Many students ask, “Can average students win scholarships?” and “how many scholarships they may receive, but the answer is complex.
The average number of scholarships that students can win is impossible to determine; there are thousands upon thousands of scholarships available, ranging from a few hundred dollars to full-ride scholarships.
In this piece, we will look at the average number of scholarships that students win. We look at what increases your chance of getting a scholarship at various levels of financing and explain how their applications work.
Can Average Students Win Scholarships?
While many scholarships recognize exceptional intellectual, musical, or athletic aptitude, there are also other scholarship possibilities open to typical students from all walks of life.
What is a scholarship and how does it work? Scholarships are financial contributions, often granted by successful alumni who established funds for students who were among the least skilled, uncoordinated, and unqualified in their class.
Such sponsors understand what it is like to be underestimated, and they want to allow these ‘ordinary’ students to attend college.
How Many Scholarships Can Students Win?
There is no limit to how many scholarships students can win. The world of scholarships is wide open, and we encourage you to apply and win as much money as possible to help alleviate your financial load.
Most students are unlikely to receive sporting scholarships. Furthermore, these are not the types of scholarships for college which you can just apply.
As a result, there are different types of scholarships available to the majority of students, and you might be surprised at how many of them exist.
How Much Scholarship Do Students Get?
Scholarships are available from schools, universities, and individuals. Depending on an organization’s funding and interests, it may opt to award a large number of minor scholarships or a few full-ride scholarships.
The Education Data Initiative estimates that students get approximately $14,890 in grants and scholarships each year; however, your scholarship award total will vary greatly depending on your financial circumstances and how vigorously you apply for awards.
The list below indicates an estimation of the amount of scholarships students can get from the different types of scholarships:
● Average Pell Grant Award students
The Pell Grant program is designed primarily to help low-income students. The grant is granted by the federal government, and applicants are automatically considered when they complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
In the 2023–2024 academic year, the average Pell Grant awarded to undergraduate students is $7,395.
This is another reason why you should complete your FAFSA on time and with accurate information.
It automatically puts you in the running for a large grant that can help you afford your college education without so much financial stress.
While the Pell Grant is a fantastic start, students should look for additional scholarships!
● Small scholarships can add up
Smaller scholarships, ranging from $100 to $2,000, provide an excellent opportunity to finance your further education. Every dollar counts, and applying for a variety of modest scholarships can be extremely beneficial in funding your degree.
Small scholarships are sometimes easier to apply for than larger ones. This can be useful because it allows you to apply to multiple of them in a short period of time.
You can look through our list of the top easy scholarships to locate some scholarship options that do not require a lot of time to apply.
● Regional Scholarships
Other minor scholarships are available through area groups, such as community foundations. These programs normally provide tiny grants, but there is no reason to pass them over.
Regional scholarships often have tiny candidate pools, so your chances of winning are substantially higher. Check out some state scholarship guides to learn about regional scholarships and how to apply.
● Niche Scholarships
Even tiny scholarships with more extensive application processes might be beneficial, particularly if they target a certain audience.
Complicated applications typically deter other candidates, so if you have the time to complete them, you may find yourself in a smaller applicant pool, increasing your chances of receiving the award.
● Larger scholarships
Medium scholarship grants, ranging from $2,000 to $20,000, typically have more involved application processes than small scholarships. Though they may require more effort, they are a valuable resource for paying for your education.
These grants can provide significant assistance and are usually easier to get than larger scholarships. Begin by checking through our scholarship lists, which are organized by subject of study.
There, you can locate several medium-sized scholarships for your major. Larger scholarships are typically awarded by larger organizations and are less common in regional or city-wide competitions.
What Grades do You Need to Get a Scholarship to Harvard?
While there is no set GPA requirement at Harvard, the great majority of admitted students have good academic backgrounds.
How high of a GPA do you need for a scholarship at Harvard? A competitive GPA for Harvard is often in the 4.0 range (on a 4.0 scale), with many students having a weighted GPA higher than that amount due to honors, AP, or IB courses.
However, keep in mind that GPA is only one component of a comprehensive grading process.
Admissions committees at prestigious colleges will also look at your course rigor, test scores, extracurricular activities, essays, and other areas of your application to evaluate if you’re a suitable fit for the program.
One approach to assessing your prospects is to examine the academic profiles of admitted students.
At Harvard, the middle 50% of admitted students for the class of 2025 had a 4.0–4.18 weighted GPA at admission; however, if your GPA is not in this range, your application may still be considered if you exhibit strength in other areas.
How Many Scholarships do Students Get?
Students have a variety of options when it comes to applying for scholarships and other forms of financial aid.
They are not only available at schools; students can also obtain them from the federal government, local districts, and third-party sources.
The information below answers queries such as “How many scholarships do students get?” and “How frequently do people get full scholarships?”
- Each year, the United States awards over 1.7 million fellowships and private scholarships (Dickler, 2020).
- According to Sallie Mae (2021), 25% of college students got financial aid from scholarships and grants.
- Every year, approximately 1,581,000 scholarships are given to undergraduate and graduate students (Scholly, 2020).
- However, just one in every eight college students receives a scholarship (Kantrowitz, 2019).
- 97% of students who were given scholarships received $2,500 or less (Kantrowitz, 2020).
- Furthermore, just 0.2% of students obtain scholarships of $25,000 or more (Unigo, 2021).
- Scholarship displacement affects 50% of students who have been awarded private scholarships. Meanwhile, 62% of schools reduce institutional subsidies, 55% reduce student loans, and 24% decrease student employment (Kantrowitz, 2021).
- According to Kantrowitz (2021), 31% of students who disclose schools about their private scholarships will have their institutional funding decreased.
- Full-ride scholarships are offered to approximately 0.1% of students (Wignall, 2021).
- Full-tuition scholarships are nearly as rare, with only 1.5% of students receiving them (ThinkImpact, 2021).
- An ordinary high school student may be eligible for 50 to 100 scholarships (Dickler, 2021).
- Unfortunately, 42% of scholarships cannot be located using a simple Google search (Scholly, 2020).
FAQs
What is the hardest type of scholarship to get?
Here’s a list of the most difficult scholarships to get:
- Rhodes Scholarship
- Fullbright Scholarship
- Gates Cambridge Scholarship
- Princeton Scholarship
- Mitchell Scholarship
- Churchill Scholarship
- Marshall Scholarship
- Jardine Scholarship
What is the success rate of scholarships?
Over 1.7 million scholarships are offered each year; nevertheless, only 7% of college students obtain a scholarship. On average, first-time undergraduates who receive government grants and scholarships at a four-year college earn $14,890 a year.
Can an average student get a scholarship in Canada?
Scholarship eligibility in Canada varies based on the scholarship program and university. Scholarships are typically provided based on academic performance, extracurricular activities, and other achievements.
International students are frequently eligible for scholarships, but they must meet certain criteria to be considered.
What is the lowest GPA to get a scholarship?
What GPA is required for most scholarships? Most academic scholarships need a minimum of 3.0. However, scholarships are available for kids with other talents, such as the arts and athletics.
What is the most competitive scholarship in the world?
The Rhodes Scholarship, the Fullbright Scholarship, the Marshall Scholarship, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, and the Truman Scholarship are among the most distinguished prizes available.
Conclusion
Scholarship aid is determined by the number of possibilities applied for. Each student requires a unique quantity of aid; therefore, some sources of scholarships or grants may be better suited for specific needs.
Make sure to research all levels of scholarships, whether they’re from local or national organizations.
Most importantly, don’t get discouraged by the scholarship application process; it can be difficult at times, but your efforts will pay off.
