Does Harvard offer any merit-based scholarships to undergraduates?
I've been looking into ways to help pay for college, and I know that a lot of schools offer merit scholarships for things like academic achievement or leadership. I've heard mixed things about Harvard, though. Some people say they don't do merit scholarships at all, and others say there might be some special ones for certain achievements or competitions.
If anyone who knows more about Harvard's financial aid could explain how it works, especially about merit scholarships, I would appreciate it. I have pretty strong grades and extracurriculars, so I'm just wondering if merit awards factor in at all for Harvard applicants.
If anyone who knows more about Harvard's financial aid could explain how it works, especially about merit scholarships, I would appreciate it. I have pretty strong grades and extracurriculars, so I'm just wondering if merit awards factor in at all for Harvard applicants.
1 month ago
•
118 views
Luis Nario-Malberg
• 1 month ago
Advisor
Harvard does not offer any merit-based scholarships to undergraduate students. Their financial aid system is entirely need-based, which means they assess your family's financial situation and provide aid accordingly rather than awarding scholarships for academic achievement, athletics, or leadership.
When you apply for financial aid at Harvard, you're automatically considered for need-based grants once you submit the required documents (like the CSS Profile and FAFSA for U.S. students). If your family demonstrates financial need, Harvard's aid program aims to make the college affordable regardless of your income level. For many families, this means the net cost is much lower than the published sticker price—sometimes even comparable to attending a state school after need-based aid is awarded.
To clarify, it doesn't matter if you have perfect grades or a Nobel Prize. Harvard’s policy is to only award grant aid based on demonstrated financial need—not based on academic, athletic, or other talent. There are no separate applications or competitions for merit academic scholarships as you might find at some other universities. The rationale is that virtually all students admitted to Harvard have extraordinary achievements, so the university prefers to use its resources to assure access for those who may not be able to afford tuition.
If you’re looking for scholarships based on your grades or extracurriculars, you might want to focus on external private scholarships, community awards, or merit programs at other schools that consider academic excellence directly. For example, the Coca-Cola Scholars Program or National Merit Scholarships are open to students attending any college, including Harvard, but these are not affiliated with Harvard itself.
In summary, if affordability is a big factor for you and you do not qualify for need-based aid at Harvard, you would need to look outside Harvard for merit scholarships.
When you apply for financial aid at Harvard, you're automatically considered for need-based grants once you submit the required documents (like the CSS Profile and FAFSA for U.S. students). If your family demonstrates financial need, Harvard's aid program aims to make the college affordable regardless of your income level. For many families, this means the net cost is much lower than the published sticker price—sometimes even comparable to attending a state school after need-based aid is awarded.
To clarify, it doesn't matter if you have perfect grades or a Nobel Prize. Harvard’s policy is to only award grant aid based on demonstrated financial need—not based on academic, athletic, or other talent. There are no separate applications or competitions for merit academic scholarships as you might find at some other universities. The rationale is that virtually all students admitted to Harvard have extraordinary achievements, so the university prefers to use its resources to assure access for those who may not be able to afford tuition.
If you’re looking for scholarships based on your grades or extracurriculars, you might want to focus on external private scholarships, community awards, or merit programs at other schools that consider academic excellence directly. For example, the Coca-Cola Scholars Program or National Merit Scholarships are open to students attending any college, including Harvard, but these are not affiliated with Harvard itself.
In summary, if affordability is a big factor for you and you do not qualify for need-based aid at Harvard, you would need to look outside Harvard for merit scholarships.
Luis Nario-Malberg
Mooresville, North Carolina
Harvard College, Class of 2018, A.B. in Philosophy
Experience
5 years