Full-Tuition Scholarships for High School Seniors
- Some colleges offer full athletic scholarships to athletes who can help their teams win championships, awards and competitions. While scholarships are commonly related to sports such as football and basketball, a full-tuition scholarship can be awarded from any athletic department within the university, including swimming, golf, lacrosse or baseball. Sports-related scholarships from private organizations are also available for students. For example, the Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship is available for students with a minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA) with at least two years of consistent experience as a golf caddy. The scholarship award covers both the amount of your tuition and housing costs.
- Colleges and universities recruit students on full-tuition scholarships for a variety of reasons. One of the most common reasons is academic excellence. However, minority students are often recruited on full-tuition scholarships to increase the diversity of the student population on a campus. Colleges with strong diversity programs recruit high school seniors from minority backgrounds who excel in all areas. In some cases these scholarships also cover certain educational expenses, such as the cost of books or room and board. When you receive an acceptance letter from your college, you will also receive an offer for a scholarship. There usually are no direct applications for diversity scholarships.
- Private organizations generally use merit as the primary determinant for presenting awards. Organizations such as the Gates Millennium Scholarship Foundation offer full-tuition scholarships for high school seniors who are accepted to an accredited college or university. To qualify for the Gates Millennium Scholarship, you must have a minimum 3.3 GPA on an unweighted 4.0 scale and be a member of an ethic minority. Full-tuition scholarships, such as the NextStep Award, offer aid to high school seniors seeking financial aid. The only requirement for the "NextStep Magazine" full-tuition scholarship is registration on the company's website.
- A full tuition scholarship isn't the only way to pay for your college education. Certain scholarships offer large lump sums that exceed the cost of the average college tuition. For example, the Dell Scholars program presents students with both educational resources and $20,000 to complete a college education. The money can be used toward the cost of tuition, books, room and board or school supplies. However, Dell provides each scholar with a computer and accompanying accessories, such as a printer and office supplies.
