How To Get Scholarships and Grants for College
College can be expensive, but data shows that it can also be worth the investment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers with a bachelor's degree had median weekly earnings of $1,499 compared to $905 for workers with only a high school diploma in November 2023.1
Although college may be worth the expense, it does require some careful financial planning. Often, students pay for their education through a combination of scholarships and grants, which can reduce the overall price and may rely on loans to cover the rest. Whether you’re looking ahead to your freshman year at college or you’re already a few years in, it’s worth taking a look at how to get scholarships and grants to fund your education.
In This Article:
Exploring Your Financial Aid Options
You have many options for financial aid. It’s unlikely that you’ll use just one avenue to fund your education; rather, it’s best to explore all potential sources of funding available to you.
Here’s a quick overview of your financial aid options, such as scholarship and college grant opportunities.
Federal College Grants
The federal government offers different types of college grant opportunities. Grants are like scholarships in that they do not need to be repaid (unless you withdraw from school). You may qualify for a federal grant if you’re attending a four-year school, community college or vocational school.4
Federal grants include:4
- Federal Pell Grants
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
- Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants (As of 2024-25 award year, it is not a separate grant but eligibility can result in increased amount of Federal Pell Grants)
- Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants
How can you find out whether you’re eligible for a federal grant? You’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form must be submitted by the deadline each year that you’re enrolled. After submitting it, you’ll receive a notice outlining the types of federal grants and other types of financial aid you are eligible for.
Federal and Private Student Loans
Filling out the FAFSA is also a way to determine whether you’re eligible for federal student loans, which can help bridge the gap between the total cost of college and what your scholarships and grants can provide. You may also consider applying for private student loans from banks or credit unions. Note, however, that federal student loans typically offer lower interest rates and more favorable terms compared to a typical private student loan.
Work-Study Programs
A third option that may be available to you after filling out the FAFSA is the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program. This may allow you to qualify for a part-time job either on campus (likely related to your major) or off campus (performing work in the public interest). The FWS program allows you to earn at least the federal minimum wage and possibly more.5
Private Scholarships and Grants
Although federal college grant opportunities can be an excellent way to pay for college, you’ll also want to consider other sources of scholarships and grants. For example, your state, your college and third-party private institutions may offer grants for college.
In addition, there are countless scholarships offered by private corporations, nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, religious organizations and civic groups. You’ll want to explore “How to Get a Scholarship” below in order to increase your chances of successfully obtaining more funding for your education.
How To Get a Scholarship
Trying to fund your college education may feel like a full-time job for a while (or at least a part-time job). Be patient and persistent. Apply for as many scholarships and grants as you may be eligible for in order to increase your odds of landing one or more of them.
Evaluate your current schedule and decide how much time you can set aside to search and apply for scholarships without interfering with your current schoolwork and study time. Consider ramping up your efforts during school vacations, especially during the summer.
Remember that applying for scholarships requires an ongoing effort; it’s not just for rising freshmen. You can continue looking and applying for scholarships periodically throughout your college years.
1. Start as Early as Possible
It’s almost never too early to begin looking for college scholarships. Although many high school students wait until their junior or senior years to begin looking for scholarships, others get an early start — as early as elementary school, in fact. There are quite a few scholarship opportunities available for students under the age of 13.
What if you didn’t realize you could have been applying for scholarships all along? Try not to feel discouraged, because plenty of students are in the same boat. Just get started as soon as possible so you can take advantage of as many opportunities as you can.
2. Check Locally Available Scholarships and Grants
In addition to waiting until later in high school to apply for scholarships, another common mistake students make is to focus only on nationally available scholarships. Instead, begin your search locally, where there is less competition for scholarships and grants. How can you find local scholarships? Take the initiative to ask people and organizations, including:
- School counselor
- Teachers
- Chamber of commerce
- Your parents’ or guardians’ employers
- Local civic groups
- Local librarians
As you begin to compile scholarship possibilities, organization will become increasingly important. Maintain a spreadsheet with a list of all your scholarship possibilities and update it regularly. Include columns for all relevant details, such as application deadlines, award amounts and whether you've already applied or whether your application is in progress.
3. Check National Databases
Once you’ve exhausted local possibilities, it’s time to search national databases. There are quite a few scholarship databases online.
Here are a few to try:
These databases can connect you to tens of thousands of scholarships. Of course, you won’t be eligible for all of them. These databases typically allow you to refine your search using various characteristics. Scholarship eligibility can be based on a wide range of characteristics, including:
- Academic merit
- Financial need
- Geographic location
- Athletic activity
- Special interests
- Ethnic heritage
- Minority status
- Foster care students
- Intended major or career
- Military status
These are just a few examples. There is a laundry list of characteristics that may qualify you for certain scholarships. For example, there are scholarships for:6
- Students affected by HIV/AIDS who demonstrate strong academic achievement
- High school juniors and senior National Society of High School Scholar members planning to pursue a degree in a communications-related field
- Students who are currently or have been in foster care between ages 16 and 18
- High school junior or senior females seeking a degree in STEM
4. Contact the Schools on Your Shortlist
Along with searching for local and national scholarships from various organizations, you may qualify for institutional scholarships. Check out scholarship opportunities available from the colleges you’ve been accepted to. If you’re not sure which scholarships you may qualify for, call the school’s financial aid office to request a consult with a financial aid advisor.
5. Don’t Ignore Small Awards
Students often prefer to apply for scholarships that offer large awards. Yet, even if a scholarship offers less than $1,000, it's still worth applying for if you're eligible. These smaller awards often don't receive the large volumes of applicants that larger awards do, so you may have a better chance of winning them.
6. Follow Directions and Adhere to Deadlines
For every single scholarship you apply to, you’ll need to carefully read the application directions — and then read them again to make sure you didn’t miss anything. Follow the directions meticulously, and double-check everything before submitting your application. Aim to submit your application ahead of the deadline, if possible.
Get Financial Aid Help From GCU
Grand Canyon University strives to make private, Christian education affordable for Arizonans and out-of-state students alike. Our financial aid advisors are available to assist you in learning about your options for funding your education.
1 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Median Weekly Earnings as of November 2023, retrieved on May 24, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.
2 Hanson, M. (2023, Nov. 18). Average cost of college & tuition. Education Data Initiative. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
3 Levine, P. (2024, April 12). Ignore the sticker price: How have college prices really changed? Brookings. Retrieved on May 20, 2024.
4 Federal Student Aid. (n.d.). Types of Financial Aid: Loans, Grants, and Work-Study Programs. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
5 Federal Student Aid. (n.d.). Federal Work-Study jobs help students earn money to pay for college or career school. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
6 BigFuture. (2024). Scholarship Directory. College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
Approved by the vice president of University Financial Aid on July 24, 2024.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
