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You have finally arrived in your senior year. Not only are your test scores impressive, but you also have the extracurriculars and academic record to match. As you look to further your education, you might wonder: should I apply to colleges with full-ride scholarships? How hard are these scholarships to get? And what do I have to do to qualify?

What are full-ride scholarships?

Full-ride college scholarships typically fund all tuition costs as well as housing, dining, and other major expenses. Essentially, these scholarships aim to take care of the full financial burden for student recipients. In return, students typically have particular requirements or special courses to satisfy throughout their college experience.

Note that there is a major difference between “full-ride” and “full-tuition” scholarships. Unlike full-ride scholarships, full-tuition scholarships will cover tuition only.

How hard is it to get full-ride scholarships?

Typically, about 1% of all undergraduates earn a full ride to college. It’s a competitive process that usually requires a separate, intensive application, essays, and sometimes interviews. If you do earn a full ride, your cohort of fellow scholarship recipients will be quite small.

Even though the odds are slim, you should absolutely try to apply if your credentials are at the top of the prospective college’s applicant pool (we’re talking 75th percentile and above). In part, colleges dole out these scholarships as a way to attract high-achieving, high-potential students to their campuses, so truly exceptional applicants will have the best chance of earning one. This brings us to our next section…

What do I have to do to earn a full-ride scholarship?

Of course, earning a full ride is a dream situation for just about every college applicant. So, how do you give your application the edge?

Typically, colleges with full-ride scholarships take a few common factors into consideration. While some requirements vary, most colleges that give full-ride college scholarships first look at your high school transcript to review your grades as well as the rigor of your classes. If you were enrolled in mostly AP, honors-level, and/or dual enrollment classes while maintaining a high GPA, it will reflect positively on your ability to do well in an intensive scholarship program. Additionally, a committee will likely review your performance on standardized tests, such as the ACT and SAT. (Important note: even if the university or college itself is test-optional, the scholarship application process may require testing.)

Colleges that give full-ride college scholarships consider other factors as well. Strong letters of recommendation, personal statements and essays, and extracurricular involvement are equally important. Moreover, desirable qualities often include leadership, dedication, and intellectual curiosity.

Ultimately, colleges that give full-ride college scholarships seek students with an array of impressive experiences alongside their stellar transcripts. Therefore, it is important to remember these prestigious awards are extremely competitive. Applying for more than one scholarship can better your odds of adding to your college fund. With this in mind, make sure to keep an eye on scholarship deadlines, which may be earlier or later than the college’s regular deadlines.

How do I maintain a full-ride scholarship?

Most full-ride scholarships expect students to maintain a specific grade point average to stay eligible. They may also require additional commitments, such as community service or participation in particular events. For example, Vanderbilt’s Ingram Scholars Program requires students to maintain a 3.0 minimum GPA and complete about twenty hours per month of community service; students must also renew their scholarships every year. Similarly, Duke’s Robertson Scholars need to maintain a 3.3 GPA (3.0 freshman year) and participate in all programming in order to continue in the program.

In the event that you do earn a full-ride scholarship, be sure that you understand how to keep the scholarship through all four years of your college experience.

40 Colleges That Offer Full-Ride College Scholarships

The colleges with full-ride scholarships listed below offer these awards every academic year. From a variety of states and cities, you’ll be sure to find the right program for you!

1) Duke University (Durham, NC) –

• Eligibility: Incoming or current college freshmen, including international students
• Benefits: Eight semesters of full tuition, room & board, and most fees; funding for academic conferences, 3 summer experiences, and two semesters of study abroad
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

2) University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC) —

• Eligibility: Incoming or current college freshmen, including international students
• Benefits: Eight semesters of full tuition, room & board, and most fees; funding for academic conferences, 3 summer experiences, and two semesters of study abroad
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

3) Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN) –

• Eligibility: Incoming or current college freshmen, including international students
• Benefits: Full tuition, fees, the value of on-campus housing, and a stipend for a summer service project
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

4) University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen who are nominated by their high schools
• Benefits: Tuition, room, board, books, personal expenses, and enrichment experiences such as international travel, leadership institutes, research, and professional development
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

5) University of Georgia (Athens, GA) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen who are also applying to the Morehead Honors College
• Benefits: Academic stipends that cover all direct costs (tuition, fees, room & board); three fully funded spring travel-study programs; fully funded summer study abroad program to the University of Oxford; individual travel-study grants up to $10k; research/academic conference grants up to $2k
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

40 Full Ride Scholarships (Continued)

6) UNC Charlotte (Charlotte, NC) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen who have been nominated by a high school counselor or self-nominated
• Benefits: Full tuition, fees, room & board, books, a $8k service/outreach project grant, four summer experiences
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

7) William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition and fees, room & board, and $10k in funding for a summer experience
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

8) Davidson College (Davidson, NC) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen who are nominated by their high schools or Davidson’s admissions committee
• Benefits: Tuition and fees, room & board, and special opportunity stipends for on- and off-campus experiences
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

9) Fordham University (Bronx, NY) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition and fees, room & board, and up to $20,000 (over the course of four years) to use for academic enrichment experiences
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

10) Emory College (Atlanta, GA) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition and fees, room & board, summer funding for international experiences and unpaid internships
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

11) Emory College (Atlanta, GA) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition and fees, room & board, summer funding for international experiences and unpaid internships
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

Scholarships (Continued)

12) University of Richmond (Richmond, VA) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Full tuition, room & board, mentorship, special programming, and academic enrichment grants up to $4k
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

13) University of Texas at Dallas (Dallas, TX) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Full tuition/fees, housing/living/textbook stipend, weekly seminars/experiences, $15k of funding for study abroad/other opportunities, mentorship
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

14) Villanova University (Villanova, PA) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen who have been nominated by their high schools
• Benefits: Tuition and fees, room & board, housing, meals, and the cost of textbooks
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

15) George Washington University (Washington, DC) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen from the District of Columbia who have been nominated by their high schools
• Benefits: Tuition, fees, room & board, and books
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

16) University at Buffalo (Buffalo, NY) –

• Eligibility: Incoming New York State freshmen
• Benefits: Full cost of attendance
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

17) University of Maryland (College Park, MD) –

• Eligibility: Freshmen applicants who apply early action and are invited to the Honors College
• Benefits: Tuition/fees (including for study abroad), room, board, and a textbook stipend
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

18) University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL) –

• Eligibility: Freshmen applicants who apply ED/EA and are from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia
• Benefits: Tuition/fees, on-campus housing, meal plan, health insurance, laptop allowance, and potential stipend for books, transportation, and personal expenses
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

40 Full Ride Scholarships (Continued)

19) University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen who have been admitted to Frederick Honors College
• Benefits: Tuition/fees, room & board, Honors College housing
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

20) Hendrix College (Conway, AR) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition, fees, and room & board
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

21) Northeastern University (Boston, Massachusetts) –

• Eligibility: Incoming first-generation freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition, fees, room & board, books, and a 6-week Summer Immersion Program
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

22) Rollins College (Winter Park, Florida) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition, fees, and room & board
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

23) Indiana University Bloomington (Bloomington, Indiana) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition, fees, and living stipend that covers room & board for eight semesters
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

24) Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago, Illinois) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition, on-campus housing/meal coverage, summer educational experience, fall retreat, mentoring
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

Scholarships (Continued)

25) Clemson University (Clemson, South Carolina) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Full cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and room & board
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

26) Furman University (Greenville, South Carolina) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition, fees, room & board, and membership
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

27) North Carolina State University (Raleigh, North Carolina) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition, fees, room & board, books and supplies, travel and personal expenses, mentoring, leadership development, grant funding for personal/professional enrichment opportunities, invitation to join University Honors Program
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

28) Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen in the top 10% of their graduating class
• Benefits: Tuition, fees, on-campus room & board, and study abroad experience
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

40 Full Ride Scholarships (Continued)

29) University of Texas at Austin (Austin, Texas) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition, fees, on-campus housing/meal plan (for two years), $1k stipend for undergraduate research, $2k stipend for study abroad
• Standardized Testing Required?: Yes

30) University of Houston (Houston, Texas) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition, fees, living stipend, book/supply stipend, enrichment funds, special programming
• Standardized Testing Required?: No, but it is recommended

31) Wofford College (Spartanburg, South Carolina) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen who have been nominated by their high school guidance counselor
• Benefits: Tuition, fees, room & board, monthly stipend for books and living expenses, laptops, summer internships (one international), winter travel experience
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

32) Michigan State University (East Lansing, Michigan) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition, fees, on-campus room & board, and $1,000 annual stipend
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

40 Full Ride Scholarships (Continued)

33) University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition, on-campus housing for one full year, $9k yearly stipend. The top scholarship recipient receives the previous benefits plus an additional $19k yearly scholarship for years 2-4 as well as a $5k stipend for research or international study.
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

34) Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen admitted to the Honors College
• Benefits: Tuition, fees, housing, food, $5k academic enrichment stipend, special programming
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

35) Clark University (Worcester, Massachusetts) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition, on-campus housing and meals
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

40 Full Ride Scholarships (Continued)

36) Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition, room & board, $3,400 annual stipend for personal expenses, and up to $5k per summer in funding for research, study, or travel projects
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

37) Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Full cost of attendance for eight semesters plus a $5k enrichment grant
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

38) University of Rochester (Rochester, New York) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Tuition, fees, room & board, books, personal expenses, transportation, $5k in professional/academic enrichment funding, mentorship
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

39) Agnes Scott College (Decatur, GA) –

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen
• Benefits: Full tuition, housing, and dining
• Standardized Testing Required?: No

40)  (Various)

• Eligibility: Incoming freshmen at a
• Benefits: Up to the full cost of attendance (tuition, room & board, fees, etc.) plus stipends for enrichment, study abroad, academic conferences, and leadership training
• Standardized Testing Required?: Varies

Colleges With Full Ride Scholarships – Final Thoughts

Colleges with full-ride scholarships see a diverse and impressive number of applicants every year, and you could very well be one of them. Ultimately, if you’re a competitive applicant, it’s always worthwhile to take your chances and apply—the results could be surprising!

Looking for additional financial aid resources? Consider checking out the following:

• 100 Great College Scholarships for High School Students
• How to Win a Coca-Cola Scholarship
• Automatic Scholarships Based on ACT/SAT Scores
• Winning Merit Scholarships
• How to Apply for Financial Aid
• How to Get In-State Tuition