Finding Scholarships Online

Finding Scholarships Online

Scholarship Websites

Several websites are available for finding scholarships online, gathering millions of dollars worth of opportunities in one convenient location. Search for scholarships related to your field of interest, gender, race, hobbies, activities and more. Free registration is required to perform searches on most scholarship database websites.

• College Answer is sponsored by student loan provider Sallie Mae. Updated daily, it contains information on 2.4 million scholarships.
• FastWeb provides information on 1.3 million scholarships.
• SuperCollege.com offers a database of over 400,000 scholarships and awards.
• The College Board's scholarship site contains 2,300 sources offering nearly $3 billion in aid to students.

Some scholarship websites tout themselves as a "scholarship finding" service, but they will only find those scholarships for a fee. While their promotional literature may make it sound like they'll actually help you win scholarships, they do nothing more than provide you with information on potential scholarships. With so many free searches available to help you find scholarships online, there is no reason you should ever pay anyone to simply provide you with links to these awards.

National Businesses

National corporations provide scholarships to thousands of worthy students every year, and you can often find information on these programs online. Some focus on financial need while others look for leadership and community service. Here are just a few examples:

• Best Buy offers more than 1,500 scholarships a year.
• The Wal-Mart Foundation provides scholarships for community-members and associates.
• Kohl's offers scholarships to regional and national winners who show a commitment to making a difference.

There are many other scholarships out there, just waiting for eager students to find them. Visit the website of your favorite retailer or manufacturer to search for scholarship opportunities. Scholarships will often be found as part of a company's community relations page since they're viewed as a way to give back to the community.

College-Specific Scholarships

Another great resource for finding scholarships online is your college's website. Visit the financial aid page for information on scholarships offered by the college and endowed by alumni and related groups. The financial aid website may also offer links to outside scholarship-granting organizations and can help you find grants and loans to supplement scholarships. Another university-based source for finding scholarships online is your individual college or department, depending on the structure of your school. The College of Education or the School of Engineering will list subject-specific scholarships on their websites. Some awards will be offered by the department, while others will be provided by distinguished alumni and outside groups.

Organizations

Whether you're a high school or college student, if you're involved in extracurricular activities, there's a chance you are eligible for a scholarship. Visit the website of the national organization to view scholarship opportunities among other member benefits.

Professional organizations have a vested interest in developing the next generation in their field, whether chemists, journalists or librarians. Some groups may require that you be a member of their student branches to be eligible for scholarships, but the cost of joining an organization is typically minimal in relation to the potential rewards.

Religious and ethnic organizations also provide scholarships to their members, from the National Italian American Foundation to the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Search for terms related to your background for a complete list of the possibilities.