Not-So-Full-Ride Scholarship: Analysis of Merit-Based Aid GPA Renewal Requirements

Authors

Samuel Brown, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

3-15-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Citation

Brown, S. C. (2021). Not-so-full-ride scholarship: Analysis of Merit-based aid GPA renewal requirements. Undergraduate Honors Thesis. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Comments

Copyright Samuel Brown 2021.

Abstract

This paper examines the potential consequences of the 3.50 GPA renewal requirement for the Regents Scholar Tuition Commitment (RSTC) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). To examine these potential outcomes, I’ve synthesized several studies of Georgia’s Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) program. Additionally, I sought to compare the RSTC with other similar programs at UNL’s peer Big Ten institutions. To accomplish this, I compiled and analyzed public information on merit-based programs at the 14 Big Ten schools from their university websites. In doing so, I found that the RSTC is in the lowest quartile in terms of value to the student, is tied with 2 other programs for having the highest GPA renewal requirement and is awarded to a relatively large number of students: 964 in 2020.