Scholarships (or "free money") are an attractive way to pay for college because you don’t need to pay them back. Scholarship awards range from a few dollars to covering the full tuition bill.

Scholarships are offered by many organizations, including federal and state governments and private sources, such as

* Employers
* Individuals
* Companies
* High schools and colleges
* Religious groups
* Professional associations

Scholarship eligibility

You can be considered for a scholarship for any of the following reasons (and more):

* Academic performance
* Athletic achievement
* Financial need
* Religious affiliation
* Minority status
* Heritage
* Community affiliations
A unique set of criteria that's important to the organization providing funds