Scholarships
Scholarships & Grants
Billions in scholarship money goes unclaimed every year. Here's how to find it, apply for it, and win it.
Grants vs. Scholarships: What's the Difference?
Grants
Awarded primarily based on financial need. The most common federal grants:
Pell Grant, up to $7,395 (2025)- Federal SEOG Grant
- TEACH Grant (future teachers)
- Iraq & Afghanistan Service Grant
- State-specific grants (Cal Grant, etc.)
Scholarships
Awarded based on merit, identity, or achievement. Types include:
- Academic achievement / GPA
- Athletic performance
- Community service
- Ethnicity, religion, or heritage
- Field of study / intended major
- Employer or community organization affiliation
- Essay or creative competitions
Where to Find Scholarships
Free Online Scholarship Databases
- Fastweb.com — largest free scholarship search database
- Scholarships.com
- Cappex.com
- BigFuture (College Board)
- Going Merry
- Scholly app
Your School & Community
- High school counselor's bulletin board
- Local community foundations and civic organizations
- Rotary Club, Lions Club, Knights of Columbus
- Local businesses and chambers of commerce
- Religious organizations and church affiliations
- Employer HR departments (many offer employee family scholarships)
Target the College Directly
- Institutional merit scholarships (often automatic with application)
- Departmental scholarships within your intended major
- Alumni association scholarships
- Honors program scholarships
- Diversity and first-generation scholarships
Tips for Winning Scholarship Applications
Apply Wide and Early
Treat scholarship applications like a part-time job. Apply for every scholarship you qualify for, even small ones — $500 here and $1,000 there adds up. Small local scholarships have far less competition than national ones.
Tailor Every Essay
Never submit a generic essay. Scholarship committees can tell. Research the organization awarding the scholarship and tailor your story to their values and mission. Why does this scholarship matter to you specifically?
Tell a Specific Story
Winning essays are specific and personal. Don't write about 'helping people in general.' Write about one person, one moment, one experience that shaped your goals. Specificity is memorable. Generalities are forgettable.
Answer the Prompt: Exactly
Many applicants drift from the prompt. Read the question multiple times. Answer it directly. Then proofread — spelling errors in scholarship essays signal a lack of effort.
Get Strong Recommendation Letters
Choose recommenders who know you personally, not just formally. A teacher who has seen you persevere through challenges is more powerful than a principal who barely knows you. Give recommenders plenty of time and context.
Build a Compelling Activities Resume
Leadership positions, consistent involvement, and measurable impact matter more than a long list of superficial activities. One deep commitment is worth more than ten shallow ones to scholarship evaluators.
Scholarship Scams: Red Flags to Avoid
Legitimate scholarships never:
- ✗Require a fee to apply or to receive funds
- ✗Guarantee you'll win before applying
- ✗Ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card
- ✗Contact you out of nowhere saying you've won something you didn't apply for
- ✗Pressure you to decide immediately
How Scholarships Affect Financial Aid
Outside scholarships can sometimes reduce your institutional financial aid package, a phenomenon called "scholarship displacement." If your aid package already covers your full demonstrated need, the college may reduce their institutional grants to compensate for outside scholarships. It's important to report all scholarships to the financial aid office (it's required), and to understand how your specific school handles this.
Some colleges have "scholarship stacking" policies that are more generous than others. Part of the college selection strategy should include comparing schools' outside scholarship policies.
Build Your College Funding Strategy
Scholarships, grants, financial aid, and savings strategies work best in combination. Randall Parker can help your family build a comprehensive plan to minimize out-of-pocket college costs.
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