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.
Attorney Bacalis often provides legal services to single parents, and he has come to appreciate the hard work and sacrifice that goes into raising children on your own. Since Fall 2022, Daniel R. Bacalis, P.C. has offered a scholarship of $1,000 each semester to a single parent who is returning to school to pursue a college degree. We hope that the Striving Solo Parent Scholarship allows single parents easier access to higher education.
To apply to our scholarship, please follow the instructions below and submit all materials by September 16, 2024. Please send all inquiries to scholarship@dbacalis.com
The Family Matters’ Scholarship is funded by the Fall 2019 initiates of the Nu Rho Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. The scholarship was established on the merit of providing additional resources to Black women who illustrate core values of Scholarship and Service, alike our beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated’s mission.
The University of Rochester awards an unlimited number of scholarships to students who have participated on a FIRST team and are enrolling as first-year students at the University of Rochester. Eligible applicants must be high school seniors and be admitted as full-time students. This scholarship is renewable for four years. Students who have an excellent academic record will be good candidates for this award. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider’s website
The University of Rochester, in partnership with For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and
Technology (FIRST), awards an unlimited number of scholarships to students who have participated
on a FIRST team and are enrolling as first-year students at the University of Rochester. Eligible
students admitted to the University of Rochester may receive awards of $8,000 to $15,000 per year
towards any course of study. This scholarship is renewable for four years or eight semesters.
The Joseph Schumpeter Undergraduate Fellowship is a competitive, renewable fellowship program for undergraduate students at George Mason University. Fellowships are open to full- and part-time degree-seeking Mason students from any discipline who are interested in studying key ideas in political economy and learning how to utilize these ideas in academic and policy research. Schumpeter Fellows study foundational writings in political economy from several notable economists and attend a series of conversations with various Mason faculty and Mercatus scholars. Schumpeter Fellows will join a network of Mercatus students, alumni, faculty, and scholars who are conducting and engaging with cutting edge research in contemporary political economy. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider’s website.
Delta Eta Boulé of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity is now accepting scholarship applications from black males in Denver Metro Area pursuing undergraduate degrees. Successful undergraduate applicants will receive an annual award of $2,500 renewable for up to four years as long as they satisfy criteria for renewal. They will also have access to Delta Eta Boulé Foundation’s professional development resources — mentorship, the Institute for Professional Development, and Delta Eta Boulé’s vast professional network.
The Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement was founded in 2015, as part of Farm Credit’s 2016 centennial celebration, and is funded by Horizon Farm Credit. The founding board members wanted to create a lasting legacy, ensuring that the future of agriculture is a bright one.
With the United States Department of Agriculture estimating nearly 60,000 job openings in ag every year, a scholarship program is the perfect way to make such an impact – giving students planning to pursue a career in this ever-changing field an opportunity to make their dreams come true.
The GHR Fellows Scholarship Program at St. Thomas is a transformational undergraduate experience for ten students pursuing careers in business. Fellows receive full-tuition scholarships to the University of St. Thomas and customized cohort programming designed to deliver impactful leadership experiences. The scholarship covers full tuition and required fees for four years (and may, pending demonstrated financial need, include grant funds that assist with room and board costs). Recipients will get a fully funded J-Term study abroad experience, a customized four-year cohort program with other GHR Fellows, individual career coaching and preparation and service learning and social entrepreneurship opportunities as well as access to C-suite business, community and university leaders.
The Terry Foundation Scholarship Program provides scholarships for Texas residents to support their goals of earning a college degree. The Terry Foundation supports students who demonstrate leadership, academic achievement, and financial need. The University of Texas at Arlington has been a proud partner with the Terry Foundation since 2015. The Terry Scholarship program is for incoming freshman students. Through this program, taking into account other scholarships and grants, the Terry Scholarship covers the full cost of tuition, fees, books, and on-campus living expenses. It also provides an opportunity for an additional stipend to support study abroad.
The NIU Presidential Scholars Program recognizes outstanding first-year students for their hard work and academic accomplishments. Eligible students are guaranteed a minimum merit scholarship of $5,000, $6,000 or $7,000 per year (for up to four years) and have the opportunity to compete for a Presidential Scholarship. This competitive scholarship provides full tuition, fees and on-campus room and board, along with a book stipend, for up to eight semesters. Approximately 10 incoming first-year students will receive this award each year.
he Central Connecticut Celtic Cultural Committee (C.C.C.C.C) has been formed for the purpose of fostering, promoting and celebrating the cultural and historical contributions of Irish and Irish-American individuals and groups in Central Connecticut. In addition to sponsoring the Greater Hartford’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the C.C.C.C.C also sponsors the Celtic Sons and Daughters Scholarship Program. This Scholarship Program recognizes the personal and educational achievements of Irish and Irish-American young men and women, as well as their contributions to their community and their interest in promoting the culture of their heritage.
Award recipients (A Celtic Son and Celtic Daughter) will each receive a $1,500.00 scholarship and an Aran Sweater.
