Merit Aid
Financial aid awarded based on academic, athletic, artistic, or other achievements rather than financial need, often used by schools to attract high-performing students.
Detailed Explanation
Merit aid includes scholarships and grants awarded based on a student's accomplishments rather than their family's ability to pay. Common criteria include GPA, standardized test scores, class rank, leadership, community service, athletic ability, and artistic talent. Merit aid has become an increasingly important enrollment management tool, with many institutions using it strategically to attract students who improve the school's academic profile or diversity. The growth of merit aid has been controversial: critics argue it diverts institutional resources from need-based aid, benefiting wealthier families who can afford test prep and extracurricular enrichment. The amount of merit aid varies widely, from a few thousand dollars to full-tuition scholarships. Some merit awards are renewable for four years contingent on maintaining a minimum GPA. Students should carefully review renewal requirements, as losing a merit scholarship can dramatically change the economics of attending a particular school. CollegeROIData factors net price after all aid (including merit) into our ROI calculations, so schools that offer generous merit packages may show better ROI outcomes.
Related Terms
Need-Based Aid
Financial aid awarded based on a student's demonstrated financial need as determined by the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile, including grants, subsidized loans, and work-study.
Net Price
The actual cost of attending a college after subtracting all grants and scholarships, representing what a student actually pays out of pocket or borrows.
Sticker Price
The published total cost of attendance at a college before any financial aid is applied, including tuition, fees, room, board, and estimated personal expenses.
Cost of Attendance (COA)
The total estimated cost for a student to attend a school for one academic year, including tuition, fees, room, board, books, transportation, and personal expenses.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is merit aid?
Financial aid awarded based on academic, athletic, artistic, or other achievements rather than financial need, often used by schools to attract high-performing students.
Why does merit aid matter for college ROI?
Merit aid includes scholarships and grants awarded based on a student's accomplishments rather than their family's ability to pay. Common criteria include GPA, standardized test scores, class rank, leadership, community service, athletic ability, and artistic talent. Merit aid has become an increasingly important enrollment management tool, with many institutions using it strategically to attract students who improve the school's academic profile or diversity.
this entity is one of the U.S. college cost, debt, and post-graduation earnings concepts that recurs across this site. The definition above is the technical answer; the paragraphs below add the practical context for how the concept connects to the the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data behind every per-entity page on the site.
In the the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, this concept shapes one or more of the fields that drive the per-entity grades and rankings on this site. The methodology page describes which fields feed into which output; this glossary entry documents the underlying term.