Colleges That Award Merit Scholarships to the Most Students

Learn which colleges award merit scholarships to the most students by public and private status and by location.

Colleges That Award Merit Scholarships to the Most Students by Public and Private Status:

Public Colleges that Award Merit Scholarships to the Most Students

If you are applying to college, then you may be wondering which public colleges and universities award merit-based scholarships to the most students. Merit-based scholarships, unlike need-based financial aid, are awarded to students based on academic or other merit rather than demonstrated financial need. The percentage of students who receive merit-based financial aid can vary dramatically by school, but in general, private colleges award more merit-based aid than public institutions. (Merit scholarships are also awarded by other entities such as churches and community organizations.) Only two schools in the entire country (neither of them public) offer merit-based aid to 100 percent of students, while some colleges award merit scholarships to as little as one percent of the student population. Especially if you do not qualify for substantial need-based financial aid, it is important to prioritize schools that offer the most merit-based assistance.

Here we present the public colleges and universities that offered merit-based financial aid to at least fifty percent of students for the 2017-18 school year:

Public Colleges & Universities that Award the Most Merit Scholarships

Institution Name	Location	Percent of Students Awarded Merit Scholarships
University of Central Missouri	Missouri	85%
Michigan Technological University	Michigan	78%
Truman State University	Missouri	78%
University of Kentucky	Kentucky	72%
Georgia State University	Georgia	69%
University of South Carolina	South Carolina	69%
Clemson University	South Carolina	66%
Mississippi University for Women	Mississippi	64%
Colorado School of Mines	Colorado	62%
University of Idaho	Idaho	61%
Tennessee Technological University	Tennessee	61%
Glenville State College	West Virginia	61%
SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry	New York	59%
Temple University	Pennsylvania	58%
Iowa State University of Science & Technology	Iowa	56%
Western Kentucky University	Kentucky	56%
Lincoln University	Pennsylvania	56%
Southwest Minnesota State University	Minnesota	54%
Keene State College	New Hampshire	54%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	North Carolina	53%
University of South Dakota	South Dakota	53%
Northern Arizona University	Arizona	51%
Ball State University	Indiana	51%
University of Wyoming	Wyoming	51%

Private Colleges that Award Merit Scholarships to the Most Students

If you are applying to private colleges, then you may be wondering which private colleges and universities award merit-based scholarships to the most students. Merit-based scholarships, unlike need-based financial aid, are awarded to students based on academic or other merit rather than demonstrated financial need. The percentage of students who receive merit-based financial aid can vary dramatically by school, but in general, private colleges award more merit-based aid than public institutions. (Merit scholarships are also awarded by other entities such as churches and community organizations.) Two private schools - Walsh University in Ohio and Cooper Union in New York - offer merit-based aid to 100 percent of students, while some private colleges award merit scholarships to as little as one percent of the student population. Especially if you do not qualify for substantial need-based financial aid, it is important to prioritize schools that offer the most merit-based assistance.

Here we present the private colleges and universities that offered merit-based financial aid to at least eighty percent of students for the 2017-18 school year:

Private Schools that Award the Most Merit Scholarships

Institution Name	Location	Percent of Students Awarded Merit Scholarships
Cooper Union	New York	100%
Walsh University	Ohio	100%
Birmingham-Southern College	Alabama	99%
Clarke University	Iowa	99%
Roanoke College	Virginia	99%
Northwestern College	Iowa	98%
Albion College	Michigan	98%
Juniata College	Pennsylvania	97%
Southwestern University	Texas	97%
University of La Verne	California	96%
Chaminade University of Honolulu	Hawaii	96%
Andrews University	Michigan	96%
St. Catherine University	Minnesota	96%
Iona College	New York	96%
John Carroll University	Ohio	96%
College of Saint Benedict	Minnesota	95%
Westminster College	Pennsylvania	95%
Augustana University	South Dakota	95%
Emmanuel College	Massachusetts	94%
Linfield College	Oregon	94%
Neumann University	Pennsylvania	94%
Stevens Institute of Technology	New Jersey	93%
St. Bonaventure University	New York	93%
Cabrini University	Pennsylvania	93%
University of Portland	Oregon	92%
Duquesne University	Pennsylvania	92%
Salve Regina University	Rhode Island	92%
Mills College	California	89%
Saint John’s University	Minnesota	89%
Southern New Hampshire University	New Hampshire	89%
Washington & Jefferson College	Pennsylvania	89%
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology	Indiana	88%
Siena College	New York	88%
Baylor University	Texas	88%
St. Joseph’s College	New York	87%
Millikin University	Illinois	86%
Robert Morris University	Illinois	86%
Union University	Tennessee	86%
Alverno College	Wisconsin	86%
Endicott College	Massachusetts	84%
Felician University	New Jersey	84%
Monmouth University	New Jersey	84%
Cedarville University	Ohio	84%
College of Mount Saint Vincent	New York	83%
Daemen College	New York	83%
University of Tulsa	Oklahoma	83%
Holy Family University	Pennsylvania	83%
St. John Fisher College	New York	82%
DeSales University	Pennsylvania	82%
Johnson & Wales University	Rhode Island	82%
St. John’s University	New York	80%
The College of Saint Rose	New York	80%
Oberlin College	Ohio	80%

Colleges That Award Merit Scholarships to the Most Students by Location:

Schools in the Midwest that Award Merit-Based Financial Aid to the Most Students

If you are applying to colleges in the Midwest, then you may be wondering which colleges and universities in the region award merit-based scholarships to the most students. Merit-based scholarships, unlike need-based financial aid, are awarded to students based on academic or other merit rather than demonstrated financial need. The percentage of students who receive merit-based financial aid can vary dramatically by school, but in general, private colleges award more merit-based aid than public institutions. (Merit scholarships are also awarded by other entities such as churches and community organizations.) Only two schools in the entire country (of which one is Walsh University in Ohio) offer merit-based aid to 100 percent of students, while some colleges award merit scholarships to as little as one percent of the student population. Especially if you do not qualify for substantial need-based financial aid, it is important to prioritize schools that offer the most merit-based assistance.

Here we present the colleges and universities in the Midwest that offered merit-based financial aid to at least eighty percent of students for the 2017-18 school year:

Midwestern Schools that Award the Most Merit Scholarships

Institution Name	Location	Percent of Students Awarded Merit Scholarships
Walsh University	Ohio	100%
Clarke University	Iowa	99%
Northwestern College	Iowa	98%
Albion College	Michigan	98%
Andrews University	Michigan	96%
St. Catherine University	Minnesota	96%
John Carroll University	Ohio	96%
College of Saint Benedict	Minnesota	95%
Augustana University	South Dakota	95%
Saint John’s University	Minnesota	89%
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology	Indiana	88%
Millikin University	Illinois	86%
Robert Morris University	Illinois	86%
Alverno College	Wisconsin	86%
University of Central Missouri	Missouri	85%
Cedarville University	Ohio	84%
Oberlin College	Ohio	80%

Schools in the West that Award Merit-Based Financial Aid to the Most Students

If you are applying to colleges in the West, then you may be wondering which colleges and universities in the region award merit-based scholarships to the most students. Merit-based scholarships, unlike need-based financial aid, are awarded to students based on academic or other merit rather than demonstrated financial need. The percentage of students who receive merit-based financial aid can vary dramatically by school, but in general, private colleges award more merit-based aid than public institutions. (Merit scholarships are also awarded by other entities such as churches and community organizations.) Only two schools in the entire country (neither of which is in the West) offer merit-based aid to 100 percent of students, while some colleges award merit scholarships to as little as one percent of the student population. Especially if you do not qualify for substantial need-based financial aid, it is important to prioritize schools that offer the most merit-based assistance.

Here we present the colleges and universities in the West that offered merit-based financial aid to at least eighty percent of students for the 2017-18 school year:

Western Schools that Award the Most Merit Scholarships

Institution Name	Location	Percent of Students Awarded Merit Scholarships
University of La Verne	California	96%
Chaminade University of Honolulu	Hawaii	96%
Linfield College	Oregon	94%
University of Portland	Oregon	92%
Mills College	California	89%

Schools in the Northeast that Award Merit-Based Financial Aid to the Most Students

If you are applying to colleges in the Northeast, then you may be wondering which colleges and universities in the region award merit-based scholarships to the most students. Merit-based scholarships, unlike need-based financial aid, are awarded to students based on academic or other merit rather than demonstrated financial need. The percentage of students who receive merit-based financial aid can vary dramatically by school, but in general, private colleges award more merit-based aid than public institutions. (Merit scholarships are also awarded by other entities such as churches and community organizations.) Only two schools in the entire country (of which one is Cooper Union in New York) offer merit-based aid to 100 percent of students, while some colleges award merit scholarships to as little as one percent of the student population. Especially if you do not qualify for substantial need-based financial aid, it is important to prioritize schools that offer the most merit-based assistance.

Here we present the colleges and universities in the Northeast that offered merit-based financial aid to at least eighty percent of students for the 2017-18 school year:

Northeast Schools that Award the Most Merit Scholarships

Institution Name	Location	Percent of Students Awarded Merit Scholarships
Cooper Union	New York	100%
Juniata College	Pennsylvania	97%
Iona College	New York	96%
Westminster College	Pennsylvania	95%
Emmanuel College	Massachusetts	94%
Neumann University	Pennsylvania	94%
Stevens Institute of Technology	New Jersey	93%
St. Bonaventure University	New York	93%
Cabrini University	Pennsylvania	93%
Duquesne University	Pennsylvania	92%
Salve Regina University	Rhode Island	92%
Southern New Hampshire University	New Hampshire	89%
Washington & Jefferson College	Pennsylvania	89%
Siena College	New York	88%
St. Joseph’s College	New York	87%
Endicott College	Massachusetts	84%
Felician University	New Jersey	84%
Monmouth University	New Jersey	84%
College of Mount Saint Vincent	New York	83%
Daemen College	New York	83%
Holy Family University	Pennsylvania	83%
St. John Fisher College	New York	82%
DeSales University	Pennsylvania	82%
Johnson & Wales University	Rhode Island	82%
St. John’s University	New York	80%
The College of Saint Rose	New York	80%

Schools in the South that Award Merit-Based Financial Aid to the Most Students

If you are applying to colleges in the South, then you may be wondering which colleges and universities in the region award merit-based scholarships to the most students. Merit-based scholarships, unlike need-based financial aid, are awarded to students based on academic or other merit rather than demonstrated financial need. The percentage of students who receive merit-based financial aid can vary dramatically by school, but in general, private colleges award more merit-based aid than public institutions. (Merit scholarships are also awarded by other entities such as churches and community organizations.) Only two schools in the entire country (neither of which is in the South) offer merit-based aid to 100 percent of students, while some colleges award merit scholarships to as little as one percent of the student population. Especially if you do not qualify for substantial need-based financial aid, it is important to prioritize schools that offer the most merit-based assistance.

Here we present the colleges and universities in the South that offered merit-based financial aid to at least eighty percent of students for the 2017-18 school year:

Southern Schools that Award the Most Merit Scholarships

Institution Name	Location	Percent of Students Awarded Merit Scholarships
Birmingham-Southern College	Alabama	99%
Roanoke College	Virginia	99%
Southwestern University	Texas	97%
Baylor University	Texas	88%
Union University	Tennessee	86%
University of Tulsa	Oklahoma	83%