Meredith Larrabee excelled in high school. She was a National Merit Scholar, a regional science fair winner, a member of National Honor Society, and a leader of almost every science club on campus.

To ensure Larrabee, a chemistry freshman, attended the UA, administrators offered her over $8,000 in scholarships.

In an attempt to be competitive for top students like Larrabee, administrators have to offer more money.

"If we didn't give them merit aid, then they wouldn't come," said Patti Ota, senior vice president and co-chair of the enrollment management policy group.

For that reason, administrators have decided to set aside $4.2 million of next year's tuition revenue for merit aid.

There's a tough competition out there for top students like National Merit Scholars, said Randy Richardson, vice-president of undergraduate education. Now, as Focused Excellence guides UA's academic mission, UA is expanding its recruiting efforts.

This increase in merit aid is an essential part of Focused Excellence, Richardson said.

"Top students improve the whole university," he said.