As college becomes more and more expensive students who are deciding what to do with the rest of their lives are in a tough bind. Is it worthwhile to take out tens of thousands of dollars in student loans? Can you even get a job with an undergraduate degree?
For many people, the answer to these questions has led them to trade school. These opportunities are great for people who want to explore high-paying careers without taking extravagant loans. That said, there are still ways to make college affordable.
Grants and scholarships are a great way to help alleviate the burden of tuition payments.
Of course, you do need to qualify for them. In this article, we take a look at what it takes to get a grant or scholarship at any stage in your college career and how you can weigh your options to choose the best path.
Who Qualifies for Scholarships?
People are often surprised by how accessible grants and scholarships can be. No, they aren’t exactly easy to get but you don’t have to have a perfect grade point average to qualify either. Sometimes simply determining what makes you unique is enough. For example, are you a first-generation college student?
If so, there is a very good chance that there are scholarships or grant programs at the school you are considering that are specific to your circumstances. No, they won’t be full rides, but they will help with the burden of tuition.
International and minority students often qualify for unique opportunities as well. Again, these resources are usually not for full-rides but every dollar you think towards your tuition is money that will stay in your pocket in the long run.
Keep in mind also that, while good grades will certainly expand your options, you can still qualify for traditional academic-based scholarships without a perfect transcript. A B-average can get you a lot farther than you probably think.
It’s important to give yourself a lot of time to research what is out there. Your school will have lots of grants and scholarships available but also look at community opportunities. Start by looking around in your town. Are there churches or nonprofits that offer grants to local students?
From there, expand your search. What is available at the state level? The national level?
There are literally thousands of grant and scholarship programs in the country. Allow at least several months to explore what is out there and see what is a good fit for you.
Several months? Who has the time?
Think of it as a high-paying job. If you can acquire $30,000 in grant or scholarship money— not an unreasonable expectation for students with solid transcripts— you’ll have earned a much better return for your time than most 18-year-olds can expect.
Are There Scholarships Available for Graduate Programs?
There certainly on! These opportunities are a little fewer and farther between, but they are definitely out there for people who are willing to research them. If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate program, you may very well find opportunities that are specific to people who are ready to expand their educational journey at their current school.
You might also identify opportunities that are specific to your career path. For example, you may have heard about the nursing shortage. Schools are working to combat this problem by offering better scholarships and grant money for people who are considering a career in nursing.
Education is in a similar situation. Staffing shortages for positions like these are bad for communities but good for people who are interested in continuing their education.
Consider Conditional Scholarships
Let’s say an organization is interested in developing the number of teachers in low-income communities. In this case, they may put out a conditional scholarship that provides grant money to anyone willing to work in a low-income school district.
That is great, right? But how can they know for sure that the student they award the money to will actually wind up in a higher-need school?
They do it by making the scholarship money conditional on employment. Generally, these scholarships will come with a stipulation that the student needs to spend five of the next 10 years working in a school that meets its specified criteria. If the student fails to accomplish this, the money will turn into a loan.
Naturally, you should only take advantage of these opportunities if you are willing to meet the criteria. That said it’s often easier to do than you might assume.
For example, did you know that the majority of public schools fall into the low-income classification? The chances are pretty good that you will wind up at one of these schools anyway. Why not get money for it?
Conclusion
There are lots of ways to finance your college education. It’s all about seeking variety, doing your research, and applying for as many opportunities as you can. Yes it will take some work. You won’t get everything you apply for. But the more you put in the more money, you will ultimately save.
