Columbia vs. USC: Which school is better for merit scholarships?

For a student whose family may not qualify for substantial need-based aid but who has exceptional academics and activities, USC offers far more meaningful merit-scholarship opportunities. Columbia does not award merit scholarships; its institutional aid is need-based and determined through the family’s financial circumstances rather than grades, test scores, or extracurricular distinction.

USC’s major merit awards can include the full-tuition Trustee Scholarship, half-tuition Presidential Scholarship, and other partial-tuition awards. These are highly competitive and not guaranteed even for top applicants, but they make USC a realistic place to pursue a large non-need-based award.

Columbia makes more sense for a student with significant demonstrated financial need. A student with outstanding credentials but little calculated need should expect admission to Columbia to come without merit funding.

Compare each school’s net price calculator with your family’s actual financial information, since a strong USC merit offer can still be less affordable than Columbia’s need-based package for some families.