Students always ask about how to get free money for college, and scholarships are a great way to do that.  Scholarships are usually awarded for some type of merit -- whether that's academic success, school involvement, leadership, and/or community service.  However, some scholarships can be for random things like "having an interest in the outdoors" or taking a cool selfie with a milk mustache!                                    All students should make it a point to look into all available scholarships.

FIND THE MONEY YOU NEED TO HELP PAY FOR COLLEGE.  Here are 11 tips that will help you get started.

1)    Never pay for a scholarship or scholarship search.
2)    Start your search where you plan on attending.  Colleges and universities offer privately funded scholarships depending on department, major, academic status, and financial need.
3)    Search for local/community/school district scholarships.  There’s less competition for those.
4)    Utilize Scholarship Search Engines.  Create an account and they’ll do the searching for you.     

       a.    Cappex
       b.    Unigo
       c.    Fast-Web
       d.    Scholarships.com
       e.    College Greenlight
       f.     RaiseMe

5)    Who is the scholarship for?
       a.    In-state students?  Out-of-state students?  
       b.    Both community college and university students?  
       c.    For a specific college?  
       d.    For a specific major?

6)    When is the application deadline?

You can quickly eliminate some scholarships by just answering Questions 5 and 6.  But, for those that look promising, continue by further answering:

7)    What is the eligibility criteria?
       a.    Does it require a minimum GPA?  Rank?  Test Score?
       b.    Is it for a student of a particular ethnicity or race?
       c.    Do you have to demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA?
       d.    Is it for a student who has participated in community service or demonstrated leadership ability or civic engagement?
       e.    Does it require participation in any other form of volunteer or service work? 

Once you’ve identified that you are eligible to apply for a scholarship, remember:

8)    Revise your personal statement accordingly.
9)    Obtain a Letter of Recommendation
       a.    Ask your teachers, counselors, coaches, boss, or any other adult who has witnessed you grow, improve, or overcome a difficulty.
       b.    Give the adult plenty of time to write the letter – preferably a week or more.
       c.    Provide the adult your resume or personal essay to offer a more complete picture of yourself.
10)    Transcripts
       a.    Your counselor can provide you with an unofficial transcript.
       b.    If an Official Transcript is needed, request one via Xello.
11)    Visit your counselor throughout the school year for any additional scholarship information.

The College Investor – “The Best College Scholarship Search Websites”

Great Value Colleges – “Ultimate Guide: How to Find and Secure Scholarships for College" 

Scholarship Websites

• PXU Website

• College Depot

   

Local Scholarships

• Laveen Lions Scholarship

• Laveen Community Council Scholarship

• Laveen Education Foundation

• Phoenix Union Foundation Scholarship

• AZ Community Foundation

• PXU Website

Popular Phoenix Scholarship Sites

• College Depot

• Greater Phoenix Urban League

• Chicanos Por La Causa

POPULAR SCHOLARSHIPS TO ANY MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Presidential Scholarship:
      - Graduate with a 3.25 unweighted GPA
      - Pays full tuition for 8 semesters or 2 years
Maricopa District and Foundation Scholarships:
      - Requirements vary for each individual scholarship.
      - Can request assistance in completing scholarship applications.

Scholarships to in-state Arizona Universities

• ASU Scholarship Portal

• GCU Scholarship Portal

• NAU Scholarship Portal

• UA Scholarship Portal

POPULAR SCHOLARSHIPS TO ARIZONA UNIVERSITIES

Flinn Scholarship (Opens 9/11/23; Deadline 10/18):   
     -    ASU, NAU, UofA
     -    3.5 unweighted GPA; Top 5% of Class
     -    Test Scores are required
     -    The full cost of tuition and mandatory fees, plus housing and meals, valued at more than $120,000;

GCU SIS Scholarship (Deadline TBD): 
     -    3.75 or above unweighted GPA 
     -    Award is full tuition and fees
 -    Valued at more than $20,000/yr.

Dorrance Scholarship (Deadline:  1/31/24):
     -    ASU, NAU, UofA
     -    First generation college student; demonstrates financial need per FAFSA
     -    3.0 unweighted GPA and minimum combined SAT score of 1110, ACT score of 22 OR PSAT score of 1050
     -    Up to $12,000 annually, renewable. 

ASU Armstrong Family Foundation (Deadline TBD):
     -    ASU
     -    3.0 unweighted GPA
     -    Demonstrate financial need per FAFSA
     -    You are an orphan, a ward of the court, living with extended family, in foster care, an independent student without financial support or if you have experienced extreme life circumstances.
     -    Up to $8000 Annually

NAU First Scholars Program (Deadline TBD):
     -    Core GPA of 3.0 and/or (Optional) ACT/SAT score(s) between 19-25 or 920-1130 
     -    First generation college student; demonstrates financial need per FAFSA
     -    $2000 Annually

ASU & UA TUITION-FREE PROGRAMS
ASU, NAU, and UofA all offer these financial aid programs to low-income families – making college affordable and accessible.  These are actually financial aid programs, not scholarships, but they’re included here because they, ultimately, provide free tuition assistance and possibly pay for housing, and/or meals for up to four years to qualifying Arizona high school graduates.  

Arizona Promise Program (All 3 universities offer this program; ASU, UA, NAU):  (Deadline:  TBD)
ASU:   
UA:
NAU:
     1.    Have a 2.5 unweighted core high school GPA through 6th semester
     2.    You must be eligible to receive a Pell Grant per the FAFSA.
     3.    Covers tuition and fees.  Provides the difference between a student’s base tuition and all other gift aid (Pell Grant, scholarships, etc…) in order to cover tuition and fees.

ASU Obama Scholars Program: (Deadline: TBD) 
All you have to do is meet ASU’s Assured Admissions Requirements, qualify for the Pell Grant, and have a family income of less than $42,400 and you get this award!!!
     1)    You must meet ASU’s Assured Admissions Requirements
     2)    You must demonstrate a total annual family income of $42,400 or less on the FAFSA. 
     3)    You must be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant., 
     4)    Provides for tuition, fees, and an allowance for housing and meals.

ASU College Attainment Grant:  (Deadline: TBD) 
If your family makes too much to qualify for the “Obama”, but you can be admitted to ASU and still qualify for any amount of federal financial aid, then, you got this!!
     1.    You must be admitted to ASU. 
     2.    There is no income limit…but, you must be eligible to receive the Pell Grant per the FAFSA.
     3.    Provides for tuition and fees.

UA Arizona Assurance Program:  (Deadline: TBD) .  
Meet the admission requirements of UofA and have a family income of less than $27,000 to get this one!!
     1.    Earn a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 in required core academic courses from the first six semesters of high school.
     2.    Demonstrate a total annual family Income From Work of $27,000 or less on the FAFSA.*
     3.    Provides $10,000/year for 4 years; can combine with other aid/scholarships to pay tuition, fees, and housing.  

Contact your local ASU or UofA representative with any questions about eligibility and deadline dates here. 

Popular National Scholarship Sites

•    HS Finder (Hispanic Scholarship Fund) – Scholarship information for Latino students.
 - Cesar Chavez Foundation
•    Thurgood Marshall College Fund:
      Provides scholarships, programmatic and capacity building support to the 47 public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

•    Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund – The nation’s largest non-profit organization devoted to providing college scholarships for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).
•    American Indian College Fund – Provides Native American students with scholarships and financial support for the nation’s 33 accredited tribal colleges and universities.
•    UNCF – Awards 10,000 students each year through 400 scholarship and internship programs so that students from low- and moderate-income families can afford college tuition, books and room and board.
•    Chegg – A place to connect with scholarships and learn about colleges.

•    Reagan Foundation Scholarships - Scholarship opportunities for outstanding student leaders.
•    American Indian Graduate Center & AIGCS - The largest scholarship providers to Native students in the United States, awarding $15 million in scholarships annually and more than $200 million since inception.        For almost 50 years, AIGC has funded students pursing undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees in any field of study at any accredited institution of choice, working with over 500 tribes in all 50 states.
•    National Society of High School Scholars - NSHSS and its partners offer more than $2,000,000 in scholarships annually. All students are eligible to apply for high school and college scholarships in the areas of            academic excellence, entrepreneurship, leadership, literature, medicine, music, STEM, sustainability, visual arts, and more.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR DREAMERS, DACA, AND UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS
(Most scholarship search engines can direct you to scholarships for DACA/Dreamers/Undocumented students)

•    Golden Door Scholars
•    The Dream U.S
•    Chicanos Por La Causa
•    Immigrant Scholarship Hustle
•    College Depot 
•    MALDEF
•    Cruz & Associates
•    Hispanic Scholarship Fund  
•    My Undocumented Life:

Big Scholarships

The Gates Scholarship – Deadline: September 15, 2023
is a highly selective scholarship for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households.  Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance* that is not already covered by other financial aid.  *Cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, transportation, and other costs.

Eligibility
To apply, students must be:
     •    A high school senior
     •    From at least one of the following ethnicities: African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American
     •    Pell-eligible
     •    A US citizen, national, or permanent resident
     •    In good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) 
Ideal Candidate
An ideal candidate will have:
     •    An outstanding academic record in high school (in the top 10% of his/her graduating class)
     •    Demonstrated leadership ability (e.g., as shown through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities)
     •    Exceptional personal success skills (e.g., emotional maturity, motivation, perseverance, etc.)

QuestBridge National College Match – Deadline: September 26, 2023
is a college admission and scholarship process through which high-achieving, low-income students can be admitted early with full four-year scholarships to QuestBridge college partners. 
Criteria
     •    Primarily A's in the most challenging courses available (usually including Honors, AP, and/or IB level courses.)
     •    Top 5-10% of graduating class.
     •    Standardized test scores (Optional)
          o    SAT score >1280
          o    ACT composite score >27
Students who do not have standardized test scores can still be selected as Finalists if the rest of their application is strong; however, they should ensure they meet the standardized testing requirements for each college partner they're interested in.

The Coca Cola Scholarship – Deadline: October 2, 2023
is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities.

The Cook College Scholarship – Deadline: November 16, 2023
is an undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend and graduate from the nation's best four-year colleges and universities. Up to $40,000 per year to attend a four-year accredited undergraduate school.

Eligibility
     •    Graduate from a U.S. high school in spring 2021
     •    Intend to enroll full time in an accredited four-year college beginning in fall 2021
     •    Earn a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.5 or above
     •    Demonstrate unmet financial need. We will consider applicants with family income up to $95,000. Last year’s cohort of new college scholarship recipients had a median family income of approximately $35,000.
     •    Must apply via CommonApp

Dell Scholars Scholarship – Deadline: December 1, 2023

Award
     •    A $20,000 scholarship
     •    Personalized, multifaceted support for the academic, financial, and emotional life challenges that may prevent students from completing college
     •    A laptop with 4-year warranty
     •    Chegg credits ($500 annually for four years) to be used for textbook purchases and rentals and/or textbook solutions (via Chegg Study)

Criteria
     •    Participate in a program-approved college readiness program in grades 11 and 12
     •    Be on track to graduate from an accredited high school in the current academic year
     •    Demonstrate financial need per FAFSA
     •    Be eligible to receive a federal Pell Grant in first year of college
     •    Plan to enroll full time at an accredited higher education institution in the pursuit of a bachelor's degree in the fall directly following high school graduation
     •    Earn a minimum of a 2.4 GPA

More Search Engines and Scholarship Programs
•    American Indian College Fund – Provides Native American students with scholarships and financial support for the nation’s 33 accredited tribal colleges and universities.
•    American Indian Graduate Center & AIGCS - The largest scholarship providers to Native students in the United States, awarding $15 million in scholarships annually and more than $200 million since inception. For almost 50               years, AIGC has funded students pursing undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees in any field of study at any accredited institution of choice, working with over 500 tribes in all 50 states.
•    Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund – The nation’s largest non-profit organization devoted to providing college scholarships for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).
•    Cappex – A free website where you can learn which colleges want you, before you apply and learn about more than $11 billion in merit aid scholarships.
•    CashCourse – Information that helps college students stay financially informed.
•    Chegg – A place to connect with scholarships and learn about colleges.
•    The College Board Opportunity Scholarships - The program guides juniors and seniors through the college planning process and offers the chance to earn scholarships, from $500 to $40,000, for every action that students                   complete.
•    Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation – Educational and scholarship opportunities for students of all levels.
•    Dell Scholars Program – Recognizes academic potential and determination in students that have a definite need for financial assistance.
•    Fastweb – Create a profile and let fastweb do the research on scholarships, internships colleges and more for you.
•    Going Merry - A free, one-stop scholarships platform. It matches you with scholarships and then helps you apply directly. It has both local and national scholarships and you can bulk-apply for multiple scholarships, which share            similar essay prompts, using one application.
•    Goizueta Legacy Scholarship - Provides scholarships for the children of Coca-Cola employees.
•    HS Finder (Hispanic Scholarship Fund) – Scholarship information for Latino students.
•    Jack Kent Cooke Foundation - A national scholarship provider dedicated to advancing the education of promising students who have financial need. Open to high-achieving high school seniors who seek to attend and graduate            from some of the nation's best four-year college and universities.
•    KnowHow2GO – Complete information on college prep, whether in middle school or seniors.
•    The NSHSS Foundation - The NSHSS Foundation fosters the growth of students pursuing the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), business, economics, public policy, and environmental science and                  sustainability fields. The NSHSS Foundation connects young scholars with additional opportunities to advance their education, personal growth and career interests.
•    Peerlift - Proven scholarships, internships, summer programs, and more gathered by fellow students like you. (Founded by a team of 2017 Coca-Cola Scholars!) Learn more about the creation of Peerlift.
•    Reagan Foundation Scholarships - Scholarship opportunities for outstanding student leaders.
•    Scholar Snapp - A free, simple to use data standard that allows students to reuse their application information - including contact information, essays, transcripts, etc. - from one scholarship application to another thereby                     streamlining the college scholarship application process.
•    Scholarships.com– A free college scholarship search and financial aid information.
•    Scholarship America – Provides information and resources for your scholarship search.
•    Scholly – A mobile app that provides students with a fast and simple way to find scholarships for college. (Created by Christopher Gray, a Coca-Cola Scholar!)
•    Thurgood Marshall College Fund – Provides scholarships, programmatic and capacity building support to the 47 public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
•    UNCF – Awards 10,000 students each year through 400 scholarship and internship programs so that students from low- and moderate-income families can afford college tuition, books and room and board.

ƒ American Indian Science and Engineering Society (aises.org)
ƒ American Savings Foundation (asfdn.org)
ƒ Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholars (apiascholars.org)
ƒ Boettcher Foundation (boettcherfoundation.org/colorado-scholarships)
ƒ Cobell Scholarship (awarded by Indigenous Education, Inc.) (cobellscholar.org)
ƒ Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation (coca-colascholarsfoundation.org)
ƒ Daniels Fund (danielsfund.org)
ƒ The Ford Family Foundation (tfff.org/scholarship-programs-information)
ƒ The Gates Scholarship (thegatesscholarship.org)
ƒ George Snow Scholarship Fund (scholarship.org)
ƒ Greenhouse Scholars (greenhousescholars.org)
ƒ Hispanic Scholarship Fund (hsf.net)
ƒ Horatio Alger Association (scholars.horatioalger.org)
ƒ Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (jkcf.org)
ƒ The Jackie Robinson Foundation (jackierobinson.org)
ƒ Native Forward (nativeforward.org)
ƒ Ron Brown Scholar Program (ronbrown.org)
ƒ Sachs Foundation (sachsfoundation.org)
ƒ Society of Women Engineers (swe.org/scholarships)
ƒ Southern Scholars Initiative (southernscholarsinitiative.org)
ƒ Sunrise Scholars Foundation (sunrisescholars.org)
ƒ TheDream.US (thedream.us)
ƒ United Negro College Fund (uncf.org)
ƒ Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (waopportunityscholarship.org