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Financial
Aid and Scholarships |
How can you pay for college or university? There are
hundreds of Web sites that provide information. Remember
to speak with your guidance counselor and contact the
college or university to learn about addiitional resources.
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Federal Financial Aid Resources
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Students are eligible for a variety of federal financial aid resources. Link to each Web site to find out additional information.
U.S.
Department of Education Free Application for Federal
Student Aid
This site provides an electronic form you must complete
in order to receive Federal Student Aid. You can submit
this form by mail or at this site using the Internet.
Federal Pell Grant
A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree. (A professional degree would include a degree in a field such as pharmacy or dentistry.) For many students, Pell Grants provide a foundation of financial aid to which other aid may be added.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
A Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need--that is, students with the lowest Expected Family Contributions (EFCs)--and gives priority to students who receive Federal Pell Grants. An FSEOG doesn't have to be paid back.
Federal Perkins Loan
Federal Perkins Loans are low-interest loan (currently 5% -- the lowest of any educational loan program) for undergraduate and graduate students with exceptional financial need. These loans also offer generous repayment conditions. You don't start repaying the loan, or interest on the loan, until you finish school or drop below half-time status. And, you are given a 9-month grace period before you have to start your repayments. Under certain conditions, you can stop repaying your loan for a short period of time and finish repaying it later.
Federal Stafford Loan
Formerly called the Guaranteed Student Loan Program, Stafford loans are low-interest loans available to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at least half-time, without regard to financial need. Federal Stafford Loans let students borrow money for educational expenses directly from commercial lenders such as banks, credit unions, savings and loan associations, and other lending institutions, or, for colleges participating in the Federal Direct Student Loan (FDSL) Program, from the U.S. government. Stafford loans can be either subsidized or unsubsidized.
The Student Guide: Financial Aid from the U.S. Department of Education
The Student Guide is the most comprehensive resource on student financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education. It covers the Department's major aid programs, including Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, and PLUS Loans. You can apply for these programs online using FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Approximately 70% of all student aid comes from the programs discussed in the Guide. If you have any questions about the Guide, or wish to obtain additional information on student financial assistance, you may contact your high school guidance counselor, the financial aid officer at the postsecondary school you plan to attend, or call the Department's toll free student information hotline at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
| State
Financial Aid Resources |
Each state has its own programs to assist students to get into college.
College Savings Plans Network
Source for state-operated college savings programs. These programs, directed by non-profit state organizations, offer tremendous tax benefits to families.
Savingforcollege.com
Every state offers college savings plans. Find out about the plans that are offered in your state.
| Additional
Financial Aid Resources |
College Board: Paying for College
The College Board's site can help you figure out what college really costs, and
what you can afford.
FinAid
This is one of the most comprehensive sites for demystifying the financial aid
process. It has a great section of frequently asked questions and answers.
Hobson's Publishing Company: Financial Aid Office
CollegeView's Financial Aid Office offers extensive information and tools designed to help you determine and understand the costs associated with higher education.
U.S. News and World Report
U.S. News and World Report provides extensive information about financial aid.
SallieMae
This is a comprehensive source of information about paying for college with
particular emphasis on borrowing money. There is a scholarship search as
well as numbers for counselors and parents to call with financial aid questions.
NellieMae
This is a good source for information on student loans
available through Nellie Mae.
| Scholarships
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Actuarial
Scholarships for Minority Students
AFL-CIO:
Union Sponsored Scholarships and Aid
American
Indian College Fund
With the support of corporations, foundations
and 100,000 individual Americans, the College
Fund has become the nation's largest provider
of privately-funded Indian scholarships. While
this success has helped thousands of students
fulfill their dreams, there is still much more
work to do to address unmet scholarship and facilities
needs.
Ayn
Rand Essay Scholarships
Bell
Labs Fellowships for Underrepresented Minorities
BOEING
scholarships (some HBCU connects)
Burger
King Scholarship Program
Citizens' Scholarship
Foundation of America
Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America is the nation's largest nonprofit,
private-sector, scholarship and educational support organization. Go
to Dollars for Scholars section.
College
Board Scholarship Search
Easley
National Scholarship Program
fastWEB.com
A scholarship search engine that prompts users to enter information about
themselves, including area of study, and responds with an appropriate
list of available scholarships. (Free registration is required in order
to use the database.)
Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA)
Aviation education scholarships and grants
Finaid: The Financial
Aid Information Page
Links to funding sources such as scholarships, fellowships, and grants,
some of which are focused toward those with particular needs or interests
such as disabled, minorities, and international students.
Be sure you view Finaid's information on how to identify potential scholarship
scams at www.finaid.org/finaid/scams.html.
The
Foundation Center
This site describes an extensive list of books on where to find scholarships.
Free-4-U.com
College scholarship, fellowship and financial
aid information
The Gates Millennium
Scholars Program
This scholarship is provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
It supports minorities who want to pursue a career in the science and
engineering. You can download an application from the Web site.
GE
and LuLac Scholarship Funds
Guaranteed
Scholarships
Hispanic Scholarship
Fund
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is the largest Hispanic scholarship-granting
organization in the nation. HSF recognizes and rewards outstanding Hispanic
students in higher education throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.
These students represent every region of the country, hundreds of institutions
of higher learning and every segment of the Hispanic community. Founded
in 1975, HSF has awarded more than 52,000 scholarships totaling more than
$80 million.
Historically
Black College & University Scholarships
Holocaust
Remembrance Scholarships
Horatio
Alger Association for Distinguished Americans
This is a scholarship site that includes helpful tips about applying to
college. In addition to scholarships based on academics, this organization
also offers a scholarship for students who have overcome a life hardship.
International
Students Scholarships & Aid Help
Jacki
Tuckfield Memorial Graduate Business Scholarship
(for
AA students in South Florida)
Maryland
Artists Scholarships
Microsoft
Scholarship Program
National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People
The Youth and College Division offers workshops
for college bound students focusing on financial
aid, curriculum selection and scholarship applications.
Presidential
Freedom Scholarships
ROTC
Military Scholarships (Navy, Army, Marines, Airforce)
Saul
T. Wilson Scholarships (Veterinary)
ScienceWise:
The Workplace for Science and Engineering
Students can search for scholarships using the minority on-line information
service.
Scholarships.com
College scholarship and financial aid search
Siemens
Westinghouse Competition
Sports
Scholarships and Internships
SRN Express
College scholarship and financial aid search
Student
Inventors Scholarships
StudentRewards.com
College scholarship and financial aid search
Thurgood
Marshall Scholarship Fund
United
Negro College Fund
The United Negro College Fund's mission is to
enhance the quality of education by providing
financial assistance to deserving students.
WiredScholar
Free Scholarship Search
Xerox
Scholarships for Students
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| Recommended
Books for Financial Aid/Scholarship Resources |
Edelson, Phyllis, ed. FOUNDATION GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS. New
York, NY: The Foundation Center, biennial.
Profiles over 5,500 foundation programs that make grants to individuals
for education, arts and culture, general welfare, and more.
Beckham, Barry, ed. THE BLACK STUDENT'S GUIDE TO SCHOLARSHIPS.
5th ed. Lanham, MD: Madison Books, 1999.
Lists more than 700 private sources of funding, including programs affiliated
with colleges and universities, fraternities and sororities, churches,
and foundations. Indexed by state and discipline.
FEDERAL BENEFITS FOR VETERANS AND DEPENDENTS. Washington,
D.C.: United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 2002.
Schaffert, Tim, ed. PATHWAYS TO CAREER SUCCESS FOR MINORITIES:
A Resource Guide to Colleges, Financial Aid, and Work. Chicago,
IL: J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, 2000.
Schlachter, Gail Ann and R. David Weber. FINANCIAL AID FOR AFRICAN
AMERICANS, 2001-2003. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press,
2001.
Schlachter, Gail Ann and R. David Weber. FINANCIAL AID FOR ASIAN
AMERICANS, 2001-2003. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press,
2001.
Schlachter, Gail Ann and R. David Weber. FINANCIAL AID FOR THE
DISABLED AND THEIR FAMILIES, 2002-2004. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference
Service Press, 2002.
Lists hundreds of scholarships, loans, grants-in-aid, and awards from
federal, state, and private sources, arranged by disability type, with
subject, geographic, sponsor, and filing date indexes.
Schlachter, Gail Ann and R. David Weber. FINANCIAL AID FOR HISPANIC
AMERICANS, 2001-2003. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press,
2001.
Schlachter, Gail Ann and R. David Weber. FINANCIAL AID FOR NATIVE
AMERICANS, 2001-2003. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press,
2001.
Schlachter, Gail Ann, and R. David Weber. FINANCIAL AID FOR VETERANS,
MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, 2002-2004. El Dorado Hills,
CA: Reference Service Press, 2002.
Lists more than 1,000 scholarships, grants-in-aid, loans and other benefit
programs for Americans affiliated with the military, from federal, state,
and private sources. Indexed by subject, sponsor, geographic area, and
filing deadline.
THE 2003 HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP DIRECTORY. 5th ed. Carlsbad,
CA: WPR Publishing, 2002.
WINDS OF CHANGE MAGAZINE'S ANNUAL COLLEGE GUIDE FOR AMERICAN INDIANS.
Boulder, CO: Winds of Change, 2002.
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