Scholarships &

Financial Aid

Meridian List of Scholarships (from Mrs. Gregg)

Please visit the Meridian website at https://www.mwschool.org/apps/pages/scholarships for a detailed list.

"Finding Scholarships to Pay For College" Article

https://leebierer.com/finding-scholarships-to-pay-for-college/

Financial Aid Options

Both grants and scholarships are types of gift aid or free money that does not have to be repaid in contrast to student loans although some scholarships are taxable. See the IRS's website for more information. Generally, tuition and books are not taxable, but money for living expenses is.
A student loan is money you borrow with the intent of paying back with interest. Loans can come from the federal government or private sources or organizations. Check out the Federal Student Aid website for more information on the differences between federal or private financial aid.

Grants vs. Scholarships

Grants tend to be based on financial need and are mostly funded by the federal government while scholarships tend to be based on merit and are funded from the private sector.

Grants

Some grants such as the Federal Pell Grant are based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which involves the family’s income. Students wanting to apply for federal student aid are required to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible on or after October 1.
Grants do not have to be repaid unless you don't fulfill the requirements. Federal grants include Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants.

Scholarships

Scholarships are based on merit such as the student’s academic, athletic, or artistic merit or special interests (e.g. STEM) or ethnicity (Black, Native American, Hispanic, etc.) as well as underrepresented populations (people with disabilities, children of veterans, etc.)
- Check out some of the Texas scholarships: UT Austin, Texas A&M, UNT, UTD, Baylor, SMU, UTSA
Scholarships may be from private companies, foundations, philanthropists, non-profit organizations or even religious institutions.Many colleges offer academic scholarships based on GPA, admissions test scores, and rank.
One difference between scholarships and grants is that scholarships are taxable. People may want to use the Scholarship Tax Calculator to see how much they will have to pay on taxes for scholarship. Tuition and textbooks may be tax-free, but living expenses may be taxable.

Examples of Scholarships

National Merit Scholarships ($2,500)
- - The National Merit Scholarship Program is a national competition among high school students. Students qualify for the program based on their PSAT score.
  - All finalists compete with their state or other selection unit. A committee of college admission offers and high school counselors select winners.
  - Recipients receive a one-time payment of $2,500. Scholarship offers usually are sent in late March.
Corporate-sponsored Merit or Special Scholarships
- - Finalists who meet criteria specified by a corporate sponsor may qualify for a scholarship e.g. children of employees, residents of a specific community, finalists with a certain major or career plan, veterans, etc.
  - These scholarships are based on 1) academic merit, 2) an area of study, 3) a specific religion, or 4) an ethnicity, especially for minority or underrepresented populations.
  - Awards vary by sponsor and can be one time or renewable and range from $500-$10,000 a year with either a fixed or variable amount per year. There are some full scholarships, but not as common as a fixed amount. They may come out as early as March or April.
  - To see some examples of corporate-sponsored scholarships, check out College Scholarship.org's website.
College-sponsored Merit Scholarships
- - A college-sponsored scholarship is financial aid to help students pay for an undergraduate degree and are usually renewable and provides money for the student for each semester or school year.
  - Awards are usually renewable for 4 years of study at the sponsor institution and may range from $500-$5,000 per year. Scholarship offers usually come out in early May.