<p>Does anyone know what Merit Awards are offered and what GPA & SAT / ACT score
you need to be considered?</p>
<p>The top merit award used to be $27,500 a year. Last year, this was lowered to $20,000 a year and more merit awards were offered. I read amounts such as $10,00, $15,000, and $20,000 a year. Don’t know what AU will offer as its highest amount this year. AU looks at GPA and SAT/ACT scores (without reading) to determine the award. The award came with the acceptance package in the mail - not in the acceptance e-mail.</p>
<p>We are just starting to look at colleges my D will not
graduate till 2013. She loved American when we visited
over President’s Day, but I am going through a little sticker
shock at the cost of a college education. Thanks for the info</p>
<p>NewJerseyMom, I"m sure you meant to say the SAT’s without writing, not without reading.</p>
<p>My S received an AU grant for 26,900 last year. When I called AU to find out about his aid for next year they told me that they normally don’t lower the amount that they first offer.</p>
<p>AU Grants are for students who qualify for need-based aid.</p>
<p>The top award that students who did not qualify for need-based aid last year was $20K/year, as noted above. These awards were reduced from the levels offered in previous years in order to spread the money around more. This was confirmed in an admissions office chat last spring. We don’t know what they are going to do this year. It might depend on whether the change in strategy accomplished their objectives or not.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if you receive the $20 merit award and your EFC
is $25 will AU offers grants to make up the difference in or is the $20
all you will receive</p>
<p>American does NOT guarantee to meet 100% of need. Last time I looked, on average, they met 93% of it. But it will differ by individual circumstance.</p>