Selective Colleges with Generous Scholarships
High schoolers with top-flight academic credentials will have little trouble locating generous merit-based scholarships at less-selective colleges, who need to dangle large sums of money in order to land students that are otherwise “out of their league.”
What can be more difficult is to score a sizable merit aid package from a selective institution that already attracts a horde of highly-qualified applicants each and every year. The schools that made our list of selective colleges with generous scholarships do indeed offer major-league merit packages to star applicants. Details about those scholarships as well as additional application materials required to be considered can be found on the chart below. Of course, scholarship criteria/requirements are subject to change. Please click the links to access each institution’s most up-to-date scholarship information.
Updated October 2025
| Institution | Scholarship Name | Scholarship | Deadline | Additional Requirements (Beyond Application) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 164580 | Babson College | Weissman Scholarship | Weissman Scholarship | February 1 | Essay or Video | |
| 164580 | Babson College | Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership Scholarship | Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership Scholarship | February 1 | Essay or Video | |
| 164924 | Boston College | BC | Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program | Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program | November 1 | Interview Weekend |
| 164988 | Boston University | BU | Trustee Scholars Program | Trustee Scholars Program | December 1 | Essay |
| 201645 | Case Western Reserve University | CWRU | Andrew and Eleanor Squire Scholarship | Andrew and Eleanor Squire Scholarship | January 15 | Andrew and Eleanor Squire Scholarship, Finalist Competition |
| 201645 | Case Western Reserve University | CWRU | A.W. Smith Innovation Scholarship | A.W. Smith Innovation Scholarship | January 15 | Project Proposal, Project Presentation |
| 217882 | Clemson University | National Scholars Program | National Scholars Program | October 15 | Honors College Admission Application, Interview Weekend | |
| 231624 | College of William and Mary | W&M | 1693 Scholars | 1693 Scholars | January 1 | Essay, Video, Virtual Presentation/Interview, Finalist Weekend |
| 198385 | Davidson College | John Montgomery Belk Scholarship | John Montgomery Belk Scholarship | November 15 | School Nomination, Semifinalist Interview, Final Interview | |
| 198419 | Duke University | Robertson Scholars Leadership Program | Robertson Scholars Leadership Program | November 15 | Group Activity, Semifinalist Interview, Finalist Interview | |
| 139658 | Emory University | Emory University Scholar Programs | Emory University Scholar Programs | November 15 | Interview Weekend | |
| 191241 | Fordham University | Presidential Scholarship | Presidential Scholarship | January 3 | None | |
| 191241 | Fordham University | Fordham Scholarship | Fordham Scholarship | January 3 | None | |
| 131469 | George Washington | GW; GWU | Presidential Academic Scholarship | Presidential Academic Scholarship | January 5 | None |
| 139755 | Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia Tech | Stamps President's Scholars Program | Stamps President's Scholars Program | October 15 | Virtual Semifinalist Interview, Stamps Scholars Weekend |
| 115409 | Harvey Mudd College | HMC | President's Scholars Program | President's Scholars Program | February 1 | President's Scholars Program Application, Finalist Virtual Interview |
| 151351 | Indiana University | IU; IUB | Wells Scholars Program | Wells Scholars Program | November 1 | School Nomination/Self-Nomination, Interview Weekend |
| 213543 | Lehigh University | Founder's Scholarship | Founder's Scholarship | January 1 | None | |
| 204024 | Miami University | MU | Presidential Fellows Program | Presidential Fellows Program | December 1 | Interview |
| 171100 | Michigan State University | MSU | Alumni Distinguished Scholarship | Alumni Distinguished Scholarship | November 1 | MSU Alumni Distinguished Scholarship Competition |
| 171100 | Michigan State University | MSU | Distinguished First-Year Scholarship | Distinguished First-Year Scholarship | November 1 | MSU Alumni Distinguished Scholarship Competition |
| 199193 | North Carolina State University | NCSU; NC State | Park Scholarships | Park Scholarships | November 1 | Park Scholarships Application (2 recommendations, 2 essays, student record), Virtual Interview, Interview Weekend |
| 167358 | Northeastern University | Stamps Scholarship | Stamps Scholarship | January 1 | Video Application | |
| 204796 | Ohio State University | OSU | Stamps Eminence Scholarship Program | Stamps Eminence Scholarship Program | November 1 | Stamps Eminence Application (Essay, Video), Virtual Interview, Stamps Eminence Finalist Friday |
| 136950 | Rollins College | Alfond Scholars Program | Alfond Scholars Program | November 15 | Virtual Interview | |
| 399911 | Soka University | Global Merit Scholarships | Global Merit Scholarships | January 15 | None | |
| 228246 | Southern Methodist University | SMU | President's Scholars Program | President's Scholars Program | January 15 | Essay, Interview |
| 186867 | Stevens Institute of Technology | Stevens Tech | Ann P. Nepauer Scholarship | Ann P. Nepauer Scholarship | January 5 | None |
| 196413 | Syracuse University | Coronat Scholars Program | Coronat Scholars Program | January 1 | Coronat Scholarship Application, Virtual Interview | |
| 228875 | Texas Christian University | TCU | Chancellor's Scholars | Chancellor's Scholars | November 1 | Honors College Application, Resume, Writing Samples, Letters of Recommendation, Interview |
| 229267 | Trinity University | Trinity Tower Scholarship | Trinity Tower Scholarship | November 1 | Trinity Tower Scholars Day Competition | |
| 160755 | Tulane University | Dean's Honor Scholarship | Dean's Honor Scholarship | January 15 | Optional Supplements | |
| 160755 | Tulane University | Paul Tulane Award | Paul Tulane Award | January 15 | Optional Supplements | |
| 160755 | Tulane University | Stamps Scholarship | Stamps Scholarship | January 15 | Application Supplements, Interview | |
| 130943 | University of Delaware | UD | Eugene du Pont Scholars | Eugene du Pont Scholars | January 15 | Interview |
| 139959 | University of Georgia | UGA | The Foundation Fellowship | The Foundation Fellowship | November 1 | Morehead Honors College Application, Foundation Fellowship Application, Interview Weekend |
| 163286 | University of Maryland | UMD | Banneker/Key Scholars | Banneker/Key Scholars | November 1 | Interview |
| 135726 | University of Miami | UM | Ronald A. Hammond Scholarship | Ronald A. Hammond Scholarship | November 1 | Optional Nomination |
| 135726 | University of Miami | UM | Isaac Bashevis Singer Scholarship | Isaac Bashevis Singer Scholarship | November 1 | None |
| 199120 | University of North Carolina | UNC Chapel Hill; UNC-CH | Robertson Scholars | Robertson Scholars | November 15 | Robertson Scholars Application, Group Activity, Semifinalist Interview, Finalist Interview |
| 199120 | University of North Carolina | UNC Chapel Hill; UNC-CH | Morehead-Cain Scholarship | Morehead-Cain Scholarship | October 1 | School Nomination, Morehead-Cain Application, Essays, Video Interview, Finalist and Alumni Connection Experience (FACE) |
| 215293 | University of Pittsburgh | Chancellor's Scholarship | Chancellor's Scholarship | December 1 | Frederick Honors College Application, Interview | |
| 233374 | University of Richmond | UR | Richmond Scholars Program | Richmond Scholars Program | December 1 | Virtual Interview |
| 123961 | University of Southern California | USC | Trustee Scholarship | Trustee Scholarship | November 1 | Interview |
| 228778 | University of Texas at Austin | UT Austin | Forty Acres Scholars | Forty Acres Scholars | December 1 | Semifinalist Interview, Finalist Weekend |
| 234076 | University of Virginia | UVA | Jefferson Scholars Program | Jefferson Scholars Program | November 15 | Nomination, Regional Interview, Finalist Virtual Interview |
| 221999 | Vanderbilt University | Vandy | Chancellor's Scholars | Chancellor's Scholars | December 1 | Chancellor's Scholarship Application |
| 221999 | Vanderbilt University | Vandy | Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship | Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship | December 1 | Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship Application |
| 221999 | Vanderbilt University | Vandy | Ingram Scholars Program | Ingram Scholars Program | December 1 | Ingram Scholars Program Application |
| 216597 | Villanova University | Presidential Scholarship | Presidential Scholarship | January 15 | Presidential Scholars Application (Short-Answer Essays), Campus Interview | |
| 216597 | Villanova University | St. Martin de Porres Scholarship | St. Martin de Porres Scholarship | January 15 | None | |
| 199847 | Wake Forest University | WFU | Guy T. Carswell Scholarship | Guy T. Carswell Scholarship | November 15 | Finalist Interview |
| 199847 | Wake Forest University | WFU | Graylyn Scholarship | Graylyn Scholarship | November 15 | Finalist Interview |
| 199847 | Wake Forest University | WFU | Nancy Susan Reynolds Scholarship | Nancy Susan Reynolds Scholarship | November 15 | Finalist Interview |
| 199847 | Wake Forest University | WFU | Stamps Scholarship | Stamps Scholarship | November 15 | Finalist Interview |
| 234207 | Washington and Lee University | W&L | The Johnson Scholarship | The Johnson Scholarship | December 1 | W&L Johnson Scholarship Supplement (Essay), Finalist Weekend |
| 179867 | Washington University | WashU | Alexander S. Langsdorf Fellowship | Alexander S. Langsdorf Fellowship | January 2 | Select McKelvey School of Engineering as Academic School on application |
| 179867 | Washington University | Ampersand Scholarships | Ampersand Scholarships | January 2 | Select College of Arts & Sciences as Academic School on application | |
| 179867 | Washington University | WashU | Annika Rodriguez Scholars Program | Annika Rodriguez Scholars Program | January 2 | Short-Answer Question, Optional Writing Supplement, Optional Recommendation Letter, Finalist Virtual Interview |
| 179867 | Washington University | WashU | Conway/Proetz Scholarship in Art | Conway/Proetz Scholarship in Art | January 2 | Select College of Art as Academic Division on application, Digital Portfolio, Finalist Virtual Interview |
| 179867 | Washington University | WashU | Danforth Scholars Program | Danforth Scholars Program | January 2 | Short-Answer Question, Optional Writing Supplement, Optional Recommendation Letter, Finalist Virtual Interview |
| 179867 | Washington University | WashU | James W. Fitzgibbon Scholarship in Architecture | James W. Fitzgibbon Scholarship in Architecture | January 2 | Select College of Architecture as Academic School on application, Digital Portfolio, Finalist Virtual Interview |
| 179867 | Washington University | WashU | John B. Ervin Scholars Program | John B. Ervin Scholars Program | January 2 | Short-Answer Question, Optional Writing Supplement, Optional Recommendation Letter, Finalist Virtual Interview |
| 179867 | Washington University | WashU | Olin Business School Distinguished Scholars Program | Olin Business School Distinguished Scholars Program | January 2 | Select Olin Business School as Academic School on application |
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