In the USA, Which Scholarships Are Awarded the Most?

I'm curious about which types of scholarships are most awarded to students in the USA. Are there trends in the fields or specific criteria that make some scholarships more common than others?

There are several types of scholarships available to students in the USA that tend to be awarded most frequently. These can generally be classified into academic scholarships, athletic scholarships, scholarships for minorities, community service scholarships, and field-specific scholarships.

1. Academic Scholarships: These are perhaps the most commonly offered and awarded scholarships. They are based on a student's academic achievements, such as GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and class rank. Some of the most notable ones include the National Merit Scholarship and scholarships offered directly by individual colleges and universities.

2. Athletic Scholarships: These are awarded to students who excel in sports and are often offered by colleges and universities in order to recruit talented athletes to their schools. NCAA Division I and II schools, in particular, offer around $3 billion in athletic scholarships each year.

3. Scholarships for Minorities: Many organizations offer scholarships to support racial, ethnic, and other minority students in their pursuit of higher education. For instance, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program and the United Negro College Fund provide substantial scholarships to talented minority students every year.

4. Community Service Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded to students who have made significant contributions to their communities. Examples include the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and the AXA Achievement Scholarship which looks at students who have achievements outside of the classroom, including in their communities.

5. Field-Specific Scholarships: Certain scholarships are awarded to students pursuing a specific field of study. These include scholarships for STEM fields, such as the Intel Science Talent Search, or scholarships for humanities students, like the Beinecke Scholarship for graduate study in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

While this offers a broad overview, each specific scholarship has its own unique eligibility criteria and application requirements. Students should research each scholarship of interest to ensure they meet the criteria before applying.