National Scholarships tend to vary drastically in the amount awarded. However, some of these scholarships can be very large in the amount they award students.
Students typically compete for these opportunities on a national level.
However, these scholarships don't always have a lot of applicants, especially those with smaller amounts.
Never pay for scholarship information! There are many great resources families can utilize for free.
Typically a student may receive most of their scholarship award opportunities from a College or University directly.
This includes the Office of Admissions, Financial Aid, Major Specific, Alumni Associations, and other departments.
These opportunities are why we encourage families to look at all types of colleges and not focus on the "sticker price" in the application process.
Many private/outside/merit scholarships also require completing the FAFSA.