High achievers can find help paying for higher education through academic scholarships for college students. Some of these merit-based scholarships also take financial need into consideration, and others take only academic achievement into account. Students applying for academic scholarships should have high Scholastic Aptitude Test scores along with consistently good grade point averages.
Rutgers University
This New Jersey university offers first-year merit scholarships to incoming students. These competitive awards fund the recipients' four-year undergraduate educations, provided the students maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average. The most prestigious of these awards, the Presidential Scholarship, grants $24,000 in the 2011-12 academic year, to pay for student tuition and campus housing. The Scarlet Scholarship for freshmen is based both on academic merit and financial need, and awards range from $3,500 to $7,500 annually.
University of California
In the University of California system, the Regent's Scholarship is awarded to top students based both on academic merit, personal accomplishment and financial need. Awards range from $1,000 to payment of four full years of tuition. Alumni Scholarships, which are not restricted to relatives of University of California alumni, award funds to outstanding students based on academic achievement and demonstration of leadership potential. For the 2011-12 academic year, these renewable scholarships range from $300 up to $15,000.
University of Michigan
Students enrolled at the University of Michigan can qualify for academic departmental scholarships. Those interested in academic scholarships should contact the financial aid office of the particular department. Among the merit-based scholarships available at the university are the Don W. Briggs Scholarship Fund for engineering or science majors, the Albert C. Dames Memorial Scholarship for high achievers with financial needs and the Michigan Tradition Scholarship for outstanding scholars from a single-parent household or the first in the family to pursue higher education.
University of Florida Foundation
The University of Florida Foundation provides academic scholarships for students attending the school. The many departments and professional schools making up the University of Florida feature various academic scholarships opportunities for students in a particular field of interest. The merit-based Arthur C. Andres Memorial Scholarship Fund offers funding for students pursuing a career in horticulture, and the students enrolled in the College of Fine Arts may apply for the Dennis and Colette Campay Studio Art Scholarship. Virtually every department at the University of Florida has some of academic scholarship available.
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