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.
This scholarship is open to California undergraduate and graduate students who have completed 12 or more credit hours of agricultural classes. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
The Friends of the California State Fair offers 12 categories of scholarships with varying eligibility requirements. Applicants may apply for only ONE scholarship category of their choice per year. Applicants must meet all of the criteria for a specific scholarship to be an eligible candidate. The eligibility requirements differ based on the specific scholarship so please double check your eligibility status before selecting a scholarship. Scholarships and eligibility requirements are listed on the Categories tab of this application. All scholarships have the 3 requirements listed below in addition to scholarship-specific requirements. To be eligible for any of the awards you must:
have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 although some scholarships require a higher GPA
plan to attend college in the Fall of 2022 and Spring of 2023
be a California resident with a valid ID
This scholarship is available for undergraduate students in Michigan who are attending or planning to attend an accredited, public university in Michigan. Selection of awards is based on academic merit, financial harship, and involvement with community service.
The Anthony Muñoz Scholarship Fund was created by Anthony Muñoz and his family to support Tri-State youth in achieving their dreams of attending a local college or university. All applicants must demonstrate a desire and intent to overcome adversity, have financial need, excel academically, and fulfill a leadership role in the community. Semi-finalists will be interviewed by AMF Scholarship Fund selection committee in May. Finalists will be announced on May 31st!
Committed to nurturing the growth of all Tri-State youth and especially vulnerable, at-risk populations, the Anthony Muñoz Foundation has created unique opportunities that appeal to students of all ages, educational, cultural and economic backgrounds. Through deploying a life-changing college scholarship fund program, three high school education and recognition programs, three empowering football camps, and our Whiz Kids tutoring program, the Anthony Muñoz Foundation is making a tangible difference in the lives of youth across the Tri-State.
Anthony strongly feels that youth need to be encouraged and inspired, as well as recognized and rewarded for their accomplishments. Anthony and our organization want the youth of our region to know that they have value. No matter the odds, they can rise above the hardships life has dealt them and achieve their dreams.
This scholarship is open to Georgia undergraduate and graduate students who are studying accounting or business administration and demonstrate a commitment to a career in accounting. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher (overall or in the major) and must attend a public or private college or university accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
This scholarship program is open to U.S. undergraduate students who are enrolled full time in a hospitality management degree-granting program. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher (with the exception of the Conrad Hilton Fund, which accepts students with grade point averages of 2.0 or higher).
This scholarship is open to U.S. undergraduate and graduate students who are majoring in hospitality management at select AH&LEF-affiliated schools and have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher. Preference is given to students of Asian-Indian descent and other minority groups, as well as JHM Hotel employees.
This scholarship is for U.S. high school seniors who attend a high school in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and plan to attend Kutztown University to major in elementary education. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher (or 86 percent or higher) and financial need.
This scholarship is open to U.S. high school seniors and undergraduate students who are pursuing a Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Arts in Music, Bachelor of Science in Music degree, or a music certificate (specifically in orchestral strings). Students must have been actively involved in his/her high school or college music program or a program outside of school, and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
This award is for graduate students enrolled full time in a degree program in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) field. Students must be members of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Students of Hispanic descent will be given priority.
