Ask most successful entrepreneurs the best way to invest in anything and they will tell you…OPM. OPM for the uninitiated investor stands for “other people’s money”, and the same principle is true when it comes time to invest in your child’s college education.

The good news is there are billions of dollars of free need and merit-aid money available to families every year, and the key is to getting that money is knowing how…and where to get it.

For higher income families that don’t qualify for need based aid, there are 63 colleges in the U.S today with endowments over $1billion…any thousands more with money to give.

Listed below is a chart of the top 100 colleges and universities who give merit money. See how many of your target schools are on there:

% of Student Receiving Merit Aid

 

Finlandia University     Hancock, MI	100%
Buena Vista University     Storm Lake, IA	79%
Cooper Union     New York, NY	72%
University of Central Oklahoma     Edmond, OK	60%
University of Colorado–Denver     Denver, CO	58%
New College of Florida     Sarasota, FL	55%
Seton Hall University     South Orange, NJ	52%
Fontbonne University     St. Louis, MO	51%
Denison University     Granville, OH	51%
University of Florida     Gainesville, FL	50%
Hampden-Sydney College     Hampden-Sydney, VA	50%
Valley City State University     Valley City, ND	47%
DePauw University     Greencastle, IN	47%
Truman State University     Kirksville, MO	47%
Trinity University     San Antonio, TX	46%
St. Francis College     Brooklyn Heights, NY	46%
University of Nevada–Reno     Reno, NV	46%
Birmingham-Southern College     Birmingham, AL	45%
Northeastern Illinois University     Chicago, IL	45%
Mayville State University     Mayville, ND	43%
Westminster College     Fulton, MO	43%
St. Augustine’s College     Raleigh, NC	43%
University of Dayton     Dayton, OH	42%
University of Wyoming     Laramie, WY	42%
St. Joseph’s University     Philadelphia, PA	41%
Rhodes College     Memphis, TN	41%
California Lutheran University     Thousand Oaks, CA	41%
College of Wooster     Wooster, OH	40%
Columbus State University     Columbus, GA	40%
Austin College     Sherman, TX	40%
Sweet Briar College     Sweet Briar, VA	40%
Gonzaga University     Spokane, WA	40%
Millsaps College     Jackson, MS	40%
Illinois Institute of Technology     Chicago, IL	40%
Drew University     Madison, NJ	39%
Loyola University New Orleans     New Orleans, LA	39%
Hollins University     Roanoke, VA	39%
Mississippi College     Clinton, MS	39%
Randolph-Macon College     Ashland, VA	39%
St. John’s University     Collegeville, MN	38%
New England Conservatory of Music     Boston, MA	38%
University of Tulsa     Tulsa, OK	38%
Centre College     Danville, KY	38%
University of Denver     Denver, CO	38%
Tulane University     New Orleans, LA	37%
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology     Socorro, NM	37%
Albion College     Albion, MI	37%
Ohio Wesleyan University     Delaware, OH	37%
Ouachita Baptist University     Arkadelphia, AR	37%
Southern Methodist University     Dallas, TX	37%
College of Idaho     Caldwell, ID	36%
Illinois Wesleyan University     Bloomington, IL	36%
Roanoke College     Salem, VA	36%
Huntingdon College     Montgomery, AL	36%
Catholic University of America     Washington, DC	36%
University of South Carolina–Columbia     Columbia, SC	36%
Pacific Union College     Angwin, CA	36%
Westminster College     Salt Lake City, UT	35%
Creighton University     Omaha, NE	35%
Drake University     Des Moines, IA	35%
University of St. Thomas     St. Paul, MN	35%
Berry College     Mount Berry, GA	35%
Cleveland Institute of Music     Cleveland, OH	35%
Wesleyan College     Macon, GA	34%
Transylvania University     Lexington, KY	34%
Mount St. Mary’s University     Emmitsburg, MD	34%
Murray State University     Murray, KY	34%
McDaniel College     Westminster, MD	34%
Mercer University     Macon, GA	34%
Briar Cliff University     Sioux City, IA	34%
Willamette University     Salem, OR	34%
Hillsdale College     Hillsdale, MI	33%
Baylor University     Waco, TX	33%
Menlo College     Atherton, CA	33%
Jamestown College     Jamestown, ND	33%
Eckerd College     St. Petersburg, FL	33%
University of the Ozarks     Clarksville, AR	33%
University of Dallas     Irving, TX	33%
Monmouth University     West Long Branch, NJ	33%
Augustana College     Rock Island, IL	33%
Presbyterian College     Clinton, SC	32%
Southwestern University     Georgetown, TX	32%
Minot State University     Minot, ND	32%
Xavier University     Cincinnati, OH	32%
Chaminade University of Honolulu     Honolulu, HI	32%
University of Rochester     Rochester, NY	32%
Andrews University     Berrien Springs, MI	32%
Missouri Valley College     Marshall, MO	32%
Georgia Institute of Technology     Atlanta, GA	32%
College of St. Benedict     St. Joseph, MN	32%
Adelphi University     Garden City, NY	32%
Gustavus Adolphus College     St. Peter, MN	31%
St. Olaf College     Northfield, MN	31%
William Woods University     Fulton, MO	31%
Stetson University     Deland, FL	31%
Calvin College     Grand Rapids, MI	31%
Randolph College     Lynchburg, VA	31%
Iowa State University     Ames, IA

If you’d like more information on how to maximize your chances for free merit aid, call or email us today. We have lots of families that are paying their college bills with OPM.