Scholarships are free money for college (doesn't need to be paid back)! There are tons of scholarships out there on many different topics. Take time to research and apply to scholarships that are a good fit for you (scholarships based on identity, interests, academics, leadership experience, and more).
A college scholarship is money for college expenses that does not have to be paid back. You can get a scholarship for different reasons: good grades or test scores, a special talent like in music or sports, or a specific characteristic.
Scholarships may range from a few hundred dollars up to the full cost of attendance. You may have to use a scholarship at a specific college or it may be "portable," meaning that you can use the funds at any college.
Most commonly, scholarships can cover tuition and fees. Sometimes scholarships can also cover housing and other educational. These expsnes can be covered fully or partially. These are the common scholarship amount types:
Full-tuition Scholarships: these cover the entire tuition fee for a course duration. (Sometimes can cover full cost of attendance, which includes tuition, fees, housing, meal plan, etc.)
Partial Scholarships: only a part of the tuition fee is covered, which could be a fixed amount or a percentage of the total cost.
Renewable Scholarships: these are awarded yearly and renew or repeat every year, provided the student maintains the requisite academic standard.
One-time Grants or scholarship: a single financial grant or scholarship awarded for a specific academic year or term.
This is the best-known type of scholarship and is awarded to students based on their superior achievements in academia, art, or other similar fields. Many merit-based scholarships look for academic excellence. Common criteria for these scholarships include GPA above a certain limit, minimum score for standardized testing, course-specific achievements for subject-specific scholarships. Beyond how well they do academically, many students excel in specific fields and show potential that can genuinely impact our society. In recognition of this talent, many institutions offer scholarships based on research, artistic, or athletic achievements, community involvement, etc. Merit-based scholarships aim to recognize the hard work and dedication of students.
Submitting the FAFSA or ORSAA is often required for these scholarships, even if need is not a scholarship criteria. For that reason, we recommend every student considering college submit the FAFSA/ORSAA, even if they think they are not eligible for need-based aid.
This type of scholarship helps students from families with low income get a fair shot at higher education, regardless of their economic background. Demonstrating a low income is a mandatory condition, but such scholarships often have second selection criteria, which can be one of the merit-based categories.
Submitting the FAFSA or ORSAA is almost always required for these scholarships and is how financial need is determined.
These are scholarships awarded directly from the colleges you apply to and can only be used at the university offering the scholarship. The criteria by which universities offer scholarships are usually academic excellence, level of study, , nationality, program of study, and family income. Typically, students are automatically considered for these scholarships upon applying to that university, but there are some university scholarships that require an additional application, so it is always important to research scholarships at the universities you are apply to so you make sure you don't miss important scholarship deadlines.
Submitting the FAFSA or ORSAA is often required for these scholarships, even if need is not a scholarship criteria. For that reason, we recommend every student considering college submit the FAFSA/ORSAA, even if they think they are not eligible for need-based aid.
This is where organization and research really come in! There are countless scholarships from outside organizations with varying topics, focuses, criteria, etc. For these scholarships, it can be helpful to consider your experience, academics, interests, background, etc, and find scholarships that meet one or more of those characteristics. Types of organizations that might award scholarships include:
Your High School or School District
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Non-Profits
Professional and Trade Associations
Corporations and Businesses
Community and Civic Groups
Religious Organizations
Foundations
Military and Defense Organizations
Individuals
Labor Unions
Cultural or Ethnic Groups
Sports Organizations
Because there are so many scholarships out there, it’s likely that many you find will align with your interests, background, and goals. Taking a moment to reflect on these things before starting your search can help you narrow down which you will and won't apply for. What is your identity and how does that impact your values? What do you want to study in college? What causes do you believe in? What are your academic and career goals? What have you been involved in during high school? What matters to you? What is unique about you? No matter your answers, there’s a scholarship out there for you!
Pay attention to requirements. Only apply for scholarships you are eligible for. Many scholarship search engines let you filter by specific criteria.
Focus locally. The more local the scholarship, the more likely you are to win! Check in with your college & career center, explore the OSAC scholarship catalog, and use our calendar of Oregon scholarships.
Look at your college. Some colleges award scholarships automatically. Others need an extra application.
Search nationally. There are many free websites to search for scholarships. For those that need a log in, be aware that they may sell your information.
Give yourself time for research! It can take time to find scholarships that are a good fit and apply, but it's worth it!
Make a list. Keep track of scholarships and deadlines. Here's a scholarship template you can copy to help organize your list.
Plan ahead. Some scholarships ask for essays, letters of recommendation, or other information from you or your school.
Treat it like a part-time job. Set aside time each week and apply to as many scholarships as you can!
Start now. Scholarship deadlines happen all year long, so it's always a good time to start. Some scholarships are also open to younger students.
See Lincoln Database of Financial Aid Resources and Upcoming Scholarships: bit.ly/LHSScholarships23-24