Are there colleges offering merit scholarships?

I'm curious about which colleges provide merit scholarships since I'm hoping to reduce tuition costs with my academic achievements. Any leads on schools with solid merit-based financial aid?

Absolutely, there are numerous colleges that offer merit scholarships. While these scholarships can be quite competitive, applying for them can be an excellent way to offset some of the costs of your education.

For example, University of Southern California (USC) offers half and full-tuition scholarships to a small number of high-achieving students. Boston University offers the Trustee Scholarship, which covers full undergraduate tuition plus orientation and mandatory undergraduate student fees for four years.

Vanderbilt University offers three signature scholarships (the Ingram Scholarship Program, the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship, and the Chancellor's Scholarship) that provide full tuition plus a one-time stipend for a summer project.

Washington University, St. Louis offers several scholars programs that cover full-tuition. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has the Morehead-Cain Scholars program, which is a full four-year scholarship covering tuition, student fees, housing, meals, books, a laptop, and four summer experiences.

Loyola University Chicago has the Presidential Scholarship for high school seniors with "superior academic credentials" and awards full tuition.

Keep in mind that these scholarships will often have separate applications and earlier deadlines, so do your research early and keep track of everything. While the competition is steep, if you're a high-achieving student, these scholarships could make these universities more affordable.

On a final note, remember that most colleges will have department-specific scholarships for students studying certain fields, so be sure to look into those opportunities as well. Good luck!