Top 30 Colleges With the Best Merit Scholarships

Debbie Schwartz

Debbie Schwartz is a former financial services executive and founder of Road2College and the Paying For College 101 Facebook group. With an expertise in personal finance, analysis, and marketing, she's working to give families the information and tools they need to make smarter financial college decisions.

Articles by Debbie

Top 30 Colleges With the Best Merit Scholarships

September 4, 2026

If you’re a family that won’t qualify for need-based aid, it’s time to start looking for colleges with the best…

How Work-Study Actually Works (and How to Land the Good Jobs)

How Work-Study Actually Works (and How to Land the Good Jobs)

August 8, 2026

By Debbie Schwartz, founder of Road2College Work-study is one of the most misunderstood lines on a college aid offer. Families…

How to Find Your Real SAI Before Senior Year (Without Anyone Seeing It)

How to Find Your Real SAI Before Senior Year (Without Anyone Seeing It)

August 6, 2026

By Debbie Schwartz, founder of Road2College Your Student Aid Index is the single number that decides whether colleges think your…

The Student Loan Questions Our 310,000 Families Ask Most

The Student Loan Questions Our 310,000 Families Ask Most

August 4, 2026

by Debbie Schwartz, Founder of Road2College Note: This article is sponsored by Citizens®. Road2College maintains editorial control over content and…

Is an Honors College Worth It? Ask What You’d Miss Without It

Is an Honors College Worth It? Ask What You’d Miss Without It

July 22, 2026

Editor’s Note: The writer, Debbie Schwartz, is the founder of Road2College. “Is an honors college worth it?” is the wrong…

Tuition Payment Plans: The Interest-Free Way to Chip Away at Your Bill

Tuition Payment Plans: The Interest-Free Way to Chip Away at Your Bill

July 20, 2026

Editor’s Note: The writer, Debbie Schwartz, is the founder of Road2College. Families tend to think about paying for college in…

Use the Common Data Set to Find Colleges That Give Merit Scholarships

Use the Common Data Set to Find Colleges That Give Merit Scholarships

July 18, 2026

Editor’s Note: The writer, Debbie Schwartz, is the founder of Road2College. Every college quietly publishes a report that shows exactly…

How to Pay for College: A Family’s Step-by-Step Guide and Borrowing Blueprint Tool

How to Pay for College: A Family’s Step-by-Step Guide and Borrowing Blueprint Tool

July 13, 2026

About the author: Debbie Schwartz founded Road2College in 2014 to help families navigate the realities of paying for college. She…