Is it hard to get a scholarship? – CollegeOnomics (2023)

FAQs

How hard is it to get accepted for scholarship? ›

Odds of Winning a Scholarship

Only about 1 in 8 college students wins a scholarship, and the average amount used to pay for college is about $4,200 a year. Very few students win $25,000 or more in scholarships each year (only about 0.1%). Among the students who win scholarships, 97% win $2,500 or less.

Many parents and students believe the myth that a student can fully pay for college tuition with just a few scholarships. Sadly, this is not the case. While scholarships can definitely be helpful and can go a long way towards paying tuition, it is extremely rare for it to cover the entire cost.

Full-ride scholarships are awarded to only about 0.1% of students (Wignall, 2021). Nearly just as rare are full-tuition scholarships, which are awarded to only 1.5% of students (ThinkImpact, 2021). A regular high school student may have the qualifications for as many as 50 to 100 scholarships (Dickler, 2021).

If you apply to more scholarships, you will increase your chances of winning a scholarship. Often students dislike smaller scholarships and essay competitions. But these scholarships are less competitive, so they are easier to win. Small scholarships do add up and may make it easier to win bigger awards.

Some scholarship committees only consider applicants whose GPA meets a certain threshold. Minimum requirements range from around 2.0 on the lower end to 3.75 or higher for competitive academic scholarships. Generally speaking, a 3.0 GPA or higher will give you a decent shot at qualifying for a variety of scholarships.

Scholarship applications are rejected for a wide variety of reasons. Sometimes it is because the essays submitted weren't as high in quality as those submitted by other candidates. It can also be related to poor GPA, low amounts of extracurricular activities, neglecting to submit all required materials, etc…

Scholarships statistics

The average scholarship award was $6,041 in 2022 — a 22 percent decrease from last year. During the 2021-22 academic year, 60 percent of American families used scholarships to pay for college.

The short answer is that you should apply to as many as you can, as early as you can. This means that you need to be looking early, and finding out when deadlines are. But remember, you don't want to make a career out of scholarship searching and application.

A full-ride scholarship is the unicorn of scholarships. It's estimated that fewer than 20,000 students per year will manage to get one of these scholarships—that's less than 1 percent of the students who will enroll in college!

Who is most likely to get a scholarship? ›

Over 33% of private scholarships are provided to STEM students. The chances of a white student getting a scholarship are 14.2%, while the odds for minority students are 11.2%. What is this? The odds of a Black student winning a scholarship is 11.4%, 9.1% for Hispanic students, and 10.5% for Asian students.

The main challenges of searching for scholarships are finding opportunities you are eligible for, as mentioned, and taking the time to search for scholarships. Though most students have a busy schedule, it can really pay off in the end if students can find the time to apply for a few scholarships.

Scholarship committees are looking for people who can communicate effectively and who showcase their leadership potential. Leaders are not only confident in their own abilities, but they know how to work as part of a team as well. They also know how to express their ideas confidently.

Down in the nitty gritty, judges will compare GPAs, test scores, experiences, essays, in order to see which candidate is most suited for their scholarship award. After this step, they'll pick their winner—or winners, depending—and send out notifications to the lucky and deserving student.

The GPA requirements for Harvard University are between 3.9 to 4.1. You will need an incredibly high GPA and will likely be graduating at the top of their class in order to get into Harvard University.

Getting a full-ride scholarship with a 4.0 GPA is possible, but it isn't as common as you might think. Most scholarships only cover a certain percentage of your tuition, so you will still have to pay some of the cost of college.

While some scholarships are based on a student's GPA, most scholarship aren't only about a student's GPA. Rather, providers use grade point averages as a piece of scholarship qualification criteria (For example, the details may note, “Students must have a 3.0 GPA or above to apply.”)

Students should never give out personal details or banking information when applying for a scholarship. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Warning Signs To Be Aware Of: Promises for a Low-interest Student Loan for a Fee.

What can stop you from getting a scholarship? ›

And not just tuition—a full-ride scholarship also covers your housing, meals, books, lab fees, and sometimes even living costs. In money terms, it can be worth anywhere from $20,000 to more than $50,000, depending on your school's costs.

Yes, average high school seniors and college students can win scholarships. There are many types of scholarships and knowing which ones to apply to can greatly increase your chances of winning a college scholarship.

Although a strong GPA helps increase your chances of getting a full-ride scholarship, you don't need a perfect 4.0 to be qualified. In fact, GPA requirements are most commonly set at a 3.0 average, with what's considered to be a "good GPA" typically being a score between 3.5 and 3.8.

Answer: Yes, you can absolutely ask a college for more merit aid. In fact, many of your peers will do so. And since this type of aid is given on a first-come, first-served basis, you will want to submit your request as soon as possible.

Many times if the student has not enrolled in classes during those 12 months, it expires. In almost all cases, scholarships are put directly towards your college's tuition and expenses, rather than a check sent to you. If you choose not to go to school, it will not be put in a savings account for later use.

Any money left over is paid to you directly for other education expenses. If you get your loan money, but then you realize that you don't need the money after all, you may cancel all or part of your loan within 120 days of receiving it and no interest or fees will be charged.

Scholarships come from a variety of different sources, including clubs, organizations, charities, foundations, businesses, colleges, the government and individuals.

For those that want solid numbers, on average, many of the students I work with are applying for anywhere between 3-7+ scholarships, each, per week. Some weeks those numbers are much higher, and other weeks students are preparing or taking the week off to recharge mentally.

There is no limit to how many scholarships you can get!

What is the easiest type of scholarship to get? ›

Some colleges, especially private schools, automatically consider each applicant for a merit-based scholarship, which is awarded during the acceptance process. These types of scholarships are often the easiest to obtain, since they do not require a separate application.

Common types of scholarships for college are merit-based scholarships, need-based scholarships, and athletic scholarships.

Fellowships generally offer more money than scholarships.

Students use all sorts of financial aid to pay for college, including grants, scholarships, loans, and fellowships.

Talk to your high school counselor. Use the Department of Labor's scholarship search tool to sort more than 8,000 opportunities for student aid. Inquire at the financial aid office at your college of choice. See if your employer or your parents' employers offer assistance.

The mission of the 5 Strong Scholarship Foundation is to increase the retention and graduation rates at partnering Historically Black Colleges and Universities by assisting in the enrollment and success of academically promising student leaders until graduation.

Odds of Receiving a Scholarship

What is this? 7% or 1 in 8 students are likely to receive a scholarship. Only 0.2% of students receive upwards of $25,000 in scholarships. 5% of students in bachelor programs got enough of scholarships to cover 100% of costs.

The national average GPA is 3.0, which means that a 2.5 GPA is below average. Students with low GPAs still have options for funding their education, so do not be discouraged by having a low GPA as many universities and scholarship programs will still assist future college students.

A 3.5 GPA will make it easier to find scholarships, but it won't guarantee you a scholarship. You'll also need to have good test scores and extracurriculars in order for your application to be considered. Nevertheless, there are numerous benefits to applying for a 3.5 GPA scholarship.

The average institutional scholarship award is $6,335. About four in 10 scholarship recipients received funds from their state, with an average award of over $2,362.

The average scholarship amount is $5,000 to $10,000 annually. These scholarships are typically available through the college you are planning on attending. Community partners and professional organizations offer them as well.

What percent of students don't get scholarships? ›

Report Highlights. Over 1.7 million scholarships are awarded annually. However, only 7% of college students will receive a scholarship.

Many scholarships require a transcript to verify your GPA. What is a transcript? It's a complete record of all of your academic achievements. It lists every class you've taken, the grades you got and when.

While some scholarships are based on a student's GPA, most scholarship aren't only about a student's GPA. Rather, providers use grade point averages as a piece of scholarship qualification criteria (For example, the details may note, “Students must have a 3.0 GPA or above to apply.”)

On college and scholarship applications, you will likely find questions about your GPA. Ideally, these questions will specify whether they want you to include your weighted GPA or your unweighted GPA. If the application does not specify which GPA, your default should be to list your weighted GPA as it is higher.

Getting a full-ride scholarship with a 4.0 GPA is possible, but it isn't as common as you might think. Most scholarships only cover a certain percentage of your tuition, so you will still have to pay some of the cost of college.

You're eligible for a large number of scholarships with a 3.2 GPA. While some may require a 3.5 GPA or higher, the majority require a 3.0 as their minimum. Apply for plenty of scholarships prior to (and during) college to save some money on tuition!