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.

Justice in Family Law Scholarship

At The Law Office of George J. Skuros, we have over 30 years of legal experience, and we have dedicated our practice to serving the needs of families in Chicago, Cook County, and the surrounding areas. Using the form on our scholarship page, submit your essay, your current academic transcript, a professional headshot of yourself, and contact information.
Award Amount

Total: $1000

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: December 11, 2023

Sief Khafagi Scholarship

The Sief Khafagi Scholarship is dedicated to fostering the pursuit of higher education among students who exhibit exceptional academic achievements. This program offers a $2,500 scholarship aimed at supporting students in state-sponsored colleges or universities. We believe in the transformative power of education and are committed to assisting dedicated students in achieving their academic aspirations. Apply for the Sief Khafagi Scholarship today and take a step toward realizing your higher education dreams.
Award Amount

Total: $2500

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: December 12, 2023

Healthcare Professional Scholarship

At The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, LLC, our practice is dedicated to serving doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in defense of their licenses and certifications. Our founding attorney, Joseph Bogdan, is a registered pharmacist in Illinois. Write a one-page essay explaining how the scholarship will benefit your education. Submit the essay, an academic transcript, and contact information using the form on our scholarship page.
Award Amount

Total: $1000

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: December 13, 2023

Clarkston Scholars Scholarship

The mission of the Clarkston Scholars program is to create equitable access and opportunities for low-income, first-generation college students with the intention of developing a future Clarkston steward. To be eligible, applicant must be a sophomore at one of Clarkston’s Core Schools (University of Michigan, Babson College, UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, Georgia Tech, Agnes Scott College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, University of Arizona or Arizona State University).
Award Amount

Total: $10000

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: December 13, 2023

Burger King Scholars Program

Through the Burger King? Scholars Program, we have awarded nearly $60 million to over 45,000 students across North America since 2000. Our goal is to grant one scholarship for every BK restaurant in North America –that translates to more than $7 million each year! ? Created in memory of Burger King Co-Founder James “Jim” W. McLamore, the Burger King? Scholars program provides scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $60,000 to high school students and BK employees and their families. Scholarships are intended to offset the cost of attending college or post-secondary vocational/technical school. Recipients are selected through an application process that takes into consideration their grade point average (GPA), work experience, extracurricular activities, and community service. In 2022 alone, the Foundation awarded over $4.6 million in scholarships to nearly 4,000 students. ?
Award Amount

Total: $4000000

Awards: 3700

Deadline

Deadline: December 15, 2023

Ramage Law Group Adopted Child Scholarship

At The Ramage Law Group, we work with families every day to address legal issues. We understand that families come in all shapes and sizes, and we know the importance of establishing strong family relationships. Adoption is one of the areas of family law that means the most to us. As the mother to two adopted daughters, Attorney Sharon Ramage understands the challenges that parents and children face in these situations, as well as the joys that come with building family bonds that will stand the test of time. We know that parents who adopt children make many sacrifices, and they want to make sure their children will have the tools they need to succeed in life. In recognition of this, we have established a scholarship program that provides assistance to children who have been adopted. Each semester, we award a scholarship of $1,000 to a student who is pursuing a college education, and the funds may be used to help cover tuition, room and board, or other expenses, such as books and supplies.
Award Amount

Total: $1000

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: December 28, 2023

Blakemore Freeman Fellowships

The Blakemore Foundation was established in 1990 by Thomas and Frances Blakemore to encourage the advanced study of Asian languages and to improve the understanding of Asian fine arts in the United States. The Blakemore Foundation offers fellowships to fund a year of advanced language abroad to college graduates using East or Southeast Asian language in their careers. The Blakemore Freeman Fellowships are awarded for one year of advanced level language study in East or Southeast Asia in approved language programs.
Award Amount

Total: $40000

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: December 30, 2023

Quad Fellowship

The Quad Fellowship was established in September 2021 by Australia, India, Japan and the United States to strengthen ties among the next generation of scientists and technologists. The Fellowship will sponsor 100 American, Japanese, Australian, and Indian master’s and doctoral students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to study in the United States. Schmidt Futures will administer the fellowship with the help of a non-governmental task-force composed of academic, foreign policy and private sector leaders from each Quad country.
Award Amount

Total: $50000

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: December 30, 2023

Engineering & Manufacturing Scholarship

The Premier Equipment CNC Scholarship is a $2,000 scholarship available to mechanical engineering students (or any student interested in pursuing a career in CNC machining or CNC programming) to apply for. This mechanical engineering scholarship will help students reach their academic goals and train the next generation of CNC machinists and CNC programmers. The Premier Equipment CNC Scholarship is an annual scholarship geared toward mechanical engineering majors and any college student in the U.S. interested in becoming a CNC machinist or a CNC programmer. This $2,000 scholarship can be put toward tuition, room and board, textbooks or any other financial expenses related to their education. We encourage any student interested in CNC manufacturing to apply!
Award Amount

Total: $2000

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: December 31, 2023

Revelation Machinery Manufacturing Scholarship

Revelation Machinery is a used CNC, fabrication, and process equipment dealer offering a large and regulary updated inventory of machines. Having our machines and representatives strategically located throughout the U.S., we’re not only able to offer timely and efficient delivery, but more importantly, first-class, on-site service no matter where our customers are located. Founded with a mission to make machinery buying and selling easier and more transparent through a focus on long-term partnerships rather than a single transaction, Revelation Machinery has grown into a nationwide business with the added personal service of a local partner. Committed to customer service, we stand behind the used machinery we sell, offering everyone fair pricing, a transparent sales process, and honest communication. Revelation Machinery is proud to empower the next generation of manufacturing professionals by offering (1) $4,000.00 scholarship to students working towards a degree or certification in manufacturing, engineering, or a related field. We believe in investing in the future of manufacturing and engineering students to build skills and a stronger pipeline into the manufacturing industry.
Award Amount

Total: $4000

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: December 31, 2023