promise / free two-year” / “MSU scholarships chart”
• Nebraska — “Nebraska state grant” / “Nebraska Promise” / “UNL automatic scholarships”
• Nevada — “Nevada Silver State Opportunity/Promise” / “Nevada state grant” / “UNLV scholarship grid”
• New Hampshire — “NH state grant” / “New Hampshire Promise” / “UNH merit scholarships”
• New Jersey — “NJ TAG/NJ STARS” / “New Jersey Promise” / “Rutgers automatic scholarships”
• New Mexico — “New Mexico Opportunity / Lottery Scholarship” / “state grant” / “UNM scholarship grid”
• New York — “TAP/Excelsior Scholarship” / “New York Promise / SEEK/EOP” / “SUNY/CUNY merit scholarships”
• North Carolina — “NC Need-Based Scholarship” / “NC Promise” / “UNC scholarships automatic”
• North Dakota — “North Dakota State Grant” / “Career/CTE scholarships” / “UND/NDSU merit chart”
• Ohio — “Ohio College Opportunity Grant” / “Ohio Promise” / “OSU automatic scholarships”
• Oklahoma — “Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant / Oklahoma’s Promise” / “OU/OSU scholarship grid”
• Oregon — “Oregon Opportunity Grant” / “Oregon Promise” / “UO/OSU automatic merit”
• Pennsylvania — “Pennsylvania State Grant (PHEAA)” / “Pennsylvania Promise” / “Penn State merit scholarships”
• Rhode Island — “Rhode Island state grant” / “RI Promise at CCRI” / “URI scholarships automatic”
• South Carolina — “LIFE/HOPE/PALMETTO Fellows” / “SC Promise” / “USC/Clemson merit chart”
• South Dakota — “South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship” / “last-dollar scholarship SD” / “SDSU scholarship grid”
• Tennessee — “Tennessee Promise/HOPE” / “TN Reconnect” / “UT Knoxville automatic scholarships”
• Texas — “TEXAS Grant/Tuition Equalization” / “Texas Promise” / “UT Austin / Texas A&M automatic scholarships”
• Utah — “Utah state grant” / “Utah Promise” / “U of U/USU freshman scholarships”
• Vermont — “VSAC grants” / “Vermont Promise” / “UVM merit scholarships”
• Virginia — “Virginia state grant / VSG” / “G3 / community college last-dollar” / “UVA/VT automatic scholarships”
• Washington — “Washington College Grant” / “College Bound / Promise” / “UW/WSU merit scholarships”
• West Virginia — “WV Promise Scholarship” / “WV state grant” / “WVU scholarship grid”
• Wisconsin — “Wisconsin Grant” / “Wisconsin Promise / free college” / “UW Madison merit scholarships”
• Wyoming — “Hathaway Scholarship” / “Wyoming Promise” / “UWyo scholarship chart”

Timing tips (so you don’t miss out)

• File FAFSA early (and any state form) to meet state and campus priority dates.
• Check your portal weekly for “missing” documents—aid can’t disburse if a small item is outstanding.
• Ask for stacking rules in writing (how state/campus/merit combine) so you know your true net price.

Mini-checklist before you click submit

• FAFSA filed + state portal account created (where applicable).
• In-state college listed on your FAFSA (often required for state aid consideration).
• Flagship merit chart reviewed; you meet or exceed the threshold.
• Promise eligibility confirmed (residency, HS GPA, credit load, deadlines).

Bottom line

The fastest way to lower your bill is local: state grant + Promise + flagship auto-merit. Use the keywords above, add your own links in the CSV, and apply early. That’s how students stop missing state money in 2025.