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.
The NAPABA Law Foundation carries out its work primarily by awarding scholarships and fellowships that promote the interests of the Asian Pacific American community. Since its founding, the Foundation has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships and over $1 million in fellowships and internships. The Foundation awards scholarships on a nationwide basis to law students who demonstrate a commitment to serve or contribute to the Asian Pacific American community as future leaders.
Since the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program was first offered in 1998, Lilly Endowment has remained steadfast in its belief that education at all levels is indispensable to the personal, civic and economic well-being of Indiana’s residents and communities. To date, over 50 students have been awarded Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships through the Wayne County Foundation. Awardees are recognized, at the Wayne County Foundation’s Annual Community Dinner.
The CDGA Foundation Scholarship, awarded to disabled veterans or dependents of deceased or disabled veterans living or hospitalized in the Chicago District. Awards are given on the basis of financial need, scholastic achievement, community service and personal goals. Applicants must be a disabled veteran or a dependent of a disabled or deceased veteran with intent to enroll in an accredited college or career training school for up to a maximum of four paid awards/years.
This award is named in honor of J.C. Cote, who was a dedicated member of the ARSHRM State Council and the Western Arkansas SHRM chapter (WAHRA). J.C. served as Chapter President of WAHRA for two years. He also represented the ARSHRM State Council as 2001 State HR Conference Chair and as West District Director. J.C. put his “heart and soul” into these roles. Through this scholarship award, the Arkansas SHRM State Council seeks to identify and reward students who characterize J.C.’s commitment to the human resources profession.
General rules:
a. Selection of candidates will be decided by the Scientific Advisory Board of Dimensions Sciences, following an independent Ad-Hoc expert peer-review evaluation;
b. Benefits to awardees will consist of two one-time prize of US$1,500 and up to 3 honorable mentions of US $500;
c. This is a one-time prize given to an individual awardee. Organizations are not eligible.
Prize:
a. The funds will be disbursed using the individual’s bank account in the sole name of the individual awardee. Awardee must hold a valid bank account in the US.
Roles and responsibilities:
a. Dimensions Sciences:
i. will make final decision on candidate selection and approval of awardee and honorable mentions;
ii. will be responsible for providing the funds for selected awardees;
iii. will survey the awardees to quantify impact of award for a period of up to 5 years after the award.
The Woodwork Institute is a national organization whose primary purpose is to ensure excellence and craftsmanship in woodwork. Begun in 1951 as a not-for-profit trade association, the Woodwork Institute has grown into a leading provider of quality assurance programs for architectural millwork.
Woodwork Institute C.E. Bernhauer Jr. Scholarships are open to individuals interested in pursuing or furthering a career in the architectural millwork industry. Application may be made by students entering or continuing enrollment in a university, state or private college, community college, or trade school, or from individuals already working in the industry.
The Norman and Ruth Rales Foundation and KIPP Foundation have partnered to create the Rales Scholars Program. Every year up to 50 students will be selected for this new Rales Scholars Program. It will provide financial support to defray the costs of college, 1:1 mentorship, annual summer internship placement support, financial literacy education and budget planning, an annual leadership weekend and more. The first cohort of scholars joined the program in May 2022.
The Rales Scholars Program is one of several KIPP scholarship programs established in alignment with KIPP Foundation’s goal to see 1,000 alumni in positions of true power and influence by 2040.
The Rales Scholars Program honors the legacy of Ruth and Norman Rales, who believed deeply in the limitless potential of all young people, and who exemplified the spirit of giving back during their lifetimes.
Extracurricular activities are a great way for people to learn outside of the traditional classroom setting, and the lessons learned through these activities can be translated into the classroom and in life. They teach leadership and time management skills, give students a sense of commitment and responsibility, and allow them to develop socially. An amount of $1,000 will be awarded to one student who best conveys in a 750-1,000 word essay how extracurricular activities have had an impact on their life and academic success. This can be an activity you are currently participating in or have previously been involved with.
Physicians and other healthcare workers choose locum tenens assignments for many reasons. Some simply enjoy gaining exciting opportunities to travel, some like being able to earn some extra income, and others just want to gain the experience. Locum Jobs Online only posts fresh jobs with the most trusted agencies throughout the country. Use our job resources to find yourself the ultimate travel physician job. We take all the footwork out of finding locum tenens jobs because tools like agency reviews, recruiter profiles, and FAQs help you make the best decision for you.
Every Body Athletics’ mission is to make a lasting impact on the physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) through inclusive group exercise.
EBA serves adults who have aged out of special education (21 and over) who come from day programs, supported living settings, or those still living with their parents/guardians. Designed by staff with Master’s degrees in Special Education, Doctoral degrees in Occupational Therapy, and dual certifications in Personal Training and Special Populations Personal Training, each weekly EBA class provides specialized, adaptive exercises that focus on participants’ specific physical needs while inserting time for social practice along the way. Classes include a 1:1-2 ratio of teammates without disabilities (see VOLUNTEER) to promote inclusion and increased participation.
Every Body Athletics believes that everybody is an athlete, regardless of physical or cognitive capacities. Every Body Athletics also gets its name from our focus on exercising every part of the body: physical, social, and emotional. Lastly, Every Body Athletics understands that we all benefit when everybody is included in our society and communities.
