Which school generally offers more merit scholarships: Georgetown or USC?

USC offers substantially more merit-scholarship opportunity than Georgetown. Georgetown states that its undergraduate financial aid is need-based and does not award academic or merit scholarships. USC, by contrast, awards several named merit scholarships through its admission process, including awards that can cover a significant portion of tuition and, in rare cases, full tuition.

For Georgetown, affordability will depend primarily on your family’s demonstrated financial need rather than your academic profile. USC also provides need-based aid, meaning a student can potentially receive both need-based assistance and a merit award, subject to its aid policies.

Because you need a significant scholarship, USC is the school where a competitive academic profile can directly create merit-aid possibilities. Submit all required financial-aid materials at both colleges, and compare the actual net costs rather than assuming that either school’s sticker price or published scholarship names reflect your final bill.