The Impact of Scholarships on Students’ Academic Performance: A Case of Tertiary Institutions in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

Scholarships are awarded based on various criteria, which usually reflect the values and purposes of the donor

or funder of the award. Therefore, in a bid to verify the impact of scholarships on students’ academic

performance using tertiary institutions in Enugu State, Nigeria as a case study, the study utilised survey data

generated from 540 questionnaires distributed among student in twelve (12) higher institutions in Enugu State,

Nigeria. The propensity score matching model was adopted for the study and the results indicated that students’

academic performances significantly increase with an increase in the award of scholarships. The results also

suggested that with scholarships academic performance of students in higher institutions in Enugu state would

decreases by 13% but will rise by about 87% if the scholarships are given to indigent students’. There is need

for increased award of scholarships to students from poor background and not to students from high socio-

economic status by the government, Non-governmental organizations, and other philanthropist to alleviate the

challenge. Government should revitalize the giving of bursary awards to students from their respective states

that are in higher institutions, be it private or public. Essentially, scholarships should be awarded to people who

are poor and find it difficult to pay tuition fees, eat at least two times per day, and also who find it difficult to

clothe themselves.