Merit aid calculator
Enter your GPA and SAT score to estimate the merit scholarships hundreds of colleges award to students like you, and what a year would cost after them.
By Kim Strauch · Last updated · Free, no signup required
Enter your GPA and SAT score
On a 4.0 scale, to one decimal
Optional, up to 5.0. Used only at colleges that read a weighted or recalculated GPA.
400–1600. Use your superscore if your colleges accept it.
How merit aid works
Many colleges set their sticker price high and then discount it with scholarships. Merit aid is the part of that discount based on your grades and test scores rather than your family's finances.
Some colleges publish an automatic grid: a given GPA and SAT score earn a set amount, no extra application needed. Others award merit aid more selectively. Either way, the student who looks strongest in a college's applicant pool tends to get the biggest award. Our list of colleges with automatic merit scholarships by SAT score shows the published grids.
Net cost is what you'd pay for a year after merit aid. Need-based aid can lower it further, so run each college's net price calculator too.
Raising your award with a higher SAT score
Your GPA is mostly set by the time you apply, but your SAT score can still move. Try a score 50 or 100 points higher in the calculator above to see how much a retake could be worth at the colleges on your list.
If your colleges superscore, combine your best sections with the SAT score calculator and read when a retake makes sense.
Frequently asked questions
What is merit aid?
Merit aid is money a college gives for academic achievement, not financial need. It usually comes as a yearly scholarship that renews if you keep a minimum GPA, and you don't have to pay it back.
Does a higher SAT score increase merit aid?
At many colleges, yes. Merit scholarships are often awarded by GPA and test score bands, so crossing a threshold, sometimes by as little as 10 or 20 SAT points, can move you into a larger award.
Are these estimates guaranteed?
No. They're estimates for students with your GPA and SAT score. Awards depend on each college's current policy, your full application and sometimes your intended major. Use each college's net price calculator to confirm.
Why are public universities so expensive here?
The calculator shows the out-of-state price for public universities. If you're a resident of that state, your cost will usually be much lower.
Should I use my weighted or unweighted GPA?
Both, if you have them. Your unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale is required, and most colleges base merit on it. If your school also reports a weighted GPA, enter that too: some colleges award merit by a weighted or recalculated GPA, and the calculator uses it for those colleges.
Sources
SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 are trademarks of College Board. National Merit is a trademark of National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Sharp is not affiliated with or endorsed by these organizations.