College scholarships are an essential financial lifeline for millions of students pursuing higher education in the United States. As tuition costs continue to rise, scholarships help bridge the affordability gap and reduce the need for student loans. In this comprehensive 2025 report, we break down the latest data on who receives scholarships, what types are available, how much they’re worth, and how demographics affect access. Whether you’re planning to apply or analyzing trends, these scholarship statistics will help you make more informed decisions.
Key College Scholarship Statistics
- 1.7 million scholarships are awarded annually across federal, state, institutional, and private sources.
- Only about 11% of college students receive a scholarship each year.
- The average scholarship amount per student is estimated to be $7,822.
- First-time undergraduate students who receive grant aid and scholarships at 4-year colleges receive an average of $15,750 per year.
- Most students who win aid receive just one to two scholarships, typically under $2,500 each.
- Students at public 2-year institutions receive an average scholarship of $4,100.
- Private nonprofit 4-year colleges offer significantly higher scholarship amounts than public colleges.
- The average merit-based scholarship is valued at approximately $12,088.
- 97% of scholarship recipients are awarded $2,500 or less.
- Only 0.2% of students receive scholarships worth $25,000 or more.
- Less than 0.1% of students receive full-ride scholarships.
- The U.S. Department of Education awards over $46 billion in scholarships and grants annually.
- Private organizations contribute an additional $8.2 billion in scholarship funds each year.
- About 16% of students receive state or local government scholarships.
- An estimated $100 million in scholarship funds go unclaimed every year.
- Women receive approximately 63% of all scholarship dollars.
- White students have a 14.2% chance of receiving a scholarship, compared to 11.2% for students of color.
- Students who receive scholarships are 20% less likely to incur student loan debt.
How Many Students Receive Scholarships?
Each year, more than 1.7 million scholarships are awarded to undergraduate students across the U.S. These awards come from a mix of federal, state, institutional, and private organizations. Despite the abundance of opportunities, the percentage of students receiving scholarships remains relatively low.
Despite 1.7 million students receive scholarships awarded each year, only about 11% of the 15.3 million undergraduate students receive a scholarship. While over 58% of U.S. families rely on scholarships to cover part of college costs, most students do not receive substantial aid from private awards alone. This statistic highlights just how competitive the scholarship process is, even as millions of students actively seek ways to reduce the cost of higher education.”
✅ Key Insight: Roughly 1 in 9 students secures a scholarship. For the rest, grants, loans, and family contributions remain essential.
What Is the Average Scholarship Amount?
When we look beyond the top-line figures, the average scholarship amount per student is estimated to be $7,822 across all award types. However, the actual award varies widely by institution and student type:
- First-time undergraduate students at four-year colleges receive approximately $15,750 per year in grants and scholarships.
- Students at public 2-year colleges receive an average of $4,100.
- Students attending private nonprofit 4-year institutions tend to receive significantly more, with awards often exceeding $10,000.
- The average merit-based scholarship now stands at around $12,088, underscoring the financial value of strong academic performance.
While the average scholarship value is promising, most students do not receive these larger awards — especially from private sources.
Based on recent statistics, the average private scholarship awarded to undergraduate students in the United States is less than $2,500 per year. In fact, approximately 97% of scholarship recipients receive awards of $2,500 or less, making these scholarships helpful but rarely enough to cover even one semester of college tuition at a four-year institution.
By contrast, larger scholarship awards — such as those over $25,000 or full-ride scholarships that cover tuition, fees, room, and board — are extremely rare. Less than 0.2% of students receive scholarships worth more than $25,000, and fewer than 0.1% earn a full-ride scholarship, typically reserved for elite athletes, top academic performers, or those with significant financial need.
| Award Amount | % of Students Receiving |
|---|---|
| Under $2,500 | 97% |
| $2,500 – $5,000 | 2.5% |
| Over $25,000 | 0.2% |
| Full-Ride | <0.1% |
While many students may apply to scholarships expecting large sums, the reality is that most awards are modest and designed to supplement — not replace — other forms of financial aid such as federal grants or student loans.
How Many Scholarships Does the Average Student Get?
Students often ask, “how many scholarships does the average student get?” The answer is: typically just one — and often, none at all. While a select few students manage to secure multiple awards, the vast majority either receive a single scholarship or rely on institutional grants and federal aid instead. Among those who do receive scholarships, stacking multiple awards is increasingly popular, especially among students attending high-cost private colleges.
It’s important to note that while private scholarships receive a lot of attention, institutional scholarships and grants — awarded directly by colleges and universities — make up the largest share of total non-loan financial aid. For example, over 83.9% of students attending private nonprofit institutions receive institutional aid, with average awards exceeding $24,000 annually in some cases.
Where Do Scholarships Come From?
Scholarship funding in the U.S. comes from a variety of public and private sources, including the federal government, state governments, nonprofit foundations, private corporations, religious organizations, and the colleges themselves. Here’s a breakdown of the main sources of scholarship money:
- The U.S. Department of Education distributes more than $46 billion in federal grant funding annually, with the Pell Grant being the largest single source.
- State-funded scholarships are awarded to about 16% of undergraduate students, often based on a combination of merit and need.
- Private scholarships — the kind most people think of when they hear “college scholarship” — are awarded to approximately 13% of students, with eligibility based on criteria like academics, athletics, demographics, or career interests.
- Institutional aid is awarded by colleges and universities and often varies depending on enrollment goals, academic performance, and financial need.
Despite the widespread attention on private scholarships, institutional grants often represent the most substantial non-loan funding available to students.
Scholarship Distribution by Demographics
Students of color — particularly Black and Hispanic students — are more likely to qualify for need-based aid like the Pell Grant, but they are underrepresented in private merit-based scholarship pools. For example, white students have a 14.2% chance of receiving a scholarship, compared to just 11.2% for students of color. These disparities are often linked to structural inequalities in education access, test prep availability, and awareness of available funding opportunities.
When we look closer at individual groups, the gap becomes even more apparent:
- Black students receive scholarships at an estimated rate of 11.4%,
- Asian students at 10.5%,
- Hispanic students at just 9.1%.
There are also significant disparities in how scholarship money is awarded across racial, ethnic, and income groups. For example, data from 2024–2025 shows that Asian students received the highest average grant aid, averaging over $13,000 annually. In comparison, white students received an average of $9,300, Hispanic students received around $8,500, and Black students received just above $8,300 in total aid.
| Race/Ethnicity | Avg. Total Grant Aid (2024–25) |
|---|---|
| Asian | $13,000+ |
| White | $9,300 |
| Hispanic | $8,500 |
| Black | $8,300 |
Students from low-income families are more likely to receive need-based aid such as the Pell Grant, supporting about 7.4 million students. However, they may be less likely to win competitive private scholarships that require high GPAs, extensive extracurriculars, or costly application processes.
Types of College Scholarships
There are five broad categories of scholarships available to U.S. students:
| Scholarship Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Merit-Based | Awarded based on academic or athletic achievement |
| Need-Based | Based on household income and FAFSA information |
| Demographic-Based | For students from specific racial, gender, or ethnic groups |
| Field-Based | Targeted at students entering high-demand fields like STEM |
| Micro-Scholarships | Small awards for specific milestones (e.g. GPA, leadership) |
Students who combine micro-scholarships — often $500 or less — with need-based or institutional aid can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs, especially at in-state public colleges.
What Are the Odds of Receiving a Full-Ride Scholarship?
Full-ride scholarships — which cover the total cost of tuition, fees, housing, and sometimes even travel — are extremely rare. Only about 0.1% of students earn such awards, and they are almost always awarded based on exceptional academic achievement, athletic ability, or demonstrated financial hardship.
In contrast, thousands of students win multiple smaller scholarships through volume-based applications. One notable example involved a student who applied to over 300 scholarships and ultimately secured more than $350,000 in total funding — enough to cover four years of tuition at NYU.
State-by-State Scholarship Availability
The availability and average value of state-funded scholarships vary widely across the U.S. Some states offer robust need- and merit-based programs, while others provide minimal support beyond federal aid.
| State | Avg. Grant Award |
|---|---|
| California | $2,900 |
| New York | $3,150 |
| Texas | $2,200 |
| Florida | $2,500 |
Students attending college in-state are often eligible for additional funding that out-of-state or international students cannot access, making location an important consideration in college affordability.
How to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Scholarship
Although the competition is fierce, students can greatly improve their odds by taking a strategic, proactive approach to the scholarship application process. Based on current trends and data, here are five research-backed tips to boost your success:
- Start early – Begin your scholarship search during junior year of high school or earlier.
- Apply to many – Students who apply to 30+ scholarships have significantly higher success rates.
- Focus on local and niche awards – These tend to have fewer applicants and higher win rates.
- Write strong essays – Personal, compelling stories consistently outperform generic submissions.
- Track deadlines – Use spreadsheets or tools like Bold.org and FastWeb to stay organized.
Conclusion: What Scholarship Statistics Tell Us
The 2025 college scholarship statistics highlight both the opportunities and limitations of scholarships as a means to afford higher education. While millions of scholarships are awarded each year, the majority are for small amounts, and only a small percentage of students receive substantial awards. If you’ve ever wondered, “how many scholarships does the average student get?” or “what percent of students receive scholarships?”, the answer is clear: not many — and persistence is key.
Students who win the most funding are those who treat the process like a part-time job: applying early, applying often, and tailoring each application to the award provider’s goals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What percent of students receive scholarships?
Only about 11% of U.S. undergraduate students receive a scholarship each year. That’s roughly 1 in 11 students, based on 1.7 million scholarship recipients out of 19.28 million enrolled students nationwide.
What is the average scholarship amount in the U.S.?
The average scholarship amount per student is approximately $7,822, though this varies widely by college type and scholarship source. Merit-based scholarships tend to be higher, averaging around $12,000, while community college students typically receive less.
How many scholarships does the average student get?
Students who do receive scholarships typically get just one or two awards, and in most cases, each is worth less than $2,500. Very few students win multiple high-value scholarships.
How many scholarships are awarded each year?
Roughly 1.7 million scholarships are awarded annually in the U.S., including funding from federal programs, private organizations, state grants, and institutional aid offered directly by colleges.
Do scholarships reduce student loan debt?
Yes. Research shows that students who receive scholarships are 20% less likely to take on student loan debt, making them a powerful tool for reducing financial burden after graduation.
What percentage of scholarships go to minority students?
Scholarship distribution by race shows disparities:
- White students: 14.2% receive scholarships
- Black students: 11.4%
- Asian students: 10.5%
- Hispanic students: 9.1%
This gap often stems from access to information, eligibility criteria, and systemic educational inequalities.
Is it true that scholarship money goes unclaimed?
Yes. Every year, an estimated $100 million in scholarship funds goes unclaimed, largely because students either don’t know the funds exist, assume they won’t qualify, or miss application deadlines.
Sources
- EducationData.org
- SearchLogistics
- Bold.org
- National Center for Education Statistics – NPSAS