Which schools offer the most generous merit scholarships?

College Search & Selection
1

I’ve already applied to several schools, but I can’t shake the feeling that I’m overlooking some options. I don’t qualify for much financial aid (and my parents aren’t interested in paying for an expensive college), so I need to find somewhere that will give me strong merit aid. Are there any top schools that offer substantial merit scholarships?

Other info:

  • I’ve applied to my state’s flagship, where I’m very likely to get a full ride. I would be fine going there, but I feel like I should explore other options before I settle for the obvious choice.
  • Stats: 4.0 GPA (class rank: 1/432), 34 ACT, 16 AP’s (scored 4’s and 5’s)
  • I know that this is late to be looking for new schools. My list is pretty much finalized, I’m just trying to do a final search before locking it in.
  • I’ve also applied to Harvard and some other top schools, but I know these are financially unrealistic. I’m looking for a school (top-75 or so) that has a more generous merit scholarship program.
2

Clark University
Denison
Only has merit for sciences- Skidmore College
Limited number of merit scholarships only for tippy-top students- Brandeis University

Also- I think there is another recent thread on this topic. Look for it and check it out.

Good luck!

3

Are you a NMF? If so, you have a lot more choices. You’d see a lot of merit at Alabama, Ole Miss, Miss State.

4

@twoinanddone what is the scoop on UAlabama? They are recruiting heavy and hard around here (affluentish suburbs of Philly) and offering merit aid so I was very curious about what they were trying to do with that. Boost their stats, I imagine? Is it a good experience?

5

check out http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/

6

Yes, they want to attract students with high stats, and they have been successful at the over the last few years. It is a good fit for some students, not so good for others. It is obviously a big sports school, big greek school, and some like that while others don’t.

7

They have automatic-for-stats scholarships listed at https://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out-of-state.php .

8

@ucbalumnus they are still pretty expensive for OOS. I had the impression people were getting great deals there. Do they offer above those amounts? A LOT of young people from up here seem to be headed there. More than you would think would be drawn just by that level of merit aid. I’ll have to ask around…

Oh wait, @bopper those automatic full tuition scholarships might explain it.

My oldest blew her chances for anything like that with her GPA (unless they are OK with weighted), but maybe the next kid…

9

OP - which state do you live in, and what’s your desired major?

10

The University of Alabama scholarships used to be better; 3.5 HS GPA and 32 ACT used to give the value of full out-of-state tuition (including any increases over the years). Now, it is a fixed amount (except for the 4.0 HS GPA and 36 ACT one) that is somewhat less than out-of-state tuition, so students will feel the effect of tuition increases over the years.

https://scholarships.ua.edu/faq/ says that they take weighted HS GPA from HS transcript at face value (so if your HS has exaggerated weighting, like the South Carolina standard HS GPA weighting, that can make it easier to hit the required HS GPA).

Automatic-for-stats full tuition or better scholarships used to be more common (the list in http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/ is somewhat older), but many of the colleges that used to offer them have cut back on the amounts, increased the stats needed, or made them competitive instead of automatic. For example, Howard used to offer automatic full rides and attracted students from Nepal with them ( https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/howard-us-kathmandu-connection-nepal-emerges-as-top-source-of-foreign-students/2014/08/27/4cd70376-2a20-11e4-958c-268a320a60ce_story.html ) but those scholarships are no longer offered.

11

Lots of students leaving Illinois for college, many going to Alabama for the last 5-7 years or so. Alabama using wGPA is another plus. When comparing potential merit you do have to pay close attention to whether the college uses uw or wGPA…at some high schools the difference between uw and w can be a point or more.

12

WashU has several merit scholarships that cover up to Full Tuition. You have to apply separately for them - lots of essays.
Rice I believe still has some merit scholarships - before it maxed at about 28K.
USC but you missed the deadline of 12/1
Vandy and Duke also have merit. JHU has a very limited number of merit scholarships.

13

I live in Utah. I’m interested in the social sciences; I’ll probably major in something like economics, public policy, or government, depending on what the college offers.

14

OP - I wanted to comment on the idea that going to your state college is “settling.” If you are able to get through college debt free, you’ve been given a tremendous gift. Please be thankful, not resentful. Most kids are not able to afford out-of-state schools, so state schools have many bright, high-achieving kids. Take full advantage of honors programs and research opportunities if that’s where you choose to attend.

Your success in college depends on you, not the name of you school.