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FINANCIAL AID

STEP 4 - APPLY FOR INSTITUTIONAL/PRIVATE AID

Scholarship Finder - Use the Scholarship Finder to find institutional and private aid.

Institutional Aid

Most institutional aid is awarded through the admission process – there is not a separate application. So, check the college’s admissions office webpage for specific information about available aid.

Admissions Offices

Some colleges or universities do require a separate application for competitive scholarships. Be aware that such scholarship application deadlines usually come early in the year.

There are three main kinds of institutional aid:

Academic – Academic scholarships are usually based on grades, test scores, or a combination of both. Students are generally required to maintain a certain GPA to keep academic scholarships.

Athletic/Activity – Athletic/Activity scholarships are based on performance in sports or extracurricular activities (debate, etc.). These scholarships may be discontinued if the student stops playing the sport or participating in the activity.

Foundation – Foundation scholarships are often based on criteria specified by the donor who established the scholarship. Such criteria may include gender, ethnicity/national origin, religion, anticipated major, county/town of residence, etc.

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Private Aid

Private aid is available through countless private foundations, businesses, organizations, clubs, religious groups, and individuals.