Merit Scholarships

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What is a Merit Scholarship?

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Check whether the merit scholarship is renewable. If so, abiding by the terms may help pay your entire four years at college.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. When applying to a college or university, look at their financial aid section and scan for merit scholarships to see if you qualify.

List of Merit Scholarships

Check out our list of merit scholarships below.

Merit Scholarships 2025 List

Bud’s Shop ‘N Save Scholarship Program

This scholarship is available for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students who are associates and/or children of an associate working in one of the three Bud’s Shop ‘N Save supermarkets in Pittsfield, Newport or Dexter, Maine.
Award Amount

Total:  $4500

Awards:  3

Deadline

Deadline:  April 01

Richard H. Pierce Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is available for Maine undergraduate and graduate students who have completed at least one year of a community college program or two years at a four-year college or university. Applications will be selected on the basis of academic achievement and unmet financial need.
Award Amount

Total:  $20000

Awards:  2

Deadline

Deadline:  April 01

Tom Taylor Memorial Scholarship to Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology

This scholarship is available for international and U.S. high school seniors who desire to pursue an associate’s degree in applied science or a diploma in aviation maintenance technology at NEC Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Students must have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
Award Amount

Total:  $35000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  April 01

State University System of Florida Program

Florida high school seniors and current undergraduate students with certain visual, learning, speech, and/or hearing disabilities who have been accepted to or are enrolled at an eligible Florida state institutions are eligible for this award. Students must have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher and demonstrate financial need.
Award Amount

Total:  $1000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  April 01

Air Line Pilots Association Scholarship

This award is available for U.S. or Canadian undergraduate students who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students must be the dependent of a medically retired, long-term disabled, or deceased ALPA member. Incoming freshmen should submit the application after the 1st semester of that senior year.
Award Amount

Total:  $12000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  April 01

American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship Program for Alabama

This scholarship is available for undergraduate Alabama students who have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and attend an eligible Alabama institution. Applicants must have a parent or grandparent who was/is a veteran of WWI, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam Conflict, the Beirut/Grenada Emergency, the Panama Emergency, or Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
Award Amount

Total:  $34000

Awards:  40

Deadline

Deadline:  April 01

Selby Scholars Scholarship

Residents of Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte or DeSoto counties who are graduating from a high school or community college in those counties are eligible for this award. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Award Amount

Total:  $7000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  April 01

Melbourne Alumnae Panhellenic Scholarship

This award is available for U.S. women who are attending a four-year college or university in Florida on a full-time basis and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. The applicant must be a graduate of a Brevard County (Florida) high school and be a member of a National Panhellenic Council affiliated sorority.
Award Amount

Total:  $2000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  April 01

Illinois Real Estate Educational Foundation (ILREEF) Academic Scholarship

This award is for U.S. college sophomores who are legal residents of the state of Illinois and attend a college/university in the state of Illinois. Applicants must have 30 college credit hours completed and be pursuing a degree with an emphasis in real estate.
Award Amount

Total:  $9000

Awards:  9

Deadline

Deadline:  April 01

Morgan L. Fitch Scholarship

This award is for U.S. college juniors who are legal residents of the state of Illinois and attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Commerce and Business Administration or College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Applicants must have 60 college credit hours completed and be pursuing a degree with an emphasis in real estate.
Award Amount

Total:  $2000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  April 01