How much money do most scholarships give?

Asked by: Levi Cassin  |  Last update: October 18, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (3 votes)

The average scholarship amount is $5,000 to $10,000 annually. These scholarships are typically available through the college you are planning on attending. Community partners and professional organizations offer them as well.

How much money is the average scholarship?

Scholarships, in combination with grants, were the second-largest source of financial aid during the 2022-23 academic year, covering an average of 29% of students' college costs. The average scholarship amount per student is $7,822. 61% of American families used scholarships to pay for college in 2022-23.

Is a $10,000 scholarship good?

While awards come in all shapes and sizes, a $10,000 scholarship is a lucrative opportunity for any student. Education Data Initiative reports that the average in-state tuition is $9,750 and the average private school tuition is $27,457 per year.

Is a 5000 scholarship good?

Scholarship amounts can differ, but a $5,000 award can greatly reduce the costs of tuition, textbooks, housing, and other education-related expenses.

How much money is considered a full ride scholarship?

And not just tuition—a full-ride scholarship also covers your housing, meals, books, lab fees, and sometimes even living costs. In money terms, it can be worth anywhere from $20,000 to more than $50,000, depending on your school's costs.

HOW I GOT OVER $107,000 IN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | Essay Tips, International Student, NYU

26 related questions found

What GPA do you need for a full scholarship?

Since the minimum GPA for a full-ride scholarship is usually set at 3.0, a 4.0 is sure to always be above and beyond what's required. Here's how it can boost your chances: Academic Excellence: A 4.0 GPA demonstrates consistent academic excellence, making you an attractive candidate for merit-based scholarships.

How rare is a full scholarship?

Full-ride scholarships are awarded to only about 0.1% of students (Wignall, 2021). Nearly just as rare are full-tuition scholarships, which are awarded to only 1.5% of students (ThinkImpact, 2021). A regular high school student may have the qualifications for as many as 50 to 100 scholarships (Dickler, 2021).

Is $25,000 a good scholarship?

The average award is around $4,200. Around 0.1% of undergraduate students received $25,000 or more in scholarships.

What is the hardest type of scholarship to get?

Highly competitive scholarships, such as national merit awards or prestigious academic scholarships, are often the hardest to obtain. These scholarships typically require top grades, strong extracurricular achievements, and a rigorous application process, attracting applicants from across the country.

Is a $40,000 scholarship good?

By any measure a $40,000 scholarship is good news, and a number of the 25 Complete Your Journey recipients remarked that it is particularly welcome at this time.

How much is a scholarship to Harvard?

Financial Aid Statistics for Harvard University

The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at Harvard University was $70,525. Additionally, 57% of first-year students received need-based financial aid in fall 2022. Need-based self-help aid includes federal loans and work-study.

What is considered a big scholarship?

Generally speaking, a "substantial" scholarship is one that significantly reduces the cost of your education. For instance, if you're looking at private institutions with tuition costs upwards of $50,000 per year, then scholarship offers in the $20,000+ range might qualify as a "substantial" amount.

What major gets the most scholarships?

The best opportunities might surprise you.
  • STEM Majors. For those who are unfamiliar with the acronym, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. ...
  • English Majors. ...
  • Accounting and Business. ...
  • Teaching. ...
  • Future Scholarship-Yielding Majors?

How hard is it to get a full paid scholarship?

Full-ride scholarships are very rare to come across, and even more rare to actually be granted one. Only 0.2% of students get $25,000 or more in scholarships per year. Other types of financial aid are usually more common, including merit-based scholarships.

Do rich kids get more scholarships?

Here's a fun fact: Colleges give more money to rich students than to low-income ones. Read that again and let it sink in. Sound outrageous? It's absolutely true.

Can you get too much scholarship money?

Keep in mind that the total you could be awarded is likely restricted to the cost of attendance at your school (meaning, for the most part, you need to use the scholarship money you receive to pay for tuition and other school-related expenses), but beyond that, there are no limits.

Can you live off scholarships?

Unless it's tuition, fees, books and room and board, it's generally unwise to presume an expense will be covered by scholarship money, Ladd says. Transportation, groceries and off-campus dining, technology and clothes are typically not covered, but some scholarships may be less strict on how the money is used.

How rare is full scholarship?

Full-ride scholarships are rarer and often awarded to the top 0.1% of applicants, while full-tuition scholarships are awarded to about 1.5% of applicants. What are common eligibility requirements for these scholarships?

How much is a 4-year scholarship worth?

First-time undergraduates at a 4-year college on average receive about $13,690 annually in government grants and scholarships. Scholarships can range from a few hundred dollars to full tuition coverage. The average scholarship amount varies depending on the following: The type of scholarship.

What are the hardest scholarships to get?

They include the Rhodes Scholarship, the Fullbright Scholarship, the Marshall Scholarship, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship and the Truman Scholarship. Explore these and more as we introduce our compilation of some of the most prestigious scholarships..

Is a 10k scholarship good?

A $10,000 scholarship can make a big difference in your college experience, and many companies and organizations offer them. Winning one could cover a semester or more of your education, depending on your goals.

What are the disadvantages of a scholarship?

Cons of College Scholarships

Since there are so many options and sources for scholarships vs grants, you'll have to do more research and put in more time. Scholarships provide access to education to a larger number of students. The large amount of options also makes competition high for most scholarships.