INVEST IN A
STRONG FUTURE.
YOURS. A GUIDE TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
A strong education is not optional. Over your lifetime you’ll make many decisions about how to spend your hard-earned money. The car you drive. Travel opportunities. Your first home. Although you’ll make many significant investments in your life, few will be as important as your education. Recent research confirms it: your college experience matters. Connecting with a professor who becomes a mentor. Engaging in deep learning through an internship or in-depth research. Becoming actively involved on campus. All are critical to shaping your strong future. And all are hallmarks of a Meredith education. We know how important this investment is to your future. We also know the cost of college is a significant factor in making that choice. That’s why we offer a range of financial assistance options. Scholarships - both need-based and merit. Grants. Loans. All designed to make a Meredith education affordable for you and your family. Contact our Office of Financial Assistance. Take the next step toward a strong education - and an even stronger future.
meredith.edu/financial-assistance
BRI CRUMBLEY, ’16 MEREDITH COLLEGE ACADEMIC MERIT SCHOLARSHIP
TOOK WORLD RELIGION CLASS.
RECOGNIZED THE
POWER OF DIVERSITY.
JUMPSTARTED INTERFAITH
EFFORTS AT MEREDITH.
BECAME ONE OF SEVEN YOUTH LEADERS
IN THE U.S.
LANDED DREAM JOB
BRINGING COMMUNITIES
TOGETHER.
A strong student gets her facts straight. It’s important to get accurate information when you’re doing your college search. Because the truth is, there are a lot of myths about the cost of college and you need to make an informed decision. Here are some facts to consider as you think about where to apply: Myth: Private colleges are a lot more
levels. That’s why approximately 95% of
expensive than public schools.
Meredith students receive financial assistance
Fact: Private colleges often have more
in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans.
financial resources available than public institutions. In 2016-17, Meredith students received over $52 million in financial assistance. Meredith funded $23 million in scholarships and grants during that same
And middle-income families often qualify for need-based grants and scholarships as a result of submitting the FAFSA or International & Undocumented Students Application for Institutional Aid.
period. And over 95% of our students receive some type of financial aid.
Myth: Student loans should be avoided at all costs.
Myth: As long as I get my degree, it doesn’t really matter where I go.
Fact: Many students need assistance in meeting out-of-pocket expenses. Low-interest
Fact: Students who graduate from private
student loans are a good way to help fund a
colleges are more likely to do so within four
college education and may be a useful tool for
years – and more women’s college students
your family. Stories in the national media have
graduate in four years or less. That means they
demonized student loans, but according to
accumulate less in tuition charges than peers
College Board’s Trends in Student Aid 2015,
at public and co-ed institutions. They’re also
total undergraduate student loan debt has
more likely to find jobs more readily than their
actually decreased every year since 2011. And
counterparts at public institutions. Over the
a college education continues to be one of the
past three years, 95% of our graduates are
most valuable investments you can make; a
employed or pursuing graduate study within a
2014 Pew Research Center study found that
few short months of graduation.
high school graduates only earn about 62% of what college graduates earn.
Myth: Only wealthy families can afford private colleges. Fact: Students at Meredith come from diverse financial backgrounds and family income
meredith.edu/financial-assistance
Financial Assistance at Meredith College Academic Scholarships Meredith Legacy Scholarships – awarded to a limited number of high-achieving entering first-year students. Students awarded Meredith’s most prestigious scholarship receive full tuition, room and board, books and supplies, international study, and other enrichment opportunities, with an estimated value of $200,000 over four years. Meredith Legacy Scholarships Academic Profile Average SAT(EBRW+M)/ACT: 1540/34 Average Weighted GPA: 4.55
Academic Merit Scholarships and Tuition Grants – awarded to entering first-year students to recognize academic ability, achievement, and leadership potential. Academic scholarship awards range from $17,000 to $21,000 and are renewable for a total of four years. Tuition grants range from $12,000 to $16,000. No separate application is needed. Academic Merit Scholarships and Tuition Grants Academic Profile Test Scores: Range from 1100 SAT (EBRW+M) or 22 ACT to near perfect scores Average Unweighted GPAs: 3.49-4.0
Presidential Scholarships – awarded to
Scholars Programs
entering first-year students with outstanding
Honors Program – for gifted and highly-
academic credentials, intellectual promise, and leadership ability. Presidential scholars receive full tuition, with an estimated value of $150,000 over four years.
motivated students. Honors students participate in innovative courses, travel opportunities, cultural enrichment programs, and community-based learning.
Presidential Scholarships Academic Profile Average SAT(EBRW+M)/ACT: 1470/32
Meredith Teaching Fellows – for students
Average Weighted GPA: 4.3
intending to become teachers. Students have
meredith.edu/financial-assistance
opportunities to gain classroom experience,
must audition with theatre faculty to be
learn from education professionals through a
considered for these scholarships.
two-year mentorship program, study abroad, and take honors courses.
Transfer Scholarships
Paschal Scholarships – provide a unique
Academic Incentive Scholarships – up
opportunity for talented students to pursue
to $11,000 annual scholarship for those
careers in mathematics, computer science,
transferring from a U.S. accredited four-year
science, and engineering. Paschal Scholars
institution or community college. Amount of
participate in a specialized learning community.
scholarship is based on academic credentials submitted with your application for admission.
Service Scholars Program – for students with
Renewable for up to six semesters and requires
a demonstrated commitment to making an
full-time enrollment.
impact in their communities. Service Scholars will engage with a variety of organizations throughout the Raleigh area while critically reflecting upon challenges and solutions to issues throughout our community.
Talent Scholarships Art Scholarships – for incoming first-year
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships – $5,000 annual scholarship for members of Phi Theta Kappa who have earned a minimum of 30 transferrable credits. Official documentation of your induction must be provided. This scholarship can be combined with the Academic Incentive Scholarship and requires full-time enrollment.
students pursuing a major in art on the basis of artistic talent. May be renewed annually for a total of four years.
Other Scholarships Thomas Meredith Baptist Heritage
Interior Design Scholarships – for incoming
Scholarship – awarded to first-year students
first-year students pursuing a major in interior
on the basis of academic excellence,
design. Award is based on scholarship and
outstanding church and community service,
potential for success in the field. May be
and leadership ability. Recipients must be
renewed annually for a total of four years.
members of a North Carolina Baptist church
Music Scholarships – for incoming first-year students pursuing a major in music. Award
and provide a recommendation from a church official. Renewable for a total of four years.
is based on outstanding musical talent,
Yellow Ribbon Program – for veterans and
academic ability, recommendations, and
their eligible dependents, the program matches
potential for achievement in the field. May
certain grant and scholarship contributions
be renewed annually for a total of four years.
from Meredith. Current maximum Veterans
Audition required.
Affairs (VA) benefit is $20,235. Meredith will
Theatre Scholarships – awarded to incoming first-year students pursuing a major in theatre on the basis of talent in theatre. Applicants
provide grants and scholarships up to $5,000 per student for as many as 50 veterans and dependents who quality.
meredith.edu/financial-assistance
Grants
Loans
Grants are referred to as “gift aid,” because
Loans are financial assistance funds that are
they are financial assistance funds that don’t
borrowed and must be paid back, often with
have to be repaid. Grants are often awarded
interest. Federal student loans are funded by
based on financial need.
the federal government; private student loans are made by a lender such as a bank, credit
Federal Pell Grants – for students with
untion, state agency, or a school.
demonstrated financial need. Awards provide up to $5,775 and do not have to be repaid.
Federal Student Loans – The Federal Direct Loan program offers fixed, low-interest rate
North Carolina Need-Based Scholarships –
loans to students. Loans are issued directly
for N.C. residents attending private institutions.
from the federal government to the school.
Consideration is automatic once applicants complete the FAFSA and list Meredith as an institution of choice. Awards range from $600 to $7,500. TEACH Grants – for prospective teachers, the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides up to $4,000 a year in grant aid to undergraduate and graduate students. Recipients agree to teach for at least four complete academic years in a high-need field at a school that serves students from low-
Federal Parent PLUS Loan – Parents of
income families.
dependent undergraduate students may apply for the Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate
Federal Supplemental Educational
Students (PLUS Loan) to help pay for
Opportunity Grant – awarded to students
education expenses.
with the highest demonstrated financial need. FSEOG awards typically range from $100 to
On-Campus Employment – The Federal
$4,000 and do not have to be repaid.
Work-Study program provides part-time jobs for qualified undergraduate students with
Meredith College Grants – for students with
financial need.
demonstrated need. These grants are provided by the College to supplement federal and state
Student Community Employment – The
aid, are eligible for renewal, and do not have to
Office of Financial Assistance advertises off-
be repaid.
campus, part-time community employment opportunities for Meredith students. Jobs posted typically include babysitting, tutoring, and other similar positions.
meredith.edu/financial-assistance
SIERRA MOOREFIELD, ’18 MEREDITH LEGACY SCHOLAR
DEDICATED
STUDENT.
SEEKER OF SCIENTIFIC
DISCOVERIES. FUTURE PEDIATRIC
ONCOLOGIST.
CAME TO MEREDITH
TO DO IT ALL.
Financial Assistance Quick Facts
$23
million In Meredith scholarships and grants awarded to students in 2015-16.
$ $52
million Coordinated in financial assistance annually.
OVER
$25,823 Average amount of financial assistance awarded to incoming first-year students.
95%
of first-year students receive
scholarships or financial assistance.
Next Steps Contact Us
Scholarships, Thomas Meredith Baptist
Partnering with you and your family, our
Heritage Scholarships, and Meredith Teaching
financial assistance staff will provide a financial
Fellows, Honors, Paschal, and Service Scholars
aid package to help meet your needs. To
programs. You must apply to the Honors
schedule an appointment, call (919) 760-
Program to be considered for Presidential and
8565 or email us at finaid@meredith.edu.
Meredith Legacy Scholarships. Applications are available from the Office of Admissions or
Apply for Assistance
meredith.edu/admissions.
Apply for financial assistance by filling out
Scholarship and Scholars Program
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
applications must be submitted by January
(FAFSA). You do not need to wait for your
15. Applicants must also be admitted to the
admissions decision to start with the need-
College by January 15.
based financial aid application process. The FAFSA is available beginning October 1 from
International, Undocumented, and Non-
the U.S. Department of Education’s website
U.S. Resident students can apply for
at www.fafsa.gov. Meredith’s priority FAFSA
financial assistance by filing Meredith’s
date is February 15. Meredith will receive your
Application for Institutional Aid for International,
information electronically – just submit your
Undocumented and Non-U.S. Resident
FAFSA with our FAFSA Title IV Code of 002945.
students. The form is available at
Every student who applies for admission to Meredith is automatically considered for academic merit awards and tuition grants. Separate applications are required for Talent
meredith.edu/financial-assistance. Please complete the form by our priority date of February 15.
2,000 STUDENTS
39 COUNTRIES 22,000 GRADS
125 YEARS Going Strong
Office of Admissions | 3800 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607-5298 (919) 760-8581 or 1-800-MEREDITH | FAX (919) 760-2348 | admissions@meredith.edu
meredith.edu
Meredith College admits qualified women students without regard to race, creed, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age, or disability. 16-182