Raleigh, North Carolina — USA
Meredith College
A women's college in Raleigh, NC where a full ride exists ONLY through a competitive named merit award — the Meredith Full-Ride Merit Scholarship, which needs a separate application. Standard first-year merit is automatic but tuition-only ($20,000–$27,000/year), leaving a real housing and living gap. Meredith does NOT meet 100% of demonstrated need.
Last updated July 2026. Always confirm details on the school's official page before applying.
Meredith College is a women's college in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it is genuinely accessible — freshman acceptance runs around 73% overall. But be clear-eyed about how the money works, because Meredith is not a 'meets 100% of demonstrated need' school. A true full ride exists for international freshmen ONLY, and only through one competitive, named merit award: the Meredith Full-Ride Merit Scholarship (offered on Presidential and Alumnae Legacy tracks). It covers 100% of tuition, residence-hall housing, meals, books, and mandatory fees, plus funding for international study — but it requires a separate, dedicated application (a professional resume, a specialized essay, and two recommendations), and the elite cohort that wins it is far more competitive than the ~73% general rate. If you don't win the full ride, the standard first-year international merit scholarship is automatic — but it is only $20,000–$27,000 per year and covers TUITION ONLY, so you would still face a significant out-of-pocket gap for housing, meals, and living costs. International transfers are accepted but receive no full funding at all: they get only standard transfer merit ($10,000–$15,000/year, not covering housing or meals) and are strictly excluded from the Full-Ride Merit Scholarship. Because Meredith is a women's college, admission is for applicants who identify as women.
At a glance
- SAT Required
- No — Meredith is completely test-optional. Not submitting SAT or ACT scores puts you at no disadvantage for admission or for standard merit scholarships. Submit them only if you feel they strengthen your application.
- English Proficiency Required
- Required only if the most recent language of instruction at your high school was not English. In that case Meredith requires TOEFL iBT (minimum 79), IELTS Academic (minimum 6.0), Duolingo English Test (minimum 105), or PTE (minimum 52). If your high school instruction was in English, no English test is required.
- Apply With CSS Profile
- No — Meredith does NOT use the CSS Profile. To be considered for institutional aid you instead complete the free Meredith Application for Institutional Aid (download it, scan it, and email it to finaid@meredith.edu).
- CSS Fee Waiver
- Not applicable — there is no CSS fee to waive, because Meredith doesn't use the CSS Profile at all. The Meredith Application for Institutional Aid is free.
- CSS Waiver Type
- No CSS — free Meredith aid form. Rather than the CSS Profile, download the Meredith Application for Institutional Aid, complete and scan it, and email it to finaid@meredith.edu at no cost.
- Acceptance Rate (Freshman)
- ~73% overall — very accessible for admission. Note the elite full-ride merit cohort is far more competitive than this general rate.
- Application Fee (Freshman)
- $40 — a waiver is available through the Common Application with counselor verification of financial hardship.
- Transfer Students
- Accepted, but with NO full funding. International transfers receive only standard transfer merit ($10,000–$15,000/year, which does not cover housing or meals) and are strictly EXCLUDED from the Full-Ride Merit Scholarship. Minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.0 required.
- Acceptance Rate (Transfer)
- ~58–65%
- Application Fee (Transfer)
- $40 — applies via the Common App for Transfer.
Meredith Full-Ride Merit Scholarship (Presidential & Alumnae Legacy tracks)
Merit-based · Bachelor's
What it covers
- 100% of tuition
- Residence-hall housing
- Meals
- Books
- Mandatory fees
- Funding for international study
Who qualifies
International FRESHMEN only — offered on two tracks, Presidential and Alumnae Legacy. This is the only route to a genuine full ride at Meredith, and winning it is far more competitive than the ~73% general admission rate. It requires a SEPARATE, dedicated application beyond your admission materials: a professional resume, a specialized essay, and two recommendations. International transfer students are strictly excluded. Because Meredith is a women's college, admission is for applicants who identify as women.
Key deadlines
How to apply
- 1Apply for first-year admission through the Common Application ($40 fee — a hardship waiver is available with counselor verification).
- 2Submit official, officially translated high school transcripts.
- 3Submit English proficiency scores (TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS Academic 6.0, Duolingo 105, or PTE 52) if the most recent language of instruction at your high school was not English.
- 4Complete the separate, dedicated Full-Ride Merit Scholarship application: a professional resume, a specialized essay, and two recommendations.
- 5Complete the free Meredith Application for Institutional Aid (download, scan, and email it to finaid@meredith.edu) if you are seeking funding — there is no CSS Profile.
Standard First-Year International Merit Scholarship (tuition-only)
Merit-based · Bachelor's
What it covers
- $20,000–$27,000 per year toward TUITION ONLY
- Does NOT cover housing, meals, or living costs — expect a significant out-of-pocket gap
Who qualifies
International first-year students are automatically considered based on their admission application — no separate form required. This is what you receive if you do not win the Full-Ride Merit Scholarship. Because it is tuition-only, you should budget for a significant out-of-pocket gap covering housing, meals, and living expenses. Meredith does not meet 100% of demonstrated need.
Key deadlines
How to apply
- 1Apply for first-year admission through the Common Application — the standard merit award is automatic, with no separate application.
- 2Submit official, officially translated high school transcripts.
- 3Submit English proficiency scores if the most recent language of instruction at your high school was not English.
- 4Complete the free Meredith Application for Institutional Aid (email to finaid@meredith.edu) if seeking additional institutional aid — there is no CSS Profile.
Standard Transfer Merit Scholarship (tuition-only, transfers)
Merit-based · Bachelor's
What it covers
- $10,000–$15,000 per year toward tuition
- Does NOT cover housing or meals — no full funding for transfers
Who qualifies
International transfer students. Meredith accepts international transfers but gives them only this standard transfer merit — they are strictly EXCLUDED from the Full-Ride Merit Scholarship, so there is no path to a full ride as a transfer. A minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.0 is required. Transfer acceptance runs ~58–65%.
Key deadlines
How to apply
- 1Apply through the Common App for Transfer ($40 fee).
- 2Submit all college transcripts and your high school transcripts.
- 3Meet the minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.0.
- 4Submit the College Official Recommendation Form.
- 5Submit English proficiency scores if the most recent language of instruction was not English.
- 6Complete the free Meredith Application for Institutional Aid (email to finaid@meredith.edu) — there is no CSS Profile.
Good to know
- Meredith is a women's college in Raleigh, North Carolina — admission is for applicants who identify as women.
- Be honest with yourself about the money: Meredith does NOT meet 100% of demonstrated need. A full ride exists for international freshmen ONLY, and ONLY through the competitive, named Meredith Full-Ride Merit Scholarship, which needs a separate application (resume + specialized essay + two recommendations).
- If you don't win the full ride, standard first-year international merit is automatic but only $20,000–$27,000/year and TUITION ONLY — you'll still face a significant out-of-pocket gap for housing, meals, and living costs.
- Admission is very accessible (~73% overall for freshmen), but the elite full-ride cohort is far more competitive than that general rate.
- No CSS Profile — free Meredith aid form. Instead of the CSS Profile, download the Meredith Application for Institutional Aid, scan it, and email it to finaid@meredith.edu at no cost.
- English test is required ONLY if the most recent language of instruction at your high school was not English (TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS Academic 6.0, Duolingo 105, or PTE 52). If you were taught in English, no test is required.
- Completely test-optional: not submitting SAT/ACT is no disadvantage for admission or for standard merit.
- Transfers get NO full ride: international transfers are accepted (~58–65%) but receive only standard transfer merit ($10,000–$15,000/year, not covering housing or meals) and are strictly excluded from the Full-Ride Merit Scholarship. Transfer checklist: Common App for Transfer, all college transcripts, high school transcripts, minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.0, the College Official Recommendation Form, English proficiency scores if applicable, the free Meredith Application for Institutional Aid, and a $40 transfer fee.
Frequently asked questions
Does Meredith College give full scholarships to international students?
Yes, but only in one specific way. A true full ride exists for international freshmen ONLY, through the competitive, named Meredith Full-Ride Merit Scholarship (Presidential and Alumnae Legacy tracks), which covers 100% of tuition, residence-hall housing, meals, books, mandatory fees, and funding for international study. It requires a separate, dedicated application — a professional resume, a specialized essay, and two recommendations. Meredith is NOT a 'meets 100% of demonstrated need' school; if you don't win the full ride, standard merit is tuition-only.
What do I get if I don't win the Meredith full-ride scholarship?
Standard first-year international merit, which is automatic (no separate application) but only $20,000–$27,000 per year and covers TUITION ONLY. That leaves a significant out-of-pocket gap for housing, meals, and living costs. Meredith does not meet 100% of demonstrated need, so budget for that gap before you commit.
Does Meredith College require the SAT for international students?
No. Meredith is completely test-optional, and not submitting SAT or ACT scores puts you at no disadvantage for admission or for standard merit scholarships. Submit them only if you feel they strengthen your application.
Does Meredith College require an English proficiency exam for international students?
Only if the most recent language of instruction at your high school was not English. In that case Meredith requires TOEFL iBT (minimum 79), IELTS Academic (minimum 6.0), Duolingo English Test (minimum 105), or PTE (minimum 52). If your high school instruction was in English, no English test is required.
Does Meredith College use the CSS Profile?
No. Meredith does not use the CSS Profile at all. To be considered for institutional aid, you complete the free Meredith Application for Institutional Aid instead — download it, complete and scan it, and email it to finaid@meredith.edu. There's no fee, so there's nothing to waive.
What is Meredith College's acceptance rate?
Freshman admission is about 73% overall, which is very accessible. Keep in mind the elite cohort that wins the Full-Ride Merit Scholarship is far more competitive than that general rate. Transfer admission runs roughly 58–65%.
Does Meredith College accept international transfer students with full funding?
No. Meredith accepts international transfers (roughly 58–65% acceptance), but they receive only standard transfer merit of $10,000–$15,000 per year, which does not cover housing or meals, and they are strictly excluded from the Full-Ride Merit Scholarship. There is no path to a full ride as a transfer. You'll need the Common App for Transfer, all college transcripts, high school transcripts, a minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.0, the College Official Recommendation Form, English proficiency scores if applicable, and the free Meredith Application for Institutional Aid. The transfer application fee is $40.
What do I need to apply for the Meredith full-ride scholarship as a freshman?
Apply for first-year admission via the Common Application (the $40 fee can be waived with counselor hardship verification), submit official, officially translated high school transcripts, and English proficiency scores if your most recent language of instruction was not English. Then complete the separate, dedicated Full-Ride Merit Scholarship application: a professional resume, a specialized essay, and two recommendations. If you're seeking any funding, also submit the free Meredith Application for Institutional Aid to finaid@meredith.edu — there is no CSS Profile.
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