Even the best student loans and other financial aid items don't always provide enough financial support to cover all the expenses of college. With no obligation to repay the loan, scholarships are a great way to bridge the gap. However, there are several great scholarship websites that can help you get a scholarship.
However, a lot of colleges deduct private scholarships from the amount of gift aid they provide, reducing how much 'free money' you can get from the school. If you chose to apply for a private scholarships, you would effectively negate the work you did in seeking out and applying for them. Should you look for schools that offer merit-based scholarships or provide substantial packages to students with financial hardship, you should consider looking at schools that offer merit-based scholarships or provide generous packages.
We've rounded up the best scholarship websites for students who want to save on the costs of college, with a focus on those that offer a broad range of opportunities. Most sites are free to use. Some offer basic features for free, with the option to pay for additional features.
Our experts provide the best scholarship websites for college students.
We consulted scholarship and financial experts to give their insights into finding the best scholarship websites - and when to avoid them all.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a private scholarship over a government-sponsored scholarship?
It's never a good choice to choose a loan over a scholarship, which is money you don't have to pay back. I can't think of any scenario where it's better to pick a loan than a scholarship, he said.
How do I track what scholarships I applied for and now are waiting to hear back from them?
He's been accepted to.