College isn’t exactly cheap. For most students, it’s one of the largest purchases you’ll ever make.
So it’s great that you can lower your costs by applying for scholarships and other forms of financial aid. And for many students, merit scholarships—awards based on achievements, talents, or other qualifications, not financial need—are especially impactful in lowering the costs of college.
How do you get a merit scholarship? Who’s eligible? Do they cover the full cost of tuition or just a portion of your expenses, like tuition, fees, or room and board?
This guide will answer those questions and help you understand the basics of merit scholarships. You’ll learn how to find and apply for these scholarships. You’ll also get a list of 25 merit-based scholarships open to high school and college students.
Here we go.
What is a merit scholarship?
A merit scholarship is a financial award given to a student who excels in academics, athletics, arts, leadership, or other areas. For example, if you maintain a high GPA, score well on standardized tests, or demonstrate exceptional talent in music or sports, you might qualify for a merit scholarship.
However, it’s important to note that most Ivy League schools and highly selective colleges don’t offer merit scholarships—they focus exclusively on need-based financial aid. In other words, they determine your aid based on your family’s financial situation, not your academic or extracurricular achievements.
Still, you can find merit-based scholarships from private organizations. So, even if you plan to attend a highly selective school, it’s worth exploring external merit-based scholarships to help offset your costs.
Types of merit-based scholarships
Merit-based scholarships typically fall into two broad categories:
those awarded directly by colleges or universities
and those offered by private organizations
College-awarded scholarships often aim to attract top-performing students, while private scholarships can target specific talents, demographics, or interests.
You can also categorize merit scholarships based on which type of achievement they reward. Here are how those categories usually break down, with example scholarships for each category.
Academic Scholarships
Academic scholarships reward students with outstanding grades, high standardized test scores, or other exceptional educational achievements. These awards often come from colleges or private organizations and may require maintaining a certain GPA to keep the funding.
An example is the National Merit Scholarship Program, which awards high-achieving students based on PSAT scores.
Learn more about the National Merit Scholarship.
Artistic Scholarships
Artistic scholarships recognize students with exceptional talent in visual arts, music, theater, or other creative fields. They often require portfolios, auditions, or performances as part of the application process. Many colleges and private organizations offer these awards.
For instance, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards provide scholarships for high school students who excel in fine arts and writing.
Learn more about the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
Athletic Scholarships
Colleges in NCAA divisions offer athletic scholarships to students who excel in sports and show potential to contribute to a college’s athletic programs. They may require ongoing participation in sports.
Learn more about NCAA athletic scholarships.
Demographic-Based Scholarships
Demographic-based scholarships support students from specific backgrounds, such as race, ethnicity, gender, or cultural heritage. They aim to increase diversity and representation in higher education.
For example, the Gates Scholarship is available to high-achieving, low-income minority students.
Learn more about the Gates Scholarship.
Community Service Scholarships
Community service scholarships reward students for their dedication to volunteer work and making a difference in their communities. These scholarships often require an essay or evidence of your service contributions.
For example, the Equitable Excellence Scholarship recognizes students with exemplary community service records.
Learn more about the Equitable Excellence Scholarship.
Leadership/Extracurricular Scholarships
Leadership scholarships recognize students who have demonstrated strong leadership in school clubs, organizations, or their communities. These awards value initiative and impact in extracurricular activities.
For instance, the Coca-Cola Scholars Program supports students with a proven record of leadership and service.
How do I find merit scholarships?
You may be eligible for several types of merit scholarships, but how do you find them? Is it as simple as a quick Google search? Well… not exactly.
There are good tools out there for you to use in your search, but finding all the merit scholarships you qualify for can be challenging.
Scholarship databases like FastWeb and GoingMerry can help you build a list of scholarships to apply for, since they compile lists of available scholarship opportunities. But there are still some merit scholarships that never appear in those databases. Why?
Some scholarships are specific to certain schools or local areas, meaning they won’t appear on nationwide search engines. Additionally, many schools only share information about their merit-based scholarships with prospective students.
With that in mind, here’s how you can find merit scholarships:
Start by exploring your school or college's financial aid office and the websites of the schools you're applying to. Many institutions offer merit scholarships that are automatically awarded with admission or through separate applications.
Check with local businesses, community organizations, and associations related to your major or career path. These types of local organizations may offer scholarships with less competition.
Important factor to consider: In general, smaller, local scholarships are easier to win (sometimes much easier) because fewer people apply for them.
You should also keep in mind that applying for scholarships can be a numbers game. We recommend applying for five times the amount of money you hope to receive. This approach increases your chances of success by diversifying your opportunities.
How to Apply for Merit-Based Scholarships
Here are some strategies to help you increase your chances of winning merit-based scholarships.
Do Your Research and Narrow Your Focus
Instead of applying to every scholarship, select a few that fit your profile. For example, a student majoring in engineering can first focus on scholarships from engineering organizations or local businesses in that field.
By narrowing your focus, you can also tailor your applications. What does that mean? Tailoring means customizing your essays, resume, and other materials to highlight the experiences, skills, and achievements that align closely with the scholarship’s goals.
Understand Eligibility Requirements for Merit Scholarships
Each scholarship has specific criteria, such as GPA, extracurricular involvement, or community service. Knowing these details ensures you apply to scholarships where you’re most likely to have a chance at winning.
For example, you don’t want to spend time working on a scholarship application only to realize later that it requires a 3.5 GPA, but you have a 3.2.
To that end, we’d highly recommend creating a copy of our scholarship tracker. (Go to that link, click “make a copy.”)
Use it to track things like eligibility requirements and application components. Speaking of…
Common Application Components for Merit Scholarships
Most merit scholarships require similar application components, like
personal essays
recommendation letters
transcripts
and resumes.
These elements help scholarship committees assess your qualifications.
For example, a scholarship might ask for an essay explaining your choice of major or how you plan to use your education to achieve your career goals.
How should you approach writing that type of essay? Check out this guide: How to Write a Scholarship Essay: Complete Guide + Examples.
Here’s a pro tip: Often, you can reuse your resume and previous essays across scholarship applications. Doing so will save you time and make it possible to apply to multiple scholarships without as much hassle.
Additional resources:
Tips for Standing Out in Your Scholarship Applications
Scholarship organizations may receive thousands of applications (which again is why it’s useful to apply to a bunch of local scholarships, which may have just hundreds or even dozens of applicants).
What can you do to make sure your application stands out? Here are some tips:
Tell a compelling story. Share specific examples or anecdotes that highlight your passion, achievements, or challenges you’ve overcome in your application essays.
Align with the scholarship’s mission. Research the scholarship provider and demonstrate how your goals and values match their mission and purpose.
Highlight unique skills or experiences. Showcase what sets you apart, such as leadership roles, volunteer work, or unique talents.
Polish your application. Proofread for grammar, clarity, and flow to ensure a professional presentation. Ask a teacher or mentor to review it.
Meet (or exceed) eligibility criteria. Demonstrate that you meet the qualifications, and where possible, showcase how and why you exceed them.
Use strong recommendations. Choose recommenders who know you well and can provide specific, enthusiastic endorsements.
Submit early. By submitting applications well before deadlines, you can avoid last-minute stress and give yourself time to fix any unexpected issues.
List of 25 Merit-Based Scholarships
To jump start your search, here are 25 potential scholarships to explore:
1. Coca-Cola Scholars Program
One of the most popular merit scholarships in the U.S., the Coca-Cola Scholars program awards students with exceptional academic performance, leadership, and community service.
Award Amount: $20,000
2. Gates Scholarship
Given to outstanding minority high school seniors from low-income households, the Gates Scholarship celebrates academic excellence and leadership.
Award Amount: Full cost of attendance
3. Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship
This competitive college scholarship supports high-achieving high school seniors with financial need. Selection is based on academic excellence and leadership ability.
Award Amount: Up to $55,000 per year
4. Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship
The Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship is for high school seniors who demonstrate leadership, academic achievement, and community service.
5. Davidson Fellows Scholarship
Designed for exceptional young innovators, the Davidson Fellows Scholarship recognizes students with significant achievements in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, literature, music, or philosophy.
Award Amount: $25,000 to $100,000
6. American Indian College Fund Full Circle Scholarship
This merit scholarship supports Native American students attending accredited colleges and universities. It’s awarded based on academic achievement and the student’s commitment to advancing Native American communities.
Award Amount: Varies, average between $2,000 to $3,000
7. National Honor Society Scholarships
These scholarships are for high school seniors who are members of the National Honor Society and have demonstrated leadership, service, and academic excellence.
Award Amount: Up to $25,000
8. Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF)
The APIASF awards scholarships to Asian and Pacific Islander students who excel academically and demonstrate leadership and community involvement.
Award Amount: $2,500 to $20,000
9. Ron Brown Scholar Program
This program celebrates Black and African-American high school seniors who excel academically, lead in their communities, and demonstrate financial need.
Award Amount: $40,000
10. Burger King Scholars Program
The Burger King Scholars Program recognizes students who show strong academic achievement and involvement in work and community service activities.
Award Amount: $1,000 to $60,000
11. GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program
The GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program honors high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and a strong commitment to serving their communities.
Award Amount: Up to $40,000
12. Horatio Alger National Scholarship
The Horatio Alger National Scholarship supports students who have overcome significant adversity to achieve academic success. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and a strong desire to give back.
Award Amount: Varies
13. National Merit Scholarship
Awarded through the National Merit Scholarship Program, this scholarship celebrates top-performing high school students based on PSAT scores.
Award Amount: $2,500 (additional awards may vary)
14. Dell Scholars Program
The Dell Scholars Program helps high-achieving students from underserved communities overcome financial barriers to higher education.
Award Amount: $20,000
15. Asian Pacific Fund Scholarships
The Asian Pacific Fund Scholarships fund provides several merit-based scholarships for Asian American students, focusing on specific fields, leadership, and academic achievements.
Award Amount: $1,000 to $5,000
16. U.S. Bank Scholarship Program
The U.S. Bank Scholarship Program rewards high school seniors who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance, leadership, and involvement in extracurricular activities.
Award Amount: $20,000
17. Equitable Excellence Scholarship
This scholarship recognizes students with notable achievements in school, work, or community activities that reflect strong character and leadership.
Award Amount: Up to $20,000
18. Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship
This scholarship supports students pursuing degrees in computer science or related fields. It rewards academic achievement, leadership, and a passion for technology.
Award Amount: $40,000 and an internship
19. 4-H Youth in Action Awards
This scholarship program celebrates 4-H members demonstrating leadership, resilience, and community impact.
Award Amount: $5,000
20. Ayn Rand Essay Contests
These contests reward students who demonstrate critical thinking and persuasive writing skills. Participants analyze themes in Ayn Rand’s novels, showcasing intellectual merit and creativity in their arguments.
Award Amount: Up to $25,000
21. Thiel Fellowship
This unique fellowship program awards funds to young entrepreneurs under 23 to skip or pause college and focus on building innovative projects.
Award Amount: $100,000
22. Generation Google Scholarship
The Generation Google Scholarship supports aspiring computer scientists from underrepresented groups.
Award Amount: $2,500
23. Terry Foundation Scholarship
Designed for Texas residents, this scholarship supports academically talented students with leadership skills and a strong commitment to community service. It provides full funding for attendance at partner universities in Texas.
Award Amount: Full cost of attendance
24. Regeneron Science Talent Search
This prestigious STEM competition rewards high school seniors for their groundbreaking scientific research and dedication to solving real-world problems.
Award Amount: Up to $250,000
25. QuestBridge National College Match
The QuestBridge National College Match program helps high-achieving, low-income students gain full scholarships to top colleges.
Award Amount: Full cost of attendance
FAQ on merit scholarships
Do I need to complete the FAFSA for merit scholarships?
It depends on the scholarship. Some merit scholarships, particularly those offered by colleges, may require the FAFSA to determine your eligibility for additional financial aid. However, many merit scholarships are based purely on academic, extracurricular, or other achievements and do not require the FAFSA. Always check the scholarship’s requirements to confirm.
Do all colleges offer merit scholarships?
No, not all colleges offer merit scholarships. While many colleges provide merit-based awards, especially to attract top students, some may not offer scholarships based on academic performance. It's essential to research each college’s financial aid department website to see what is available.
When are merit scholarship deadlines?
Merit scholarship deadlines vary by college and scholarship program. Many deadlines align with college application deadlines, but some may be earlier or later. Be sure to check the specific deadlines for each scholarship you’re interested in to ensure you don’t miss out.
Do all merit scholarships require essays?
No, not all merit scholarships require essays. While many do ask for essays to assess your writing skills and personal story, some may only require a transcript, resume, or recommendation letters. Always check the application requirements to see what is needed.
Does CMU have merit scholarships?
Yes, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) offers merit scholarships. These are awarded based on academic achievement, talent, or other special criteria.
Do I need to complete the CSS Profile for merit scholarships?
Not necessarily. The CSS Profile is primarily used for need-based financial aid, not merit scholarships. However, some colleges may require the CSS Profile for students applying for merit scholarships to assess eligibility for combined financial aid packages. Always check the specific requirements for each scholarship or school.
Final thoughts
A few key takeaways:
Merit scholarships aren’t just for straight-A students or star athletes. You can also qualify for scholarships based on your talents, leadership, or unique contributions to your community.
When applying for merit-based scholarships, make sure you thoroughly read the eligibility requirements and tailor your application to highlight your strengths. You should also stay organized, track deadlines, and apply to as many scholarships as you qualify for to increase your chances.
Want more tips on how to pay for college? Check out this fantastic resource next: Crash Course on How to Pay for College (Using as Little of Your Own Money as Possible)
Special thanks to Ameer Drane for writing this blog post
Ameer Drane is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about college admissions and career development. Prior to freelancing, Ameer worked for three years as a college admissions consultant at a Hong Kong-based education center, helping local high school students prepare and apply for top colleges and universities in the US. He has a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in Spanish Linguistics from UCLA. When he’s not working, Ameer loves traveling, weight lifting, writing, reading, and learning foreign languages. He currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
Top values: Growth / Diversity / Empathy
