U.S. Scholarship Statistics By Types, Recipients, Private And Public Scholarship

Introduction

U.S. Scholarship Statistics: Every year, many U.S. students apply for scholarships to pay for college. Scholarships are free money given for good marks, sports skills, or if a student needs money. They can come from schools, companies, or private people. Because college costs keep increasing, scholarships are now more important than before. Still, not all students receive them; some don’t even apply.

This article explains important facts and numbers about scholarships in the U.S., who gets them, how they work, and what students should know. Knowing this can help students and parents plan better for college.

Editor’s Choice

(Source: research.com)

• S. Scholarship Statistics of 2025 states that over 1.7 million scholarships are awarded annually in the U.S.
• Meanwhile, around 58% of U.S. families use scholarships to help pay for college.
• Only about 12.5% of college students receive a scholarship. ​
• In recent years, almost 97% of scholarships are less than USD 2,500.
• Moreover, just 0.2% of students get scholarships worth USD 25,000 or more.
• Full-ride scholarships (covering tuition and living expenses) are awarded to only about 0.1% of students.
• S. Scholarship Statistics also show that the U.S. Department of Education provides an estimated USD 46 billion in scholarship funding annually.
• 16% of students receive state scholarships, and 13% receive private scholarships.
• Students with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.4 receive 30% of all scholarships, while those with a GPA of 3.5 to 4.0 receive only 4%.
• Around USD 100 million in scholarship funds go unclaimed yearly, often due to a lack of awareness. ​

General U.S. Scholarship Statistics

• The Pell Grant is the biggest federal scholarship program. Every year, it helps around 7.5 million students pay for their education.
• Private scholarships have grown significantly; in 2020, they were worth more than USD 8.2 billion compared to USD 3.3 billion in 2003.
• About 1.58 million scholarships are offered to undergraduate or graduate students each year.
• Students starting college at a four-year school for the first time usually receive around USD 14,890 in scholarships per year.
• S. Scholarship Statistics show that only 1 in 8 college students get scholarships.
• Many high school students qualify for 50 to 100 scholarships, but most don’t realise it.
• Students whose families earn between USD 30,001 and USD 48,000 per year tend to receive the highest average scholarship amount, about USD 17,110.

Types of U.S. Scholarships

Top 3 Most U.S. Scholarship Type Statistics

By Merit

• Over 1.5 million high school students entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program.
• Around 50,000 students were recognized for high PSAT/NMSQT exam scores.
• Sixteen thousand students became semifinalists, each state’s top 1% test-takers.
• About 15,000 students were named finalists after meeting academic and other requirements.
• Seven thousand two hundred and 7,250 scholarships were awarded in 2025, worth USD 2,500 and full tuition.

By Athletic

• NCAA Divisions I and II offer over USD 3.6 billion annually to more than 180,000 student-athletes.
• Only about 2% of high school athletes receive athletic scholarships.
• Some sports offer full scholarships (headcount sports), while others provide partial scholarships (equivalency sports). ​
• Student-athletes must meet academic standards, including maintaining a minimum GPA and completing a percentage of their degree each year.
• Starting in the 2025 to 26 academic year, NCAA Division I schools can offer scholarships to every athlete on their roster.

U.S. male and female sports with the most athletic scholarships are detailed in the table below:

• Male students get the most money for basketball scholarships, with an average of USD 38,246.
• For female students, ice hockey gives the highest average scholarship amount, around USD 41,693.

By Need-Based

• In 2025, the U.S. government plans to provide USD 135 billion in student financial aid, with USD 40.65 billion allocated for grants that don’t need to be repaid. ​
• Students receiving federal grants get an average of USD 5,019.17 per year to help cover college costs.
• S. Scholarship Statistics states that around 16% of students receive scholarships based on financial need, decreasing from 37% in 2007 to 2008.
• California offers over USD 1.8 billion in need-based scholarships.
• Students missed at least USD 4.0 billion in unclaimed federal grants for the 2023 to 24 academic year.

U.S. Scholarship Recipients Statistics

• Students with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.4 get about 30% of all scholarships in the U.S.
• If your GPA is below 2.4, you have a 5% chance of getting a scholarship. For those with a GPA from 3.5 to 4.0, only 4% receive scholarships.
• More than 66% of students who score well on the SAT or ACT exams are given private scholarships.
• STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math) students are more likely to get scholarships. About 17% of STEM students receive them, while only 12.1% of non-STEM students do.
• Over 33% of private scholarships in the U.S. go to students studying in STEM fields.
• Students from middle-income homes get 13.8% of the scholarships. In comparison, lower-income families receive 10.6%.
• Families with high incomes are awarded only 8% of scholarships in the country.

(Reference: searchlogistics.com)

• S. Scholarship Statistics mentions that white students have a 14.2% chance of getting a scholarship.
• For Black students, the chance is 11.4%.
• Asian students win scholarships about 10.5% of the time.
• Hispanic students have a lower chance, at 9.1%.
• If a student goes to a private school, about 1 in 10 get a scholarship to a private college. On average, the award is USD 2,631.
• Only 3% of public school students get such scholarships. Interestingly, their average scholarship is higher, about USD 3,463.
• In the U.S., most students (around 91%) attend public schools, while only 9% attend private schools.

Average Scholarship Aid Per Student by Family Income

U.S. Scholarship Statistics by Odds Of Receiving

• Only 1 out of every eight students gets a scholarship, which means the chance of getting one is just 12.5%.
• Out of all students in the U.S., only 0.2% receive scholarships worth more than USD 25,000.
• Just 0.1% of students get full-ride scholarships that pay for everything, and 1.5% get scholarships that cover full tuition.
• Only 5% of students in bachelor’s programs receive enough money from scholarships to pay for their full degree.
• Meanwhile, 7% of students get scholarships that cover around 90% of their college costs.
• Another 9% get enough to pay for 75% of their expenses.
• Moreover, 8% receive scholarships that help cover half (50%) of their costs.
• The rest either receive no scholarship or receive less than half the cost of their degree through scholarship funds.

Amount of Scholarship Money Received Statistics by College Major

(Reference: research.com)

U.S. Private Scholarship Statistics

• As of 2025, more than 1.8 million private scholarships are awarded yearly in the U.S., totaling more than USD 8.2 billion in funding.
• Only about 7% of students receive private scholarships, making them highly competitive.
• In 2025, the average private scholarship amount is approximately USD 4,200 per student.
• Students with higher GPAs (3.5 or above) have a better chance of receiving private scholarships.
• About USD 100 million in scholarship funds go unclaimed early yearly, often due to a lack of applicants.
• International students receive an average of USD 26,800 in financial aid from U.S. colleges.

U.S. Public Scholarship Statistics

• Over 1.7 million scholarships are awarded annually in the U.S., assisting many students with college expenses.
• S. Scholarship Statistics states that the U.S. Department of Education allocates approximately USD 46 billion yearly for scholarships and grants.
• The average scholarship amount per student is around USD 7,400, providing significant financial support.
• 58% of U.S. families utilize scholarships to help pay for college education.
• Approximately 7% of college students receive scholarships, highlighting the competitive nature of these awards.
• An estimated USD 100 million in scholarships go unclaimed yearly, often due to a lack of applications.

Conclusion

Getting a scholarship in the U.S. can help students study without worrying too much about money. Many schools and groups help smart and hardworking students from the U.S. and other countries. Applying early, following the rules, and writing a good application are important. Students can find a scholarship that fits their goals with the right effort and planning. A U.S. scholarship can open the door to better education and a brighter future.