Three Types of Financial Aid

For many students and their families, figuring out how to fund a college education can cause stress and anxiety. It’s one of the most important factors to consider when choosing which college to attend. In today’s blog, we discuss the three types of financial aid–federal aid, institutional aid, and outside scholarships–to help you start thinking about how to fund your education.

Federal Aid

The U.S. government provides federal aid based primarily on financial need. It can include Pell Grants, subsidized and unsubsidized loans, parent loans, and work study.

You must fill out the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form each academic year to qualify for federal aid. We highly encourage you to fill out the FAFSA as it is the best way to maximize your funding options for college!

Read what steps you can take now to complete the FAFSA

How to Ensure Meredith Receives Your FAFSA

Institutional Aid

Institutional aid is provided by Meredith College. The College invests in strong women and their education through various scholarships. Below we have listed some of the scholarships we offer undergraduate students. Visit our Undergraduate Scholarships page for the full list of scholarships.

Academic Merit Scholarship

Every student who applies and is admitted to Meredith is considered for this merit scholarship. No separate application is needed. All first-year students who meet or exceed Meredith’s admission requirements will receive a minimum $20,000 annual scholarship. With satisfactory academic progress, the award is renewable for up to four years, for a total value of $80,000 to $108,000.

Full-Ride Merit Scholarship

This scholarship is the highest honor available to first-year students and is awarded based on academic achievement, leadership, service, and character. Recipients receive full tuition, housing in residence halls, food, books, supplies, international study, and other academic enrichment programs with a total estimated value of $230,000.

Transfer Scholarships

To recognize strong transfer students, we offer the Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, worth $5,000 annually, and the Transfer Academic Scholarship which ranges from $8,500 to $13,000.

International Students

If you are an international or undocumented student, fill out our Application for Institutional Aid for International & Undocumented Undergraduate Students.

Outside Scholarships

Outside scholarships are free monies that are awarded by outside organizations or private donors that you do not have to repay. They can be based either on merit or financial need. It can be a great way to minimize your out-of-pocket college expenses.

There are various avenues to find outside scholarships, such as an employer, the internet, libraries, churches, community organizations, nonprofits, local businesses, and more. You can also begin by connecting with your high school guidance counselor or your prospective college’s financial aid office to ask about scholarship opportunities. They likely know of credible sources for you to explore.

How to Apply for Outside Scholarships and Know Which Are Credible