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Colleges That Give the Most Merit Aid

Merit aid is money the school gives you regardless of financial need — based on GPA, test scores, and how badly they want you. If you have strong grades, these schools effectively bid for you. The numbers shown are estimated top-tier awards (the kind a 3.9+ GPA / 1400+ SAT student might see); your actual offer depends on your profile.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

  1. 1
    K

    Kalamazoo College

    Michigan · Private nonprofit

    $59k
    top merit aid / year
  2. 2
    A

    Albion College

    Michigan · Private nonprofit

    $57k
    top merit aid / year
  3. 3

    University of Chicago

    Illinois · Private nonprofit

    $56k
    top merit aid / year
  4. 4

    Stetson University

    Florida · Private nonprofit

    $53k
    top merit aid / year
  5. 5

    Colby College

    Maine · Private nonprofit

    $52k
    top merit aid / year
  6. 6

    Vanderbilt University

    Tennessee · Private nonprofit

    $52k
    top merit aid / year
  7. 7

    Rice University

    Texas · Private nonprofit

    $51k
    top merit aid / year
  8. 8

    Grinnell College

    Iowa · Private nonprofit

    $50k
    top merit aid / year
  9. 9

    Columbia University in the City of New York

    New York · Private nonprofit

    $50k
    top merit aid / year
  10. 10

    University of California-Merced

    California · Public

    $50k
    top merit aid / year
  11. 11

    Virginia Military Institute

    Virginia · Public

    $50k
    top merit aid / year
  12. 12

    University of California-Riverside

    California · Public

    $50k
    top merit aid / year
  13. 13

    Hampshire College

    Massachusetts · Private nonprofit

    $49k
    top merit aid / year
  14. 14
    J

    Juniata College

    Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit

    $48k
    top merit aid / year
  15. 15

    University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

    Michigan · Public

    $48k
    top merit aid / year
  16. 16

    Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

    Massachusetts · Private nonprofit

    $48k
    top merit aid / year
  17. 17

    Muhlenberg College

    Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit

    $47k
    top merit aid / year
  18. 18

    Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

    Massachusetts · Private nonprofit

    $47k
    top merit aid / year
  19. 19

    Davidson College

    North Carolina · Private nonprofit

    $47k
    top merit aid / year
  20. 20

    Mount Holyoke College

    Massachusetts · Private nonprofit

    $47k
    top merit aid / year
  21. 21

    Knox College

    Illinois · Private nonprofit

    $47k
    top merit aid / year
  22. 22

    Johns Hopkins University

    Maryland · Private nonprofit

    $46k
    top merit aid / year
  23. 23

    Pacific Lutheran University

    Washington · Private nonprofit

    $46k
    top merit aid / year
  24. 24

    Berea College

    Kentucky · Private nonprofit

    $46k
    top merit aid / year
  25. 25

    Beloit College

    Wisconsin · Private nonprofit

    $45k
    top merit aid / year

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