When families think about college scholarships, they often assume GPA, SAT/ACT scores, or essays will determine how much aid a student receives. While those matter, the biggest factor in earning merit scholarships is choosing the right colleges to apply to.
Merit aid—scholarships based on academics, leadership, talent, or extracurriculars—is a powerful way to lower college costs. Unlike need-based aid, merit scholarships are not tied to a family’s financial situation. With college costs ranging from $25,000 at state schools to nearly six figures at highly selective institutions, merit aid can make a huge difference.
Here’s what you need to know—and the steps families can take to maximize opportunities.
Step 1: Understand What Merit Aid Is
- Merit aid is free money awarded to students based on academic or personal accomplishments.
- Most colleges automatically consider applicants, but some require additional applications or essays.
- Merit aid is separate from need-based aid—it usually does not require a FAFSA to qualify.
Step 2: Target Merit-Friendly Schools
Not every school offers merit aid. The most selective colleges (like Princeton or Harvard) typically don’t need to offer scholarships to attract students. Instead, focus on:
- Less selective private colleges that use scholarships to recruit strong students.
- Public universities that often award out-of-state students to offset higher tuition.
- Colleges transparent about their awards—look for institutions that publish average scholarship amounts and percentages of students receiving merit.
Step 3: Use the Common Data Set
Every college fills out a Common Data Set (CDS) each year, which includes data on:
- Percentage of students who receive merit scholarships.
- Average merit aid award amount.
Search “[College Name] Common Data Set” online to find this information. Some organizations aggregate CDS data into spreadsheets for easy comparison.
Step 4: Compare Real Numbers
Look beyond the “sticker price” and calculate the likely cost after scholarships. For example:
- Case Western Reserve University: 83% of students receive merit aid, with an average award of $29,000.
- University of Alabama: 51% of students receive an average of $17,000 in merit aid, cutting costs significantly for out-of-state students.
- Miami University (Ohio): 83% of students receive an average of $11,000.
- College of Wooster: Nearly all admitted students receive about $36,000 in scholarships.
These numbers show how dramatically the net price can change depending on the college.
Step 5: Build a Balanced List
To maximize your child’s options:
- Include merit-friendly schools alongside reach schools.
- Compare net costs (tuition minus average scholarships).
- Talk openly about budget before applications go out.
- Remember: Prestige isn’t everything—affordability should guide choices.
Final Thoughts
Families who want to maximize college merit aid need to “follow the money.” Do your research, ask questions, and create a balanced list of schools that are both academically strong and financially generous. The right strategy could save your family tens of thousands of dollars. If you have any questions on college merit aid, please reach out to me for a free consultation.
