# 5 ways to find a college scholarship that is right for you

April 26, 2021 • 8 minute read
By [Brian Fairbanks](https://www.phoenix.edu/blog/authors/brian-fairbanks.html)

Reviewed by Chris Conway, Director of Financial Education Initiatives and Repayment Management

## How to find and apply for a college scholarship

For anyone thinking about returning to school or becoming a student for the first time, how to pay tuition is likely a major consideration. A scholarship can be an excellent option because, unlike student loans, they do not typically need to be repaid.

However, many people mistakenly believe that the only way to receive a college scholarship is to apply right after graduating high school. The thinking is that, if a student has a good GPA, struggles financially and/or participates in their community, they'll be eligible for scholarships. That may be true, but it is also true that there are many college scholarships and aid opportunities out there, and many types of students are eligible when looking for options that can cover tuition costs.

## What is a scholarship?

A scholarship enables a university student to lower the tuition costs for which they are responsible. This, in turn, may reduce the need for student loans.

As[the federal government notes](https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/scholarships), "There are thousands of [scholarships] offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups and professional and social organizations." These might cover anything from a tiny percentage of a semester’s tuition to every dollar of a student's education. And, again, they typically do not need to be repaid to the issuer, which removes some of the debt burden from a student’s shoulders.

## 7 types of scholarships

Undergraduate students have a number of scholarship options for which they may apply. Here’s a breakdown of what each scholarship entails, and the typical qualifications required for each.

- Academic scholarships: These are based on GPA, high school achievement and other education-centric factors. Additionally, some academic scholarships pay not only for tuition, but also all textbook costs and many personal expenditures.

- Extracurricular: Well suited for the creatives, the inventors and people who achieved or participated in something that was _not_ part of an athletic competition. Think hobbies like design and music.

- Community service awards: These may be awarded to students who took time out of their weekends, afternoons and/or holidays to help their local communities.

- Identity/background focused: Underrepresented, immigrant or minority students may find there are several scholarship options specifically geared toward them. Some scholarships may be focused on a person’s gender (including gender-nonconforming identities) too.

- Employer-sourced scholarships: Some employers implement scholarship programs and encourage high school graduates to apply. These employers typically like to see that their workers are improving their career prospects and/or bringing newfound skills back to the workplace.

- Field of study scholarships: Are you thinking about breaking into a niche field? Several scholarships reward students who focus on a certain area of study, like pre-law classes for example.

- Full ride: This may be exactly what it sounds like — [a single scholarship that covers all four years of tuition](https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarships-by-type/full-tuition-scholarships/) in one go. This type of scholarship may be awarded to students who have an exceptional GPA or who score well on the SAT or other tests. They may also be awarded to students who cannot afford tuition but have the academic qualifications to attend a state or private university.

## How to apply for a scholarship

Many high school graduates are advised to complete their scholarship application(s) at least one year ahead of starting at a university. This is great for students pursuing undergraduate studies right after high school. But other scholarships for returning and adult students are available throughout the year. These individuals should start looking as soon as they consider pursuing higher education so they don’t miss a deadline — and so they get familiar with all the options out there.

Also, there are several free options to help students through the application, essay and consideration process. (More details on this can be found below.) As a reminder, if a student receives a scholarship and federal student aid funds, the total cannot exceed their cost of tuition (COA). Otherwise, their federal student aid will be adjusted.   

## Where to find a scholarship

Prospective students can expore the following resources for a variety of scholarship opportunities:

- [The Department of Labor’s search](https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/training/find-scholarships.aspx) tool offers a quick and easy way to find thousands of potential scholarship opportunities (deadlines included).
- [State scholarship hubs](https://www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html) Several states and U.S. territories have individual scholarship search tools that local students can leverage to find open scholarship opportunities. Education departments often welcome hearing from local students and may be able to help them navigate and identify available scholarships. They may also provide essay advice and other help in the application process.
- The_U.S. News & World Report_graduate [school scholarship search tool](https://www.usnews.com/education/scholarships/for-graduate-students). Adults considering graduate school may also be eligible for scholarships. This site offers many financial aid options, including scholarships, for graduate program participants.

Regardless of what a prospective student applies for, they should pay close attention to deadlines and essay requirements. It's a good idea to plan months ahead of time and double-check that the scholarship is relevant for the coming year. For example, if a deadline is listed as "July 8," students should make sure it wasn’t the previous "July 8" before they spend time applying. If there’s a discrepancy or the deadline is unclear, students should contact the scholarship organization directly to request clarification.

## Save time and money with a solid scholarship search strategy

Scholarships can be an excellent way to help pay for a degree and make education more affordable, but not all scholarships are available to all students. Each scholarship has a particular set of criteria that recipients must meet to qualify, meaning students should determine what potential scholarship opportunities they qualify for before starting their search.

Rather than applying for any and all scholarships, students should seek out realistic opportunities. However, many students may not know where to start.

Chris Conway, the director of financial education initiatives at University of Phoenix, says that students can save time and money by being smart about how they search.

"Not all scholarships are based on merit or financial need. What’s important is that you apply for scholarships that you are likely to receive, meaning those for which you meet the criteria," Conway says. "It does take time and effort, but every scholarship you earn could be that much less you have to find elsewhere or perhaps borrow."

## Do due diligence

Some scholarships may require a demonstration of financial need by means of filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.  The U.S. Department of Education website, StudentAid.gov, contains details on how to fill out the FAFSA form. If any questions arise, students can always contact their college’s financial aid office for help.

Students should also take a look at their school’s website to get an idea of the types of institutional scholarships they can apply for. While each institution likely has its own deadlines, including priority dates for submitting the FAFSA®form, there is also a [federal deadline](https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/fafsa-deadlines) that they have to keep an eye on.

Conway recommends a time commitment of two to four hours per month searching and applying for scholarships. She suggests making use of the following public online search sites.

- [College Board](https://www.collegeboard.org/)
- [Scholarship Owl](https://scholarshipowl.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjwx8iIBhBwEiwA2quaq5NIlkdbz_EFVeKI9NLnSNovPnw8pfV3xYTK_EPg8u4PvANXPv1mcBoCxn8QAvD_BwE)
- [Unigo](https://www.unigo.com/)
- [Peterson’s](https://www.petersons.com/)

## 5 ways students can find a scholarship that is right for them

Conway says the key takeaway for scholarship seekers is to be smart about how they search. There are many nuances to the process and doing the proper research can help save time and energy in the long run. 

Here are five strategies to find the perfect scholarship:

### 1. Reach out to your employer

Remember how many businesses offer scholarships or grants directly to employees? Students can reach out to their supervisor to see if there are opportunities through their employee benefits program.

### 2. Check locally

Some smaller scholarships offered by individuals, town organizations or small businesses are advertised locally. Students can check with their local chamber of commerce to see if there are any hometown scholarships.

### 3. Focus on the small offers

It's tempting to apply for a high-dollar scholarship, but the competition is likely to be greater. As a result, students should also apply for smaller scholarships; multiple small scholarships can make a meaningful impact on one's tuition liability.

### 4. Practice self-reflection

Many scholarship providers want to know who an applicant is as a person, what their goals are, what inspires them and why they will succeed. This often comes in the form of a required essay answering a prompt. Needless to say, a well-crafted essay is vital in these situations. Conway suggests students save their applications and essays to see what can be recycled, although she notes that it is important to customize the essay for each application.

### 5. Keep plugging away

One could argue that the key to success is determination. The same applies to scholarships. Receiving a, "We regret to inform you," message is part of the process. The sooner a student rallies after a rejection, the sooner they can continue their search.

## How to apply for a scholarship from University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix offers several [online scholarship opportunities](https://www.phoenix.edu/tuition-financial-aid/scholarships.html)to new qualifying students that are up to either $1,000 or $3,000 each. 

Before students apply for financial aid or college scholarships, they need to apply to and enroll at University of Phoenix. From there, they can find which scholarships they qualify for and apply accordingly.

Finally, students receiving a scholarship or financial aid may need to enroll in specific classes as mandated by the scholarship or aid itself. For example, a student may have to enroll in healthcare-focused classes if they receive a healthcare-focused scholarship.

[Learn more](https://www.phoenix.edu/student-resources/paying-for-school.html)about financial aid and other funding options at University of Phoenix.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brian Fairbanks is a freelance writer with a background in SEO content creation and blog article development

### ABOUT THE REVIEWER

As Director of Financial Education Initiatives and Repayment Management, Chris Conway works with departments across the University to provide resources that allow students to make more informed financial decisions. She is also an adjunct faculty member for the Everyday Finance and Economics course at the University, and she chairs the National Council of Higher Education Resources College Access and Success Committee. Conway is committed to helping college students make the right financial decisions that prevent future collection activity.

This article has been vetted by University of Phoenix's editorial advisory committee.   
[Read more about our editorial process.](/blog/editorial-process.html)

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