Playbook · Humanities Students
Merit Aid Strategy for Humanities Students
The conventional wisdom says humanities students get less scholarship money. The conventional wisdom is wrong, if you know where to look. Liberal arts colleges fund humanities students as their primary recruitment strategy, and the per-student aid at these schools often exceeds what mid-tier research universities offer anyone.
Humanities students actually have a structural advantage at liberal arts colleges, where 60-80% of the student body majors in humanities or social sciences. At schools like Grinnell, Kenyon, Denison, Sewanee, and Centre College, attracting strong humanities students IS the admissions office’s core mission. These schools set their merit aid budgets to compete for exactly this profile. A 3.8 GPA, 1350+ SAT English major is the demographic they are spending money to recruit. The contrast with large research universities is stark: at a Big Ten school, the engineering college runs its own scholarship committee with industry-funded endowments, while humanities departments compete for a smaller slice of the central merit budget. At a liberal arts college, the entire institutional merit pool is designed around the humanities student. Layer on national programs like the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, the Truman Scholarship ($30,000), and the Beinecke Scholarship ($34,000), and the total available aid for a well-positioned humanities student matches or exceeds what most STEM students see at comparably ranked schools.
Why humanities students need a different school list
The biggest mistake humanities-focused families make is building a college list anchored to the same universities everyone else targets. When a history or English major applies to a large research university, they are competing for institutional merit from the same central pool as every other major, including the engineering students who also have access to departmental money. The humanities student at a Big Ten school gets one shot at the institutional award. The engineering student gets that shot plus a second one from the engineering dean’s office.
At a liberal arts college, the dynamic inverts. There is no engineering college. There is no separate STEM scholarship committee funded by Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The entire merit budget is pointed at the kind of student who wants to study history, English, philosophy, political science, or classics. A student with a strong humanities profile, serious writing ability, and intellectual curiosity is exactly what these schools are spending money to attract. The merit offers reflect that.
Families often dismiss liberal arts colleges because of the sticker price. Kenyon publishes a cost of attendance around $78,000. Denison is similar. Sewanee is roughly $62,000. These numbers trigger the same reaction every time: “We can’t afford that.” What the sticker price does not show is that the average discount rate at these schools exceeds 55%. A student receiving a $35,000 merit award at Denison pays less than $25,000 per year, which is competitive with in-state public tuition in most states. The gap between sticker price and net price at liberal arts colleges is larger than at almost any other category of school.
National humanities scholarships worth targeting
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship. Available at 48 member institutions including many of the top liberal arts colleges and research universities. The fellowship targets students from underrepresented groups who are interested in pursuing doctoral study in the humanities or certain social sciences. Fellows receive research stipends ($4,700+), faculty mentorship, and funded summer research. The long-term value extends beyond the stipend: Mellon Mays fellows receive preference for the Social Science Research Council’s graduate funding and are connected to a network of 5,000+ scholars. Participating schools include Amherst, Swarthmore, Oberlin, Grinnell, Williams, and Bowdoin.
Truman Scholarship ($30,000). Awarded to roughly 60 college juniors annually who demonstrate a commitment to public service and plan to pursue graduate degrees. The $30,000 is designated for graduate study, but the credential opens doors to competitive internships, government positions, and additional fellowship funding. Humanities and social science students make up the majority of Truman Scholars. The application requires a policy proposal, letters of recommendation, and a campus nomination. Start the conversation with your school’s Truman faculty representative by sophomore year.
Beinecke Scholarship ($34,000). Specifically for students planning graduate study in the arts, humanities, or social sciences. Roughly 18-20 scholars selected annually. The $34,000 ($4,000 for senior year and $30,000 for graduate study) is one of the largest awards specifically targeting humanities graduate aspirations. Candidates must be nominated by their institution and demonstrate both academic excellence and financial need. The Beinecke is less well-known than Truman or Goldwater, which means the applicant pool is smaller relative to the award size.
Udall Scholarship ($7,000). For sophomores and juniors committed to careers in environmental policy, tribal public policy, or Native American health care. The Udall targets the intersection of humanities, social science, and environmental or Indigenous policy. Roughly 55 scholars selected per year. The application requires an 800-word essay and three letters of recommendation. Humanities students studying environmental studies, political science, Native American studies, or public policy are strong candidates.
Additional programs humanities students should know: the National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Stipends (for faculty and advanced students pursuing humanities research), the Morris K. Udall Foundation (which funds both the scholarship and internship programs for students in policy and environmental fields), and individual school-specific humanities fellowships that many liberal arts colleges run independently. Kenyon, Sewanee, and Middlebury each operate summer humanities research stipends funded by their own endowments.
Case studies: how the humanities strategy plays out
3.9 GPA, 1420 SAT, strong AP Literature and AP History scores, published essays in school literary magazine, English major, suburban Michigan
Applied to Kenyon College and received the Distinguished Academic Scholarship ($32,000/year). The English department also awarded a named writing scholarship of $3,000/yearbased on the student’s application writing sample. Stacked total: $35,000/year against a $78,000 cost of attendance. With additional need-based aid of $15,000, the family’s net cost came to roughly $28,000 per year. The student had been planning to attend the University of Michigan as an in-state student at $32,000/year. Kenyon came in cheaper than the state school, with a 10:1 student-faculty ratio and access to the Kenyon Review.
Cheaper than in-state public at Kenyon3.7 GPA, 1380 SAT, debate team captain, Model UN, political science major, family income $48,000, Atlanta
Applied to Denison University and was awarded a $36,000/year merit scholarship. The Denison Commitment kicked in for families earning under $60,000, eliminating remaining tuition costs. The student also received a federal Pell Grant ($6,895) and an Ohio state grant. Total annual package exceeded $48,000 against a $72,000 COA. Family out-of-pocket cost: roughly $8,000 per yearfor room and partial board. The same student received $12,000 in merit from Georgia State, which would have cost $14,000/year after aid. Denison’s package was better on both cost and academic fit.
$8,000/year at Denison with stacked merit and need4.1 weighted GPA, 33 ACT, passionate about Southern literature and environmental writing, English and environmental studies double major, Nashville
Applied to Sewanee and was selected as a Wilkins Scholar, covering full tuition plus a summer study-abroad stipend worth roughly $56,000/year in total value. The student also received a $2,500 summer research stipend from the environmental humanities program after freshman year. In sophomore year, the student applied for the Udall Scholarship and won ($7,000), which Sewanee allowed to stack without reducing institutional aid. By junior year, the student’s total aid package including Wilkins, Udall, and departmental stipends exceeded $60,000/year at a school with a $62,000 COA.
Near-full-ride at Sewanee via Wilkins + Udall3.6 GPA, 1340 SAT, editor of school newspaper, AP Government and AP European History (5s), history major, family income $72,000, rural Kentucky
Applied to Centre College and received a $28,000/year merit scholarship. Centre’s need-based aid covered an additional $10,000. The Centre Commitment guaranteed study abroad and an internship, both funded by the college. Total package: $38,000/year against a $56,000 COA. Net cost to the family: roughly $18,000 per year. The student had been accepted to the University of Kentucky with $5,000 in merit, which would have cost $22,000/year after aid. Centre was $4,000/year cheaper with a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, a guaranteed internship, and a study-abroad experience included.
$4,000/year cheaper than state school at Centre15 merit-friendly schools for humanities students
Every school on this list either meets full demonstrated need, offers named merit scholarships that disproportionately favor humanities students, or has a discount rate and merit structure that makes the net cost dramatically lower than sticker for strong humanities applicants. Dollar amounts reflect published scholarship pages and recent Common Data Set reports.
- 1
Williams College
Meets full demonstrated need for every admitted student with no loans in the aid package. Williams eliminates family contribution entirely for households earning under $75,000. Roughly 60% of students receive financial aid. One of the wealthiest per-student endowments of any liberal arts college.
- 2
Amherst College
Need-blind admissions and meets full demonstrated need. No loans in any financial aid package. Families earning under $75,000 pay nothing. Roughly 60% of students are on aid. Amherst’s open curriculum attracts strong humanities students with interdisciplinary interests.
- 3
Swarthmore College
Meets full demonstrated need. McCabe Engineering Scholars and Lang Scholars programs provide additional merit funding. The Honors Program in humanities carries prestige equivalent to a named scholarship and opens doors to funded graduate study. Over 50% of students receive aid.
- 4
Middlebury College
Meets full demonstrated need with no-loan packages for families under $80,000. Middlebury’s language programs, environmental humanities, and international studies are among the strongest in the country. The school funds summer language immersion and research stipends for humanities students.
- 5
Kenyon College
Distinguished Academic Scholarships range from $15,000 to full tuition. Kenyon is one of the most writing-intensive colleges in the country, home to the Kenyon Review, and awards merit aggressively to attract humanities talent. The English department runs its own named scholarship program.
- 6
Sewanee: The University of the South
Wilkins Scholarship covers full tuition plus a summer study-abroad stipend. Benedict Scholars receive $25,000/year. Sewanee’s identity is built on humanities, theology, and environmental studies, and merit aid is targeted accordingly. The school’s Sewanee Review is one of the oldest literary journals in America.
- 7
Grinnell College
Meets full demonstrated need. Merit scholarships of $15,000 to $25,000 awarded to top admits. Grinnell’s $2.1 billion endowment (for roughly 1,700 students) funds one of the most generous per-student aid budgets in the country. The open curriculum and individually advised majors attract intellectually independent humanities students.
- 8
Carleton College
Meets full demonstrated need. National Merit Finalists receive a $2,000 book stipend. Carleton’s strength in writing-intensive disciplines and its close faculty mentorship model make it a top destination for humanities students. Roughly 70% of students study humanities or social sciences.
- 9
Oberlin College
John Frederick Oberlin Scholarship ($15,000-$25,000/year) and other named merit awards target high-achieving humanities students. Oberlin’s Conservatory and College structure means humanities students in the College benefit from a campus culture that values creativity and intellectual depth. Departmental honors carry stipend support.
- 10
Berea College
Every admitted student receives a Tuition Promise Scholarship covering 100% of tuition. Berea charges no tuition to any student. All students work on campus as part of the labor program. Admission is limited to students with demonstrated financial need, and Berea’s humanities programs in Appalachian studies, history, and English are nationally recognized.
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College of Wooster
Merit scholarships range from $20,000 to full tuition. Every student completes a year-long Independent Study thesis, which is mentored one-on-one by a faculty advisor. Humanities students benefit from this research model, and the school awards merit aggressively to build strong cohorts in history, English, and philosophy.
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Denison University
Merit scholarships from $20,000 to $40,000/year. The Denison Commitment caps family costs based on income: families earning under $60,000 pay zero tuition. Strong humanities departments in English, philosophy, and political science. Denison’s discount rate exceeds 60%, meaning most students pay far less than sticker.
- 13
Rhodes College
Bellingrath Scholarship covers full tuition, room, and board for top admits. Cambridge and Morse Scholarships range from $20,000 to $28,000/year. Rhodes’s location in Memphis provides access to internships at cultural institutions, and the British Studies at Oxford program funds summer study abroad for humanities students.
- 14
Furman University
Merit scholarships from $18,000 to full tuition. The Furman Advantage program guarantees every student a funded internship, research experience, or study-abroad opportunity. Humanities students in the Furman Scholars program receive additional stipends for summer research. Strong departments in history, political science, and religion.
- 15
Centre College
Merit scholarships range from $22,000 to full tuition for the top admits. Brown Fellows receive a full-ride package plus funded study abroad. Centre’s humanities core is the backbone of its curriculum, and the school’s small size (roughly 1,400 students) means merit dollars are concentrated. The Centre Commitment guarantees graduation in four years, a study-abroad experience, and an internship.
The liberal arts discount rate advantage
The single most important number in the humanities merit aid conversation is the institutional discount rate. This is the percentage of published tuition that the average student does not pay. At private liberal arts colleges, the national average discount rate now exceeds 55%. At the most merit-aggressive schools, it approaches 65%.
What this means in practice: a school with a $60,000 published tuition where the average student pays $27,000 is functionally a $27,000 school, not a $60,000 school. The high sticker price exists because the school uses it to create large merit awards that make admitted students feel valued and recruited. A $30,000 scholarship sounds dramatic. At a school with a 55% discount rate, it is the average package.
Humanities students benefit from this dynamic more than any other group, because the schools with the highest discount rates are disproportionately liberal arts colleges where humanities is the dominant major category. A humanities student who targets three or four merit-generous liberal arts colleges with discount rates above 50% is almost guaranteed to receive at least one offer that brings net cost below $20,000 per year. That number is competitive with in-state public tuition in 40 of 50 states.
Writing as a scholarship tool
Humanities students have one asset that STEM students generally do not bring to scholarship applications: exceptional writing. This matters more than most families realize, because nearly every merit scholarship at a liberal arts college is awarded through a process that weighs the application essay heavily.
At Kenyon, the Distinguished Academic Scholarship reviewers have said publicly that the writing sample is the most important differentiator among applicants with similar GPAs and test scores. At Sewanee, the Wilkins Scholarship selection includes an interview and a written component. At Rhodes, the Bellingrath selection process includes an on-campus finalist weekend with timed writing exercises.
A humanities student who invests serious time in the application essay, the supplemental writing samples, and any optional portfolio submissions has a structural advantage in the merit aid process at these schools. This is not about length or vocabulary. It is about voice, specificity, and the ability to construct an argument that the reader remembers. That skill is what four years of reading and writing in the humanities develops, and it translates directly into scholarship dollars at schools that care about it.
Frequently asked questions
Do humanities majors get less merit aid than STEM majors?
Not at liberal arts colleges, where humanities IS the institution. At schools like Grinnell, Kenyon, Denison, and Sewanee, the majority of students major in humanities or social sciences, and the entire merit aid budget is designed to attract those students. Humanities majors may receive less departmental aid at large research universities where engineering colleges run separate scholarship pools, but the institutional merit awards at liberal arts colleges are often larger per student than what mid-tier research universities offer anyone. The key is targeting the right type of school.
Are liberal arts colleges worth the sticker price?
Almost never at sticker price, but sticker price is not what most families pay. The average discount rate at private liberal arts colleges now exceeds 55%, meaning the typical student pays less than half the published cost. Schools like Grinnell, Denison, and Centre College routinely offer merit packages of $25,000 to $40,000 per year to students they want to enroll. A student with a 3.8 GPA and a 1400 SAT who targets three or four merit-generous liberal arts colleges will almost certainly receive at least one offer that brings net cost below $20,000 per year. That is competitive with in-state public tuition in most states.
Can humanities students get departmental awards?
Yes, though the structure differs from STEM. Instead of engineering-college scholarship committees, humanities departments at liberal arts colleges often award named prizes, honors program stipends, and writing fellowships. At Kenyon, the English department awards multiple named scholarships. At Sewanee, the humanities program funds summer research stipends. At Oberlin, departmental honors carry stipend support. These awards are smaller than engineering departmental scholarships at large universities, typically $1,000 to $5,000, but they stack with institutional merit and are less competitive because fewer students apply.
What about double majors with STEM?
A double major that includes a STEM field can open both scholarship pools. A student majoring in English and computer science at a liberal arts college can apply for institutional humanities awards, CS departmental funding, and STEM-specific outside scholarships. At a research university, the same student might access both the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Engineering scholarship committees if the double major spans both colleges. The strategy works best at schools that permit cross-college double majors without restricting which scholarship pool the student draws from.
MeritPlaybook builds a school-by-school scholarship strategy for humanities students, including liberal arts college merit awards, national humanities fellowships, departmental writing scholarships, and the discount rate analysis that reveals where the real value lives. Every playbook is personalized to the student’s academic interests, writing strengths, and target schools. Start a personalized playbook, or see a real sample to understand what the deliverable looks like. For the foundational concepts behind these strategies, see our guides on how merit aid stacking works and building a college list for merit aid. Browse school-by-school merit aid pages to research specific programs.