What other types of aid are available?

Scholarships are another source of aid that can be used to pay for college. It is money for college that you will not be expected to repay. The amount of the scholarship award can range from paying for your books to paying for tuition.

Scholarships come from a variety of sources: colleges, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, religious groups, or professional organizations.

These sources offer scholarships for a variety of reasons. Some are offered to students that have financial need. Some scholarships have academic requirements like a certain GPA or enrollment in a particular major. There are athletic, music, and art scholarships. There are scholarships for minorities and first generation students; and some for students with certain community affiliations or religious affiliations.

Because scholarships are offered for different reasons and by many sources, it is important that you understand that each scholarship has its own requirements and deadlines, so you should begin searching for scholarships as soon as possible. You should also know that in most instances you should not have to pay to apply for a scholarship.

For more information about federal student aid, visit www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov or call 1-800-4-FED-AID. To find information about other kinds of aid, including scholarships, try the following resources:

• If you’re in high school, start with your high school counselor. Many counselors have lists of scholarships and other aid that students can apply for.
• Next, the financial aid office at the college you plan to attend is an important place to search for information. The financial aid administrator can tell you about financial aid available from the college itself, as well as other sources.
• Visit www.studentaid.ed.gov and use our free Scholarship Search to look for scholarships you might qualify for. You can also click on MyFSA to customize your search.
• Check with foundations and civic groups.
• Check with local, community, religious, and ethnicity-based organizations, or organizations (including professional associations) related to your field of interest, such as the American Medical Association or American Bar Association.
• Check with your employer and/or your parents´ employers.
• Check with your union and/or your parents´ unions.
• Check with other federal government agencies (including the military, if appropriate)
• Check with state education agencies. For a list visit www.studentaid.ed.gov.
• Visit your local library´s reference section (look under "student aid" or "financial aid").
• Look for programs such as Upward Bound, Talent Search, or GEAR UP. Ask your high school counselor whether you are eligible to participate in one of these programs.
• Lastly, you can use the Internet to find other free scholarship search services.