Which NESCAC schools offer merit scholarships?
Last Updated on August 3, 2024 by NAMS Editor
The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) is comprised of 11 highly selective liberal arts colleges located in New England and New York. While all NESCAC schools are prestigious institutions that typically have acceptance rates under 20%, not all offer extensive non-need based or merit-based financial aid to admitted students. In this post, we’ll explore which NESCAC members do offer merit scholarships and detail the types and amounts available to help eligible students make informed enrollment decisions.
What are Merit Scholarships?
Before diving into specific NESCAC merit aid programs, it’s helpful to define what a merit scholarship is. Merit scholarships, also sometimes called academic, achievement or non-need based scholarships, are gift aid awarded based on a student’s talents, skills or academic achievements rather than financial need. Common criteria used to determine merit scholarship eligibility include high school GPA, class rank, standardized test scores (SAT, ACT), talent in areas like arts, athletics or leadership. Merit awards do not have to be repaid and can help reduce the total cost of college.
NESCAC Schools With Merit Aid Programs
Not every NESCAC member offers merit-based financial assistance. The six schools that do have established merit scholarship programs are:
Amherst College
Amherst College offers the most extensive merit aid program among NESCAC schools, automatically considering all admitted students for award amounts up to $30,000 annually in scholarship support. Called the Amherst Scholarship, awards are made based on academic excellence and do not require a separate application. Roughly 15-20% of each admitted class receives some level of Amherst Scholarship support.
Bates College
Bates College offers the Bates Merit Scholarship for students with strong academic profiles. Awards range from $10,000 to full tuition and are renewable for up to four years. To be considered, students must have a minimum 3.7 GPA and 1350 SAT or 30 ACT score. Approximately 5-10% of each entering class receives a Bates Merit Scholarship.
Bowdoin College
Pre-Matriculation Scholarships at Bowdoin recognize exceptional academic achievement and leadership potential. Awards can be up to $30,000 annually and do not require a separate application for admitted Bowdoin candidates meeting minimum criteria of a 3.8 GPA and 1450 SAT or 31 ACT. About 15% of each incoming class receives Pre-Matriculation Scholarship support.
Colby College
The prestigious Presidential Scholarship at Colby is worth $50,000 ($25,000 grant plus on-campus job) over four years and is awarded to 10-15 of the most distinguished candidates in each admitted class. A separate application is required and reviewed candidates typically present a 4.0 GPA and 1530+ SAT or 34+ ACT.
Connecticut College
Connecticut College offers the competitive Connecticut College National Merit Scholarship for National Merit Finalists. Awarded students receive $30,000 for four years and are also considered for additional need-based aid. Non-Finalist merit scholarships are also possible but not guaranteed and based on individual review.
Trinity College
Trinity College is unique in awarding full tuition scholarships to student meeting very high standards. Approximately 10 incoming students each year receive the $215,000 Weissman Scholarship for demonstrated academic excellence, leadership qualities and community service involvement. A separate application is encouraged but not required.
NESCAC Schools Without Separate Merit Programs
The remaining five NESCAC members – Hamilton College, Middlebury College, Tufts University, Wesleyan University, and Williams College – do not offer guaranteed merit scholarships unavailable to consider all admitted applicants for the best possible aid package based on financial need and circumstances. Students must file the standard CSS Profile and FAFSA to be evaluated for need-based support, but merit alone will not qualify for awards.
NESCAC Merit Aid Awards: Key Takeaways
In summary, about half of NESCAC schools (Amherst, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Connecticut, Trinity) do provide dedicated merit-based grants for top students in academics, leadership or talent. Award amounts range from $10,000 to full tuition coverage annually. Automatic consideration is common but separate merit scholarship applications may also be involved. The six programs assist an estimated 5-20% of each new class financially based on merit accomplishments alone. Students interested specifically in merit support options should focus application efforts on these schools first.
Conclusion
Choosing the right college fit is an important decision process for any prospective student. Understanding institutional financial aid practices, including the presence or absence of merit programs, allows more informed comparisons among highly selective NESCAC college options. This post detailed the six NESCAC members – Amherst, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Connecticut, and Trinity – that offer dedicated merit scholarships separate from need-based packaging. Armed with this knowledge, ambitious students seeking to maximize aid based on academic achievements have a starting point to focus their college search. I hope the information and analysis here helps enhance decision making as the application season ramps up. Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions!
