Virtual Event
If you’re a family that won’t qualify for need-based aid, it’s time to start looking for colleges with merit scholarships.
Merit-based aid is money colleges award that is not based on any financial need.
These scholarships are usually awarded based on academic performance and sometimes based on special talents.
We did a quick sort of our College Insights tool to find colleges with merit scholarships and ranked them by the amount of merit aid they gave to freshmen who did not have any financial need (as determined by the college).
Our College Insights tool has information on merit awards, from compiling Common Data Set information that colleges publish on their websites and crowdsourcing actual financial aid award offers from families with high school seniors.
Unfortunately, not all colleges make this information public, so our college list may not be completely inclusive of all the appropriate schools.
But for the purpose of giving a glimpse into the top colleges with merit awards, this is a good start. The list below was put together based solely on the average amount of merit scholarships offered to freshmen.
| Name | % Freshmen w/out need Receiving Merit Aid (’20 – ’21*) | Avg Merit Award for Freshmen Without Need (’20 – ’21*) |
|
88% | $51,700 |
|
19% | $40,769 |
|
97% | $40,533 |
|
100% | $39,881 |
|
100% | $37,375 |
|
98% | $36,219 |
|
98% | $34,569 |
|
98% | $33,809 |
|
88% | $33,670 |
|
97% | $33,317 |
So you’ll need to also research how many students actually receive the award.
The percentage of freshmen who receive merit-based awards who do not have financial need varies greatly on the list – from a low of 19% to a high of 100%.
If you’re interested in finding colleges that offer generous merit scholarships check out College Insights.
College Insights helps students and parents search, find, and compare over 2,000 colleges.
Filter the information that’s most important to your student as you work together to find merit scholarships and build your perfect college list.
| Name | State | SAT (CR+M) 75th Percentile ('20-'21) | ACT Composite 75th Percentile ('20 - '21) | % Freshmen without need | % Freshmen w/out need Receiving Merit Aid ('20 - '21) | Avg Merit Award for Freshmen Without Need ('20 - '21) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington & Jefferson College | PA | 1320 | 29 | 17% | 100% | $30,666 |
| Webb Institute | NY | 1520 | 36 | 65% | 88% | $51,700 |
| Kalamazoo College | MI | 1370 | 31 | 23% | 97% | $32,970 |
| Seattle Pacific University | WA | - | 27 | 5% | 97% | $33,317 |
| Clarkson University | NY | 1340 | 30 | 22% | 88% | $33,670 |
| Allegheny College | PA | 1350 | 30 | 23% | 98% | $33,809 |
| Susquehanna University | PA | 1230 | 28 | 19% | 98% | $34,569 |
| Hartwick College | NY | - | 26 | 12% | 98% | $36,291 |
| Albion College | MI | 1200 | 27 | 11% | 100% | $37,375 |
| Hendrix College | AR | 1338 | 31 | 24% | 100% | $39,881 |
| Beloit College | WI | 1290 | 29 | 20% | 97% | $40,533 |
| University of Richmond | VA | 1440 | 33 | 59% | 19% | $40,769 |
| Agnes Scott College | GA | 1340 | 30 | 22% | 95% | $32,004 |
| Wabash College | IN | 1320 | 29 | 22% | 96% | $31,287 |
| Lawrence University | WI | 1400 | 32 | 33% | 98% | $31,185 |
| Cornell College | IA | 1253 | 29 | 22% | 100% | $31,069 |
| Coe College | IA | 1250 | 26 | 10% | 103% | $31,003 |
| Southern Methodist University | TX | 1360 | 29 | 67% | 68% | $30,992 |
| DePauw University | IN | 1540 | 34 | 39% | 90% | $30,820 |
| Washington and Lee University | VA | 1490 | 33 | 50% | 11% | $45,742 |
| Stetson University | FL | 1270 | 29 | 21% | 80% | $32,599 |
| Southern Methodist University | TX | n/a | 32 | 65% | 69% | $27,685 |
| Widener University | PA | - | - | 18% | 111% | $30,050 |
| Knox College | IL | 1300 | 31 | 15% | 95% | $30,219 |
| Centre College | KY | 1380 | 32 | 30% | 97% | $30,257 |
| Bellarmine University | KY | 1280 | 28 | 18% | 98% | $30,278 |
| Georgetown College | KY | 1180 | 26 | 9% | 100% | $30,453 |
| Lake Forest College | IL | 1275 | 30 | 16% | 100% | $30,560 |
| St. Catherine University | MN | 1170 | 25 | 14% | 98% | $30,556 |
| Wartburg College | IA | 1200 | 25 | 21% | 98% | $30,603 |
CONNECT WITH OTHER PARENTS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO PAY FOR COLLEGE
JOIN ONE OR ALL OF OUR FACEBOOK GROUPS:
HOW TO FIND MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS
*Information is based on 2020 – 2021 college Common Data Sets.
There are two public university systems within the state of California: the University of California (UC) and the California State
More than 4,300 degree-granting institutions exist in the United States (US), but the best choice for your child may lie
With thousands of US colleges and universities to choose from, it’s no wonder students and parents alike find the application
At Road2College you’ll find everything you need to make the admissions and paying for college process less stressful and more transparent.
Explore College Insights™ — your source for finding affordable colleges and merit scholarships.
Get coaching on admissions and college financing.
Join Road2College where parents and experts work together to inform and inspire college-bound families.
By Grade:
By Stage in the Process:
Ad Policy Disclaimer: Product name, logo, brands, and other trademarks featured or referred to within Road2College are the property of their respective trademark holders. Information obtained via Road2College™ is for educational purposes only. Please consult a licensed financial professional before making any financial decisions. This site may be compensated through third party advertisers. This site is not endorsed or affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education. By visiting Road2College’s site, you accept and agree to be bound by Road2College’s Terms of Use.
