Are there Merit Scholarships available at Northeastern?

Been doing a ton of research into financial aid lately and I've got a question specifically about Northeastern. I've heard they offer a National Merit scholarship, but haven't found a lot of info on it. Could anyone provide specifics? Like, how competitive is it and what benefits does it typically include for recipients?

Yes, Northeastern University does offer merit scholarships, one of them being the Northeastern National Merit Scholarship program. This is given exclusively to National Merit Finalists who designate Northeastern as their first-choice college. For the National Merit Scholarship, you must be a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program through excellence on the PSAT/NMSQT.

As for the benefits, these scholarships provide substantial financial aid – in some cases, it might cover the full cost of tuition. In addition to the tuition benefits, these scholarships often provide other invaluable opportunities like study-abroad programs and research stipends. Northeastern also has a number of other scholarships that are merit-based and are awarded through the competitive admissions process without an additional application.

However, it's important to understand that these scholarships are quite competitive given the large number of high-achieving students who apply to Northeastern. Recipients are typically students who have achieved a high standard of excellence in their high school careers, both inside and outside the classroom. Remember to keep in mind the quality of your extracurricular involvement when considering your competitiveness for these scholarships. A few, highly-involved activities can show commitment and growth over the long term. Regardless, applying for merit scholarships is a great way to make college more affordable and it's definitely worth pursuing, especially if your academic and extracurricular profile aligns with the requirements and standards of the scholarship. You can check out some of the scholarships Northeastern offers, merit-based and otherwise, here: https://studentfinance.northeastern.edu/applying-for-aid/undergraduate/types-of-aid/scholarships/.

I hope this helps with your research!