Which colleges give National Merit Scholarships?
Eleanor Gray
Updated on May 28, 2026
There are three main requirements for entering the National Merit Scholarship Program:
- Take the PSAT/NMSQT when you are in high school grades 9 through 12.
- Be enrolled as a high school student (traditional or homeschooled)
- Be a US citizen, lawful permanent resident, or planning to become a citizen as soon as possible.
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In this manner, what colleges offer full ride scholarships to National Merit finalists?
- University of Alabama – flagship campus, Birmingham and Hunstville.
- Auburn University.
- University of Alaska – Anchorage (full tuition only)
- University of Arkansas (flagship campus) – full tuition + $10,000 per year.
- Arizona State University (full tuition)
- University of Arizona (full tuition + $1,500 for study abroad)
One may also ask, what colleges do National Merit Scholars go to? Schools Enrolling Most 2018 National Merit Scholars
- USC--276.
- Chicago--249.
- Univ. of Florida--231.
- Harvard--195.
- Alabama--185.
- Vanderbilt--182.
- Texas A&M--178.
- Univ. of Texas-Dallas--175.
which colleges offer the best merit scholarships?
Top 10 Colleges With The Largest Merit Scholarships
| Name | % Freshmen w/out need Receiving Merit Aid (18 – 19) | Avg Merit Award for Freshmen Without Need (18 – 19) |
|---|---|---|
| Swarthmore College | 3% | $43,252 |
| Hollins University | 100% | $35,233 |
| Wesleyan University | 2% | $35,118 |
| Beloit College | 100% | $34,507 |
What colleges give the most scholarships?
Top National Schools That Offer Full-Ride Scholarships
- University of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois)
- Duke University (Durham, North Carolina)
- Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee)
- University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, Indiana)
- Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia)
- University of California, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
How hard is it to get National Merit Scholarship?
have a record of very high academic performance in all of grades 9 through 12 and in any college course work taken. be fully endorsed for Finalist standing and recommended for a National Merit Scholarship by your high school principal. take the SAT or ACT and earn scores comparable to your semifinalist PSAT score.Is the National Merit Scholarship a full ride?
Harvard may not be sponsoring any scholarships but National Merit Scholars who select Texas A&M as their first choice will get a full ride. Some of the other colleges that offer National Merit Scholars free tuition or full-ride scholarships are: University of Oklahoma. Auburn University.How much money is National Merit Scholarship?
The National Merit $2,500 scholarships are single-payment scholarships that are awarded by state. The Corporate-Sponsored Merit Scholarship awards can be renewable for four years of undergraduate study or awarded just one time.How many years does a full ride scholarship cover?
Every year this program awards up to 10 full-ride scholarships to incoming freshmen to the College of Liberal Arts. Each scholarship covers full tuition as well as room and board. Scholarships are renewable for up to four years.Can you negotiate tuition?
Your employer may be able to negotiate a tuition rate reduction. "You can also see if your employer offers tuition reimbursement, and then assess how you can use that money towards your tuition." Scholarships and grants are just a couple of ways to reduce your tuition without needing to borrow student loans.Are full ride scholarships rare?
Fewer than 20,000 students per year will earn a private full-ride scholarship award - that may sound like a lot, but consider that over 20 million students are expected to attend college this fall (so about 0.1% of students, or one in 1000, get full-ride scholarships).How hard is it to get a scholarship?
Applying for scholarships is hard, but then so is applying for college admission. It gets much easier after the first half-dozen applications, since the student can reuse and adapt previous application essays. Small scholarships and essay contests are easier to win because some students don't like them.Do colleges care about national merit?
Obviously, a student does not have to be a National Merit Scholar in order to get into college. Test scores on various college preparatory tests often play a role in the admission process. Other academic indicators such as class rank , grade point average, and the rigor of coursework are also considered important.What SAT score will get you a full ride?
This scholarship covers full tuition. Eligible students will need to have SAT scores of at least 1480 or ACT scores of at least 33, a 3.5 GPA or higher, and a rigorous academic course load.What percentage of students get scholarships?
– 1.5 percent of students in bachelor's degree programs got enough scholarships and grants to cover 100 percent of the cost of attendance. – 2.7 percent got enough to cover 90 percent of the cost of attendance. – 18.8 percent received enough to cover 50 percent of the cost of attendance.What is the average merit scholarship?
Merit-based scholarships range from $1,000 at state schools, to full rides at private schools worth as much as $35,000 a year, though most fall somewhere in between. There are websites detailing the awards at hundreds of schools. The average annual award is around $5,000.How do I get a full tuition scholarship?
Here are some things you can do to increase your chances of earning a full ride scholarship.- Start Preparing Early.
- Strive For Academic Excellence.
- Choose Challenging Courses.
- Develop & Hone Your Leadership Skills.
- Participate In Extracurricular Activities.
- Get Involved In Your Community.
- Build Relationships With Your Mentors.
