One of the best ways to get a full tuition scholarship is by becoming a National Merit Scholar or National Merit Semifinalist. Students are considered automatically when they take their PSAT junior year, and if they are selected for the award, they are eligible for many scholarship opportunities at schools throughout the country.
Below, I’ve put together a list of colleges that offer full-tuition scholarships for finalists (and in some cases semifinalists) that are available to out-of-state as well as in-state students and which are automatically awarded. The automatically awarded part is key; unlike other types of merit scholarships which are fixed in number, these scholarships are automatically granted regardless of how many other finalists and semifinalists apply. Also, it helps if you got college essay help writing from professionals.
If you have been granted one of these honors, be sure to check out this list.
ALABAMA
University of Alabama
NMSF Award: Full Tuition (NMSF + 3.5 GPA required)
NMF Award: Full tuition (up to 5 years) + 1 year housing + $3,500/year + $2,000 expenses + iPad
National Merit and National Achievement Scholarships – Undergraduate Scholarships – The University of Alabama
University of Alabama – Huntsville
NMSF Award: Full Tuition + fees + $500/year book stipend
NMF Award: Full Ride
UAH – Financial Aid – Entering Freshmen – General Information
University of Alabama – Birmingham
NMF Award: Full Tuition + fees + one year of housing + $3,500 annual stipend + $2,000 summer research or study abroad + iPad
http://scholarships.ua.edu/nationalscholars/
Faulkner University
NMSF Award: Full Tuition
NMF Award: Full tuition + fees + room & board
Faulkner University – Scholarships
Oakwood University
NMF Award: Full tuition + room
NMSF Award: Full Tuition
http://www.oakwood.edu/images/zfiles/enrollment/admission-forms/Academic%20Scholarships.pdf
Troy University
NMF Award: Full tuition + room & board
http://admissions.troy.edu/undergraduate/troy-scholarships.html
ALASKA
University of Alaska – Anchorage
NMF Award: Full tuition + $1,000/yr stipend
National Merit Tuition Waiver Scholarship
ARIZONA
University of Arizona
NMF Award: Full tuition + ($30,000/year + iPad + $1,500 expenses)
2013-2014 Terms and Conditions | financialaid.arizona.edu
ARKANSAS
Harding University
NMF/NMSF Award: Full tuition
Harding University – Admissions – Scholarships
University of Arkansas – Monticello
NMF Award: Full tuition + fees + room & board stipend
University of Arkansas at Monticello
CALIFORNIA
Pacific Union College
NMF Award: Full tuition
NMSF Award: Half tuition
https://www.puc.edu/admissions/finance
FLORIDA
Florida A&M
NMF Award: Full tuition + $2000/year books/stipend + laptop
https://www.famu.edu/students/scholarships/index.php
Note: Must major in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Mathematics, or Physics
Florida College
NMF/NMSF Award: Full tuition
http://www.floridacollege.edu/admissions/financial-aid/scholarships/academic-scholarships/
Florida International University
NMF Award: Full tuition + fees + room & board
http://admissions.fiu.edu/costs-and-aid/scholarships/index.html
University of Central Florida
NMF Award: Full tuition + laptop + guaranteed housing
Lynn University
NMF Award: Full tuition
National Merit Scholarship ? Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida
IDAHO
University of Idaho
NMF Award: Full Tuition + Fees + Room & Board
National Merit Scholars-Financial Aid & Scholarships-University of Idaho
INDIANA
University of Evansville
NMF Award: Full Tuition
NMSF Award: $20,000/year (approximately 2/3 tuition)
Freshmen Merit Scholarships for Fall 2014 – Tuition and Aid – University of Evansville
KANSAS
Fort Hays State University
NMF Award: Full tuition + fees + room & board + books
NMSF Award: Full tuition + fees + room & board + books
Opportunities for High-Achieving Students – Fort Hays State University
Wichita State University
NMF Award: $20,000/year for non-residents, $12,000/year residents. Can be applied to tuition, room & board, and fees.
http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=merit_scholarships&p=/National_merit/
KENTUCKY
University of Kentucky
Award: Full tuition + fees + room & board + $1,000 annual stipend + iPad 2 + $2,000 summer abroad program
Academic Scholarships for Freshmen | UK Student Financial Aid and Scholarships
LOUISIANA
Louisiana Tech University
NMF Award: Full tuition + fees + room & board + $5,000 bonus award (laptop, study abroad, or 5th year of study)
http://admissions.latech.edu/tuition_fees/pdfs/freshman_scholarships.pdf
MARYLAND
Washington Adventist University
NMF Award: Full tuition
NMSF Award: 3/4 Tuition
http://www.wau.edu/component/content/article/25-financial-planning/58-scholarships
MICHIGAN
Andrews University
NMF Award: Full tuition
http://www.andrews.edu/future/financing/scholarships/index.html
MINNESOTA
University of Minnesota – Morris
NMF Award: Full tuition
NMSF Award: Up to $4,000 over four years
University of Minnesota, Morris | Admissions | Scholarships
MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi State University
NMF Award: Full tuition, fees, books, and room
NSMF Award: Full tuition, fees, and books
Academic Scholarships for Entering Freshmen – Scholarships || Office of Admissions and Scholarships || Mississippi State University
University of Southern Mississippi
NMF Award: Full tuition + fees + room & board + books + $4,000 study abroad stipend
NMSF Award: Full tuition + fees
Freshman Scholarships | The University of Southern Mississippi
University of Mississippi
NMF Award: Full tuition + room
NMSF Award: Full tuition + room
The University of Mississippi ? Office of Financial Aid
NEBRASKA
University of Nebraska
NMF Award: Full tuition + $2,000/year
Chancellor’s Scholarships | Scholarships & Financial Aid | University of Nebraska?Lincoln
NEVADA
University of Nevada – Las Vegas
NMF Award: Full Tuition + Study Abroad
President’s Scholarship | Financial Aid & Scholarships | University of Nevada, Las Vegas
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Rivier University
NMF Award: Full tuition + room & board
http://www.rivier.edu/admissions.aspx?menu=98&id=1119&act=1118
NEW JERSEY
New Jersey Institute of Technology
NMF Award: Full tuition + fees + room & board
NJIT: Financial Aid: NJIT – Merit-based awards
NEW YORK
Roberts Wesleyan College
NMF Award: Full tuition
https://www.roberts.edu/undergraduate/tuition-and-aid/grants-scholarships/academic-scholarships.aspx
NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina Central University
NMF/NMSF Award: In-state tuition + room & board + books + $500/semester stipend + internships + laptop
http://www.nccu.edu/formsdocs/proxy.cfm?file_id=2382
NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota State University
NMF Award: Full tuition
http://www.ndsu.edu/admission/freshmen_scholarships/other_scholarship_programs/
OKLAHOMA
University of Oklahoma
NMF Award: Full tuition + fees + room & board + stipend
http://www.ou.edu/content/go2/nationalmerit/benefits.html
Oklahoma City University
NMF Award: Full tuition
http://www.okcu.edu/admissions/freshmen/starscholars/ – merit
Oklahoma Christian University
NMF Award: Full tuition + fees + room & board
Academic Merit Scholarships*| Oklahoma Christian University
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
NMF Award: Full tuition
NMSF Award: Half tuition
http://www.okwu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/FA-Traditional-student-aid.pdf
PENNSYLVANIA
Drexel University
NMF Award: Full tuition
http://drexel.edu/drexelcentral/finaid/grants/special-interest-scholarships/
TENNESSEE
Lipscomb University
NMF Award: Full tuition + fees (note: 10 students per year also will receive room & board)
NMSF Award: Full tuition
http://admissions.lipscomb.edu/financialaid/scholarships/
Bryan College
NMF/NMSF Award: Full tuition
National Merit Scholar Recognition Program
TEXAS
Abilene Christian University
NMF Award: Full tuition
ACU Scholarships
Baylor University
NMF Award: Full tuition
Baylor University | Texas Undergraduate University Admissions, Texas University Undergraduate programs at accredited Baylor University || Freshmen Academic Scholarships for 2014-2015
Lubbock Christian University
NMF Award: Full tuition
NMSF Award: $2,000/year
LCU: Major LCU Scholarships
University of Houston
NMF Award: Full tuition + fees + room & board + $3,000 annual stipend
National Merit Scholarship
University of Texas – Arlington
NMF Award: Full tuition + fees + room
http://wweb.uta.edu/aao/fao/content/scholarships/
University of Texas – Dallas
NMF Award: Full tuition + fees + $8,000/year stipend + $2,000 study abroad funds
National Merit Scholarships – Office of Undergraduate Education – The University of Texas at Dallas
University of Texas –Tyler
NMF Award: Full tuition + fees + room & board + books
NMSF Award: Full tuition + fees + books
https://www.uttyler.edu/scholarships/new-freshman-student.php
University of North Texas
NMF Award: Full tuition + fees + room & board + books
UNT Meritorious Scholarship for National Merit Finalists | Student Financial Aid and Scholarships
VIRGINIA
Liberty University
NMF: Full tuition + room & board
NMSF: Full tuition
National Merit Scholarship – Liberty University
WASHINGTON
Washington State University
NMF/NMSF Award: Full tuition
National Merit Scholarship – Admissions – Washington State University
WEST VIRGINIA
Alderson-Broaddus College
NMF Award: Full tuition
Alderson- Broaddus Scholarships | Alderson Broaddus University