When Kara Trim was a high schooler making college plans, the Tennessee Resident Scholarship Program at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) was an opportunity “too good to pass up.”

“It made attending UAH incredibly affordable by offering in-state tuition rates, which was a game-changer for me and my family,” she says. “The scholarship not only made UAH accessible but also underscored the university’s commitment to supporting students from all backgrounds. It played a pivotal role in my decision to enroll at UAH.”

Tennessee Resident Scholarships are four-year awards for fall and spring semesters, renewable each semester based on full-time student status and satisfactory academic progress. UAH, a part of The University of Alabama System, gives scholarship consideration to all first-time freshmen who are offered admission. Award amounts are based on each student’s high school GPA, ACT or SAT scores and residency status.

Trim came to UAH from Arlington, Tennessee, where a teacher introduced her to the university and its scholarship program. Now Trim is a double major in chemistry and biology on the pre-health track, set to graduate in spring 2025.

“Academically, UAH has exceeded my expectations,” she says. “The classes are engaging and challenging, and the faculty are not only knowledgeable but also genuinely invested in student success. My advisors have been dedicated to helping me succeed through finding summer courses or shadowing opportunities.”

During Trim’s years at UAH, the program that brought her here has steadily grown, says Chris Pinto, director of undergraduate admissions in the Office of Admissions.

The scholarship pilot program began with the fall 2021 incoming class. From fall 2020, before the program started, to fall 2023, UAH experienced a 9% increase in the number of first-time Tennessee students enrolling. For the fall 2024 semester, Pinto projects a 7% increase over last year.

Daniel Taylor, a UAH admissions counselor based in Tennessee, is one of the people working to promote the program. Traveling around the state to high schools and college fairs, he talks to a lot of students like Trim. Some already know and like UAH. Others become interested after he describes programs and employment opportunities after graduation. Many share financial concerns – until he tells them about the scholarship program.

“It really changes everything that they’re thinking about UAH, and they start to consider us as an option,” he says. “This program also helps me to build meaningful connections with high school counselors. They want to know more about our university so they can help their students be successful in making a decision about college.”

The Tennessee Resident Scholarship Program is one of two ways Tennessee residents can receive in-state tuition at UAH. Before the scholarship program began, UAH was already offering in-state tuition to anyone living in the nine Tennessee counties closest to Huntsville, and that program continues to bring new students to UAH.

For more information on becoming a UAH Charger, visit uah.edu/admissions/undergraduate.

This is a contributing post from UAH’s newsroom. For more information, please visit https://www.uah.edu/news. Cover image provided by UAH.