The University of Texas at Austin is pulling out of the National Merit Scholarship Program to focus on needs-based financial assistance.
In a statement Tuesday, the UT Office of Student Financial Services said budget pressures were prompting the university to end its participation in the merit-based program, which awards scholarships to top high school achievers.
Instead, UT will redirect the scholarship money toward financial assistance programs designed to help students struggling to pay tuition and fees.
UT, with 281 National Merit Scholars last year, was second only to Harvard in the number of National Merit Scholars enrolled.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
