Scholarships
Scholarships likely won't cover all of the expenses of college, but they can add up and shouldn't be discounted! There are tons of different types of scholarships--see which ones could be a good fit for you!
How do I find scholarships?
Look for institutional scholarships first. Explore your prospective colleges’ websites and portals (after you have been accepted) to find scholarships that match you. If accepted, you are more likely to get these scholarships than ones you find in a national search. In addition to the individual school’s website, you can call the financial aid office. Have specific questions based on your research online, before calling.
Think local. Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, Lions Clubs, Chamber of Commerce, churches, local businesses, parents’ places of employment, etc. Many civic organizations will either have a scholarship or know of a scholarship. Deadlines for these are typically during the spring. Local scholarships are also much less competitive, and they add up!
Look through College Board's BigFuture and CFNC. Local scholarships can be found on CFNC. Make sure to check BigFuture and CFNC during winter and early spring for updates on county scholarships.
Do NOT pay for a scholarship search OR to apply to a scholarship. Scams exist. Avoid them.
No scholarship is too small. They all add up.
Apply to several. If you want to give yourself the best chance to earn scholarship money, find specific scholarships that match your profile (demographic, background, career goals, etc.) and apply to multiple.
Be aware. Money earned through private scholarships (any scholarship not funded by the prospective college or the government) may not increase your overall aid. Colleges might use private scholarship amounts to decrease the loans, grants, or work study they give or assign you.
Ask financial aid offices if they "stack." Some colleges allow students to "stack" their scholarships up to the cost of attendance, while others will reduce institutional financial aid (grants, loans, and student employment) if a student receives outside scholarships.