Paying for college can be one of the most stressful issues you will face as you move into adulthood, especially if you are disadvantaged in some way. Fortunately, there are countless scholarship and grant money opportunities for college and university students that can help you achieve your dream of earning a degree.
Federal Scholarships
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS) and Federal Perkins Loan are all federal programs administered by your school. These programs are aimed at students who are financially disadvantaged. Often, these awards will be given along with a Federal Pell grant to supplement your tuition.
State Scholarships
Each state offers its own scholarships to students who are economically and otherwise disadvantaged in some way. For example, Arizona has the Arizona Private Postsecondary Education Student Financial Assistance Program grant; Nebraska offers the Elizabeth Alfred Memorial Scholarship to migrants with financial need; and Vermont has Part-Time Grants for those who can prove they have significant family and work obligations, are in need of financial aid and can only go to school part-time.
Internal University Scholarships
Almost every university will have scholarships for its own students. You can speak to the financial aid counselor before you even apply to the school, or you can visit the website of most universities and see what kind of scholarships they offer to their students in need. Some universities even have special departments set up exclusively to assist disadvantaged students.
Scholarships From Private Organizations and Associations
Private scholarships abound. Websites like Fastweb.com and scholarships.com link you to hundreds of different scholarship opportunities. In addition to sites like these, disadvantaged students can go straight to an organization and ask what kind of scholarships they may offer. For example, the National Federation for the Blind and the National Association of the Deaf both offer grants and scholarships; the Anne Ford Scholarship is granted to high-school students with learning disabilities; and the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults National College Scholarship Program awards scholarships to students who have been affected by cancer.
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