Scholarships & Financial Aid

FAFSA Money Mondays from 3-6PM 

FAFSA helpers are ready to help students and parents get their FSA ID and/or complete the FAFSA. This is also a great resource available for students and families to simply ask questions about college, state and/or federal financial aid.

LOG IN LINK: https://qrco.de/beYIXs



UNM’s Financial Aid Office provides FAFSA Workshops for all NM Seniors and their families! 

Families and students can schedule 1:1 appointments on Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday evenings or get virtual walk-in assistance on Monday – Thursday. You don’t have to be attending UNM to get FAFSA help! All high school students and families are welcome!

Sign up to get FAFSA help here.



Sallie Mae’s Step-by-Step Guide to Filling out the New FAFSA!

The wait is almost over, and although the release of the FAFSA is imminent, there is still a lot of angst surrounding the questions and how to answer them. That’s why Sallie Mae developed a free FAFSA Guide to help give you a sneak preview of the questions and, just as important, a guide as to how to answer them based on your situation. The guide covers:

Student information

Student financial information

Student spouse information

Parent information

Other parent information

Preparer information

This sounds great, but I don’t really have the time to review this right now, and anything FAFSA isn’t exactly light reading. They get it, which is why they made the guide easy to search, and broken it up into sections based on roles. Go ahead and click here, hit the ⭐ next to the web address on your browser, and come back when you have time or when you need it.



SCHOLARSHIPS



Seniors - New Mexico Educational Assistance Foundation FAFSA Scholarship, apply now!

NMEAF is pleased to continue offering FAFSA $500 scholarships to high school seniors for the class of 2024.  

Complete your FAFSA first then register for the scholarship. Students only need to apply once and your registration will remain in the pool every month for this year's scholarship awards.


To be eligible for the scholarship, students must have completed the FAFSA.


Two winners will be selected every month.


Apply for the scholarship here:

https://www.nmeaf.org/plan-pay-for-college/scholarships/fafsa-scholarship/



Juniors - The Cameron Impact Scholarship (full ride!), due 5/22

This prestigious scholarship offers a four-year, full-tuition undergraduate award to 10-15 exceptional high school students annually. Recipients demonstrate outstanding leadership, community service, extracurricular involvement, and academic excellence.

Whether you’re passionate about social change, environmental sustainability, or any other impactful cause, this scholarship could be your ticket to making a real difference.

Application Deadline: 

Early Application Deadline is May 22

Regular Application Deadline is September 5

Eligibility Criteria: 

Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.7/4.0 or equivalent in high school

Be a U.S. citizen

Graduating high school in 2025

Planning to enroll full-time in an accredited four-year U.S. college or university after graduation

Click here to learn more and apply!



Seniors - Sussman-Miller Educational Assistance Fund, due 6/6

This program provides financial assistance to address the ‘gap’ in financial aid packages for both students graduating from high school and those continuing their education. For graduating high school seniors who will attend a New Mexico public college/university and any student already attending college in OR out-of-state.

Students must qualify for financial aid. Only financial aid gaps between $500 and $8,000 will be considered.


Summer Deadline: Thursday, June 6, 2024 | 5:00pm MST


Apply here:

https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=ACFS



Andrew Piech Memorial Scholarship, due 6/6

Providing assistance to students in the field of Automotive Technology and related Applied Technologies. To qualify, students must pursue a degree or certificate from a nonprofit, public, automotive, or technical vocational institution, including community colleges.

Learn more and apply here:

https://abqcf.org/scholarships-for-new-mexico-high-school-students/



Davis-Kozoll Scholarship, due 6/6

Providing scholarships to students seeking a higher education for the following purposes: Applicant may pursue a master’s, bachelor’s or associate degree in a science and/or human service discipline without consideration of planned career location OR ALTERNATIVELY applicant may pursue a degree or technical or vocational certificate or diploma for use in any planned trade or career in a northwest New Mexico community.

Learn more and apply here:

https://abqcf.org/scholarships-for-new-mexico-high-school-students/



James Knott Memorial Scholarship Fund Sponsored by the New Mexico Manufactured Housing Association, due 6/6

Providing assistance to New Mexico graduating high school seniors residing in a manufactured home.

Learn more and apply here:

https://abqcf.org/scholarships-for-new-mexico-high-school-students/



Nina J. Wing Scholarship, due 6/6

Providing assistance to students previously in foster care who are currently attending or will be attending Central New Mexico Community College.

Learn more and apply here:

https://abqcf.org/scholarships-for-new-mexico-high-school-students/



David R. Woodling Memorial Scholarship, due 6/6

Providing assistance to students who are or will be attending an accredited nonprofit or public educational institution and who are pursuing a certificate or degree in a metals technology program with a concentration in machine tool technology and welding.

MLearn more and apply here:

https://abqcf.org/scholarships-for-new-mexico-high-school-students/



Youth in Foster Care Scholarship Fund, due 6/6

Providing assistance to young adults who have been in the New Mexico foster care system who want to develop a marketable skill or continue their education at a post-secondary school.

Learn more and apply here:

https://abqcf.org/scholarships-for-new-mexico-high-school-students/



Globe Runner Scholarship Fund, due 6/6

The Globe Runner Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to underserved, highly motivated high school students from Abq and the surrounding area to help them build a global vision through participation in global education and international exchanges in countries around the world. International learning builds world language skills, strengthens confidence and independence, and expands individual horizons.

Learn more and apply here:

https://abqcf.org/scholarships-for-new-mexico-high-school-students/



James Ledwith Memorial Scholarship Fund, due 6/6

Providing assistance to students who have faced an extraordinary life challenge and have continued to pursue a life dream with hope, faith and courage in spite of the adversity. The scholarship is for post-secondary education in pursuit of their life dream and professional goal.

Learn more and apply here:

https://abqcf.org/scholarships-for-new-mexico-high-school-students/



Jonathan Sherman Spradling Memorial Scholarship Fund, due 6/6

Providing assistance to graduating high school seniors who can demonstrate their experience with volunteerism and community service. Preference will be given to those who reside in Valencia County, NM.

Learn more and apply here:

https://abqcf.org/scholarships-for-new-mexico-high-school-students/



Kiwanis Club of Albuquerque Scholarship Fund, due 6/6

Providing assistance to graduating students with strong community service experience and strong academic records from an Albuquerque metro area high school, (includes Bernalillo, Sandoval Valencia and Torrance Counties) who are planning a career in child development and/or teaching.

Learn more and apply here:

https://abqcf.org/scholarships-for-new-mexico-high-school-students/



Manuel Lujan Excellence in Education Scholarship Fund, due 6/6

Providing assistance for graduating seniors from 24 designated central New Mexico high schools attending a New Mexico four-year college or university. Each designated high school selects one student for a $500 per year award, renewable for a total of four years of undergraduate studies.

Learn more and apply here:

https://abqcf.org/scholarships-for-new-mexico-high-school-students/



Susie Kubié Symphonic Music Scholarship, due 6/6

Provides scholarships to deserving young students who have participated in the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program and who intend to pursue a degree in music. One new and/or renewing scholarship of up to $4,000 will be awarded annually.

Learn more and apply here:

https://abqcf.org/scholarships-for-new-mexico-high-school-students/



Woodcock Family Education Scholarship Program, due 6/6

Providing assistance to Albuquerque and surrounding areas graduating seniors of exceptional promise in the fields of science and math.

Learn more and apply here:

https://abqcf.org/scholarships-for-new-mexico-high-school-students/



Seniors - The Lariat Future Innovators Foundation STEM Scholarship, due 6/15

The Lariat STEM Scholarship Program was created for students between ages 18 to 24, who are from low-income families in rural areas, to pursue their passion in math and science.

Learn more and apply here:

https://lariatfoundation.org/scholarships/




Military Scholarships, due dates vary

Many students don't realize that their spouse and/or parents' jobs could impact their scholarship search! This especially holds true for children and spouses of military service members. 

Create an account and search Fastweb’s scholarship site here



No Debt/No Loan Colleges!

While many schools do include loans as a means of paying for their programs, there are also no loan colleges out there that meet 100% of demonstrated financial need - entirely student loan-free!


Read a list of no loan colleges:

https://thescholarshipsystem.com/blog-for-students-families/a-complete-list-of-no-loan-colleges-and-what-it-means-to-your-student/


Tuition-Free Higher Education for Every New Mexican!

State helps New Mexicans navigate tuition-free college with new website.

https://www.reachhighernm.com/ is a one-stop resource that guides New Mexicans to learn more about the New Mexico Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships, search and apply to public colleges and universities, and helps students maximize scholarship opportunities.


NM Opportunity Scholarship 

What is Tuition-Free College?

*Per residency standards set by the New Mexico Higher Education Department. 

Questions? You may reach NMHED at fin.aid@state.nm.us or 1-800-279-9777



Albuquerque Community Foundation Scholarships

Albuquerque Community Foundation has over 24 separate scholarship and student aid programs to help New Mexico residents attain their educational goals.

Albuquerque Community Foundation Scholarships

has an online scholarship process. See the full list of scholarships here:  https://abqcf.org/scholarships/


To make your application process easier and more efficient, you will need to take an eligibility quiz prior to receiving the full application. To create a student account, visit our Student Portal

Questions regarding your application? Contact us.


APS Scholarship Site

APS provides a spreadsheet containing local, statewide, regional, and national scholarships, as well as scholarship search engines and financial aid information. Visit the APS Scholarship site to view a list of scholarship opportunities. 


New 2021 Scholarship Resources Video presented by Debra Chandler, a La Cueva College Counselor!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysronzOJ3pk



The NM Educational Assistance Foundation (NMEAF) has Provided a Scholarship Resource Page!

Click here for valuable information about local & national scholarships, the lottery and more!

https://www.nmeaf.org/scholarships


The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Want to play college sports? Creating an account in high school is the first step to becoming an NCAA student-athlete. 

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a member-led organization dedicated to the well-being and lifelong success of college athletes. NCAA schools award nearly $3.5 billion in athletic scholarships every year and provide vast support to help student-athletes graduate at a rate higher than their general student peers.  

Register here:

https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/




10 Sites to Kick Off Your Scholarship Search

Going Merry

A popular site recommended by independent college admissions counselors is Going Merry, which aims to simplify scholarship applications for students. Signing up is free, but students can also check to see how much they're eligible for in scholarships without signing up. According to the website, students have won upward of $40,000. "I recommend this for students due to its user-friendly platform, which simplifies the scholarship application process and aggregates numerous scholarship opportunities in one place," Denard Jones, lead college counselor at college admissions consulting company Empowerly, wrote in an email. "It offers a time-efficient approach, allowing students to focus more on their studies and extracurricular activities while pursuing valuable merit aid opportunities."


Scholarships.com

This website helps students discover scholarships they qualify for, organize their matches and apply for those scholarships. The recently redesigned website has helped streamline the process even more, says Kevin Ladd, chief operating officer and co-creator of Scholarships.com and a former U.S. News contributor. Ladd says the platform prioritizes legitimacy, accuracy and ease of function for users."If you found it on Scholarships.com, it is safe to apply for it," Ladd wrote in an email. "We thoroughly vet each one, ensuring it’s legit and there are no fees associated with applying. Daily, we are looking at these and checking them against the URL associated with them, looking at the deadline and dollar amount, filtering, etc. and emailing or calling the provider if necessary to ensure timeliness and accuracy."


Scholly

You may have heard about the Scholly app through the television show "Shark Tank," where founder Christopher Gray shared how he earned $1.3 million in scholarships thanks partly to applying to virtually every scholarship he qualified for. He found that for many of the scholarships he won, he was one of a few applicants or the only applicant. Financial management company SoFi estimates $100 million in scholarship money goes unclaimed each year, and Gray says he created Scholly to help students find that money. Now owned by educational lender Sallie Mae, the app is free and helps students identify scholarships based on their academic profile and demographics. “A lot of students are taking on way more debt than they have to,” Gray says. “That’s mainly because they don’t know these scholarships exist."


Fastweb

Fastweb is another free scholarship search provider that claims to have a database of 1.5 million college scholarships worth over $3.4 billion. Owned by Monster.com, Fastweb also offers college planning resources and financial aid information.

READ: Avoid These 7 Mistakes When Applying for Scholarships. "I like it because it’s got such a huge database," says Monica Matthews, author of "How to Win College Scholarships: Guides for Parents and Students in 10 Easy Steps." Matthews helped her three sons win tens of thousands of dollars in college scholarships through websites like Fastweb. Fastweb is "the most comprehensive website for students to find scholarships," says Christopher Rim, founder and CEO of admissions consulting firm Command Education. Like many scholarship websites, Fastweb may send a lot of emails after you sign up, so Matthews recommends creating an email address specifically for scholarship searches so that your primary email inbox doesn't get flooded.


BigFuture

A platform created by the College Board, BigFuture allows students to search for scholarships and get help paying for college. The website claims to have a database of more than 24,000 scholarships that award more than $1.5 billion annually. The website allows students to create a profile and get matched with scholarships they qualify for. "I recommend it to high schools because it offers a reliable tool for accessing essential information on both self-help and gift aid search processes," Jones says.


RaiseMe

The majority of scholarships are awarded to high school seniors, but RaiseMe advertises scholarships available to students as early as their freshman year. The website matches students with micro-scholarships, which RaiseMe defines as "a small grant that you can earn during high school or community college and put towards tuition at a four-year college or university." Students must create a profile on the website and enter their grades, hobbies, honors, awards, community service and other achievements. From there, they can potentially earn money from one of the 300 colleges that RaiseMe partners with. On average, students who use RaiseMe and meet standard eligibility requirements for a college earn $25,000 in micro-scholarships over four years of high school, according to the website.


Appily

Previously known as Cappex, Appily is another free resource that allows students to search both schools and scholarships that they qualify for based on their personal profile and demographics. You can search for scholarships based on your year in school, and after you complete a short questionnaire, the site filters schools and scholarships that may be applicable.

Read: A Guide to Scholarships for International Students."This platform provides a comprehensive scholarship database, aiding students in identifying financial aid opportunities to support their search for affordability in a personalized way by matching opportunities with student preferences," Jones says. "It also features college reviews from actual students, offering valuable insights into campus life, academics and extracurriculars."


Niche

Along with searching for scholarships, Niche.com allows students to gain a sense of a school's "personality" by reading student reviews, Hartley says. Similar to other websites, Niche matches students with scholarships that match their qualifications and provides essay-free scholarships, which some students may prefer.


Unigo

Unigo is another website that pairs students with scholarships that fit their profile. The website has more than 3.6 million athletic, merit-based and company-sponsored scholarships and grants in its database, as well as 650,000 college reviews, statistics and other data points to use when vetting schools. Users can check each month to find new scholarships that fit their profile, with some applications taking just a few minutes to complete.


Scholarships360

After struggling to find scholarships on their own, brothers Will and Brian Geiger launched Scholarships360 in 2010 to help students find money for college. Since then, the website has offered a free database of thousands of scholarships that can be filtered by grade and demographic, plus scholarships that are easy to apply for and don't require an essay. A new site feature is that all scholarships are now 'ungated' so that students don't need to sign up," company CEO Will Geiger wrote in an email. "We think that this makes Scholarships360 particularly student-centric as students can go directly to the scholarship website. They can also use our app to check their eligibility and get matches."


10 - 12 Grade - Enter the Big Futures Scholarship, Win up to $40,000

Earn entries in monthly drawings for $500 and $40,000 scholarships by completing steps on BigFuture. Log in to your CollegeBoard account, complete steps on your dashboard, and earn entries to win. One step completed = one entry in each monthly scholarship drawing. There are scholarship drawings starting January of your sophomore year until February of your senior year.

No essay, no minimum GPA or test score, no citizenship requirements. Just follow the steps for chances to win! The more steps you complete and earlier you start, the more chances you have to win. If you win, your scholarship can be used at any two- or four-year college. If you don’t win, your entry rolls over for the next month.

Register here.



Cappex

Cappex is a website that matches students up with potential scholarships and also helps them discover and learn about different colleges.

Cappex, like Fastweb and Going Merry, will recommend colleges for students to apply to based on their profile. It also has a comprehensive database of colleges with information about the average net price of a college, acceptance rate, application deadlines and post-grad statistics to help you choose which college is a good fit. 

The website makes a point to educate students about the college process. It has quizzes that help students understand what college majors they might be interested in and explains specific majors. Discover Cappex here:

https://www.cappex.com/



Fastweb Scholarship Search by Interest

Today's students have many interests and Fastweb has scholarship opportunities that match. These new articles bring together some of the most popular interests for students today:

College Athletic Scholarships

Click here

Scholarships for Studying Abroad

Click here

Military Scholarships

Click here

Fastweb’s National Scholarship Directory has more scholarships by category. There are opportunities for all student interests at all school levels:

National Scholarship Directory

Click here



Sallie Mae’s Scholarship Search

Scholarship Search connects students to scholarship opportunities based on their hobbies and interests. The database now has more than 6 million college scholarships worth up to $30 billion!



Breaking Down the Types of Scholarships Available to Students

Unlike loans, scholarships do not need to be paid back and they often focus on different aspects of a student’s background, from academic achievements to athletic talents. College Ave compiled a list of the different kinds of scholarships that are available to students beyond filling out the FAFSA.

Read more here 


FINANCIAL AID


The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

What is the FAFSA: The FAFSA is your application for grants (free money), work study (money you earn), and loans (money you pay back). Every student should complete this application, regardless of her or his family's financial status. FAFSA information determines the amount each student is eligible to receive from a broad range of financial aid, including federal and state grants, federally-subsidized student work-study, and/or loans.


Every senior should plan to complete the FAFSA! 


Read about how financial aid works:

https://studentaid.gov/h/understand-aid/how-aid-works



Financial Aid Glossary; Learn the Lingo!

FAFSA, net price, priority date — you may come across some unfamiliar terms as you start looking into and applying for financial aid. Here’s a glossary to help you make sense of it all.

Award Letter

The document you receive from a college that explains the terms of the financial aid that the college is offering you. The information includes the types and amounts of financial aid offered, what you’re expected to do to keep the award and a deadline for accepting the award.

Bursar

The college official responsible for handling billing and payments for tuition, fees, housing and other related expenses.

College Credit

When a college grants credit for a course, it means that passing that course counts toward a degree. Colleges may also grant degree credit for scores on exams.

Cost of Attendance

The total amount of college expenses before financial aid. Cost of attendance includes money spent on tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and living expenses.

CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®

A financial aid application used by more than 300 colleges, universities and private scholarship programs to award their financial aid funds. The College Board offers this service. Read more about the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE.

Demonstrated Need

The difference between your expected family contribution (EFC) and the total cost of attendance for a particular college.

Enrollment Status

A classification based on the number of credit-hours you're taking; for example, your enrollment status may be full-time or half-time. Some loans or aid may be available only to students with a certain enrollment status, usually half-time or more.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

A measure of your family’s financial strength. States and colleges use this number to help determine your financial aid award. The EFC is calculated using information you supply about your family’s financial circumstances. Read about the EFC.

Financial Aid

Money given or loaned to you to help pay for college. Financial aid can come from federal and state governments, colleges, and private and social organizations. Learn about financial aid options.

Financial Aid Office

A college office that serves as a resource for students who need help paying for college costs. Financial aid officers can help you to apply for and receive grants, loans, scholarships and work-study employment. The financial aid office may also offer programs to help you manage your money.

Financial Aid Officer

College employees trained to help students and families apply for and receive grants, loans, scholarships and work-study employment. They can answer questions about ways to make college more affordable.

529 Savings Plans

State-sponsored investment plans — officially called qualified tuition programs (QTP) — that help families save money for college. The plans have tax benefits so your savings can grow faster. The money in the accounts can be used only for education expenses.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The free application form you submit to apply for federal financial aid. It is required for all students seeking federal student grants, work-study programs and loans. Most colleges require it as well. The FAFSA may also qualify you for state-sponsored financial aid. Read more about the FAFSA.

Grant

A kind of "gift aid" — financial aid that doesn’t have to be paid back. Grants are usually awarded based on need. Learn more about gift aid.

Loan

Money you borrow from the government, a bank or another source. Loans need to be paid back, usually over an agreed period of time. You will most likely also have to pay interest on a loan — a fee for borrowing the money. Learn about Your College Loan Options.

Merit Aid

Financial aid given to students based on their personal achievements. Most scholarships are considered merit aid, as they are generally awarded for success in school, the arts, athletics or another area.

Need-Based Financial Aid

Financial aid (grants, scholarships, loans and work-study opportunities) given to students because they and their families are not able to pay the full cost of attending a certain college. This is the most common type of financial aid.

Need-Blind Admission

A policy of making college admission decisions without looking at applicants’ financial circumstances. Colleges that use this policy may not offer enough financial aid to meet a student’s full need.

Net Price

Net price is the true amount a student will pay for a college.

Colleges use “net price” to mean the published price of tuition and fees for a college minus the amount of gift aid and education tax benefits a student receives. Another common definition of “net price” is the full cost of attendance at a college (including room and board, supplies, and other expenses) minus the gift aid and education tax benefits.

Net Price Calculator

An online tool that gives you a personalized estimate of what it will cost to attend a specific college. Most colleges are required by law to post a net price calculator on their websites.

Outside Scholarship

Also called “private scholarship.” A scholarship offered by a private organization — not the government or a college. Outside scholarships are offered by all kinds of groups, individuals, corporations and nonprofit organizations.

Priority Date

The date by which your application – whether it’s for college admission, student housing or financial aid – must be received to be given the strongest consideration. Since financial aid is often limited, meeting the priority date is important to be eligible to receive funds.

Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)

A program offered by the military and available at some colleges. ROTC offers scholarships to students who agree to serve in the military after they graduate. Some ROTC four-year scholarships cover full tuition and fees. The program combines a military education along with college study leading to a bachelor’s degree.

Residency Requirements

The amount of time a student has to live in a state before he or she is eligible for in-state tuition prices and state aid.

Scholarship

A kind of "gift aid" — financial aid that doesn’t have to be paid back. Scholarships may be awarded based on merit or partially on merit. That means they’re given to students with certain qualities, such as proven academic or athletic ability. Learn more about gift aid .

Student Aid Report (SAR)

The report sent to your family after you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that tells you what your expected family contribution (EFC) is.

Transcript

The official record of your course work at a school or college. Your high school transcript is usually required as part of your college application and for some financial aid packages.

Undergraduate

A college student working toward an associate degree or a bachelor's degree.

Work-Study

A program that allows students to take a part-time campus job as part of their financial aid package. To qualify for the Federal Work-Study Program, which is funded by the government, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Some colleges have their own work-study programs.

From https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/financial-aid-101/financial-aid-glossary-learn-the-lingo


Financial Aid To-Do List

9th Grade 

10th Grade 

11th Grade

12th Grade 




SALLIE MAE’S PAYING FOR COLLEGE RESOURCE

Sallie Mae created the Paying for College Resource which delivers free, easy to understand information and resources so students and families are confident they have everything they need to figure out how they'll pay for school:


For more information click on this link.