There is a direct relationship between admissions test scores and financial aid in the form of merit scholarships. Simply stated, the higher the ACT and SAT scores, the more likely the award of merit scholarship money.
Colleges and universities want to attract the best possible freshman class in order to boost their national rankings. One way to do this is to use ACT and SAT scores as a benchmark for awarding merit-based scholarships.
Grading systems, class difficulty, and high school quality vary considerably across the USA — and even more so among countries. ACT and SAT scores provide a more objective basis for colleges and universities to decide which American and international applicants deserve scholarships.
Ultimately, the investment in ACT and SAT preparation pays off. Improving a SAT score by 200 points or an ACT composite score by 3 points can translate into a $5,000 to $10,000 tuition reduction at a private school or a $2,000 to $4,000 tuition saving at a public school.
Why are scholarships important?
An abundance of data depicts financial trends associated with higher education in the USA. This adds even more importance to achieving high ACT and SAT scores to be competitive for merit scholarships.
- Since 1975, tuition rates have risen by more than 1,000%.
- Since 1985, the price of a college education has increased by more than 500%.
- During the past 30 years, state funding of universities declined by about 40%. This has caused schools (particularly public ones) to raise tuition.
- Two-thirds of all students (from American colleges and universities) graduate with some form of debt.
- High ACT and SAT scores are key to earning scholarships – that is “free money” that does not have to be repaid!
By channeling your academic achievements towards earning merit scholarships, you reduce or avoid the burden of student loan debt.