Merit scholarships are a type of gift aid that help pay for college by rewarding talent. Most merit based scholarships go to students who stand out with strong academics.
Recipients of a merit scholarship may be high academic achievers or have strong athletic, artistic or other skills and values. Eligible students must also show a desire to serve the community or leadership skills.
Some merit scholarships also may look at financial need. But most of the time accomplishments and academic excellence are the primary factors to win a merit scholarship.
How Do You Get a Merit Scholarship?
Merit awards are different from needs based scholarships. A need-based scholarship uses family income to make decisions. Instead, the merit scholarship sponsors usually start out with a goal or reason why they offer it. This might be to develop their industry with smart minds or invest in the future of their community and college.
There are various criteria to qualify for a merit scholarship. Sometimes you need to be a member of a specific association or enrolled in the university. Other scholarship providers may specifically offer it to minority students, female students or for certain majors like STEM.
Either way, you’ll need to see if you qualify. One example is the Women Techmakers Scholarship. It is an academic merit scholarship. In order to be eligible, eligible students must show strong academic performance, leadership, and impact on the community of women in tech. You may fit the bill as an upstanding male student, but this one is for girls.
What is Merit?
That stated, what ‘merit’ means generally depends on the organization granting the scholarship. Some merit scholarships look at academic performance, test scores, and your recommendations. Others may only look at your SAT/ACT test scores.
Still others focus on your dedication to and performance in a specific field of study. This can be anything from music to math and others.
Many private companies, groups and nonprofits fund merit scholarships. There are no federal funds for merit-based scholarships.
Some merit scholarship providers are from local communities such as churches and cultural groups. Companies such as Google, Gates Foundation or Coca Cola also offer merit scholarships.
Most colleges also award merit scholarships. Often alumni endow funds to use for these awards. Merit based awards may thus carry the name of a person so that their legacy continues. You’ll also find charitable foundations offering merit aid which sometimes look at financial need.
What GPA do You Need to Get a Merit Scholarship?
An academic merit scholarship often requires a strong GPA. But the actual grade point average you need to get a merit scholarship varies.
For instance, you need a cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale to qualify for the SHRM Foundation’s Graduate Scholarships. This awards $5,000 to a graduate student pursuing an HR degree related program.
The Voice of Democracy Scholarship awards $30,000 to one national first place winner. Most high school students as well as military students may apply.
How Much is a Merit Scholarship?
The U.S. Department of Education tracks the aid schools award to undergraduates. According to the NCES study, they looked at the amount of money high-merit students received. It found that those in selective schools got about 58% of their tuition. Those in less selective schools received about 46% of their tuition amounts.
What Qualifies You to be a National Merit Scholar?
National Merit Scholars have the highest PSAT/NMSQT® Selection Index scores. About 1.6 million enter to compete. But about 50,000 qualify for recognition in the National Merit® Scholarship Program.
Each September, the sponsor colleges notify the recipients. They let them know if they have qualified as either a Commended Student or Semifinalist. Then about 15,000 semifinalists move to finalist standing.
About 7,600 winners of Merit Scholarship® awards (Merit Scholar® designees) may be notified. Part of the decision making process looks at students’ abilities, skills, and accomplishments.
How Do You Get the Most Money for Merit Scholarships?
Many scholarship providers factor in both need and merit. There are at least six things that may help you get the most merit aid for college.
Don’t forget to fill out the FAFSA. Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for federal aid too. This might be useful if the amount of your merit scholarship is not enough to pay tuition, fees, housing etc.
Apply to schools where your grades put you ahead. Many college admissions look at the entire pool of applicants. You may be ahead of the student body in some colleges and not in others.
Check whether the merit scholarship is renewable. If so, abiding by the terms may help pay your entire four years at college.
Make sure you understand the net cost of attending each school you apply to. Then assess the amount of merit aid you can get and see what makes the most sense to you.
Figure out where your talents lie and use them when you search for scholarships. It doesn’t have to be high marks. The Doodle for Google Scholarship rewards creativity.
When applying to a college or university, look at their financial aid section and scan for merit scholarships to see if you qualify.
U.S. college juniors who exhibit high academic achievement and leadership skills may be nominated for this award. Students must plan to pursue a graduate degree in public service and be committed to a career in public service. Click here to learn more and apply today!
This scholarship is available for U.S. high school seniors who are enrolled in high school in Texas and plan to attend a Texas college. Students must have an SAT score of 950 or higher or an ACT score of 19 or higher, and must rank in the upper quarter of their graduating class.
The Obama Foundation Scholars Program is available for student who have a proven commitment to service and leadership within a community, region or country outside the United States. A demonstrated commitment to return to these communities following their completion of the program is also required.
This award is available to Massachusetts high school sophomores or juniors who demonstrate difficult personal circumstances and high financial need. Students must enroll full time at a Massachusetts college or university and have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
This scholarship is for students who are currently doing a music therapy internship. Students must be members of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) in both the year in which application is made and the year in which the award is granted, and must attend an AMTA-approved institution.
This scholarship is open to music therapy interns pursuing training in chemical dependency or in adolescent programs. Students must be members of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) in both the year in which application is made and the year in which the award is granted, and must attend an AMTA-approved institution.
This award is for U.S. college seniors or graduate students who are enrolled in a full-time course of study in a field related to the television industry. The applicant must attend a school within the ADI (area of dominant influence) of the television stations within the Chicago/Midwest chapter jurisdiction OR be a relative of a member in good standing of the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the Television Academy.
This scholarship is available for high school seniors who reside in Addison County, Vermont. Students must plan to enroll full time in an accredited four-year college to pursue a bachelor’s degree and demonstrate the following: outstanding academic achievement; financial need; school/community involvement.
This scholarship is available for Vermont high school seniors who are enrolled in a vocational/technical program. Students must demonstrate academic achievement and financial need.
This scholarship is available for Vermont undergraduate students who are residents of Chittenden County and seeking a degree in business or a related field. Students must demonstrate entrepreneurial skills, endeavors, and/or achievements; academic achievement; and community involvement.
