How To Pay For College

Find scholarships to pay for college expenses!

After you've researched and applied for financial aid from grants, you should apply for scholarships to help pay your expenses.  Like grants, college scholarships are another form of financial aid that doesn't have to be paid back. There are several types of scholarships available to help you pay your college expenses.  A "merit scholarship" is defined as "financial aid provided to a student on the basis of academic grades or achievements", and is granted to students who have achieved high grades or who show exceptional scholastic aptitude. There are also college scholarships for students that aren't based on grades or scholastic achievements and are granted to those with with certain qualifications, such as artistic or athletic skills, living in a certain place, financial need, being part of a specific minority, and more. You can also find scholarships that are granted based on your field of study, such as sports scholarships, business scholarships, arts scholarships, community scholarships, and many more scholarships available to someone willing to take the time to apply. 

Another form of financial aid is Fellowships. A fellowship is defined as "money granted (by a university or foundation or other agency) for advanced study or research". College scholarships and fellowships can help pay for college, and are "free money", in that you don't have to pay it back. In order to qualify or apply for some scholarships, you may have to write an essay or other piece of literature. Here are some sample scholarship essays and scholarship essay tips to get you started.

There are college scholarships awarded based on many different criteria. A common misconception is that you have to be a straight-A student to receive a scholarship. You can also qualify for a scholarship based on some of the following criteria:

• Where you live,
• What you intend to study
• Where you intend to go to school
• Being a member of an underrepresented group
• Being able to demonstrate financial need
• Athletic ability
• Artistic ability
• and even which college you plan on attending.

Another common misconception is that only low-income or applicants with a severe financial need will qualify for college scholarships. Merit Scholarships are awarded to admitted students without regard to financial need. To specifically search for merit based scholarships, visit our partner MeritAid.com - The Web's first comprehensive directory of $11 Billion in merit scholarships from colleges.

There are local, national, and college-specific scholarships available for industrious students looking for ways to pay for their education.

Here are some scholarships being awarded based on specific criteria:

College Scholarships by Degree

• $1000 Computer Careers Scholarship
• Entry Deadline March 31, 2010
• If you are interested in studying computer-related fields in college, this computer careers scholarship is for you.
• $1000 Cutting-Edge Careers Scholarship
• Entry Deadline April 30, 2010
• The scholarship is for students pursuing skills within in-demand careers and will be awarded to a student with a well-rounded profile and a passion for a specific career path
• $1000 Health Career Scholarship
• Entry Deadline April 30, 2010
• If you seek to gain the skills to work in the growing field of health care and careers such as nursing, medical assistant, veterinary technologist, or dental assistant, this scholarship is for you.

College Scholarships for Minorities

• United Negro College Fund
• Various scholarships offered to UNCF Members or students attending UNCF Colleges.
• AARP Foundation
• Applications will be accepted February 1, 2010 until March 31, 2010.
  Scholarship awards ranging from $500 to $5,000 for women over 40 who are able to demonstrate financial need.
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund
• The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is the nation's leading organization supporting Hispanic higher education. There are several different scholarships you can apply for.
• Jeannette Rankin Foundation
• Applications are now available for the 2010 school year. The deadline is to have applications postmarked by March 1, and the selected scholars will be announced by July 1.
  The Jeannette Rankin Foundation provides scholarships for low-income women, age 35 or older. You must be a U.S. citizen.
• Scholarships4Moms.net
• Entry Deadline February 1, 2010
  Scholarships4Moms.net is offering a $10k scholarship for single or married Moms. You must be at least 18 years of age to enter.

College Scholarships for Christian Schools

• $1,000.00 Seminary & Graduate School Scholarship Drawing
• Entry Deadline May 31, 2010
  The scholarship recipient must be taking classes at a Christ-centered seminary or Christian graduate school within 16 months of being notified by The Christian Connector, Inc. that he/she has won
• $1,000.00 Christian Distance Learning Scholarship Drawing
• Entry Deadline May 31, 2010
  The scholarship recipient must be enrolling for course(s) with a Christ-centered Christian college, Bible College, Seminary or Christian Graduate School within 16 months of being notified by The Christian Connector, Inc. that he/she has won the drawing.
• $2,500 Christian College Scholarship
• Entry Deadline May 31, 2010
  The scholarship recipient must have plans to enroll for the first time as a full-time student at a Christ-centered Christian college or Bible college within 16 months of being notified by The Christian Connector, Inc. that he/she has won the drawing.

General College Scholarships

There are also scholarships that aren't based on your aptitude, or your financial situation. Just apply, and you could win a free scholarship. This money can be used for tuition, computers, books, housing, or just about anything you want. Here are some Free Scholarships that are being given away.  Be sure and register for as many as you can! There's no limit to the amount of scholarship money you can receive.

For even more scholarships, visit ScholarshipExperts.com. They are a reputable company, use an award-winning matching technology, and have a scholarship database of over 2.4 million awards that are highly accurate and up-to-date. This service for US and international students planning to study in the U.S. has been endorsed by Kaplan, Sallie Mae's College Answer, and other educational companies. Visit ScholarshipExperts.com today to start your scholarship search!

There are several "off-line" places you can check to find scholarships and fellowships too. Your school guidance counselor should be able to provide a list of grants and scholarships that you can apply for. You can also check with the financial aid offices of the colleges and universities that you are considering. They should be able to provide you with scholarship application forms. The internet is also a great place to find scholarships. You should also be wary of anyone that wants to charge you to find scholarships, or offers to "get" a scholarship for you. Be sure you know how to avoid scholarship scams.

After you've applied for Grants and scholarships, you may still have college expenses that you're not quite ready or able to pay for. Student Loans provide low interest rate loans that can often be paid back after your graduate. You may also consider a student job to generate extra money for college expenses or social and living expenses.