College is an investment in your child’s future, but it can be an expensive one. Families are often surprised to learn that most substantial scholarships do not come from individual donors or applications but through schools themselves in the form of institutional grants. Often awarded to accomplished students on the basis of GPA, test scores, rigor, and community involvement, merit-based scholarships from universities aim to recruit these stand-out students for their campuses.
Availability of merit scholarships, merit criteria, and award amounts vary greatly by school, so it’s important to research early and thoroughly. Here are five schools offering big merit scholarships:
- Arizona State University: ASU offers “New American University” scholarships for out-of-state students with high GPAs. Try out their merit scholarship calculator to see what award your student may be eligible for based on their GPA, test scores, and academic rigor.
- Case Western Reserve University: Although selective with a 29% acceptance rate, Case Western awards merit scholarships to highly qualified applicants. Accepted students will be automatically evaluated for opportunities like the University Scholarship, but may also apply to additional merit scholarship opportunities.
- University of Alabama: Alabama offers automatic merit scholarships, awarding up to $28,000 per year based on a combination of a 3.5+ GPA and student test scores. With these quantitative awards, there is no application and families know what award amount to expect before even applying. Alabama’s “Presidential Elite” scholarships for students with 4.0s and perfect test scores exceed the value of tuition, offering an additional first-year housing stipend and a supplemental scholarship.
- University of Colorado Boulder: With both automatic and application-required scholarships available, CU-Boulder offers multiple merit opportunities for incoming first-years. Out-of-state students may qualify for awards including Chancellor’s Achievement, Presidential, Arts & Humanities, and First Generation scholarships.
- University of Southern California: USC reports that about 20% of its incoming class receives merit scholarships, making this a competitive but meaningful opportunity. Deans, Presidential, and Trustee merit awards offer scholarships up to full tuition for academic and personal qualifications like leadership and service.
Galin counselors can help your family build a college list with merit scholarships in mind! Contact us to learn more about our college counseling services.
