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 Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid offers scholarship opportunities to enrolled students at North Carolina State University. For the Chancellor’s Leadership Scholarship, applicants must be an incoming freshman with demonstrated leadership potential, academic achievement, personal talent, unique work/service experience and an understanding of and an appreciation for diversity, demonstrated financial need. Must have a 3.0 GPA. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider’s website.
In 2013, The Buch Family Academic Scholarship was established to honor the memories of Ilse, Fredric and Peter Buch. The scholarship, based on athletic and academic achievements and financial need, recognizes active amateur skaters who pursue excellence in both their academic and athletic pursuits.
The Balanced Man Program is the centerpiece of the SigEp chapter experience and provides the experience that today’s student needs to be successful during and after college. The Balanced Man Program is a non-pledging, non-hazing, four-year, personal, academic, leadership and professional skills development experience. The program is founded on five philosophical tenets and takes the form of four self-paced challenges that span throughout the college career.
Sigma Psi Zeta is excited to open applications for our annual Aurora Scholarship. The Aurora Scholarship aims to promote womxn empowerment and create leaders at Wichita State University and within the community. We are awarding two full-time Wichita State undergraduate students (current and incoming) who have demonstrated advocacy in our community with a scholarship in the amount of $500 each.
The Chickasaw Nation Governor’s, Lt. Governor’s and Legislator’s Scholarships are for graduating high school seniors who have been selected as class valedictorian or salutatorian. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider’s website.
Today, the Chickasaw Nation is economically strong, culturally vibrant and full of energetic people dedicated to the preservation of family, community and heritage. Since the 1980’s, tribal government has focused on building an economically diverse base to generate funds that will support programs and services to Indian people. Business has flourished, programs and services have grown, and the quality of life for all Chickasaws has been greatly enhanced.
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.
SCTPN Undergraduate Scholarships are dedicated to academic excellence and assisting young adults living with a hemoglobinopathy to continue their education. The scholarship is awarded biannually to students accepted to an accredited two or four-year college or university. Scholarship recipients can apply annually for continued assistance. SCTPN will follow undergraduate recipients throughout their college experience, provide needed support and mentoring activities. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider’s website
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.
