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.

Goostree Law Group Bright Futures Scholarship

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.
Award Amount

Total: $2500

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: March 20, 2024

Becca’s Closet Spirit of Generosity Scholarship

Rebecca was a passionate, bright, fun-loving young woman who loved being with her friends and felt that no one should miss a high school event because they couldn’t afford to be there. She saw the inequity in the situation and sought to change things. During the Spring of her sophomore year, Becca singlehandedly collected and donated over 250 formal dresses and helped hundreds of girls across South Florida attend their High School proms in style. To keep Becca’s dream alive, countless dedicated people throughout the United States have joined forces to provide opportunities for those who seek them. Although the core mission of Becca’s Closet, located in the Festival Marketplace in Pompano Beach, FL, was to collect and distribute dresses to high school girls with financial need, our goals have expanded to offer additional opportunities for deserving young people. In the spirit of Rebecca’s visions and aspirations, our foundation raises funds to award post-secondary educational scholarships recognizing the exemplary efforts of young men and women nationwide who demonstrate Becca’s spirit of generosity in their own communities.
Award Amount

Total: $2000

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: March 29, 2024

Wiingy Future STEM Leaders Scholarship

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are rapidly changing the world. From new medical breakthroughs to innovative technologies, STEM is at the forefront of human progress. At Wiingy, we aim to inspire, empower, and provide opportunities for young innovative minds in STEM. This scholarship is designed for students with a passion for STEM. It is available to all students, regardless of whether they are considering majoring in STEM or are already on the path to a career in STEM. It’s open to students studying a range of STEM subjects, including but not limited to chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology, computer science, environmental science, engineering, statistics, aerospace, artificial intelligence, and many more.
Award Amount

Total: $200

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: March 31, 2024

BAFTX Undergraduate Scholarship

BAFTX enables financially challenged, Texas-based students that excel academically to fulfil their exceptional potential by supporting their US college education. We also provide a unique student learning experience in the UK, giving an early opportunity to broaden perspective and personal vision. Together these support their aspirations to become leaders in their chosen fields, changing their lives and communities by increasing access to education and meeting the needs of tomorrow’s STEM and business workforce.
Award Amount

Total: $5000

Awards: 100

Deadline

Deadline: March 31, 2024

Maineri Law Firm Higher Education Scholarship

Our skilled personal injury attorneys have more than two decades of combined legal experience. We regularly handle serious personal injury claims for clients throughout the region. Undergraduate students may apply for our scholarship. Our scholarship is available for those who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate program and who plan to pursue graduate degrees in specific fields of study. Students must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 as of the academic semester they completed most recently, they must be at least 17 years old at the time they submit their application, and they must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States.
Award Amount

Total: $1000

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: April 03, 2024

Wells Fargo Scholarship Program for People with Disabilities

Are you a high school senior, graduate, or current college student with an identified disability? This includes any long-term or recurring condition that impacts one or more major life activities. If so, consider applying for the Wells Fargo Scholarship Program for People with Disabilities! Each year, the scholarship provides $2,500 to multiple full-time students and $1,250 to half-time students who apply. The scholarship is jointly offered by Wells Fargo and Scholarship America in order to “help?students pursue the education or training they need to succeed in their chosen career path.” If you have an identified disability and are looking for some help in paying off college costs, we encourage you to apply!
Award Amount

Total: $1875

Awards: 25

Deadline

Deadline: April 10, 2024

Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund (TASF) Program

Established in 2014, the Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund (TASF) focuses on providing financial assistance to economically-challenged Taiwanese American youth. Our mission is to assist all Taiwanese American youth to have the opportunity to pursue higher education and build the foundation for a better future. To ensure the success of the Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund (TASF) program, we partnered with the nonprofit Asian Pacific Community Fund (APCF), to conducted extensive outreach throughout the United States – reaching over 2,250 interested contacts, including 1,975 high school and university counselors/faculty, 18 scholarship clearinghouses, over 100 tutoring centers, 16 community and faith-based organizations, and over 120 Taiwanese American affiliated associations nationwide in addition to 12 Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECO) located throughout the U.S., as well as the U.S. Overseas Community Affair Council (OCAC), to make this scholarship opportunity available to economically-challenged Taiwanese American students who will be attending their first or second year of college in the fall of 2024. The response was overwhelming, with applicants from 33 states across the nation. (see map below)
Award Amount

Total: $75000

Awards: 10

Deadline

Deadline: April 15, 2024

Bank of the Sierra Scholarship

APCF was founded in 1990 by API community leaders in response to the need for alternative funding for Los Angeles-based nonprofit organizations serving API communities.Since 2011, APCF has partnered with donors such as local companies and family foundations to offer scholarship programs to financially assist students in their pursuit of higher education. All of the scholarships have an online application and recommender form that can only be found on our site. The online applications can be found at https://www.apcf.org/scholarships Application requires student to list out community service activities, disclose some family financial information, and answer 2-500 word essay prompts.
Award Amount

Total: $28000

Awards: 14

Deadline

Deadline: April 15, 2024

Chao Family Foundation

APCF was founded in 1990 by API community leaders in response to the need for alternative funding for Los Angeles-based nonprofit organizations serving API communities. Since 2011, APCF has partnered with donors such as local companies and family foundations to offer scholarship programs to financially assist students in their pursuit of higher education. Awardees will be notified no later than June 30th. If selected, must submit college acceptance letter for verification. The scholarship award can only be used to cover the cost of attending a university/college. This may include tuition, fees, books, supplies, living expenses, and meals. What is included in the cost of attendance varies by institution.
Award Amount

Total: $20000

Awards: 5

Deadline

Deadline: April 15, 2024

First General Bank Scholarship

APCF was founded in 1990 by API community leaders in response to the need for alternative funding for Los Angeles-based nonprofit organizations serving API communities. Since 2011, APCF has partnered with donors such as local companies and family foundations to offer scholarship programs to financially assist students in their pursuit of higher education. All of the scholarships have an online application and recommender form that can only be found on our site. The online applications can be found at https://www.apcf.org/scholarships Application requires student to list out community service activities, disclose some family financial information, and answer 2-500 word essay prompts. The applicant must share the recommender form link with their preferred advisor for submission.
Award Amount

Total: $8000

Awards: 4

Deadline

Deadline: April 15, 2024