Scholarships for National Merit Finalists at Colleges

Does anyone know which colleges offer full-ride scholarships for National Merit Finalists? I'm trying to weigh my options and figure out where my academic achievements might get the most financial recognition.

Sure, happy to help you brainstorm your options. A few colleges that automatically offer full-ride scholarships (or nearly full-ride) to National Merit Finalists include:

1. University of Texas at Dallas: They offer the Eugene McDermott Scholars Program, which covers full tuition, fees, a living allowance, an annual book stipend, plus extra perks like study abroad semesters and professional development funding.

2. University of Oklahoma: They offer the National Scholars Program, which covers full tuition, room and board, a one-time $3,000 stipend for study abroad or academic equipment, and a $2,000 scholarship from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation if you choose OU as your sponsoring university.

3. University of California, Irvine: The National Merit Scholarship at UCI provides a four-year merit scholarship that covers up to the total cost of attendance.

4. University of South Florida: They offer the USF Presidential Scholars award, providing full tuition, room and board, textbook stipends and more.

5. University of Alabama: They offer the Presidential Scholarship, which covers full tuition for four years, one year of on-campus housing, and a $4,000 one-time allowance for expenses.

Note that these scholarships often come with conditions for renewal, such as maintaining a certain GPA or full-time status, so be sure to read the fine print. Be conscious of application deadlines too, as some of these requires a separate application or have an early deadline. And keep in mind that being a National Merit Finalist can also make you a competitive candidate for selective scholarships at other colleges, even if they don’t have automatic full-rides for finalists. Best of luck!