Colleges With Great Scholarships For National Merit Scholarships
Unsurprisingly, Colleges With Great Scholarships For National Merit Scholarships are eager to welcome National Merit Finalists to their campuses.
They’re among the most sought-after kids in the country, having performed well on standardized tests and showed academic distinction in high school.
Some institutions give full-ride scholarships to National Merit Finalists to persuade them to join their institution, and a few even provide additional financial incentives that can be used for research, study abroad, and technology.
22 Colleges With Great Scholarships For National Merit Scholarships for National Merit finalists
Numerous Colleges With Great Scholarships For National Merit Scholarships provide full-ride scholarships to National Merit Finalists, a major incentive for top students to apply to their programs.
1. The Faulkner University (FU)
Freshman applicants who are National Merit Finalists and name Faulkner University as their top choice with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation are eligible for full tuition, room and board, and obligatory fees. National Merit Semifinalists also receive an award: free tuition at the University.
2. The Florida A&M University
Through the Benacquisto Scholarship Program, Florida A&M will cover the full cost of attendance for in-state National Merit Finalists, which may include tuition, fees, on-campus room and board, books, supplies, travel, and other miscellaneous expenditures.
3. The Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) offers in-state National Merit Finalists prizes that cover up to the entire cost of school through the Benacquisto Scholarship Program. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and enroll in 12 credit hours per semester to continue receiving the prize.
4. The Florida International University (FIU)
Florida International University (FIU) provides tuition, fees, accommodation, and a meal plan to National Merit Finalists. They will also be given a book stipend and, if they demonstrate financial necessity, a laptop.
To be eligible for the grant, students must select FIU as their top preference university through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
5. The Liberty University (LU)
Liberty University will cover tuition, lodging, and board for up to four years for National Merit Semifinalists. To win the honor, students must matriculate into Liberty University’s Honors Program. National Merit Semifinalists also get free tuition at Liberty University.
6. Louisiana Technological University (LTU)
Louisiana Tech University’s National Merit Scholarship provides tuition, on-campus accommodation, and food for four years to National Merit Finalists who name Louisiana Tech University as their first choice with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
To continue receiving the prize, students must complete full-time courses and maintain a 3.0 GPA.
7. The Murray State University (MSU)
Murray State’s National Merit Finalists receive four years of free tuition, on-campus housing, and food plans. Recipients must maintain a 3.2 GPA, enroll full-time, and engage in the University’s Honors College.
8. The New College of Florida (NCF)
The Benacquisto Scholarship Program at the New College of Florida covers the full cost of attendance for National Merit Finalists who live in Florida. To be eligible, students must register the New College of Florida as their first choice university with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
9. The Oklahoma Christian University (OCU)
Oklahoma Christian University’s (OCU) National Merit Scholar Award covers up to 17 credit hours per semester, including full tuition, obligatory fees, housing, and a meal plan for up to eight semesters. To be eligible, students must identify OCU as their first choice university on the National Merit Scholarship Corporation application and maintain a 3.0 GPA while attending OCU.
10. Texas Technological University (TTU)
Texas Tech’s National Merit Finalist Scholarship covers the full cost of four years of undergraduate tuition. Scholarship winners must enroll in at least 30 hours per academic year and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5 to continue receiving funds.
11. The University of Alabama (UA)
The University of Alabama has an appealing offer for National Merit Finalists: free tuition and accommodation. The school additionally offers National Merit Finalists a $3,500 supplementary stipend per year, a one-time $2,000 allowance for summer research or international study, and $500 for books each year.
12. Florida Central University (FCU)
Both in-state and out-of-state National Merit Finalists have good reason to put the University of Central Florida (FCU) at the top of their lists in-state students have their total cost of attendance covered, while out-of-state students receive a waiver that allows them to pay the in-state tuition rate, as well as a $80,000 FCU Merit Scholarship.
National Merit Finalists also get an early admissions decision, guaranteed admission to FCU Burnett Honors College, on-campus housing, and a laptop.
13. The University of Idaho (UI)
National Merit Finalists at the University of Idaho are eligible for an institutional award that covers tuition, fees, and room and board if they enroll for the first semester of their undergraduate studies. National Merit Finalists are also admitted straight into the University Honors Program.
14. The University of Maine (UM)
Maine residents who are National Merit Semifinalists get the UMaine National Merit Award, which includes free tuition, lodging, and board at the University of Maine for up to 15 courses per semester. To continue receiving the prize, students must maintain full-time status (at least 12 credits per semester).
15. The University of Mississippi (UM)
National Merit Finalists with a minimum 3.0 GPA are eligible for the Academic Excellence National Merit Semifinalist/Finalist Scholarship at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). The scholarship covers tuition, housing, and non-resident fees for out-of-state students. The award is renewable for a maximum of four years.
16. The University of New Mexico (UNM)
In-state National Merit Finalists are eligible for free tuition, fees, and housing at the University of New Mexico. The grant is renewable for four years, as long as recipients maintain a minimum 3.3 GPA and complete 15 credit hours each fall and spring semester.
17. The University of North Texas (UNT)
The cliché goes “Everything is bigger in Texas,” and that’s true for National Merit Finalist awards at least at the University of North Texas, whose scholarship packages include the entire cost of attendance. Both Texas citizens and non-residents are compensated for tuition, accommodation, meals, and books, as well as a hefty stipend.
The entire value of the reward for Texas citizens is $128,000, while non-residents receive $177,000.
18. University of Southern Florida (USF)
The University of South Florida (USF) offers a considerable incentive for National Merit Finalists to attend the school. Both in-state and out-of-state students receive a scholarship that covers the entire cost of school, as well as a $2,000 scholarship for study abroad.
National Merit Finalists at USF also receive a tuition remission for their first 30 credits of graduate study if they immediately enroll in a graduate program at the University after completing their baccalaureate degree.
19. University of Texas, Arlington (UTA)
National Merit Finalists, both in-state and out-of-state, receive extraordinary financial support from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), including tuition, fees, and on-campus housing scholarships. Students also receive stipends for books, supplies, and other educational expenditures, as well as for research and studying abroad.
20. Tulsa University (TU)
National Merit Finalists who choose the University of Tulsa (TU) as their first choice school with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation receive free tuition, fees, room and board, and books at the university. Recipients also receive membership in Leadership TU (headed by the University’s President), assured entrance to TU’s Honors Program, and a $6,000 annual monetary contribution.
The scholarship is renewable for up to five years, or until an undergraduate degree is completed. To continue receiving the prize, students must complete at least 15 hours of school each semester.
21. University of Western Florida (UWF)
National Merit Finalists who attend the University of West Florida (UWF) for their first semester of college receive free tuition, fees, housing, and a meal plan. In addition, recipients receive a $800 stipend per semester for books, as well as a one-time payment of up to $1,500 for research or study abroad.
22. The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
National Merit Finalists are eligible for the Presidential Scholarship at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), a four-year scholarship that includes tuition, fees, and room and board. The total prize value is roughly $114,356!
Full-tuition scholarships for National Merit finalists
While some universities offer full-ride scholarships to National Merit Finalists, many others give them free tuition.
1. The Harding University (HU)
National Merit Finalists who choose Harding University as their first choice school through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation will earn free tuition and a $2,000 annual stipend. Recipients must maintain a GPA of at least 3.25 and live on campus.
2. The Iowa State University (LSU)
Iowa State University offers in-state National Merit Finalists free tuition scholarships that are renewable for four years of undergraduate study. To be eligible for the award, students must be full-time at the University and have a 3.0 GPA or above.
3. The Mississippi State University (MSU)
Mississippi State University offers National Merit Finalists free tuition and accommodation through its National Merit Finalist Scholarship, which is available to both in-state and out-of-state students. The award is valued at about $40,000 over four years for Mississippi citizens and $100,000 over four years for nonresidents!
4. The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)
National Merit Finalists are eligible for a four-year prize that covers tuition at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). The grant is renewable for four years, as long as winners maintain full-time status and a minimum GPA of 3.0.
5. Oklahoma State University (OSU)
Both in-state and out-of-state National Merit Finalists are eligible for a five-year tuition waiver at Oklahoma State University. The prize is worth up to $70,100 for in-state students and $147,700 for out-of-state students!
6. The University of Oklahoma (OU)
The University of Oklahoma (OU) will not cover all expenditures for in-state and out-of-state National Merit Finalists, but it will provide them with unusually significant financial aid packages. OU waives tuition for National Merit Finalists and offers generous stipends to help cover the costs of room and board, books, technology, and fees. The university also provides stipends for study abroad and research.
7. The University of Houston (UH)
The University of Houston (UH) provides a significant scholarship package to National Merit Finalists who attend the university, covering tuition and fees. In addition, National Merit Scholars at UH are awarded a $2,000 stipend for study abroad and a $1,000 stipend for research.
8. University of Texas in Dallas (UT Dallas)
National Merit Finalists at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) receive full tuition coverage for up to eight semesters. They also receive a $4,000 stipend per semester to cover the cost of books, supplies, and other expenditures, a $1,500 per semester housing stipend, and a $6,000 one-time study abroad stipend.
National Merit Finalists at UT Dallas are also accepted into the Collegium V Honors program.
9. West Virginia University (WVU)
National Merit Finalists with a high school GPA of at least 3.5 are eligible for free tuition at the University of West Virginia, as well as a one-time $3,500 study abroad grant.
How much do National Merit Scholarships cost?
National Merit Semifinalists are those who scored high on the PSAT/NMSQT and advanced to National Merit Finalist status. Only 16,000 students out of over 1.5 million exam takers have been named semifinalists. Semifinalists are chosen by the state, with each state having its cutoff scores (which change annually) that a student must meet to be considered a semifinalist.
While being awarded a National Merit Semifinalist is a distinction in and of itself, such students can proceed to the level of National Merit Finalist. Finalists can earn scholarship money by following a similar approach to completing a college application: earning a high SAT or ACT score, achieving excellent grades, gaining a persuasive reference, and writing a captivating essay.
At the end of the process, approximately 15,000 students are called National Merit Finalists and are eligible to earn one of three types of scholarships:
The National Merit Scholarship
This is a one-time $2,500 grant-based mostly on a student’s academic record, essays, and written references.
Corporate Sponsored Merit Scholarship Awards
These scholarships vary in value and length some are one-time prizes, while others are renewable. They are given to students who match certain criteria, such as being the offspring of the company’s employees, living in the community where the company works, or pursuing a specified career path.
Merit scholarship awards sponsored by colleges
Colleges and universities present renewable rewards of varied values to students who have chosen the school as their first choice and have been admitted.
How many schools provide full scholarships to national merit scholars?
Full-ride scholarships are scarce at National Merit Colleges the number can almost be counted on fingers and toes. Full-ride scholarships are the most generous awards a student can receive, covering all college expenditures such as tuition, housing, meals, fees, and books. They frequently provide stipends that can be used for anything from covering additional living expenses to studying abroad.
Full-ride scholarships are both rare and generous according to the website Investopedia, “unless a student is an elite athlete, in the top 1% academically, or has accomplished some other notable feat, the likelihood of getting a full-ride scholarship is slim to none.” Don’t be discouraged, however! Becoming a National Merit Finalist is an impressive accomplishment that can win a student a full-ride scholarship at select colleges.
How Does Your PSAT Score Affect Your College Chances?
PSAT results are not used in the college admissions process; nevertheless, a high PSAT score is a good predictor that an applicant will achieve a high SAT score, which considerably improves your chances.
An applicant’s Academic Index, which is a single numerical score used to screen applicants by many highly selective universities, is calculated using standardized test results and grades. If a candidate does not meet a college’s Academic Index level, their application is unlikely to be seriously considered.
As previously stated, obtaining a National Merit Semifinalist is a significant accomplishment, as only the top 1% of scorers in a specific state are recognized. National Merit Semifinalists should include it in the Common App’s Awards and Honors area, since it may increase their chances of college acceptance.
CollegeVine can help you better understand your chances of getting into college. Our free chancing engine estimates your chances at hundreds of universities throughout the country based on a range of characteristics, including grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities. Rather than simply predicting which college you will or will not attend this smart tool may also highlight strengths and flaws in your college profile, allowing you to fix disappointing areas and boost your college admission chances.
How to Apply for Full-Ride Scholarships for National Merit Finalists?
If your youngster is a National Merit finalist, they must complete the college’s application process to be eligible for any connected scholarships. While most require confirmation of finalist status (such as a copy of their status letter) and the student to choose the college as their first choice, the procedure requirements can vary. Because each school can take its own approach, it is critical to check the requirements to ensure your youngster adheres to them.
