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has ranked �԰����� the No. 2 college in the nation for “best colleges for merit aid.”

Merit aid constitutes grants awarded on the basis of academic accomplishment, such as test scores and GPA, as opposed to family income. At �԰�����, 49 percent of students receive merit awards, which is only two percent away from the No. 1 spot. These awards average around $20,459 per year, which covers a substantial portion of the total sticker price of roughly $58,200 for the 2018-19 school year.

MONEY’s database includes more than 700 colleges that match academic quality with affordability. The ranking took into account the size of the average grant, the percentage of total cost of attendance covered by the average grant, and the share of students who receive merit aid. These parameters yielded a list of top ten colleges where an average of 35 percent of students receive merit aid grants worth an average of $22,000 per year, and �԰����� landed at the No. 2 position on this selective list.

�԰����� awards a range of renewable merit-based scholarships for incoming first-year students based on their high school GPA and standardized test scores. The Murchison Scholarship, for example, grants recipients $26,000 a year. In addition, �԰����� extends invitations to Murchison Scholars and other top applicants to compete for a full-tuition scholarship at the �԰����� Tower Scholars Day competition prior to matriculation. Not only is this is an exciting part of �԰�����’s tradition, but it also stands out as a unique opportunity among undergraduate institutions across the nation due to the chance of getting the full tuition cost covered.

In addition to scholarships for incoming students, �԰����� offers specialized merit scholarships such as the Semmes Distinguished Scholar in Science Award, a full-tuition award for students interested in STEM fields, the Storer & Tillman Scholarship for Developing Christian Leaders for students who demonstrate financial need and dedication to being leaders in the context of their faith, the Baker Duncan Fine Arts Scholarships that award up to $10,000 for students exceptionally talented in art, music, theater, or debate, and the �԰����� National Merit Scholarship of $2,000 for National Merit Scholars that list �԰����� as their top choice.

�԰����� recognizes that affording college can be a daunting idea for many families and is a key factor when it comes to deciding which college to attend. �԰�����’s strong merit aid is driven by the philosophy that a top-quality education should be accessible for all students motivated enough to make their college aspirations a reality. �԰����� is proud to have established a culture of meritocracy over the years that continues to encourage and reward hard work.

�԰�����, San Antonio’s premier liberal arts and sciences university, is proud to mark its 150th anniversary of academic excellence in 2019. As one of the nation’s top undergraduate institutions, the University is known for its challenging and supportive academic environment, personalized attention from outstanding faculty, large school resources, post-graduate preparation, and vibrant campus life. �԰����� encourages students to discover, grow, and become global citizens engaged with the community and the world. �԰�����’s 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students come from 47 states and 63 countries. Students choose from 47 majors, 59 minors, and five graduate programs that integrate conceptual and experiential learning, emphasize undergraduate research and develop strong leadership skills to accelerate what’s next. Discover more about �԰�����.