Las Vegas, Nevada – September 07, 2026 – Prep Expert, the SAT and ACT test preparation and college admissions company founded by Dr. Shaan Patel, is highlighting the more than $5 billion in merit scholarships available to students across the United States and encouraging families to consider scholarship opportunities as part of their broader college admissions strategy.
More than one million merit scholarships worth over $5 billion are offered in the United States, creating significant opportunities for students to reduce the cost of attending college. Merit-based aid can be awarded based on academic achievement, standardized test scores, talents, leadership, and other accomplishments.
For Prep Expert, the size of the merit scholarship market reinforces the importance of treating college preparation as more than an admissions exercise. The company combines SAT and ACT preparation with college admissions and merit scholarship consulting to help students strengthen their academic profiles while identifying opportunities to make college more affordable.
“Families often focus primarily on getting into college, but where and how students apply can have an enormous impact on what they ultimately pay,” said Dr. Shaan Patel, Founder and CEO of Prep Expert. “With billions of dollars in merit scholarships available, students should be thinking about scholarship strategy alongside test preparation and college admissions from the beginning.”
Patel’s focus on scholarships stems from his own experience as a student. After earning a perfect SAT score, Patel received more than $500,000 in college scholarship offers. He later turned the test preparation strategies he developed into the company that became Prep Expert. The company gained national attention in 2016 when Patel secured a $250,000 investment from Mark Cuban on ABC’s Shark Tank.
Standardized test scores can remain particularly relevant for students pursuing merit aid. While admissions testing policies vary by institution, some merit scholarships consider SAT or ACT scores when determining eligibility or award levels. Prep Expert therefore encourages students to evaluate testing decisions not only through the lens of college admission, but also in relation to potential scholarship opportunities.
Prep Expert’s SAT and ACT courses are taught live online by instructors who have achieved top scores on the exams they teach. Its instructional framework follows a four-step Strategy, Example, Practice, and Review model, with one-on-one tutoring also available for students who need targeted support in particular subjects or testing skills.
The company’s scholarship strategy extends beyond standardized testing. Prep Expert’s college admissions and merit scholarship consulting service helps students develop application timelines, work on essays and activity lists, and identify institutional merit scholarships connected to the college application process. Some of these opportunities can require additional essays, applications, interviews, or honors program submissions that families may otherwise overlook.
Prep Expert says its students have collectively secured more than $100 million in scholarships, while the company has now worked with more than 100,000 students.
By highlighting the scale of merit scholarships available nationwide, Prep Expert aims to encourage more students to consider how academic preparation, standardized testing, college selection, and scholarship strategy can work together to reduce the financial burden of higher education.
About Prep Expert
Prep Expert is a Las Vegas-based SAT and ACT test preparation and college admissions company founded by Dr. Shaan Patel. Patel earned a perfect SAT score and received more than $500,000 in college scholarship offers before developing the strategies that became the foundation of Prep Expert. After securing a $250,000 investment from Mark Cuban on ABC’s Shark Tank in 2016, the company expanded its live online SAT and ACT courses, one-on-one tutoring, and college admissions and merit scholarship consulting services. Prep Expert has worked with more than 100,000 students and helped students secure more than $100 million in scholarships.
Media Contact
Company Name: Prep Expert
Contact Person: Shaan Patel
Email: Send Email
Phone: 1-877-345-7737
Address:930 S. 4th St., Ste 209
City: Las Vegas
State: Nevada
Country: United States
Website: www.prepexpert.com
Press Release Distributed by ABNewswire.com
To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: Prep Expert Highlights More Than $5 Billion in Merit Scholarships Available to U.S. Students
