If the goal of scholarships is to make universities more accessible, should the money be distributed to the needy rather than the successful? How effective are merit-based scholarships when it comes to boosting post-secondary enrolment?
Merit scholarships are awards based on grades, character, proposals or accomplishments, whereas needs based scholarships require applicants to demonstrate financial need before receiving aid.
According to a survey conducted by Higher Education Strategy Associates it is evident that needs-based scholarships are far more effective than merit scholarships in increasing post secondary enrolment.
Merit scholarships tend to favour children coming from higher-income families, because those students can afford to spend more time on school and extracurricular activities since they don’t have to work.
Universities offer students merit awards based on their ability to achieve a certain grade point average on finishing high school in the hope that they’d be more inclined to stay enrolled in a school.
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