What is Financial Aid?
Financial aid helps students and their families pay for college. This financial assistance covers educational expenses including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. There are several types of financial aid, including grants and scholarships, work study and loans.
- FinAid (Great starter website)
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
What is the FAFSA? All students interested in financial aid for college will need to complete this form. It is form that filled out annually by current and prospective college students (undergraduate and graduate) in the U.S to determine their eligibility for student financial aid (including the Pell Grant, Federal Student Loan and Federal Work Study) How much does it cost? The FAFSA is FREE :) When it is due? Check on your college's website to see when you need to turn the application in by. The deadline DOES affect the amount of scholarships/grants you can get from the college, so turn it in ON TIME. The application is live on January 1st to renew for each year. Will I have to fill this out after I get to college? Yes, you have to renew your FAFSA every year. Resources: |
CSS Profile/Financial Aid ProfileWhat is the CSS Profile?
It is an application distributed by the College Board in the U.S allowing college students to apply for financial aid. It is primarily designed to give private colleges of the College Board a closer look into the finances of a student and family. It is much more detailed than the FAFSA. Who is required to fill out the CSS Profile? Check your college's website to see if you will need to complete the CSS Profile. They are usually private colleges/institutions. The CSS is often used for early action/decision because the FAFSA is not available until January 1st for the upcoming school year. How much does it cost? The CSS Profile does come with a fee. The price varies from year to year. The total cost will depend on how many colleges you are sending the profile to. For example, if each app cost $8 and you're sending it to 5 colleges, the total cost will be $40. Are there waivers available? WAIVERS ARE AVAILABLE. Collegeboard will waive up to 8 colleges for students from low-income backgrounds. However, you won't find out whether the fee is waived until the end of the application. More information on waivers here. When is it due? Check with your college. It is usually due earlier for private institutions. Will I have to fill this out every year? Luckily, no! Resources |
Scholarship Search Engine
You are encouraged to sign up for an account with the websites below, insert your details so that website can help you find scholarships that you are eligible for, browse and discover more opportunities on free day!
Scholarships (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!)
Under each category below, you will find websites that contain scholarships specific to the organization. I urge you to explore the website as MANY MANY scholarships opportunities are available under their scholarship tab.
UNCF (United Negro College Fund)
UNCF is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 900 colleges and universities across the country. UNCF supports education through scholarships and other programs, by supporting its 38 member colleges and universities, and by advocating for the importance of minority education. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 21 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. The UNCF logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."
Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF)
Based in Washington, D.C., the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) is the nation's largest non-profit provider of college scholarships for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). APIASF works to create opportunities for students to access, complete, and succeed after post-secondary education; thereby developing future leaders who will excel in their career, serve as role models in their communities, and will ultimately contribute to a vibrant America. Since 2003, APIASF has distributed more than $70 million in scholarships to AAPI students across the country and in the Pacific Islands. APIASF manages three scholarship programs: APIASF's general scholarship, the APIASF Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions scholarship program, and the Gates Millennium Scholars/Asian Pacific Islander Americans funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF)
Founded in 1975, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to Latino students, as well as related support services. HSF seeks to give students all the tools they need to apply to college, do well in their course work, graduate, enter a profession, excel, help lead our nation going forward, and mentor the generations to come. As the nation’s largest not-for-profit organization supporting Hispanic American higher education, HSF has awarded over $430 million in scholarships and provides a range of ancillary programs for students, scholars, and their families. HSF further strives to make college education a top priority for every Latino family across the nation and to mobilize our community to proactively advance that goal – each individual, over a lifetime, in every way he/she can.
American Indian Graduate Center Scholars (AIGCS)
American Indian Graduate Center Scholars (AIGCS) was created in 2001 to partner in the administration of the Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program. AIGCS is the American Indian and Alaska Native representative, performing outreach to qualified applicants, assisting in the execution and completion of GMS application and selection process, disbursing awards and providing student services to Gate Millennium Scholars, within the policies and metrics of the GMS Program. AIGCS is an associate of American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC), which was established in 1969 to build, promote and honor self-sustaining American Indian and Alaska Native communities through education and leadership. The founders’ vision of American Indian college graduates pursuing master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in all fields of study has yielded over 16,600 scholarships totaling over $52 million. AIGC is the oldest and largest national provider of scholarships for American Indian and Alaska Native graduate students, and will soon assume administration of the Cobell Scholarship Funds for American Indian and Alaska Native graduate degree candidates.
UNCF (United Negro College Fund)
UNCF is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 900 colleges and universities across the country. UNCF supports education through scholarships and other programs, by supporting its 38 member colleges and universities, and by advocating for the importance of minority education. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 21 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. The UNCF logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."
- UNCF List of Scholarships ( SCROLL DOWN, THERE ARE SO MANY!)
Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF)
Based in Washington, D.C., the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) is the nation's largest non-profit provider of college scholarships for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). APIASF works to create opportunities for students to access, complete, and succeed after post-secondary education; thereby developing future leaders who will excel in their career, serve as role models in their communities, and will ultimately contribute to a vibrant America. Since 2003, APIASF has distributed more than $70 million in scholarships to AAPI students across the country and in the Pacific Islands. APIASF manages three scholarship programs: APIASF's general scholarship, the APIASF Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions scholarship program, and the Gates Millennium Scholars/Asian Pacific Islander Americans funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- APIASF Scholarship
- APIASF /AANAPISI Scholarship
- Non APIASF, but scholarship opportunities for Asian American students ( A TON!!! CHECK IT OUT)
Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF)
Founded in 1975, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to Latino students, as well as related support services. HSF seeks to give students all the tools they need to apply to college, do well in their course work, graduate, enter a profession, excel, help lead our nation going forward, and mentor the generations to come. As the nation’s largest not-for-profit organization supporting Hispanic American higher education, HSF has awarded over $430 million in scholarships and provides a range of ancillary programs for students, scholars, and their families. HSF further strives to make college education a top priority for every Latino family across the nation and to mobilize our community to proactively advance that goal – each individual, over a lifetime, in every way he/she can.
- Other HSF Scholarship Programs ( SO MANY!! CHECK IT OUT!)
American Indian Graduate Center Scholars (AIGCS)
American Indian Graduate Center Scholars (AIGCS) was created in 2001 to partner in the administration of the Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program. AIGCS is the American Indian and Alaska Native representative, performing outreach to qualified applicants, assisting in the execution and completion of GMS application and selection process, disbursing awards and providing student services to Gate Millennium Scholars, within the policies and metrics of the GMS Program. AIGCS is an associate of American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC), which was established in 1969 to build, promote and honor self-sustaining American Indian and Alaska Native communities through education and leadership. The founders’ vision of American Indian college graduates pursuing master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in all fields of study has yielded over 16,600 scholarships totaling over $52 million. AIGC is the oldest and largest national provider of scholarships for American Indian and Alaska Native graduate students, and will soon assume administration of the Cobell Scholarship Funds for American Indian and Alaska Native graduate degree candidates.
- Other American Indian Scholarship Opportunities ( SO MANY!!)