Do Columbia University and Yale offer merit scholarships?

Neither Columbia nor Yale awards undergraduate institutional scholarships for academic achievement, leadership, extracurriculars, or athletic talent. Both schools base their own grant aid on demonstrated financial need, so strong grades and activities will not create a separate merit award. Neither offers athletic scholarships, consistent with Ivy League policy.

At Columbia, undergraduate financial aid is need-based. Some Columbia scholarships may carry donor or program names, but they are still allocated through the need-based aid process rather than through a merit competition.

Yale follows the same core policy: Yale College does not offer merit scholarships, and its financial aid is entirely need-based.

Outside merit scholarships can still matter at either school, but they may affect the college’s aid package rather than simply stack on top of it. Use each school’s net price calculator and compare the need-based estimates, especially if your family has unusual income, assets, business ownership, or separated-parent circumstances.