Naviance
Check out the Scholarship List link in Naviance for community and college-specific scholarship opportunities. The list is continuously updated throughout the year.
Show me the Money (handout).
Click to view handout. Shows different ways to get scholarship money for college.
Academic Common Market
This is technically not a scholarship but a tuition waiver program. It allows Tennessee residents to attend out-of-state public colleges for in-state tuition depending on their selected major (i.e., majors not offered in the state of Tennessee). http://home.sreb.org/acm/choosestate.aspx
HOPE Lottery Scholarship (www.tn.gov/collegepays)
For Tennessee residents who attend a college in the state of Tennessee.
Who is eligible: Seniors with a 21 ACT composite or a 3.0 (on 4.0 scale) GPA
How do you apply: Fill out the FAFSA (fafsa.gov) in October
Full Scholarships
A roster of some of the many available full-tuition or full-ride (tuition, room, and board) scholarships is available on the Naviance website homepage. There is a college out there for everyone at low cost/free but it may not be a school you’ve previously considered. Check the list to see if there is a scholarship that is right for you.
Research Institutional Scholarships
Since a great deal of scholarship money is disbursed by colleges, it makes sense to research what kinds of scholarships are available at your student's favorite colleges. Investigate college Web sites, catalogs, and financial aid offices for this information. Institutional awards can be offered on a university-wide basis, or within a particular college or major. Eligibility for such awards can be based on merit, financial need, intended major, ethnicity, or a variety of other factors. Here are some questions your student might want to ask about these awards:
Scholarship Scams
Students should NOT pay for scholarship searches that guarantee scholarships. Scholarship searches can be done for free (see Scholarship Search Engines below). Be wary of organizations that offer a first meeting for free.
Scholarship Fraud
For information about identity theft prevention, you and your students may visit www.ed.gov/misused. For information about preventing financial aid scams, visit www.studentaid.ed.gov/lsa. There is an online complaint form with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams and a hotline at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
Scholarship Search Engines
Check Membership Organizations and Employers
Here's an area where parents can really help out. Think of all of the organizations they have an affiliation with -- religious, community service, fraternal, military, union, professional, etc. -- and find out if any of them sponsor scholarships for children of members.
Don't forget employers. Many large companies offer scholarships or tuition reimbursement programs for dependent children of employees. Parents should check with their human resources department to see if their company offers such programs.
Employers of students such as fast food chains, department stores, and supermarkets often provide scholarships. Awards related to student employment can come from unexpected sources. For example, there are a number of scholarships for golf caddies.
Apply for State Department of Higher Education programs
Almost every state has scholarship and/or grant programs for residents -- keep in mind, however, that awards are usually limited to students who attend college in-state. For example, the State of Tennessee offers HOPE Lottery scholarships to academically-qualified Tennesseans who decide to attend in-state colleges and universities. Students qualify based on their test scores or grades (ACT of 21, SAT of 980 CR + M, or 3.0 on 4.0 scale) and they apply for it by filling out the FAFSA (www.fafsa.gov) and listing a college or university in the state of Tennessee as their first-choice school. To qualify for the greatest monetary amount you must list an accredited 4-year Tennessee college.
Check out the Scholarship List link in Naviance for community and college-specific scholarship opportunities. The list is continuously updated throughout the year.
Show me the Money (handout).
Click to view handout. Shows different ways to get scholarship money for college.
Academic Common Market
This is technically not a scholarship but a tuition waiver program. It allows Tennessee residents to attend out-of-state public colleges for in-state tuition depending on their selected major (i.e., majors not offered in the state of Tennessee). http://home.sreb.org/acm/choosestate.aspx
HOPE Lottery Scholarship (www.tn.gov/collegepays)
For Tennessee residents who attend a college in the state of Tennessee.
Who is eligible: Seniors with a 21 ACT composite or a 3.0 (on 4.0 scale) GPA
How do you apply: Fill out the FAFSA (fafsa.gov) in October
Full Scholarships
A roster of some of the many available full-tuition or full-ride (tuition, room, and board) scholarships is available on the Naviance website homepage. There is a college out there for everyone at low cost/free but it may not be a school you’ve previously considered. Check the list to see if there is a scholarship that is right for you.
Research Institutional Scholarships
Since a great deal of scholarship money is disbursed by colleges, it makes sense to research what kinds of scholarships are available at your student's favorite colleges. Investigate college Web sites, catalogs, and financial aid offices for this information. Institutional awards can be offered on a university-wide basis, or within a particular college or major. Eligibility for such awards can be based on merit, financial need, intended major, ethnicity, or a variety of other factors. Here are some questions your student might want to ask about these awards:
- Are scholarships awarded automatically if a student meets certain criteria (such as GPA or ACT/SAT)?
- What is the application procedure? What materials are required?
- Is the award renewable? What are the requirements to maintain the award?
Scholarship Scams
Students should NOT pay for scholarship searches that guarantee scholarships. Scholarship searches can be done for free (see Scholarship Search Engines below). Be wary of organizations that offer a first meeting for free.
Scholarship Fraud
For information about identity theft prevention, you and your students may visit www.ed.gov/misused. For information about preventing financial aid scams, visit www.studentaid.ed.gov/lsa. There is an online complaint form with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams and a hotline at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
Scholarship Search Engines
- Cappex.com
- Fastweb.com
- NextStudent.com
- ScholarshipExperts.com
- Scholarships.com
- Scholarships360.org
- StudentScholarships.org
- NashvilleScholarships.com
Check Membership Organizations and Employers
Here's an area where parents can really help out. Think of all of the organizations they have an affiliation with -- religious, community service, fraternal, military, union, professional, etc. -- and find out if any of them sponsor scholarships for children of members.
Don't forget employers. Many large companies offer scholarships or tuition reimbursement programs for dependent children of employees. Parents should check with their human resources department to see if their company offers such programs.
Employers of students such as fast food chains, department stores, and supermarkets often provide scholarships. Awards related to student employment can come from unexpected sources. For example, there are a number of scholarships for golf caddies.
Apply for State Department of Higher Education programs
Almost every state has scholarship and/or grant programs for residents -- keep in mind, however, that awards are usually limited to students who attend college in-state. For example, the State of Tennessee offers HOPE Lottery scholarships to academically-qualified Tennesseans who decide to attend in-state colleges and universities. Students qualify based on their test scores or grades (ACT of 21, SAT of 980 CR + M, or 3.0 on 4.0 scale) and they apply for it by filling out the FAFSA (www.fafsa.gov) and listing a college or university in the state of Tennessee as their first-choice school. To qualify for the greatest monetary amount you must list an accredited 4-year Tennessee college.