Low-income students are at particular risk of not earning a certificate or degree, often because of competing priorities, financial pressures, and inadequate preparation for college. One form of financial assistance designed explicitly to reward academic success among low-income students is a performance-based scholarship, paid contingent on attaining academic benchmarks. Unlike merit-based aid, performance-based scholarships focus on current and future performance rather than earlier accomplishments. They are paid directly to students rather than to institutions and supplement federal Pell Grants and state aid.