You’ve worked hard all through high school and are an extracurricular superstar. You’re looking forward to the challenges that college will bring.
But are you ready for the challenge of paying for college?
There are a lot of ways that students come up with the money to fund their higher educations. Did you know that it could be as easy as getting one award?
In this article I’m going to show you a list of 81 colleges that offer at least one full ride scholarship that will cover all of your tuition costs.
What Is a Full Ride Scholarship?
Getting a scholarship that would fully cover tuition costs is most students’ dream. It’s hard to believe that there’s something even better out there—the full ride scholarship. These scholarships are special because they cover not only tuition, but also other basic costs, like room, board, books, travel, and supplies.
For most private schools, that means that you are getting over $200,000 of expenses covered by these scholarships.
Unlike financial aid, which many schools offer to students based on what they and their families can afford to pay towards their educations, these scholarships are based on merit.
The idea is that these schools think certain students are special—so special that they want it to be a no-brainer that you’ll choose to attend their school. So they’re going to try their hardest to make you want to partner with them for the next four years.
What Kinds Of Schools Offer Full Tuition Scholarships?
As you’re looking through the list below, you may notice that you recognize some of the names. A lot of the schools on this list are very good schools, but apart from a few notable exceptions, you are not likely to see the top schools in the country giving out full ride scholarships.
Why is this?
Full ride scholarships are meant to lure in top, super-attractive students who have a lot of choices. It’s the school’s way of telling you that among the student population, you really stand out. These full ride scholarships are merit-based, meaning that in your grades, extra-curricular activities, and leaderships skills, you worked harder or achieved more than the average student.
At schools that have the highest levels of competition, full rides are extremely rare. Pretty much all the applicants to these schools are going to be high achievers across the board. Therefore, it gets a lot harder to pick out who the real stars are.
Where Should You Look for a Full Ride Scholarship?
If you’re hoping for a full ride, you may want to look at schools that are “safe” for your grades, test scores, and achievements outside of school. If you’re scoring much higher than the average admitted student, you have a much better chance of having some scholarship money coming your way.
You may also want to consider colleges you have not heard of before. A lot of these schools offer top academic experiences, but don’t have the name recognition of other schools. They are trying to attract student superstars that will help raise their profiles.
Of course, even if you apply to the schools on this list, expect the competition to be fierce. Don’t bank everything on getting one of these scholarships—they are very tough to come by. Also consider going after other forms of college money, such as traditional need-based financial aid, as well as other independent merit-based scholarships.
Top 50 Schools That Offer Full Ride Scholarships
The following schools are ranked in the top 50 universities in the USA by US News. Consider this list the exception to the rule: these are the rare nationally top-ranked universities that offer merit-based scholarships in addition to the more standard financial need scholarships. Read full article here.