It may seem like a quick fix now, but a massive student loan is not always a good idea. If you do not want to take a $200,000 loan, it does not mean you cannot attend a prestigious college. There may be hidden resources just waiting for you to find them.
While super high scores on SAT qualify students for National Merit Scholarships, there is no corresponding scholarship for SAT. But that does not mean that there is no money in the same
Here, we will try to understand SAT score based scholarships.
Criteria for scholarships based on SAT scores
You need to understand that your SAT score is a qualifying factor in most scholarships (although ACT may also be an option). In many cases you must meet a minimum score and other qualification criteria.
The Hamman Foundation, for example, allocates seventy $20,000 grants a year to Houston area students. It requires the lowest SAT score of 1000, about 50 percent. This means that more than half of the students in the area would have a chance to win one of these generous awards.
Other scholarships can focus on areas of study, gender, national or ethnic background and/or domicile, but still use SAT score cutoffs. That is why even if you score 1050 on SAT, it is still a good idea to work on polishing your application. Lots of scholarships are based on other attributes such as overcoming adversity, your background, your summer job or just how well you write the scholarship essay.
Guaranteed vs. General Merit Scholarships
You must distinguish between guaranteed scholarships – those automatically assigned to accepted students who have obtained a particular SAT score and general scholarships that have the same SAT requirements, but the student must compete with other accepted students for a limited number of prices. In both cases higher the score, the better the chances of landing a given scholarship or even getting a bigger award.
For general merit fellowships, organizations take SAT scores as a measure of academic ability along with grades and other factors.In colleges that provide guaranteed scholarships, more points can also translate into more money.
Here are some of the most prestigious scholarships based on SAT scores:
Alabama State University – Montgomery, AL
1. Name of scholarship: The President’s academic scholarship
Value: Full tuition, other fees, room and board, table and books
Requirements: 3.76 GPA;1170 SAT (CR + M) or 26 ACT
2. Name of scholarship: Academic Excellence Scholarship
Value: Full tuition, other fees and books
Requirements: 3.51 GPA;1090 (CR + M) or 22 ACT
3. Name of scholarship: Academic incentive scholarship
Value: Full tuition and $500 for books
Requirements: 3.0 GPA;940 SAT or 20 ACT
Colorado State University – Fort Collins, CO
1. Name of grant: Triple Crown Awards
Value: For Colorado residents$ 6,000 (up to $ 10,000 for higher scores) and for non-resident$ 1,000 (up to $ 4,000 for higher scores)
Requirements: 3.6 GPA (residents) or 3.4 GPA (non-resident)1240; SAT (CR + M) / 28 SAT (residents) or 1150 SAT (CR + M) / 25 ACT (non-resident)
Columbia College – Columbia, SC
1. Name of scholarship: McNair and Founders Scholarship
Value: Full tuition
Requirements: 1300 SAT (CR + M) or 29 ACT
2. Name of scholarship: Presidency scholarship
Value: At least $14,000 per year
Requirements: 1150 SAT (CR + M) or 25 ACT
3. Name of scholarship: Trustee Scholarship
Value: At least $ 11,000 per year
Requirements: 1000 SAT (CR + M) or 22 ACT
Georgia State University – Atlanta, GA
1. Name of scholarship: GSU Foundation Scholarship
Value: $500 lump sum
Requirements: 3.5 GPA;1200 SAT (CR + M) or 27 ACT
2. Name of scholarship: GSU Achievement
Value: $ 1,000 lump sum
Requirements: 3.5 GPA;1150 SAT (CR + M + W) or 25 ACT
3. Name of grant: GSU Excellence and the 1913 Founders Award
Value: $1,000 – $ 2,000 renewable
Requirements: 3.5 GPA;1200 SAT (CR + M + W) or 27 ACT
4. Name of scholarship: Second Century
Value: $3,000 renewable
Requirements: 3.5 GPA;1250 SAT (CR + M + W) or 28 ACT
Indiana University – Purdue Fort Wayne – Fort Wayne, IN
1. Name of scholarship: Chancellor’s Distinguished Scholarship
Value: Full tuition and other fees
Requirements: 2100 SAT (CR + M + W) / ACT 32;or 1950 SAT (CR + M + W) / ACT 29 and rank in top five percent of the class at a state-accredited high school.
2. Name of scholarship: Chancellor’s Merit Award
Value: $10,924.50 (bringing total costs down to education at the state level)
Requirement: 1800 SAT (CR + M + W) / 27 ACT, 1650 SAT (CR + M + W) / 24 ACT and rank in the top 25% of the class
Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge, LA
1. Name of scholarship: Tiger Excellence Scholarship
Value: $ 1,500 per year (Louisiana residents) or $ 7,600 per year (non-resident)
Requirements: 3.0 GPA;1250 SAT (CR + M) or 28 ACT
2. Name of scholarship: LSU Academic Scholars Award
Value: $2,000 a year + $ 1,500 to earn through Student Aid Program (Louisiana residents);$ 15,500 a year + $ 1,550 to earn through Student Aid Program (non-resident)
Requirements: 3.0 GPA;1330 SAT (CR + M) or 30 ACT
3. Name of scholarship: Flagship Researchers
Value: $2,500 per year + $ 1,550 per year through Student Aid Program (Louisiana residents);$ 20,500 annually + $ 1,550 per year through Student Aid Program (non-resident)
Requirements: 3.0 GPA;1440 SAT (CR + M) or 33 ACT
Missouri State University – Springfield, MO
1. Name of scholarship: Board of Directors scholarship
Value: $5,000 per year + foreign teaching application for non-residents
Requirements: 3.9 GPA or top 10% grade rank;1250 SAT (CR + M) or 28 ACT
2. Name of the scholarship: Provost scholarship
Value: $2,500 per year
Requirements: 3.7 GPA or top 20% grade rank;1170 SAT (CR + M) or 26 ACT
3. Name of the scholarship: Dean’s scholarship
Value: $1,500 per year
Requirements: 3.7 GPA or top 20% grade rank;1090 SAT (CR + M) or 24 ACT
Oakland University – Rochester, MI
1. Name of scholarship: The President’s Scholar Prize
Value: Full tuition
Requirements: 3.9 GPA or 31 ACT
2. Name of scholarship: Distinguished Scholar Award
Value: $5,000 per year
Requirements: 3.7 GPA and 27 ACT;or 3.8 GPA and 25 ACT
3. Name of scholarship: Academic Achievement Award
Value: $2,000 per year
Requirements: 3.4 GPA and 23 ACT
4. Name of the grant: University Award
Value: $ 1,500 per year
Requirements: 3.2 GPA and 22 ACT
Texas State University – San Marcos, TX
1. Name of scholarship: The President’s Honor Scholarship
Value: Full Education ($8,000 per year + International Education waiver)
Requirements: Top 15% Class Rank or IB Diploma;1400 SAT (CR + M) or 32 ACT
2. Name of scholarship: Texas State Achievement Scholarship
Value: Half-tuition ($4,000 per year + distance education waiver)
Requirements: Top 15% grade or IB diploma;1200 SAT (CR + M) or 27 ACT
University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa, AL
1. Name of scholarship: Capstone Scholarship
Value: 3,500 dollars a year
Requirements: 3.5 GPA;1210 SAT (CR + M) or 27 ACT
2. Name of scholarship: Collegiate Scholarship
Value: $4,000 per year
Requirements: 3.5 GPA;1250 SAT or 28 ACT
3. Name of the scholarship: Foundation of Excellence Scholarship
Value: A half-course
Requirements: 3.5 GPA;1290 SAT (CR + M) or 29 ACT
4. Name of scholarship: UA scholarship
Value: Two thirds of teaching
Requirements: 3.5 GPA;1330 SAT (CR + M) + 30 ACT
5. Name of scholarship: Presidency scholarship
Value: Full teaching
Requirements: 3.5 GPA;1400 SAT (CR + M) or 32 ACT
University of Arizona – Tucson, AZ
1. Name of scholarship: Arizona Excellence Tuition Award (non-resident) and Wildcat Excellence Tuition Award (residents)
Value: $2,000 per year (inhabitants of Arizona); $6000 per year (non-residents);Awards can rise to up to $8,000 per year for Arizona residents or $12,000 a year for non-residents for higher grades and scores.
Requirements: 3.0 GPA;1110 SAT (CR + M) or 24 ACT
University of Tennessee – Knoxville, TN
1. Name of the scholarship: Voluntary scholarship
Value: $3,000 a year and up to $ 8,000 for higher grades and scores (Tennessee citizens);$ 10,000 a year or up to $ 18,000 a year for higher grades and scores (non-resident)
Requirements: 3.8 GPA;1250 SAT (CR + M) or 28 ACT
So these were some scholarships that place a high emphasis on SAT scores. All you have to do is make a list of scholarships you are eligible for. Then google” name of the scholarship”. Start applying as soon as possible. We wish you all the best.
