Why Don’t Some Colleges Offer Merit Scholarships?
You could have the best grades and overall grade point average (GPA) in your class but it won’t guarantee that you’ll receive a merit scholarship. It won’t be your fault, especially if you do everything right. It just so happens that not all schools offer these bonuses in the first place. How can you still receive funding if the school you want to attend doesn’t hand out scholarships? The advisors at College Funding of Tampa Bay are here to help!
What Are Merit Scholarships?
What is so special about merit scholarships? Rather than being need-based, they are typically awarded only to those who excel above the majority of other students such as those who keep straight A’s or a 4.0 GPA. Although maintaining that high of a record is quite the feat, it’s very likely that most other students attempting to get into a nice college also have impressive scores. That’s where the problem lies for many schools.
Some academic awards offered in Florida include:
- Presidential Merit Scholarship
- Ambassador Merit Scholarship
- Gold and Blue Scholarship
- Transfer Merit Scholarship
- Me Micro Scholarship
- FIU National Merit Finalist
- FIU College Board Recognition Program Scholarship
Merit Scholarship Availability
Because there’s a competitive number of students qualified for merit scholarships, many schools will either significantly limit the number of awards to be granted or omit them entirely. For example, the University of Florida only allocated awards to roughly 10% of freshmen in 2021.
How to Check a School’s Policy
How do I know if a school awards (or doesn’t award) merit scholarships? The easiest way to tell is to check the financial aid page of the school’s official website. There will usually be a disclaimer somewhere that explicitly states whether or not they allow such grants.
The Reason Why Schools Omit Merit Scholarships
As stated earlier, it can be difficult for schools to choose between talented students if all of their applicants have impressive progress reports. For schools where the minimum requirement involves having above-average grades, pretty much everyone would qualify for a merit scholarship which could bankrupt the school in question. This is the main reason why most schools will skip it entirely.
The More Accessible Alternative
Even if the college or university you wish to attend doesn’t grant merit scholarships, there are still other ways to receive financial aid to help you pay for your higher education. Need-based aid is widely accepted among multiple schools to encourage more students to apply, and an astonishing amount of people qualify even when they believe that they wouldn’t. Since you can never know until you try, it’s worth it to fill out your FAFSA application and CSS Profile regardless of what you may think.
Need Help Receiving Aid?
If you need help figuring out whether or not the schools on your wish list offer merit scholarships or if you’re looking into receiving need-based financial aid, the knowledgeable advisors at College Funding of Tampa Bay are here to get you started. Give us a call today to see what we can do to get you on the path to higher education!
