Merit Scholarships

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What is a Merit Scholarship?

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Check whether the merit scholarship is renewable. If so, abiding by the terms may help pay your entire four years at college.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. When applying to a college or university, look at their financial aid section and scan for merit scholarships to see if you qualify.

List of Merit Scholarships

Check out our list of merit scholarships below.

Merit Scholarships 2025 List

Sertoma Hard of Hearing and Deaf Scholarship

Sertoma International offers scholarships for hearing-impaired U.S. undergraduate students. The applicant must be a high school senior or current undergraduate student at time of application and have a grade point average of 3.2 or higher.
Award Amount

Total:  $50,000

Awards:  50

Deadline

Deadline:  May 01

Catching The Dream Scholarship

The mission of Catching the Dream, founded in 1986, is to help improve the quality of life in Indian communities through the higher education of Indian people. We provide scholarship funds for students who demonstrate academic achievement, clearly defined goals, leadership, the determination to succeed, and the desire to return to their communities and help others realize their dreams. We assist Indian schools in preparing students for success in college. CTD’s objective is to recognize and reward outstanding student achievement. This supplemental award is intended to help American Indian students of any age, from any U.S. tribe, within any state, striving to get an education. All awards are based on merit, academic achievement and ambition. Because this is a supplemental aid program, applicants are required to apply for all other sources of funding for which they are eligible; this includes applying for campus-based aid. CTD strongly recommends that applicants search thoroughly for other sources of funding. Please note: If a student applies for the CTD Scholarship and is not selected, he/she cannot apply again.
Award Amount

Total:  $137,500

Awards:  50

Deadline

Deadline:  September 15

Opportunity Scholarship

This scholarship is available for U.S. high school seniors who are attending high school in Texas and plan to attend a college in Texas. Students must have an SAT score of 900 or higher or an ACT score of 18 or higher, and must rank in the upper half of their graduating class.
Award Amount

Total:  $5,000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  February 22

4-H Community Service Scholarship

This scholarship is available for Wisconsin undergraduate students who have been members of 4-H for a year or more, and have demonstrated a commitment to community service. Students must have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
Award Amount

Total:  $3,000

Awards:  2

Deadline

Deadline:  March 16

George Mason University NVTC-Bannister Scholarship

This scholarship is available for U.S. and international students who are currently in their junior year at George Mason University. Students must major in a technology discipline and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Award Amount

Total:  $7,000

Awards:  4

Deadline

Deadline:  April 30

Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) Scholarship

This award is available for current high school seniors and undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens and residents of Washington state. Preference is given to self-identified LGBT students, members of LGBT families, and straight allies who have been supportive of the LGBT community.
Award Amount

Total:  $13,000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  January 13

Pride Foundation Equal Access & Opportunity Scholarship

This scholarship is available for U.S. undergraduate students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or as a straight ally. Applicants must demonstrate unmet financial need, and must reside in one of the following states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana or Alaska.
Award Amount

Total:  $12,000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  January 08

Rosa Hartsook Scholarship

This award is available for U.S. occupational therapists who are residents of Ohio and who plan on attending a college/university in Ohio. Students must be members of the American Occupational Therapy Association, must already have an entry-level degree, and must be pursuing a graduate degree in occupational therapy.
Award Amount

Total:  $1,000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  January 08

Last Dollar Award

U.S. high school graduates who are residents of Washington, D.C. and attended a Washington, D.C. high school are eligible for this award. Students must have a minumim GPA of 2.0 and must file a DC-CAP authorization form, a FAFSA, and DC LEAP and DC TAG applications to apply.
Award Amount

Total:  $4,500,000

Awards:  450

Deadline

Deadline:  May 31

SVC Scholarship Fund

This scholarship is available for international and U.S. undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled in a course of study important to vacuum coating technology at an accredited educational institution and plan for a career in vacuum coating technology.
Award Amount

Total:  $7,500

Awards:  3

Deadline

Deadline:  October 16