<p>I think that the merit money is for the higher SATs. I do not know what the break points are, nor do I know if they use the 1600 or the 2400 scale. My son had a B average but high test scores. Though his merit awards were about half the cost at some schools, it still left a lot to pay with Fordham and Fairfield both going over $50K for COAs. </p>
<p>I do know that some Catholic schools also take geographics strongly into consideration as they want to be more national. So someone with less strong stats but desired because they bring geographic diversity would have that figured into the equation. Most catholic schools also give out athletic scholarships, and many also give catholics and locals some sort of a discount. Some high school kids I know with high stats are at Fordham now for the same reason as the someone you knew. The cost is an issue. I know a couple of young men who turned down Colgate, Holy Cross, BC for cost reasons to go to Fordham. One has a dad who works at Fordham so he can go there tuition free. The other two got very nice awards whereas they got nothing for the other schools as they give out very little for merit, only for need. Many I know fall into that chasm where they do not qualify for much if any financial aid but they don’t feel it is a wise financial choice to pay for a $50K+ per year school with the way things are with the economy.</p>