Our Research
We counted and priced every full tuition and full ride award in our database: 7,000+ scholarships across 400+ colleges (and growing). Here is what the money looks like when you stop reading brochures and start reading criteria.
Featured Deep Dive
What a Tenth of a GPA Point Is Worth
Merit grids are price lists: earn this number, receive that award. We priced every rung of the 231 published scholarship ladders in our database to answer the question families argue about at the kitchen table: what actually moves the needle, the GPA or the test?
All Research Reports
4 Reports AvailableWhat a Tenth of a GPA Point Is Worth
We priced 271 rungs on 231 published merit grids. One ACT point pays a median $2,000 a year; a tenth of a GPA point, $600. Plus the two GPA cliffs where 503 awards change hands, and the unweighted-GPA trap.
The Money Nobody Applies For
3,209 departmental and donor-funded scholarships make up the biggest pot on campus. Most require no essay, 95% stack on top of other aid, and deadlines peak in February, after most families stop looking.
Test-Optional Scholarships: Where the Money Actually Goes
While test-optional admissions have swept higher education, merit scholarship policies haven’t moved at the same pace. We analyzed institutional award rules to show where test scores are still required for top dollars.
What a Full Ride Is Really Worth
Unpacking the true monetary value of full-ride awards versus full-tuition packages, including room, board, fee traps, and post-tax stipend values.
Looking for specific institutional data?
Explore our database tools to search automatic merit scholarships, compare GPA thresholds, and find state aid rules.