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.

Harley and Geneva Anderson Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Harley and Geneva Anderson Memorial Scholarship Fund is available for undergraduate Kansas City area students who are planning to study in a Scandinavian Country, as well as undergraduate students from Scandinavian Countries who are planning to study in the Greater Kansas City metro area.
Award Amount

Total: $1000

Awards: 5

Deadline

Deadline: October 31

HubShout Internet Marketing Scholarship

This award is for U.S. and international students who have completed at least one year of postsecondary education and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Students must have a demonstrated interest in online marketing.
Award Amount

Total: $1000

Awards: 2

Deadline

Deadline: November 01

Act Six Chicago Pursue Scholars Program

This full-tuition scholarship to Taylor University (IN) is open to Chicago residents who graduated from high school in 2018 or 2019 or will graduate in 2020 and are not yet enrolled in a four-year college. Students should display strong academic potential and must be Christians or open to learning about the Christian faith.
Award Amount

Total: $137500

Awards: 7

Deadline

Deadline: November 05

Alva S. Appleby Scholarship

This award is available for graduate students who are residents of Maine. Students must plan to study dentistry at a school that is accredited by the American Dental Association.
Award Amount

Total: $750

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: November 08

Alaska Airlines Women in Aviation Scholarship

The Alaska Airlines Women in Aviation Scholarship is open to U.S. female pilots who plan to pursue a professional airline pilot career. Students must be college juniors or senior who have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher to be considered for this award program.
Award Amount

Total: $2500

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: November 10

New York Times College Scholarship

This scholarship is available for U.S. high school seniors who are residents of New York and attend a New York City public, private, or parochial high school. Students must participate in community service activities.
Award Amount

Total: $60000

Awards: 10

Deadline

Deadline: November 12

South Coast Area High School Senior Honors Scholarship

This award is for U.S. graduating high school seniors who are legal residents of Goleta, Santa Barbara, or Carpinteria, California and will graduate from a southern Santa Barbara County high school. Students must demonstrate a very high level of academic achievement.
Award Amount

Total: $2000

Awards: 20

Deadline

Deadline: November 15

LAEF General Scholarship

This award is available for Colorado students of Hispanic heritage who are currently enrolled in or planning to enroll in an undergraduate or graduate program. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Award Amount

Total: $1500

Awards: 111

Deadline

Deadline: November 24

Milken Scholars Program

This award is available for U.S. citizens who are currently high school seniors in Los Angeles, CA, New York City, NY, and Washington, D.C. Eligible applicants must demonstrate leadership and community service, must have a grade point average of 3.6 or higher, and must demonstrate financial need.
Award Amount

Total: $8000

Awards: 15

Deadline

Deadline: November 30

Sixt Scholars Program

This Sixt Scholars Program is available for high school seniors in the U.S. who have a grade point average of 3.7 or higher.
Award Amount

Total: $5000

Awards: 5

Deadline

Deadline: November 30