If you’re planning to enroll in college and you’re looking for ways to pay for tuition, scholarships are one of the best forms of financial aid available.
Scholarships are free money for college that you don’t have to pay back. These cash awards are most often given to eligible students at participating schools, but there are also other scholarships awarded by state programs, private organizations, and community organizations to eligible students.
Remember, you should never have to pay to search for or apply for scholarships. Be sure to verify that any scholarship opportunity is legitimate before providing personal information or submitting an application. That said, here are some places you can find scholarships to help you pay for your college education.
1. The Financial Aid Department at Your Chosen College
Many colleges, universities, and career colleges fund scholarship programs using their own budget. To find out which scholarships, grants, and other financial aid programs are available at your selected college, contact their financial aid department and get in touch with a financial aid counselor.
2. StudentAid.gov
The federal government has definitive information on what scholarships are available through the US Department of Education and other sources. They can provide tons of sources on which scholarships are available, where to find them, and how to apply. Visit StudentAid.gov to find more information on scholarships.
3. US Department of Labor Free Search Tool
The Department of Labor has a free Scholarship Finder search tool that will show you what scholarships are available, and you can filter your search by level of degree type, award type, where you live, and required affiliation (for marginalized students).
4. Your State Contact For the Department of Education
Your home state has a contact for higher education, which can be found here on the USDoE website. They will be able to guide you to any available scholarships being offered to eligible students from the state. These are almost always facilitated through federally-supported state programs to help students pay for college.
5. Local and Community Organizations
Some niche scholarships are offered by local non-profit organizations, community organizations, civic associations, and employers (for family members of employees). Some local Chambers of Commerce or Rotary clubs also offer scholarships for eligible relatives of members. Research what locally-funded scholarships are available in your area, what qualifications must be met, and how to apply.
6. Online Scholarship Aggregators
There are other websites which compile information about scholarships, such as Scholarships.com, BigFuture, and Appily. The scholarships featured on these sites tend to be niche scholarships, but also include localized, affiliation-based, merit-based, and need-based scholarships. Remember, legitimate scholarship opportunities should never require you to pay a fee to search for or apply for them.
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Researching Scholarships
The most reliable sources of scholarship information will be your college’s financial aid department, and the federal and state government agencies, such as the Department of Education. Local and community scholarships are worth looking into, though the cash awards may not cover your full tuition. If you’re applying for several scholarships, it may be useful to keep track of each in a spreadsheet. Remember, every scholarship dollar you earn can help reduce your educational costs and make college more affordable.
Questions about Financial Aid?
If you want to learn more about financial aid as it relates to Campus and our online degree programs, give Financial Aid a call at (888) 675-2460 or send an email to financialaid@campus.edu and we’ll be happy to help!
And if you’d like to give yourself a head start, read up on opportunities available to Campus students on our Tuition page.
Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Eligibility for federal, state, institutional, and other financial aid programs is determined according to applicable program requirements. Award amounts and availability vary based on individual circumstances.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. Scholarship programs, eligibility requirements, award amounts, application deadlines, and selection criteria are determined by the sponsoring organization and may change without notice. Receipt of a scholarship is not guaranteed, and eligibility varies by program. Students should consult the sponsoring organization, StudentAid.gov, and their school’s financial aid office for the most current information.