Scholarships for Students with Good Grades: Your Guide to Merit-Based Financial Aid

College isn’t exactly cheap. For most students, it’s one of the largest purchases you’ll ever make. So it’s great that you can lower your costs by applying for scholarships and other forms of financial aid. And for many students, merit scholarships-awards based on achievements, talents, or other qualifications, not financial need-are especially impactful in lowering the costs of college. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of merit scholarships, focusing on opportunities available to students with good grades and other notable achievements.

What are Merit Scholarships?

A merit scholarship is a financial aid award given without consideration of applicants’ financial need. A merit scholarship is a financial award given to a student who excels in academics, athletics, arts, leadership, or other areas. In other words, even if you don’t demonstrate financial need as defined by the government, you can still win money to pay for college in the form of merit-based scholarships. These awards recognize hard work and provide funds to help students continue their education. For example, if you maintain a high GPA, score well on standardized tests, or demonstrate exceptional talent in music or sports, you might qualify for a merit scholarship.

Merit-based scholarships typically fall into two broad categories: those awarded directly by colleges or universities and those offered by private organizations. College-awarded scholarships often aim to attract top-performing students, while private scholarships can target specific talents, demographics, or interests.

However, it’s important to note that most Ivy League schools and highly selective colleges don’t offer merit scholarships-they focus exclusively on need-based financial aid. In other words, they determine your aid based on your family’s financial situation, not your academic or extracurricular achievements. Still, you can find merit-based scholarships from private organizations.

Types of Merit Scholarships

You can also categorize merit scholarships based on which type of achievement they reward. Here are how those categories usually break down, with example scholarships for each category:

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Academic Scholarships

Academic scholarships reward students with outstanding grades, high standardized test scores, or other exceptional educational achievements. These awards often come from colleges or private organizations and may require maintaining a certain GPA to keep the funding. Many programs award scholarships to students based on GPA. For academic scholarships, most require a 3.0 minimum. However, there are scholarships offered for students with other talents, such as for the arts and athletics.

One example is the National Merit Scholarship Program, which awards high-achieving students based on PSAT scores. Award Amount: $2,500 (additional awards may vary). Learn more about the National Merit Scholarship. The Daniel G. Calugar Foundation offers $10,000 scholarships to incoming college freshmen with exceptional standardized test scores.

Artistic Scholarships

Artistic scholarships are awarded on the basis of applicants’ artistic skills. Artistic scholarships recognize students with exceptional talent in visual arts, music, theater, or other creative fields. They often require portfolios, auditions, or performances as part of the application process. Many colleges and private organizations offer these awards. Some are targeted towards artists of certain disciplines, such as painters or dancers, while others welcome applications from artists in a range of fields. For instance, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards provide scholarships for high school students who excel in fine arts and writing.Learn more about the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. One example of an artistic merit scholarship is the Paws for a Cause Design Scholarship, a $10,000 contest hosted by BOBS from Skechers.

Athletic Scholarships

Athletic merit scholarships are given to exceptional athletes in a variety of sports, from football to volleyball to even esports. Colleges in NCAA divisions offer athletic scholarships to students who excel in sports and show potential to contribute to a college’s athletic programs. They may require ongoing participation in sports. Like academic scholarships, these awards may be offered through specific colleges for students at those particular schools. Learn more about NCAA athletic scholarships. For instance, the Walter J. Travis Society Scholarship is open to high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students in golf-related fields. While applicants’ academic histories are considered, special emphasis is placed upon applicants’ golfing performance and involvement.

Demographic-Based Scholarships

Identity merit scholarships aim to uplift students in marginalized or underrepresented communities; unlike other types of merit scholarships, recipients of identity merit scholarships are chosen based on their traits and unique life experiences. Demographic-based scholarships support students from specific backgrounds, such as race, ethnicity, gender, or cultural heritage. They aim to increase diversity and representation in higher education. For example, the Gates Scholarship is available to high-achieving, low-income minority students. Learn more about the Gates Scholarship. For instance, the Ari’s Bears Scholarship is a merit-based award of $1,000 established to support pediatric cancer survivors; only those with past or current pediatric cancer diagnoses may apply.

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Community Service Scholarships

Community service scholarships reward students for their dedication to volunteer work and making a difference in their communities. These scholarships often require an essay or evidence of your service contributions. For example, the Equitable Excellence Scholarship recognizes students with exemplary community service records. Learn more about the Equitable Excellence Scholarship.

Leadership/Extracurricular Scholarships

Leadership merit scholarships are open to students with histories of activism, public service, volunteering, extracurricular organization, and other initiatives that demonstrate community-focused ambition. Leadership scholarships recognize students who have demonstrated strong leadership in school clubs, organizations, or their communities. The Stantec Future Leaders Scholarship, for instance, is awarded based on applicants’ commitment to leadership.

How to Find Merit Scholarships

You may be eligible for several types of merit scholarships, but how do you find them? Is it as simple as a quick Google search? Well… not exactly. There are countless merit scholarships available, both institutional and privately-offered.

There are good tools out there for you to use in your search, but finding all the merit scholarships you qualify for can be challenging. Scholarship databases like FastWeb and GoingMerry can help you build a list of scholarships to apply for, since they compile lists of available scholarship opportunities. But there are still some merit scholarships that never appear in those databases. Why?

Some scholarships are specific to certain schools or local areas, meaning they won’t appear on nationwide search engines. Many institutions offer merit scholarships that are automatically awarded with admission or through separate applications. Check with local businesses, community organizations, and associations related to your major or career path. These types of local organizations may offer scholarships with less competition. Important factor to consider: In general, smaller, local scholarships are easier to win (sometimes much easier) because fewer people apply for them.

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When you create a free account on Scholarships.com, you’ll automatically match with every scholarship in our database for which you are eligible. While the exact eligibility criteria varies between scholarships, there are merit scholarships for all kinds of students to win.

Tips for Applying for Merit Scholarships

You should also keep in mind that applying for scholarships can be a numbers game. We recommend applying for five times the amount of money you hope to receive. Here are some strategies to help you increase your chances of winning merit-based scholarships.

Do Your Research and Narrow Your Focus

Instead of applying to every scholarship, select a few that fit your profile. For example, a student majoring in engineering can first focus on scholarships from engineering organizations or local businesses in that field.

By narrowing your focus, you can also tailor your applications. What does that mean? Tailoring means customizing your essays, resume, and other materials to highlight the experiences, skills, and achievements that align closely with the scholarship’s goals.

Understand Eligibility Requirements for Merit Scholarships

Each scholarship has specific criteria, such as GPA, extracurricular involvement, or community service. Knowing these details ensures you apply to scholarships where you’re most likely to have a chance at winning.

For example, you don’t want to spend time working on a scholarship application only to realize later that it requires a 3.5 GPA, but you have a 3.2.

To that end, we’d highly recommend creating a copy of our scholarship tracker. (Go to that link, click “make a copy.”) Use it to track things like eligibility requirements and application components. Speaking of…

Common Application Components for Merit Scholarships

Most merit scholarships require similar application components, like personal essays, recommendation letters, transcripts, and resumes. These elements help scholarship committees assess your qualifications.

For example, a scholarship might ask for an essay explaining your choice of major or how you plan to use your education to achieve your career goals. How should you approach writing that type of essay? Check out this guide: How to Write a Scholarship Essay: Complete Guide + Examples.

Here’s a pro tip: Often, you can reuse your resume and previous essays across scholarship applications. Doing so will save you time and make it possible to apply to multiple scholarships without as much hassle.

Additional resources:

How to Write a College Resume (+ Example Templates)
How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation

Tips for Standing Out in Your Scholarship Applications

Scholarship organizations may receive thousands of applications (which again is why it’s useful to apply to a bunch of local scholarships, which may have just hundreds or even dozens of applicants). What can you do to make sure your application stands out? Here are some tips:

Tell a compelling story. Share specific examples or anecdotes that highlight your passion, achievements, or challenges you’ve overcome in your application essays.
Align with the scholarship’s mission. Research the scholarship provider and demonstrate how your goals and values match their mission and purpose.
Highlight unique skills or experiences. Showcase what sets you apart, such as leadership roles, volunteer work, or unique talents.
Polish your application. Proofread for grammar, clarity, and flow to ensure a professional presentation. Ask a teacher or mentor to review it.
Meet (or exceed) eligibility criteria. Demonstrate that you meet the qualifications, and where possible, showcase how and why you exceed them.
Use strong recommendations. Choose recommenders who know you well and can provide specific, enthusiastic endorsements.
Submit early.

NSHSS Scholarship Application Tips

To apply for an NSHSS (National Society of High School Scholars) scholarship, high school or college students should follow a set of steps to ensure a thorough and competitive application. Students can request up to 2 and cannot submit their own letters of reference.

Complete the scholarship application online through the NSHSS portal. Ensure that all required information and documents are submitted before the deadline. NSHSS offers scholarships for all levels of high school and college, providing ample opportunities for students throughout their academic journey. Given the diverse range of available college scholarships for high school students, we highly recommend applying to multiple opportunities to increase the likelihood of receiving financial support.

Securing scholarship funding can be competitive, but students can take several proactive steps to increase their chances of success. Begin the scholarship search and application process early, ideally during your freshman or sophomore year in high school. Explore a wide range of scholarship opportunities. Develop a comprehensive plan with a list of potential scholarships, deadlines, and application requirements. Customize each scholarship application to align with the specific criteria and values of the scholarship provider. Develop a well-crafted resume showcasing academic achievements, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, volunteer work, and relevant skills or talents. Visit our Scholarships Tips & Advice page for more scholarship tips from former NSHSS Scholarship Director Dr.

Each NSHSS scholarship application contains the online recommendation link to provide to one of your educators. If your educator is already registered and has completed a recommendation, they do not need to create a new account.

Your resume should contain your contact information, your academic standing (prospective academic titles of success, e.g., valedictorian or salutatorian) awards, leadership activities, extracurricular activities, community service, and references. Do not include activities and awards prior to high school unless your achievement is outstanding, e.g., winning the National Geography Bee or founding a charity at a young age. If you are enrolled in honors, AP, or IB courses, list your cumulative, weighted grade point average. If you are enrolled in regular-level courses, list your cumulative, unweighted grade point average.

You may submit either your official or unofficial transcript-only one-whichever is easiest for you to attain.

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Scholarship Options to Explore

To jump start your search, here are some potential scholarships to explore:

Gates Scholarship
Given to outstanding minority high school seniors from low-income households, the Gates Scholarship celebrates academic excellence and leadership. Award Amount: Full cost of attendance. Learn more
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship
This competitive college scholarship supports high-achieving high school seniors with financial need. Selection is based on academic excellence and leadership ability. Award Amount: Up to $55,000 per year. Learn more
Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship
The Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship is for high school seniors who demonstrate leadership, academic achievement, and community service. Award Amount: Up to $7,500 per year. Learn more
Davidson Fellows Scholarship
Designed for exceptional young innovators, the Davidson Fellows Scholarship recognizes students with significant achievements in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, literature, music, or philosophy. Award Amount: $25,000 to $100,000. Learn more
American Indian College Fund Full Circle Scholarship
This merit scholarship supports Native American students attending accredited colleges and universities. It’s awarded based on academic achievement and the student’s commitment to advancing Native American communities. Award Amount: Varies, average between $2,000 to $3,000. Learn more
National Honor Society Scholarships
These scholarships are for high school seniors who are members of the National Honor Society and have demonstrated leadership, service, and academic excellence. Award Amount: Up to $25,000. Learn more
Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF)
The APIASF awards scholarships to Asian and Pacific Islander students who excel academically and demonstrate leadership and community involvement. Award Amount: $2,500 to $20,000. Learn more
Ron Brown Scholar Program
This program celebrates Black and African-American high school seniors who excel academically, lead in their communities, and demonstrate financial need. Award Amount: $40,000. Learn more

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