Navigation Menu
  • Colleges
    • Get Matched To Colleges
    • Explore All Colleges
    • Colleges By State
    • Online Colleges
    • Review a College
  • Scholarships
    • Explore College Scholarships
    • Scholarship Match
    • Unigo Scholarships
    • $10K Scholarship
    • Unigo Scholarship Winners
  • Easy Scholarships
  • Unigo Scholarships
  • Student Loans
  • Articles
    • All Articles
    • Expert Admissions Advice
    • Get Ready for College
    • How to Pay for College
    • In College Tips
  • Log In
  • My Account
    • My Scholarship Match
    • My Saved Scholarships
    • My College Match
    • My Account
    • Log out
  • Sign Up!
  • Home
  • pay for college
  • financial aid
  • find free money for college

Find free money for college

Posted byUnigo Staff June 3, 2015

By Unigo

Planning to pay for college can be daunting: understanding financial aid programs, finding scholarships, and (most importantly) figuring out exactly how to combine financial resources and pay for everything. Where do you start? First things first, every senior in high school (and older students, too!) should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form should be completed again each year in college. Depending upon the your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), you may be offered federal, state, or institutional financial aid. Not all of the aid offered will be “free” money, though. Student loans and parent loans will need to be paid back. To keep your student debt to a minimum, we suggest trying to find free money for college in the following areas instead.

Grants

Grants are essentially “free money for college.” They are similar to scholarships and do not need to be paid back. The federal government, state educational offices, and colleges/universities may be able to offer you a grant. Grants are usually need-based (as identified by the FAFSA), but some grants may also be awarded in consideration of academic achievement when determining eligibility. Grants usually cover tuition, room and board, books, and fees.

Scholarships

Scholarships are one of the largest sources of free money for college. Unlike most grants, which are typically need-based, scholarships may be awarded for a variety of reasons, including merit (grades and test scores), need (financial circumstances and household income), talent (athletics, music, art, etc.), area of study (major or career track), service (volunteer work), membership (clubs and honor societies), and so much more! Scholarship funds may be sent directly to the student or to the college financial aid office. Most scholarships provide assistance with tuition, books, and fees — though some scholarship awards are unrestricted and can be used for any reason. Start applying for scholarships as early as ninth grade (and every year thereafter!). Finding scholarships is fairly simple, too, when you know where to look. You can locate information about local awards by checking with your high school guidance counselors, local businesses, and civic organizations. To locate state and national awards, use a time-saving, reliable, and free scholarship search service, like Unigo to quickly identify awards specific to your needs and skill-level. We suggest applying to a lot of scholarship programs, even those that require some work (essay, project, etc.) or have smaller award amounts, as these tend to get fewer applicants.

Work-Study

If you’ve been identified as having “need” per the FAFSA, you may be offered the opportunity to participate in work-study. Colleges place students in jobs on campus or at non-profit organizations off-campus, and they are paid an hourly wage. Students typically work 10-15 hours a week, with the money earned being used to help cover educational and living expenses.

Other Ways to Find “Free” Money for College

Some resourceful students may also be able to find sponsors to help cover college expenses. If you plan to go into veterinary medicine, law, or another professional career field, you could consider offering your time in exchange for tuition reimbursement. Some employers will agree to pay for tuition, books, and fees if the student maintains a specific grade point average and works a certain number of hours each week. Many states also provide loan forgiveness programs for those working in the public service sector. Once you have worked the agreed upon number of years (usually four or more), your remaining student loan debt may be paid off. There are many programs available to those who are willing to do the research and put in the effort. Take the time to see which programs could benefit you the most. A little bit of work now can really pay off in the long run.

Post navigation

Previous Post Previous post:
How to write a financial aid appeal letter
Next Post Next post:
The Truth About Full Ride Scholarships

Scholarships

  • Athletic Scholarships
  • College-Specific Scholarships
  • Company-Sponsored Scholarships
  • Grants for College
  • Merit-Based Scholarships
  • Minority Scholarships
  • Our Scholarships
  • Scholarship Contests & Sweepstakes
  • Scholarships By Major
  • Scholarships By State
  • Scholarships By Type
  • Scholarships For Graduate Students
  • Scholarships For High School Students
  • Scholarships For Undergraduate Students
  • Weird Scholarships
Unigo Scholarship Database

© 2022 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Scholarship Providers
  • Add a Scholarship
  • Expedite My Scholarship
  • Promote My Scholarship
  • Start a Scholarship
Resources
  • Job Board
  • Student Deals
  • For Parents
  • For Counselors
TAKE ACTION
  • Review A College
  • College Match
  • Scholarship Match
  • Find a Loan
Social
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Financial aid may be available to those who qualify. The information on this site is for informational and research purposes only and is not an assurance of financial aid.

Privacy Policy   |    Terms of Use   |    FAQs   |    About Us   |    Disclosure: “What Determines Top/Best?”    |    Do Not Sell My Personal Information (CA and NV residents)

Disclosure: EducationDynamics receive compensation for the featured schools on our websites (see “Sponsored Schools” or “Sponsored Listings” or “Sponsored Results”). So what does this mean for you? Compensation may impact where the Sponsored Schools appear on our websites, including whether they appear as a match through our education matching services tool, the order in which they appear in a listing, and/or their ranking. Our websites do not provide, nor are they intended to provide, a comprehensive list of all schools (a) in the United States (b) located in a specific geographic area or (c) that offer a particular program of study. By providing information or agreeing to be contacted by a Sponsored School, you are in no way obligated to apply to or enroll with the school.

The sources for school statistics and data is the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.

This is an offer for educational opportunities that may lead to employment and not an offer for nor a guarantee of employment. Students should consult with a representative from the school they select to learn more about career opportunities in that field. Program outcomes vary according to each institution’s specific program curriculum.

×

Sponsored Meaning Explained

EducationDynamics receives compensation for the featured schools on our websites (see “Sponsored Ad” or “Sponsored Listings” or “Sponsored Results”). So what does this mean for you? Compensation may impact where the Sponsored Schools appear on our websites, including whether they appear as a match through our education matching services tool, the order in which they appear in a listing, and/or their ranking. Our websites do not provide, nor are they intended to provide, a comprehensive list of all schools (a) in the United States (b) located in a specific geographic area or (c) that offer a particular program of study. By providing information or agreeing to be contacted by a Sponsored School, you are in no way obligated to apply to or enroll with the school. Your trust is our priority. We at EducationDynamics believe you should make decisions about your education with confidence. that’s why EducationDynamicsis also proud to offer free information on its websites, which has been used by millions of prospective students to explore their education goals and interests.

close