Merit-Based

While need-based scholarships can help students who don’t meet particular requirements, the largest scholarships are almost always merit-based.

Merit-based scholarships are financial aid awards for which financial need is not considered in awarding the money. They are usually awarded based on students’ athletic, academic, artistic or other abilities. They vary significantly in size -- the actual monetary value of the scholarship may be quite substantial, or negligible. But even a modest scholarship of a few hundred dollars can help.