Getting the Scores You Need For Merit-based Scholarships

Let’s face it, college is expensive. However you slice it, going in-state or out-of-state, public or private, 2-year or 4-year, few of us can afford the price tag without taking on loans and seeking out other sources of funding. Fortunately, colleges are willing to discount the price tag to attract the right students to their campuses (see “Financial Aid Awards and the Joy of Shopping”).

The following is a list of some colleges and universities in the area that provide significant scholarships for students with high enough grades and test scores. You’ll see the institution, the state, the maximum scholarship amount and name, and the minimum ACT, SAT, and GPA to be considered for each scholarship. More information can be found at MeritAid.com.

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Another invaluable resource can be found at www.myscholly.com. A student who won $1.3 million in scholarships created Scholly, an I-phone app that makes finding scholarships even easier. Scholly's adaptive matching engine helps to match you with qualifying scholarships in minutes.

It’s important to note that students must meet other eligibility requirements to qualify for most scholarships, and that the schools will select the most competitive individuals to offer scholarships. The good news is that, according to MeritAid, $11 billion in merit-based scholarships is available for the taking. Make sure you have the test scores and GPA to play the merit game!