Introduction
College tuition is one of the most significant expenses in your lifetime, with the average annual cost of tuition and fees at more than $32,000 for public four-year universities in 2019. If you’re planning to go to college, you’ll need some financial help along the way. Luckily for you, there are many scholarship programs available that can help pay for school. In this post, we’ll be going over who pays for college scholarships and how to find them.
Sources of Funding for College Scholarships
College scholarships come from various sources: Colleges and Universities, Federal and State governments, Individuals, Companies, and Organizations.
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Employers or Unions
Employers or unions sometimes pay for Scholarships for employees or members. Some employers and unions may offer scholarship funds to employees or members. These scholarships are often based on your needs, such as where you live or your financial situation. You may need to work for the employer for a certain amount of time or be a union member for some time before you are eligible for a scholarship from them.
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Colleges and Universities
Colleges and Universities may use scholarships to recruit new students. Many colleges and universities use scholarships to attract new students. For example, a school may offer scholarships for students interested in studying abroad as part of their degree program. Other schools have created specific scholarship funds that are awarded annually to certain groups of students, such as those who are members of a minority group or come from low-income families.
The College or University usually pays for these scholarships. Still, some may be funded by individual donors who want their contributions recognized at the school through naming ceremonies or other events.
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Grants
Grants support college students in many ways, including scholarships. A grant is a form of financial aid, but it’s not a loan. Grants are awarded based on merit or need and may not be related to your family’s income.
Grants are awarded based on merit and need, not financial need alone. This means that if you’re a student who has achieved high scores on standardized exams like the SAT or ACT, completed at least one year of college courses with an acceptable GPA (grade point average), and has demonstrated leadership qualities in extracurricular activities such as athletics and community service—you could qualify for a grant even if your parents make more money than many other families who also receive grants!
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Private companies and organizations
Private companies and organizations offer scholarship aid to their employees, members, or the general public. To find out what kind of private scholarships are available, you can search online for scholarships offered by companies such as:
- The Coca-Cola Company
- Microsoft
- IBM
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Individuals
Scholarships from individuals typically, are rare but available. Scholarship money from individuals, or private scholarships, is less common but still significant. People with a vested interest in your future might offer to help you pay for school through scholarships. You can find them by doing the following:
- Go to your college counselor’s office and discuss how you plan to pay for school
- Search online for “scholarships” and then include keywords such as “individual” or “family members” in your search terms. This will bring up more results that are not part of an organized program. For example, if one of your relatives has a child who will be attending college soon, they may offer assistance, including cash or gift cards!
How to Get a Scholarship for College
There is a wide range of college scholarships available, there is more than one way to get one, and it’s worth your time to try! There are many sources for scholarships, so you may be tempted to apply for as many as possible. However, you should also consider the time commitment that each scholarship requires on your part. You will want to spend enough time on the application process to increase your chances of winning the award.
Conclusion
We hope you found this article helpful and that it has inspired you to explore the world of scholarships. There are thousands of scholarships available, from individual gifts to corporate sponsorships and everything in between. We encourage you to look into these options as they could help make college less expensive or accessible!