High Schools/School District
Students should check with their high school or board of education, as many have scholarship programs available to graduating students. Ask a child’s school guidance counselor or principal for details.
Colleges
Many colleges and universities offer their own scholarships. At some colleges, students are automatically considered for scholarships when they apply for admission. A student should check with a college’s financial aid office to see if there are scholarships they’re eligible for that may require a separate application. Colleges tend to offer scholarships based on academic, ethnic, gender, athletic, field of study, and other criteria.
State & Federal Governments
Different scholarships are available from each state in the U.S. and are awarded based on criteria such as academic merit, financial need, or intended field of study/major. Check with a student’s home state or the state where they intend to go to college to learn more. There are also a number of scholarships available through the federal government.
The Military
The U.S. Armed Forces offer scholarships to students who commit to serve in the military for a certain amount of time after college. For instance, a student who is awarded an ROTC scholarship registers to be a reserve member while they’re in school. There are also certain scholarships available to veterans and children of veterans.
Businesses and Corporations
Large corporate organizations such as Coca-Cola, Microsoft, and Wal-Mart have their own scholarship programs. The eligibility requirements for these programs are set by the corporations and may be based on a student’s academic major or other criteria. Parents should check with their own employers to see if they sponsor any scholarships that their child can apply for.
Professional Associations & Foundations
There are thousands of national associations and foundations (business, health, journalism, and many more) that offer scholarships based on a wide variety of factors, including academic performance, gender, disability, ethnicity, intended field of study, and more.
Community Organizations
Local and national community organizations offer scholarships to students who are active in volunteering or have performed some kind of community service. To learn more, you can check with a student’s volunteer organization, as well as hospitals, churches, historical societies, and other community service organizations.
Unions
If a parent is a member of a union, a child of that parent may be eligible to receive scholarships that the union has sponsored or created. Many major labor unions such as the AFL-CIO and the Teamsters have created scholarship programs for union members’ children.
Religious Groups
There are a number of scholarships available to students of certain religious faiths. These scholarships can be awarded based on church (or other religious institution) membership, active involvement in a religious community, or a student’s intention to become a religious leader or official. Religious scholarships are available through local, regional, or national religious institutions and organizations.
Ethnic Organizations
Ethnic organizations offer scholarships to students who come from specific ethnic backgrounds. These scholarships are often based on other eligibility requirements as well, such as high academic performance, community involvement, leadership skills, or intended college major and career goals.