Automatic Scholarships for Undergraduate Students in the United States

Merit scholarships, awarded for academic or other outstanding achievements, can significantly lower your college costs. While many external scholarships require essays or additional materials, some are automatically awarded based on criteria like your GPA or SAT/ACT scores.

Here’s a list of colleges that automatically grant scholarships based on test scores. These scholarships are typically based on SAT or ACT scores, though a minimum GPA is often required as well. In some universities, a minimum GPA is the only requirement to land one of these scholarships.

Automatic Scholarships for Undergraduate Students 

FAQs: Automatic Merit Scholarships

1. What Are Automatic Merit Scholarships?

Automatic merit scholarships are awards given to students based on their academic achievements or other accomplishments without requiring a separate application. Many colleges and universities offer these scholarships automatically, using criteria such as GPA, SAT/ACT, and rarely CLT scores. Once accepted, eligible students are often notified about their scholarship awards along with their admission offer.

2. How Are Merit Scholarships Different From Need-Based Scholarships?

Merit scholarships are awarded based on a student’s accomplishments: academic performance, athletic talent, or leadership qualities, regardless of financial need. In contrast, need-based scholarships consider a student’s financial situation and aim to help cover costs for those who may not otherwise be able to afford college.

3. Do I Need to Apply Separately for These Merit Scholarships?

For many automatic merit scholarships, you don’t need to submit a separate application; the college or university assesses eligibility based on your admission application. However, some institutions may require additional documents, so it’s best to check each university’s guidelines for their specific merit scholarships.