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.
“InterMaths – Interdisciplinary Mathematics” is a 2-Year full-time Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree, funded by the European Commission. It is coordinated by the University of L’Aquila (Italy) and involves other 4 EU leading universities: Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Vienna University of Technology (TUW), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), University of Côte d’Azur in Nice (UCA)
Application is open to students of any nationality. Academic Requirements. Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Engineering or another similar field with a very strong mathematical background (BS, BSc, SB, etc. or a degree at the same level as an academic Bachelor’s Degree, e.g. its equivalent from a college, university, or technical school of high standing, or 180 ECTS credits in the European system). All applicants are required to prove an advanced level of English (CEFR B2/C1 level).
It’s true that we are shaped by our experiences growing up. We are particularly affected by those who helped raise us, whether that be a parent, an older sibling, a grandparent, a teacher, or a coach. We are very much who we are today because of the people who raised, educated, or motivated us to be the person we have grown into. Sometimes the experiences that put us on the right path happen early in life, but sometimes it takes the right person to help us find our way. Regardless, it takes more than just our own will and motivation to end up on the path to success.
For this scholarship, Jan Dils Attorneys at Law wants to help you recognize the person that put you on your path to success. Please write about the person or people who helped you start your journey down the right road. Did they do it through example? Through encouragement? Through a lesson? How did you finally end up on your path? Our law firm wants to hear what your goals in life are and who helped you get started achieving them.
The scholarship winner will be chosen based on the criteria outlined below and will be awarded $1,000 to go towards their higher education. The deadline to apply is December 31st.
The Organization of Latino Actuaries (OLA) furthers its mission of increasing the number of Latine actuaries by awarding academic scholarships to Latines who will be attending a US college/university next school year.
Applications will be evaluated on various criteria including, but not limited to, academic performance, commitment to pursuing the actuarial profession, exam progress, work experience, and leadership experience. Finalists for both the named and general scholarships are expected to be selected by mid-June.
The Organization of Latino Actuaries (OLA) furthers its mission of increasing the number of Latine actuaries by awarding academic scholarships to Latines who will be attending a US college/university during the 2023-2024 school year and are interested in the actuarial profession.
Danone North America, is awarding two graduate students a grant of $25,000 each. The successful candidates should excel in science and have an interest in studying the gut microbiome, probiotics and yogurt in human health and wellness (the “Field”). Applicants are encouraged to submit a proposal for a study that explores measures of human health and wellness. Danone strives not to rely on animal testing in its development and research activities, therefore, ONLY research proposals that utilize in vitro and ethical human clinical studies are welcome.
The grant is not designed for the investigation of disease treatment or clinical management and should focus on health and wellness, long-term health and longevity, growth and development, or performance. Such topics may include the role that probiotics or yogurt play on brain function, growth and development, digestive health, weight management or heart health; and factors, such as foods or nutrients, that influence the gut microbiome.
Please note that research cannot employ commercial probiotic strains. This includes strains that are isolated from a commercial product, provided by a commercial culture supplier (such as DuPont, Chr. Hansens or Lallemand) or are subject of or protected by patent. Publicly available, non-commercial strains are acceptable.
Danone is committed to the highest scientific and ethical standards in its innovation and scientific research activities to obtain scientific knowledge on the impact of food, nutrition and health and to ensure effective and safe medical and health solutions.
Danone strives not to rely on animal testing in its development and research activities, therefore, ONLY research proposals that utilize in vitro and ethical human clinical studies are welcome.
Ifrah Law believes in supporting the innovative ideas and creations of students who are pursuing their college education. That is why we are proud to announce our 2023 Young Innovator Scholarship! We want to hear about your innovative ideas and why they will be beneficial to society. Whether you have previously created an idea, want to create your idea, or are in the process of creating your idea, we want to hear about it. Please also include how you thought of your innovative idea.
The WRNS Studio Foundation Scholarship Program was established in 2021 and seeks to cultivate a thriving higher education program that will encourage Black students to pursue careers in architecture by providing multi-year educational financial support and access to professional relationships.
WRNS Studio Foundation recognizes the barriers to higher education and the study of architecture. The WRNS Studio Foundation Scholarship Program was established in 2021, and makes monetary awards to full-time students in California, Hawaii, New York, New Jersey, and Washington. Students pursuing degrees in architecture or design at approved NAAB-accredited programs, including a five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree, or a four-year pre-professional bachelor’s degree followed by a Master of Architecture degree are eligible to apply. The monetary award includes funding for costs of tuition, fees, room and board, along with an allotment for qualified educational expenses. In addition, recipients receive a personalized, one-on-one commitment by WRNS Studio staff members who provide advisory support until graduation.
The Steps For Change Scholarship is an income and merit-based renewable scholarship awarded to high school seniors applying to a college or university to further their career goals. Students from low-income families are recognized for their capacity to lead and commitment to making a significant impact on communities. Award recipients must display academic excellence, exude passion in empowering the community, and exemplify a desire for continuous personal growth.
At The Ramage Law Group, we work with families every day to address legal issues. We understand that families come in all shapes and sizes, and we know the importance of establishing strong family relationships. Adoption is one of the areas of family law that means the most to us. As the mother to two adopted daughters, Attorney Sharon Ramage understands the challenges that parents and children face in these situations, as well as the joys that come with building family bonds that will stand the test of time.
We know that parents who adopt children make many sacrifices, and they want to make sure their children will have the tools they need to succeed in life. In recognition of this, we have established a scholarship program that provides assistance to children who have been adopted. Each semester, we award a scholarship of $1,000 to a student who is pursuing a college education, and the funds may be used to help cover tuition, room and board, or other expenses, such as books and supplies.
Charles River Associates (CRA) is a leading global consulting firm that offers economic, financial, and strategic expertise to major law firms, corporations, accounting firms, and governments around the world. CRA’s All-Access Initiative champions the importance of higher education, particularly within traditionally underserved populations.
The Foundation for Global Sports Development is committed to empowering youth through education. Our Exceptional Youth Scholarship recognizes youth who have demonstrated remarkable conduct through community service efforts, volunteerism, and mentorship activities, in addition to achieving outstanding academic performance.
A total of ten (10) high school seniors will each be awarded a one-time scholarship of $10,000 to be applied towards the cost of attendance including tuition, housing, books, and other on-campus related expenses at accredited, four-year colleges and universities in the United States.
