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 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.
The Jay Holstine STEM Scholarship has been established to support students who are eager to learn, and dedicated to succeed, in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Many students today face economic adversity in completing their education. Jay believes that an investment in a student is an investment in the betterment of our society.
For 60 years, WWF has worked to help people and nature thrive. Our mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth.
WWF works to help local communities conserve the natural resources they depend upon; transform markets and policies toward sustainability; and protect and restore species and their habitats. Our efforts ensure that the value of nature is reflected in decision-making from a local to a global scale.
Our work is focused around six ambitious goals: CLIMATE, FOOD, FORESTS, FRESHWATER, OCEANS, & WILDLIFE
Lucas Law established the Legal Leaders Scholarship with the purpose of lightening the burden of costly tuition, books, and room and board for students pursuing careers in various fields of law. Our firm is honored to assist college students with their educational expenses. The Lucas Law Legal Leaders Scholarship gives $1,000 each semester to one student who aspires to excel within the legal community.
The Cassandra Toroian Scholarship is a unique opportunity for US-based students to receive financial assistance in pursuit of their academic goals. Established by renowned financial expert and philanthropist Cassandra Toroian, this scholarship program is designed to empower and support the next generation of leaders by alleviating some of the financial burden associated with higher education.
As the founder of Bell Rock Capital, a successful wealth management firm, Cassandra Toroian is passionate about sharing her expertise and knowledge with others. With over two decades of experience in the financial industry, she has been recognized as a Wall Street Journal “All Star” analyst and is a frequent media contributor on finance and investment topics. Holding an MBA from the University of Miami, Ms. Toroian has built a remarkable career and is dedicated to giving back to her community.
The Cassandra Toroian Scholarship program will award a one-time $1000 scholarship to one deserving student who demonstrates academic excellence, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to their community. The scholarship aims to support students who would find this financial aid as a small relief to pursue their education, allowing them to focus on their studies and future aspirations without the stress of mounting student debt.
Cassandra Toroian’s dedication to philanthropy and community involvement extends beyond this scholarship program. As a board member and director of fundraising and development for the Immanuel Shelter, she works tirelessly to provide support for those in need. She has also previously served on the board of the endowment fund of Lafayette College and is an active member of the Union League of Philadelphia, which upholds American civil liberties.
Outside of her professional and philanthropic pursuits, Ms. Toroian enjoys a range of hobbies including gardening, golfing, playing tennis, and devoting time to puppy mill rescues. Her unwavering commitment to her clients, colleagues, and community has solidified her position as a leader in the financial industry.
The Cassandra Toroian Scholarship program reflects Ms. Toroian’s commitment to inspiring and nurturing future leaders. By offering financial assistance to motivated students, she hopes to empower them to pursue their dreams and make a lasting impact in their chosen fields.
To learn more about the scholarship program, application requirements, and selection criteria, please explore the rest of the cassandratoroianscholarship.com website. We encourage all eligible students to apply and embark on this exciting journey toward achieving their academic and career goals.
The Justin Magnuson Justice Reform Foundation Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship initiative for U.S.-based university students, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It was established by Justin Magnuson, the founder of the Justice Reform Foundation, an organization dedicated to reforming the U.S. criminal justice system. This scholarship is a reflection of Justin’s commitment to addressing the injustices within the criminal justice system, a commitment shaped by his own experience of being wrongly accused.
The Goostree Law Group gladly offers financial assistance to college and university students twice a year through our Bright Futures Scholarship. This award opportunity is provided to students with demonstrated financial need who exhibit leadership, determination, and passion in their academic studies and personal lives.
The Goostree Law Group Bright Futures Scholarship provides one student each semester with the opportunity to receive $2,500. The award may be used toward the student’s educational expenses, including tuition and books.
Daniel Stark awards our Extraordinary Scholarship to five deserving Texas high school students each year. These students have proven that they are driven to achieve extraordinary results in life, regardless of their grades, test scores, backgrounds, or attributes. Our selection process is based on student applications. Scholarship recipients will receive $1000 to go towards their college tuition.
?”Welcome to Prep For Success! Kamil and I (Samantha) are entrepreneurs from New Jersey that have a passion for education. Thus, we created Prep For Success Tutor. For over ten years, Prep For Success has provided classes and one-on-one tutoring services in a wide array of subjects including standardized exams, college applications, general math, English, and more. Our impact has been continuously growing, and Prep For Success is proud to say that we have over one hundred 5 star reviews on thumbtack and google! One main feature that sets us apart from other tutoring companies is that Kamil and I (the founders of the company) are fully invested in the company and work as tutors as well. This allows us to not have a disconnected experience from what the students need and be fully invested in all the student’s successes. This also gives our company a small mom-and-pop feel! We welcome you to our company, and hope that you will join us in your education venture!”
At The Florida Probate & Family Law Firm, we understand being the first female in your family to attend college is an extraordinary accomplishment. Coming this far for yourself and your family is something to be proud of and motivates you to pursue your dreams further. This scholarship is intended to assist with college education costs and support those striving to achieve their dreams.
Describe how this experience has shaped your goals and aspirations and how you plan to use your education to impact your family, your community, and beyond in a positive way. Additionally, discuss any challenges you have faced as a trailblazer within your family and how you have overcome them. Finally, reflect on encouraging and supporting other first-generation female college students.
