Hunting for Colleges with Good Merit Scholarships

I've worked hard throughout high school and done well academically. So, I'm hoping to land a pretty good merit scholarship for college. Do you guys know which colleges are the most generous when it comes to awarding such scholarships?

Absolutely! Merit scholarships are a great way to make college more affordable, and some colleges are more generous than others in awarding them.

The University of Southern California (USC) is one college well-known for its merit scholarships. The USC Trustee Scholarship covers full-tuition expenses for national merit finalists. USC also offers the Presidential Scholarship, which is half-tuition, and the Dean’s Scholarship, which provides a quarter-tuition - both for exceptionally high-achieving students.

Boston University’s Trustee Scholarship Program offers a number of full-ride scholarships to students who display outstanding academic and leadership abilities. Candidates are evaluated by a faculty committee for this highly competitive scholarship.

At the University of Richmond, all first-year applicants are considered for merit scholarships up to full tuition. Most notable is the Richmond Scholars Program, which provides a full ride.

Vanderbilt University offers three signature merit scholarships: the Ingram Scholars Program, the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship, and the Chancellor's Scholarship. These scholarships cover tuition, provide stipends for specific projects, and offer special programming and advising.

Tulane University automatically considers all applicants for partial-tuition merit scholarships that range up to $32,000 per year. Tulane also offers several full-tuition, total-cost, service, and leadership scholarships that require separate applications.

Keep in mind that the competition for these scholarships is often high, and you may need to submit extra application materials or meet early application deadlines. Always check the specifics at each school. Wishing you the best with your scholarship search!