Schools known for good merit aid

[dongdong12]

Thanks for the tips, all. Exactly what I was looking for. My son is bright. He needs merit scholarship desperately.

[bluelovexD]

University of Richmond's Scholars program-ranging from full tuition to full tuition room and board and books and more.
http://scholars.richmond.edu/

[sportsmom2016]

When my son was looking at schools last spring these are the schools that we found to be generous with the MERIT awards that were offered to my son:
Rollins - $22,000/year
Tulane - $17,000/year
Gettysburg - $15,000/year
Northeastern - $14,000/year
University of Vemont - $11,000/year

For what it is worth - Gettysburg made the best overall offer.

[dadwithmodem]

Try the Net Price Calculator at college web sites. Some include merit aid based on test scores, GPA and class rank.

Also in July 2012, the New York Times published a long list of colleges that awarded merit aid, the percent receiving merit aid and the average award. Colleges and Universities That Award Merit Aid - Graphic - NYTimes.com

[gracie63]

Jumping in here and could use some wisdom... We just found out our financial planner has run off with our (and hundreds of others) retirement and college accts. My son has a 1480/1500 SAT, National Achievement Semi-Finalist, National Hispanic Scholar, National Honor Society, 4.1 GPA, and great leadership and volunteer history. He would love to go to Stanford or USC but now that looks out unless we could get GREAT merit money as his father makes a good salary but I have significant health issues, so we don't have the money now that savings are gone. Any advice?

[OHMomof2]

You're in CA, I presume? Have you looked at scholarships available to National Hispanic Scholars? I'd start there: Colleges offering scholarships to National Hispanic Scholars

I think Stanford only gives need-based aid. Depending on your family income/expenses there may be something there.

USC does offer some merit: http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergr...rships1314.pdf


PS: you may be better off starting a topic of your own for this.

[parent56]

if he is interested in sciences or anything health related... UAB in birmingham alabama has a full ride (tuition, housing and 2500 stipend) for national hispanic scholars. Very high research school, home of a med school. urban campus, 11K undergrads. not a football or party school, 6% greek. wonderful honors program.

UAB - The University of Alabama at Birmingham if would like more info feel free to pm, S2 goes there

[gracie63]

Thank you for areas to start looking. Any other advice appreciated!

[gracie63]

To answer further, yes we are in CA, and his interest has always been pre-med, until this last year when he wrote and received funding for a business plan to fund several missions he has worked at overseas. He is now interested in business as well.

[sgb]

Does anyone have experience with merit scholarships at Johns Hopkins? Are they largely based on SAT/GPA, or more subjective criteria?

[northwesty]

Gracie -- you need to search the NY Times and Kiplingers databases, which are cited many many times above. It is pretty easy to figure out that there's basically no merit aid at Stanford. But there is at USC and lots of other CA schools as well.

[municipalwaste]

How about going to a university abroad.

[shanice112]

@gracie63 Your son has great grades and SAT scores but you'll never know how much merit aid your son will get until he has applied and has the offer letter. If you live in California and your biggest concern is cost, the in-state schools might be best for your son to look into since in state tuition is a lot cheaper than out of state but with his grades and scores he can find a college to offer him a full-ride scholarship. Good luck.

[go2mom]

gracie63 - have you looked at Washington University in St. Louis? They do offer some merit aid and have a reputable pre-Med program as well an an undergraduate business college.

[CalAlum]

Willamette University in Oregon offers generous merit aid to high-achieving students. If you look at the Willamette thread here in CollegeConfidential, you'll see that multiple posters accepted to the school have received merit scholarships ranging from $20,000 to $22,000 per year. It's a beautiful school. My son was a national merit semifinalist who chose to attend there. He's now a junior, and we've been really, really happy with the education he's received.