Local scholarships can get people of any age into the classroom for a good education.
Searching for a local scholarship sometimes can be more fruitful than looking to national funding. This is because fewer people apply for local scholarships, so local scholarships are less competitive. To find local scholarships that meet your needs, you cannot rely just on one source, since not all schools use the same methods to announce the funds they have and make applications available to the public. You should plan to do your searching well ahead of when you'll need funding, since it will take time to sift through what's available and get application documentation around.
Instructions
1. Visit the websites of the schools in your area to which you are considering going. Alternately, contact the financial aid departments for those institutions. The website should list what scholarships the school offers. If it doesn't, the financial aid representative can tell you what the school has and send you information about the scholarships that interest you. If the scholarship isn't for a college or university, you may have better luck calling the school guidance counselor or the school board.
2. Check the "community" section of your local newspaper. Some schools will print press releases for the scholarships they offer in this section.
3. Go to your local library. Ask your librarian for any publication that would list local scholarships. Be sure to define "local" when you talk to the librarian, as there are many publications that consider your entire state as your local region.
4. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Known as the FAFSA, this form helps schools -- including local ones -- figure out how much your family can contribute to your education. The estimated family contribution (EFC) in turn can prompt schools to notify you that you are eligible for scholarships, as well as for grants or other loans. You may choose up to six schools to notify of your EFC.
5. Contact your state's Department of Education. They should be able to direct you to some scholarships for your area or get you in touch with someone who can point you toward funding that's a good fit.
6. Visit websites like scholarships.com, fastweb.com and wired.com. These websites all allow you to search for scholarships by zip code.
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